In general, I prefer keeping my online relationships strictly online. Now, personally that's because I'm an introvert at heart and don't much relish the idea of meeting new people in person - sort of ever.

But I also like the way that online interactions create a sense of anonymous but unique personalization. What I mean by that is that, on a fundamental level, the people you meet and interact with over the internet, or over Steemit specifically, are mostly unknown to you - yet you interact with them enough to get to know some part of them. Since that process involves far less visual information, your brain eventually creates a unique picture of the person in your mind that is entirely your own creation. That happens even if you've seen one or two pictures of the online friend - your brain fills out the details and develops this internal conception of who they are.

It's kind of like listening to your favorite musical performer over and over again, for many years, and then seeing them perform in person - or even just on video - for the first time. Yes, you gain new insight into who the singer or performer actually is - but you also lose the companion you've spent so much timing creating, in a sense, in your own mind.

That all sounds kind of weird. I know what to do - let me inscribe it into the blockchain for all eternity!