It sounds like you already realize this is a problem.

Why can't you be anything more than friends? Is he just some guy you met in a chat room and will never meet in real life? Then get over him quickly before you ruin your life over some dream!

One thing I learned very quickly while doing the internet dating thing years ago, is reality is not even close to what they present themselves online. I met this guy online many years ago, oh wow could he make my heart melt. He knew what to say, how to say it, and when to say it. He wrote me poems and told me how great I was. I couldn't wait to meet him in person!!! I waited til we talked daily for a few months before I agreed to meet him. And wow, what a let-down! We still talked occasionally after we met but the "spark" wasn't there. He was certainly a great guy, but I felt like such a fool for letting myself believe in the story he was presenting me and the Mr. Perfect I made him into. Was he a great guy in person? Certainly! Some girl is very lucky to have him (I'm sure he's found someone by now) but he just was not for me. I'm glad I met him when I did because it could have gone on for many more months, and by the time I met him I could have been ready to marry him sight unseen (not really, but you get my point)

Then after I met that guy, I spoke to another one for while before I met him. He was very different from the first guy - educated (not that guy #1 was dumb, just no formal education and this guy had advanced degrees) and confident. In person he was cocky and looked down on anyone not as sophisticated and educated as he (then why date me, an artist?)

Then I met another guy who seemed all too perfect for me! This one was athletic and loved his dog. We agreed to meet at a dog park (oh, this had to be "The one!") After a few months of speaking nightly online and the phone, I loaded Nicki into the car and we went to the COOLEST dog park. I couldn't wait to leave the park and that weirdo fast enough!

Notice a theme here? I was sooo excited to meet these guys that beforehand seemed wonderful and perfect. The reality was vastly different.

I DID meet my husband online, but that was after meeting those 3 guys I was taking things a whole lot less seriously and was looking at online dating as a dress rehearsal for the real thing.