The older I get, the more I’m interested in people and their stories. Not that you get that wrong now! It is the exchanging with "interesting" people I’m talking about right now. That talking with people having charisma, perhaps done something special or in generally having some story to share. And most important that people being able to carry on some interesting conversation with you.

Last few years for example I had the pleasure, traveling the one and other time together with some really interesting guy for work issues. A philosophy professor which had made his way somehow to computer science and databases, helping me with and teaching me about database tuning. Whenever we traveled together I enjoyed most sitting next to him and being able to talk about really everything with him … traveling time always was short about our chats.

Just often it is purely that fascinating difference I can feel when talking with someone grown up in another country. Someone living at a different place, living a totally different life from mine and is willing to share it with me like Jill my friend living on a cattle station out there in the Outback of OZ.

Recently I got in contact with a couple being right back from a world trip they have made, being on tour now for nearly year. You get it? That is what I’m talking about and for sure I’m very keen to hear their story …

For me it’s also interesting to learn about how the life of others you have met once in your life has turned out later on. Also recently I got in contact with some former class mate of me. I’ve seen her last at an age of 16 and all I remember is that at that time she was a real beauty. No! It is not like that would be some real criteria, but seeing her now next Thursday I’m for sure looking forward to proof memory.

But at the end and to be honest it is this rare, but for me very special friendships which sometimes start to grow out of such contacts, in case you really archive to stay in contact. And the deep sureness that interest is mutual.

Generally being much into friendship I’m on the other side aware that I might not always be a really easy friend to deal with though.

People often do call someone a friend right a few minutes after they have become familiar with each other first. That is not really my thing for sure and it needs far way more for me being able to call someone a friend and meaning it …. not just using the word to appear friendly.

Sure this is often some cultural and very more often some individual question how to deal with that. But often even thinking about someone as friendly or congenially, I keep some distance. Friendship has to grow, it has to be mutual … and finally it has to fit!!!

Sure this is not difficult and often works out with people you know in person and especially with people you met again and again on a regular basis

But how can this work out with online friendships?

To be honest I don’t know … it just happens. In fact I run a few online friendships since years. And also given the fact there is no easy catching up with them next saturday,  there is not much of a difference in them. Constant work it is anyway … working on that friendship I mean.

Yesterday now I had an interesting discussion with some online friend of me regarding to openness and the general ability to share things which each other. Being able to tell things to someone you’ve never met before! And curiously we both agreed about we do often share more with each other than with other friends living close by.

Thinking about it now, I get the impression about that is some inherit requirement of "online" friendship to do and finally making them possible first. Now in fact I’ve never ever met this friend before in person. Nontheless I know that much about my friend that I often know her answer in advance before typed ….. strange! Isn’t it?

When I first was confronted with the term "dead meat" I had a good laugh about as for it was in a funny context and used as a joke. This time I use it a bit more serious and honestly the situation I’m refering to nearly shocked me a bit today.

Being in a meeting today I was mostly talking with a guy, I since years respect as a very experienced. Now today I was very suprised seeing and hearing him talking mostly negative. For my feelings not even really being interested.

Later on we talked about and he told me that he is feeling burned out. No longer being interested in new stuff and happy about going on as ususal not having the feeling or need to change anything.

Sorry, but this does shock me! How can something happens like that? I’m sure, perhaps should say i hope, that this is just a temporary things and I soon will be able to talk with the old buddy I know and honor since years … Just who knows?!

But now mostly talking to my friends! If anytime in future I should turn out like that. No longer being interested in techniques, knowledge, new things or general unhappy to learn - without being forced by sickness or perhaps turning insane suddenly - feel free to shoot me ….. "dead meat" is the last I would like to turn out finally.