Shaken by her husband's heart disease, the woman wandered about online, scared of talking to strangers. Finally, she stumbled on what looked like advice for the lovelorn. I took a chance,' she says. After the couple got through the ordeal, they visited the Polsteins in Minnesota, cementing their friendship in person. Myriad Web sites offer chats and e-mail groups.
Many people are comfortable using search engines to locate groups.
Once you're online, lurk before you speak. It's also a good idea to find out who runs the Web site. The sponsor may also be a company or a kid. Ask whether the group has a moderator or facilitator. Some discussants like moderated sites.