What are the advantages and disadvantages of online friends?

1. They can be anywhere in the world.
   
2. You don't have to be in the same room, let alone the same country as each other.
   
3. You don't have to smell, see, hear them if you don't want to (which is especially good in the case of smelly feet etc)
   
4. They can be any age, race, sex, size, appearance and it just doesn't matter with a computer in between you (who cares if the person you are chatting with has hair growing out of their nose? It just won't affect you!)
   
5. You often get closer emotionally to online friends because email encourages you to say what you really feel, think etc.
   
6. It is easy to end the conversation when you have had enough (fake a power cut if you have to, or Oh, Look... MSN went down, I can't sign in, weird huh?)
   

Disadvantages:

1. You can't be close to them physically, you can't hug/hold hands etc
2. You can't go out for a drink, swim, pub crawl, game, etc with them easily or spontaneously
   
3. You don't really know for sure they are who they say they are (They could have hair growing out of their nose for all you know!! see above)
   
4. You can find some pretty strange people online (hmm)
   
5. It can be frustrating to communicate without body language to help put things into context (Was that sarcasm, or did she really mean she is "sure I am lovely?!")
   
6. Safety always has to be a consideration, not knowing who someone is can be fun, but there is always a chance you are talking to your local Ax Murderer)
   
7. It is too easy to feel like you are 'falling in love' with someone online (while that feeling can be fun, it is not particularly healthy!)