i think it must be. after all, look at all the people who correspond for years as pen-pals. you would never get them to say that thier pen-pal is "not" a real friend.

i guess i'm just struck by the suddeness of it. meeting someone online removes certain social barriers, and allows you to meet and get to know people whose paths you might not otherwise cross. and with those barriers dropped, there is a certain willingness to be vulnerable, to expose your soul and deepest secrets with a lack of hesitation that would be startling, or even frowned upon, should it happen in a cafe, or a bar.

it is interesting to see just how many potential friends are out there, that you would never find if it weren't for places like this.

wow.

it is mind-boggling.

of the 100,000 people who are subscribers to d-land, how many people out there could be my friends? for someone who was amazed to have 3 good friends in high school, the possibilities of meeting someone and being able to present myself with no pre-judging, no baggage, no expectations....

no wonder people get addicted to the internet.

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ok. that was very dry and philosophical. sorry! i must get it out of my system occasionally. i will certainly try to have some more entertaining thoughts today. how's that? :-)