Do you remember sitting in a chat,
watching people chat, or even chatting yourself.
Do you remember receiving so many forwards
that your mailbox was ready to explode?
How about receiving an e-mail
from someone just searching for an on-line friend.
Have you ever wondered who these people might be
that are sitting behind the keyboard?
On-line we meet new people from all around the world...
Some we chat with just once and move on,
others we chat with time and time again
and a friendship is formed.

Some become our e-mail buddies
and we look forward to their e-mails each day.
But have you ever really wondered,
who is really behind that keyboard that you are talking to?
So often we meet a friend in chat,
that we stay up all night talking to.
Sometimes we laugh so hard that we cannot type,
other times we cry and our keyboards are all stained from tears.
We chat about our lives and help each other solve problems,
we lend a shoulder if we can.
Did you ever think to yourself,
who is really behind that keyboard?

Did you ever chat with someone
who promised you that their friendship would be forever?
And then they turn on you or are gone.
Do you forget about them, and then move on,
or do you wonder who that person really is behind that keyboard?
Have you ever hid behind that keyboard,
pretending to be someone you are not, just to boost your big ego?
As you sat there and typed, have you ever lied, thinking "Who Cares
the person behind the keyboard is only a fake person"?

Did you ever hurt someone, thinking "it's only a game"?
Well, behind each and every keyboard are very real people,
some might be heartless, cold people, not caring who they hurt.
But then there are people that are caring, loyal & honest,
and all kinds of people hoping for some companionship on-line.
Behind the keyboard can be someone who is seriously depressed
and their only hope is to make a friend,
maybe an aging person who once had a family,
but now they live too far apart to see each other
perhaps there is someone who cannot walk any more,
or a person so ill they are in the house forever.

As we enter the world of the internet,
we should remember, it is a very real world
and behind each and every keyboard
is a person who has a heart and feelings.
No one has a life that is pain free.
So as we go on-line, whether in chat or just e-mailing
we must remember
To treat each person the way we want to be treated.
To respect each others feelings
To be honest and caring
And to offer friendship
Because the truth is, we do not know who is behind the keyboard
or what kind of hurt someone may be feeling.

To be the best to others that you can be
should be the "Key" to a good honest life.
And always remember
To treat others the way you would like them to treat you.

~ Author Unknown ~
sharing from a msn group