BLAH most if this post is, long-winded and boring.
To tell the truth there are some people, myself included that find it easier to tell people my emotions over a electronic medium then in face to face conversations.
given long enough conversations on a intimate nature such as BD/SM, Cyber, mixed with general life and a almost daily communication will spawn feelings for both parties.
believe it or not but friendship is a emotional response, same with love, lust, jealousy. why friendship is so hard to place in the relationship scale is " can we be friends?" "sure" doesn't happen out loud. but you hang around with the person, and hang out, go for coffee.
i have been in many, many, many relationships on-line, ones that were scams, and ones that were generally emotional and REAL.
PS. i hate when people think what is posted here or on any forum should be read without emotion provided by the user who typed it, we are not trying to write a essay about the future of stock prices or something. words are given, especially in the English language( we have more similar and redundant words for things) just because they are used to convey emotions.