it's kind of interesting to me how people come and go online though, and a bit sad. people will put energy into a group or community for years and then just disappear without anyone being able to contact them. a lot of people don't see online friends as "real friends", i think, even if online is their main mode of socialisation.
anyone i actually like on the internet i'd like to think is a potential real friend that i could meet IRL and stay in touch with beyond the community dying or getting stale. I've made a couple of friends from old defunct forums and things that I still talk to most days and meet up with every year or so 🤷
