Do online long distance relationships work?

First of all, this type of relationship exists and yes; they are REAL relationships. In this day and age it's not really difficult to find someone to talk to and fall in love with even if they're a gazillion miles away for as long they have an internet connection.

Here's the cycle:

Meeting : Either they stumbled upon each other in a music forum website, chat service site, a social networking site or a dating website.

Getting to Know : So they had a pretty good exchange of opinion in a news site so one of them decided to ask the other to talk in an instant messaging app and there they talked to each other for hours. Days passed they're Fb friends already, after a month or so they're already textmates. They talk all the time despite the crazy timezones.

Connection: Now, they're each other's daily routine. Possibly they have nick names for each other at this point. They are now thinking of meeting up but hesitates to open the topic because of too much distance that separates them.

Confusion: At this point, both of them are attracted to each other in a whole lot deeper level than when they discovered the common things about them. But, it's either both of them or only one of them is willing to take what they have to the next level.

Definition of relationship: Of course when feelings start growing, conflicts will arise. Jealousy and quality time will sure be present at this point. She will get jealous of that girl who liked his Fb status or he will feel bad when she can't reply to his messages sooner. If someone is being jealous and asking for your time then you should evaluate your relationship with them because obviously the only one who deserves your loyalty, faithfulness and your time is someone you're in a relationship with. Here, while they experience these problems it would be difficult for them to avoid discussing who they are in each others' lives. And if they are both positive about their feelings towards each other, it's either they have agreed to stay in love and wait till they meet face-to-face to officially date or they have already decided to actually date; they will be each others' partner from hereon.

Officially in love: Now that they are officially in love with each other, it will be very challenging for the both of them to maintain their love for each other till the day they meet personally. They will begin planning how to meet, who will visit who, how much they both need to save up etc. Some couples wait from some months to many years before they can actually be together physically! It really takes perseverance and true love to make a relationship like this work.

NOW, IS IT REALLY POSSIBLE TO FALL IN LOVE WITH SOMEONE YOU'VE MET ONLINE?
Yes. Love is about connections. Have you ever wondered why some people are so different but still loves each other? It's because they have connection that no one can ever explain. Same goes with people who fall in love online. It's funny to some but when love hits you, it hits you. Whether you fall for someone you see crossing the street everyday or with someone you've never seen in person, it's the same thing.

HOW WOULD YOU KNOW YOU'D FALLEN IN LOVE WITH SOMEONE YOU'VE MET ONLINE?
Same symptoms when you fall in love with someone you see everyday. When you don't get to talk to them, your day isn't complete. When you see them having convos with someone else, say, on Facebook, you get jealous. You always imagine yourself meeting them for the first time. You create scenarios of being with them.

NO ONE IS TAKING MY ONLINE RELATIONSHIP SERIOUSLY. WHAT TO DO?
Nothing. You can never convince people to take you seriously but what you can do is take your relationship seriously. I mean, the only way you can prove this works is to make it work. By the time they see you and the one you love together in each others' arms, I guess that will make them respect your relationship.

HOW WOULD I KNOW THAT MY RELATIONSHIP WITH MY SPECIAL SOMEONE IS REALLY SERIOUS?
You just know it. If you two are making plans for the future and you guys are really working on attaining the goals you two have set. I think if you're still asking if your relationship is serious then you're not still serious. Because once you're in it 100%, you're in it 100% no questions asked.

CAN THIS TYPE OF RELATIONSHIP WORK?
Yes. You know, in any type of relationship there are the same things that's needed for them to work: respect, trust, faith, quality time, open communication and of course LOVE.