Damn, OTW, that was one helluva post! Thank you for starting this thread!
I don't see many limitations on the intensity one can experience in a "virtual" connection. It has the advantage - and here I agree with Dana, and disagree with JB - of offering a superb opportunity to get to know someone on an extremely deep level, and since the connection is entirely verbal, to speak of things in a depth and detail that is often missing from physical encounters. I have found myself comparing the kinds of interactions I've experienced in dating with those I've had online, and think that many of those RL dates didn't compare favorably at all to the kinds of virtual connections I've had - in terms of information exchanged, at any rate. Online relationships can develop over time in a way that's often difficult to simulate in RL, since physical interaction is not only distracting but also can lead to the termination of a relationship before the individuals involve truly have a chance to know each other. Without that distraction, I have found it easier to focus on the personality and details of a person's life.
Clearly, not everyone is equally comfortable with virtual relationships. Being comfortable with verbal communication, obviously, is a must. As a writer, I find verbal communcation extremely satisfying. Not satisfying enough to feel no desire for a corporeal meeting, of course, but extremely pleasurable nonetheless.
Jeff
Falling In Virtual Love...: click here to read the entire thread »