Does online chat help with social and conversational skills?

[TxRedheadGuy]

I was just wondering if online chat has helped others as it has me improving social and conversational skills? Most of my life I have been shy and normally would not be the first to initiate conversations, especially with women. Online chat has helped me gain the confidence not only to approach strangers, but to keep the conversation going comfortably. Dating is much easier now that I am more comfortable around women and approaching strangers.

[insofar]

In my experience, yes, it does help, but there are certain elements to face to face meeting that online conversations can't approximate. But it's helped me too

[CarnelianButterfly]

Not really, although it is nice that I can think at my own pace and not have to worry about people staring at me when I don't respond right away.

[Luke Skywalker]

Yes I would say that is true to some degree. I've learned a few thing about dating and conversations by online interactions, however, I still usually go by email exchanges and am loathe to go on messenger.

[Dako]

No, I still stutter under pressure and feel insecure.

[Kyoshiro Ogari]

I don't get to chat with girls online. I don't even know where to go.

[Cardinal]

For me yes. Chat forums and online chat have helped me. I am strongly introverted and require little social interaction. Yet somehow the women I have been out with recently see me as quite extroverted. Keeping a conversation going isn't difficult for me. May not be the most interesting conversation in the world, but it works. And I think doing all that I have online over the years has contributed to that. Free flowing thought and the like....