Are online friends really your friends?

Ima say yes, i got a online friend i talk to more than i do half my friends and play games with, etc.

Well, if you are saying about trust, then I would say "Hold on, wait until you meet in person".
But maybe the term acquaintances will be better rather than friends.

It would really depends on how openly each person views things.

Facebooktards considered themselves to have befriended the world despite only exchanging conversations with list of unknowns for only once or twice. While back on reality , there the issue of befriending fair-weather friends as well. You can't really exact call those people "friends" could you?

How i see things, It is entirely possible for one to befriend a person on the internet. However, one whom i made friend via the internet can never truly be addressed as a "brother". Although awesome conversations would to be made and life affecting secrets are exchanged, there are things that can be accomplished only when both sides meet face to face that can cement this bond in black and white. Like drink beer in a bar or visit an convention together.

Absolutely not. Knowing people in real life and over the internet are nearly completely different things and "friends" that you only know over the internet are not the same as real friends and one shouldn't act as if they are.

In general, I'd say that depends on a person-by-person basis. It isn't fair to say that you can't trust a friend online simply because you haven't met them, but likewise it isn't fair to say you can trust them on a whim because of the level of anonymity.

I have a friend online and we've known each other for nearly five years now. I think we can safely trust each other pretty well, and I definitely think of him as much of a friend as the people I am actually physically able to hang out with.

Back when I played a 2D MMORPG called Deloria Online, I've met quite a few people through that. We would talk on AIM and whatnot. Those were the days. Sadly, I haven't spoken to any of them since then.

I had a friend while playing Ragnarok some years ago. We continued to be friends even after we stopped playing.
We kinda met during college after years of just talking on the net.
We're like brothers now xD

YES, definitely.

I had a friend from a webboard, and mind you, he was hella a good one.

I made this post in sadness and depression. Id like to close the thread out of respect to that person, How do i?

My closest friend is online, we've known each other and spoke with each other on a regular basis since... gosh 7-8 years now. I've even spent a couple weeks with him in Canada already when I was 18.

The most distracting avatar/signature ever...? XD

lol it looks like I made this thread cause op deleted his comment.

If I knew all 800+ of my Facebook friends and we were all actually friends my life would be far more interesting, but honestly I don't even know a few of them, especially people I add from the "people you may know" feature.

Most have proven to be more trustworthy than my rl friends not to mention I met my gf online and we are very happy together.

Would I trust most people I meet online? No. Do I consider them my friends nevertheless? Yes, until they prove themselves to be an ass.

Kinda a hard thing to narrow down to yes or no answer.

Sure, Online friends are less tangible than friends outside of the net, but I don't think friendship is restricted to you literally having a physical interaction. However, The net offers such anonymity, that there can be a problem with trust and identifying with your "friend".

Friends that you have in the physical world are typically more involved in your life than your friends on the net , and generally have a better understanding of you as a person.

I think it depends on what you considers is friend a "friend"

Then my answer would be "Yes".

It really depends on how well they know you. I consider Artcell a true friend. :3

I think it depends, as well. One of my closest friends is someone I met online. It works out well since I can express my thoughts and feelings so much better through writing than I can when speaking, and I feel more relaxed being myself when talking to them. We can really talk about everything, even things that I wouldn't be so comfortable talking to my "real life" friends about.

yes..i trust most of my friend online!