I’ve been giving this a lot of thought lately, especially as it pertains to the quality of relationships forged in online gaming communities vs. those forged face-to-face. It seems disingenuous to call online/digital relationships less “real” than face-to-face relationships if the basis for a high-quality relationship rests on our willingness to open up and trust one another. I have family that I know virtually nothing about because they are unwilling or unable to discuss the issues that matter to them in any depth. Likewise, they are uninterested in the issues that matter most to me. If the only thing connecting us is our shared bloodline and face-to-face interaction, is it fair to say those relationships are inherently higher-quality than those I’ve formed online with guildmates in World of Wacraft (who, by and large, have a much deeper understanding of my personal life)?