So here's a thread that can cause a discussion...

[RickinNYC]

I've quite a few online friends, some of whom I plan on meeting in January, either in NYC or in WDW. I do consider them friends but look forward to real life meeting because in my mind, then they will step the next level of friendship.

As for those that I've met already, yep, I do consider them friends. A couple of them very, very good friends indeed.

 

[lucincia]

Actually, I don't think you guys actually exist. This is just all one big sick joke someone is playing on me and taking time away from my work hours.

 

[#1MMFan]

Yeah, I have had a few people I have chatted to after meeting online thru various sites. The hardest thing is that they live in the States, and I in Scotland, so the distance is a problem. But, with them being not too far from my cousins, I can see us meeting up at some point in the future when I'm next visiting my cousins. We exchange cards/cds etc and I can talk to them very candidly on the phone. I agree tho' on an instant messenger it can be difficult to interpret correctly what the context/tone of a sentence is. I also tend to be more likely to worry if I don't hear from my internet buddies for a week than if I don't hear from an old school friend for a wee while longer. Call me paranoid!