Has the Internet Ruined Romance??!!

I was recently watching an episode of the Rock Lee anime spin-off, ROCK LEE & HIS NINJA PALS; and in episode two he sneaks a love letter he'd written into Sakura Haruno's bag for her to find later. He later saw that she had noticed it, but had yet to read it and seemed pretty tickled at the idea. That got me thinking about some of the lost arts that have come with advent of the internet. I know that's a weird tangent, but let me explain.

There used to be a time when an anonymously written love letter was sort of the peak of romance, regardless of the author's gender. A melodramatic form of courtship to someone you liked. Though, as I watched that episode I almost found Sakura's reaction odd. She didn't seem at all concerned who wrote the letter or how it got into her bag. She seemed pleased and was looking forward to reading it before hilarity ensued in the story that I wont go into here.

I really wonder if the internet has sullied the idea of anonymity. The internet has been a vehicle where anonymity has been used for anger, violence, and some really creepy stuff. It just feels that now if someone was to write an unsigned love letter to someone they liked. It would no longer come across and romantic but creepy and borderline stalker-ish. Even more so for a woman. Does anyone else think this is a case of where we as society are letting the dark side of the internet color our perceptions? It was partly some of my frustrations that inspired me a while back to make that Off Topic thread "Who Do You Love, Right Now?!". I wanted to see if forums could be used for more than just hate, but something nice. It still seems pretty active since someone posted in it the other day.

Don't be under the misunderstanding that this is me asking for advice. I have no plans to be sending any anonymous letters to anyone. It was just a thought that I believe could be an interesting discussion. I'm rather interested in hearing the thoughts of others on this matter. Especially the ladies of the site. If you were to receive an anonymous love letter, would you be concerned or touched?

-Kristoffer Remmell (FoxxFireArt) is a freelance graphic artist, writer, and over all mystery geek.- Follow for news updates: @ animevice / @ FoxxFireArt

I don't think so, times are changing and what is considered romance might change, but romance in itself will never change.

Anonimity (spelling :p) is still done though. But now slightly different, I have gotten a love mail before but from who it was i still don't know. I think she (i hope it was a she :p) made a completely new e-mail just to send me that e-mail. So, things change but romance remains.

But it certainly has become increasingly difficult to do things anonimous. So now you just have to put in a little extra effort ;)

And look at this and tell me it's not romantic and cute :p

Yes... yes it has

Creative and smart people should and will always find ways to be gratuitously romantic. Then again I disagree that anonymously written love letter was sort of the peak of romance. Originality for one would trump that. Staple sure, but peak? Eh, can't see it. 

No, It actually seems like another venue to express ones romantic feelings.

It's Incredibly impersonal, I could understand both viewpoints.

So, I'm neutral.

Not if you have a life outside the internet.

@TheSpiritStalker said:

..............I'm sorry what's the funny part?

The interwebs ruin everything 

Auto-correct ruins any chance of romance, especially when you finally tell a girl you lymphoid her.

Face to Face interaction over everything.

I was never a big fan of the love letter stuff, anyway.

@Stormultt said:

Not if you have a life outside the internet.

impossible

It has certainly altered the romantic landscape, but I don't know if I'd say it has "ruined" it, necessarily. It's just as easy to come across as a creepy stalker with an handwritten note as it is with a email or text. I think we just have a tendency to "romanticize" the past. I'm sure there were people that felt that romance was dead when it stopped being fashionable to woo your sweetheart by bringing her a cave bear that you'd personally clubbed to death.

Porn is romantic right???? ya computer has at least altered the way many see romance.

@TheSpiritStalker said:

Absolutely hilarious.

Staying up really late talking to a girl you really like on msn... that's romantic, right?

A girl you know personally, not stalking or anything weird.

@Static Shock said:

I was never a big fan of the love letter stuff, anyway.

Just buy me candies and let me get fat...............like a normal person