Whats real?

I was thinking how its different courses for different people, how we socially want a variety of things from one another. I have some friends one couple in particular that I will invite over to liven up a party as they are 'great value' she can be relied on to initiate the most interesting/outrageous discussions on the most varied of subjects while he is charming and delightful. But I rarely see them for quieter moments. Other friends who I might not see for weeks on end but I know they would be there for me (and have been) in times of great need.

But there are also a number of friends I've either made online or developed online after meeting briefly in real life, and no I don't mean slutty cyber moments, I mean actually having people that I spend time with online who I value as good friends no matter that they can't be around in real life.
Yes there are moments where a hug is needed more than anything else and that's when the online friend has a flaw but that's countered by the times that I can sit and talk/listen about things that really matter.
Just because its done via this medium doesn't make it any less valid. Afterall for years and years people communicated by the written word, love letters were sent to far away sweet hearts long before the telephone was invented and at times I can be moved quite strongly by the written word.
I'm fully aware that people can lie and falsely represent themselves online, but some people do that all the time in real life as well, the amounts of BS heard in Wanchai on an average weekend can vouch for that. So I'm happy to be around in these times with the choices/chances the www has to offer.