Virtual relationships have always been a subject that divides people. Some think that these kinds of relationships are unwholesome or even toxic, while some other believe that it is as normal as any other relationships. In “Virtual Love” the author, Meghan Daum, tells us about her virtual love life. Essayist and writer for The New Yorker, Meghan has always been different an original woman. One day, while she is reading her Emails, she opens a message from someone with the screen name PFSlider asking her if she is the real Meghan Daum. This mysterious internaut admits that he has a crush on her and they start to exchange numerous Emails. First skeptical about virtual relationships, Daum slowly falls in love with him. PFSlider, known as Pete …show more content…
The author feels alone and stuck in a boring routine. When she started to talk to PFSlider, she saw an opportunity to break this routine and to start something new—something deeper and more adventurous. Even though Daum said that she started to like him, I could understand that she used him to feed her ego: this mysterious fanboy made her feel important and Daum used him to satiate her love’s desire. Also, being alone and having this boring routine made her crave companionship. Moreover, the fact that this relationship was unconventional added more sensuality to their daily conversations. Rather than flirting like any others, they just have a kind of mental flirt. This relationship is shown as an archaic kind of courtship; in fact, I can see in their relationship an allusion to the Rules of Courtly Love, but more importantly this relationship is an example of platonic love. Without even having any physical contact, PFSlider inspires Meghan’s mind and soul and opens her to a whole new world—a world of mental sensations where emotions are the base to everything. However, as soon as the author met him in real life, her excitement suddenly disappeared because their relationship wasn’t special anymore. This moment divided her article in two parts: she started to call him Pete as if he was another person, a stranger. PFSlider is the reflection of a woman’s desire: