[binarybits]

"In 10 years you'll barely remember any of the message boards that are so important to you now."

I couldn't disagree more. The majority of my closest friendships and professional opportunities have come from time spent on the Internet. I'm probably an extreme case, but people "on the Internet" are no more real than people you meet face-to-face, and online friendships can and do turn into real-life friendships, and vice versa.

[lachyg]

Agreed, I met a few of my business partners on the 'net. Then proceeded to meet them in London earlier this year. They're great friends now, and I'm sure they'll continue to be for the rest of my life.