do social networking websites such as facebook and myspace help or hurt kids develop necessary social skills that they will need further along in life?

They help if you ask me, all my friends talk with me on skype/gmail/hotmail/facebook/myspace/twitter and I can't go to their house because I live in a hole.

I usually chat with girls I'm interested in on facebook because I am very socially insecure around strangers. If I know someone a bit, I'm more comfortable around them.

Also, I can't yell to someone 8,000 miles away

ok but does your comfort with them over the internet transfer to your real life when you encounter these babes you're so interested in?

Ask my sister that, but she'll just say her lips never got off his....

Anyone I know to that point I had talked to by then and seen pictures of them. And if they ever came to the pit I call home I'd be glad.

I can't really argue with this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=folJqzJK0VQ

That's what I'm going to find out around 11am tomorrow.

I think it can go both ways.

If you are a social person in real life, then a social networking site can help promote those activities.

However, if you are normally not social, i think that while you may end up with great social skills via internet, you will not be gaining, possibly even deterorating your face to face social interaction.