I don't personally see anything wrong with making friends online. I say if you can make friends, do so, it shouldn't matter where the friendship started. I do think, however, basing self worth on numbers of replies is self destructive. I read lots of posts, and, only reply to a few. It doesn't mean I don't like what the others say or anything, just don't have much to say in regards to the topic being discussed. But, I do have a couple of people here that I would consider friends, even if I met them through pet talk. Anyway, just my two cents.