Chatting is reputable for being a source of developing diverse relationships. Young chat with old, Indians to Americans, 'online couples' meet and marry, followers of religions become more confrontational behind the safety net of technology’s distant communication, and paedophiles use it to seek their prey.

Cyberspace eliminates much of what being human is therefore presenting people as confident and outspoken. It seizes to reveal characteristics of shyness and true emotion. Online pauses surpass face to face confrontation allowing more controlled reactions. Habits and hygienic behaviour are invisible. Facial expression is invalid unless aided by a potentially deceptive webcam, and even so it is logical to assume occurrences of exaggeration.

The internets vast reach has affirmed its status as a place to socialize using messengers, chatrooms, forums, blogs...Chatrooms distinguished by fluidity and immediacy are defined cyberspaces enabling chatters entry into spaces created for particular groups of people. It has an unsubtle tact of using precise labelling in order to allow us a process of selection such as that of trial and error (as though it were an experiment of social science) to meet just those whom we seek. Consequently we are able to eliminate those whom we have no interest in acknowledging. Almost any chatroom for any group of people one can think of is sure to have its place online. Controversy stemming from whether the persons behind the claims are creating false identities has surged the need for Internet police; that in itself emphasises the idea of internet communities.

With passwords, our messenger lists emulate off limit diaries. Messengers; just as instant as chatrooms, are more profound as spaces of intimacy with little distraction and with added capabilities of sharing files or information. It is perhaps the least political space, but can be the most unsafe.

Cyberspace is a place of expanding imaginations. For many it is also a place to bring fantasy to life with the belief that fantasies can continue into reality. And though some continue to warn against its absorbing effect, it remains a gripping and intensifying social arena. Like alcohol the Internet is blamed for adultery, irresponsible relationships, divorce and plenty more. It is familiar for spouses online to practise cybersex in discretion by creating a whole new identity. There are even chatters who would be comfortable responding as toyboy or mistress. Cyberspace is a catalyst for taboo relations that would not transpire in the real world, as well as a market for those advertising themselves for courtship or companionship.

As a world accustomed to having online relationships be it friendship or otherwise, would you be comfortable in the knowledge that a future husband or wife also has a list of messenger buddies? Would you feel threatened or possibly display curiousness to see their messenger list? Would you let your husband chat knowing that he is chatting to females, maybe just the one female? Or would you let your wife chat knowing again that she could be corresponding with just one man? Or do you just expect that with marriage chatting should end? Have you as a single person had an experience whereby a married person made advances or spoke inappropriately whilst chatting?

By guest writer Sam