I've found that in the years I've been active in online communities I've made quite a few friends. Friends that I talk to on a regular basis, daily even. I always figure that people are most honest when they have nothing to lose, and online there is no real harm in losing anything if people judge you. Especially considering most people use a veil of anonymity online.

I have met more than a handful of people from the internet who I've created long lasting friendships with. Some in my area, some who have traveled from across the nation, and some who I'm still planning on meeting.

My question to you is this...

I feel like many of these people, some of whom I've known for years, talk to online, on the phone, via texting and so forth, are my friends. I feel like I count them among my closer friends than some of the people I know in real life. So you have people who are like this for you?

When there are people in your area who you meet online (whether it be through a forum like this, FetLife, AFF, whatever) then proceed to cultivate a friendship with them offline, is their relationship with you tarnished by the way you met?

I've heard many different takes on this from people in my life and was just wondering how YOU felt. less