the answer to your question is not easy, as Amos so clearly points out. Here is a different way of looking at it...

There are a couple of kinds of people in cyberspace, (yes, I know, LOTS more than two,,,but...)

1) there are those who simply do NOT treat words on a screen as real people, and do not present themselves as they would in person. Sure, if you press them, they do know that a 'person' typed those words, but they relate in ways they would never do in 'meatspace'? (used to just say RT, for Real Time)...witness the flame wars.

2)There are others who strive to be as real and clear as they can possibly be, even though there are nuances which are hard to project. I am sure that already, there are those whom you are sure you'd like to meet, given the chance, and others you are not sure about.

Fortunately, at the Mudcat, people tend toward 'realness', even when it shows some of their negative sides..(I have a way of being a grumpy curmudgeon at times, though I would temper this a LOT in person). Having met a number of Mudcatters at the often mentioned FSGW Getaway last fall, I am really pleased at how well most of us got along.....still, there were some who, though I can get along with, I know I'd never 'hang out' with them. People in RT are the same as in here....some are overly taken with themselves and their status, some are shallow and 'prickly'....and some are just amazingly kind, generous and aware of the feelings of others! There are several I would LOVE to have for neighbors on my street....and a couple I am just as glad I don't have to interact with every day...*gentle shrug*

There is a quote somewhere, that I have lost. but paraphrased, it goes: "No matter what your cause, religion, organization, party, etc., there is always someone on your side whom you wish were on the other side."

You know, in a few years, the internet/WWW/cyberspace is going to PROFOUNDLY alter a lot of the ways humans interact and conduct their lives, You already see a bit of it, but there are kids who are integrating IRC, ICQ, AOL Instant Messenger, HearMe, etc., into their very consciousness in ways we barely understand. This is not all bad, but it is VERY different.

and that is only about 10% of what I'd like to say on the matter,,,*big grin*....but this is altering my RT, and I have chores...