I know what you mean, and it used to freak me out a bit. Mainly because in real life, if a guy I barely knew (or really anyone for that matter) just came up touched me, I'd lose seven kinds of my shit right there and the results would be ... a bit destructive. Even online, I found it made me uncomfortable when guys in chat would come on to me or get a bit ... you know ... grabby.

Over the years I've gotten a thicker skin, and unless they really go too far, I just laugh it off and take it as part of goofing around in the room. And, of course, unlike real life I can easily ignore anyone who's stepping over a line.

That's for general hanging around and chatting though. In a more ... intimate relationship with someone oneline, I can, and very much have, felt as much of a real connection and real 'feeling' with them as I have with someone in real life. Obviously it's not exactly the same, and couldn't hope to be, but it's real enough that I can both be taken out of myself mentally and even physically, and be hurt emotionally in ways I'd just as soon not talk about.

I guess it's just a case of having to choose how much of yourself to put into a given situation.