Thanks for sharing your story elwoodbluz. Unfortunately as dedicated gamers, we are more inclined to be harassed on a daily basis at school. Not that I am saying that it's okay for these things to happen, it just does— and sadly there is little we can do to stop it in the real world. I met two of my really, really close friends online. This was in the age where parents were more worried about the internet than they are today. I was always advised by my parents to not talk to many people online, because this is their words not mine, everyone you will meet online is most likely a serial killer.... yeah. So we met playing Star Wars Jedi Outcast and we played the hell out of that game. Getting together and gaming with these guys was seriously the thing I looked forward to most every day for a long, long time. These guys are people I still talk to on a daily basis 13 years later. Once we turned 18 we said that we would meet up with each other at least twice a year, that tradition has been going strong for the past five years. I met my best friend from school about a year after meeting my online friends. I didn't know this man would become my best friend when we first met. I just knew he was a good guy and that him and myself got along very well. We had a science class together, we were always cracking jokes with each other— often forcing the teacher to move our desks. Eventually he invited me to come over to his house for his birthday BBQ, we haven't been out of contact since and it's been 12+ years now. We still often play Xbox, go out to dinner, hang out or do whatever comes to mind. This bond wasn't separated even when he went out of state for college. Moral of this story: Don't get yourself in the dumps when some clown wants to temporarily boost his or her ego at your expense. These people are usually the ones who really need true friends. It may take a while to find your group of friends but trust me, you will. While you're in school, the faces of those who claim to be your friend will change constantly— but the ones who are truly your friends will never change. One day you'll end up realising that you've been really close friend with someone for well over 12 years and you can think fondly of the old days. Keep your chin up.