I am inclined to agree with you. The lines between IRL and online are definitely blurring and more than ever having a substantive relationship with someone in a digital space is fulfilling. However, I'd much rather be sitting face-to-face with most all of you.

There are a number of people that I have met on Hubski first and then met in real life. In fact, you are one of them. I have yet to think to myself "damn, I wish I would have left that relationship online and never met them in person."

One of the points that theadvancedapes makes in his global brain presentation is that currently, the Internet far supersedes our travel capabilities. Hopefully, his theory proves correct, and we will be able to more easily travel to one another in the not too distant future, thus making in real life and digital the type of distinction that is no longer made. Friendships will be friendships no matter where they originated. We are already seeing this in how couples meet each other in romantic settings. It is no longer unusual to hear someone say they met on an online dating site.