From general observation, I have found that people in long distance relationships tend to be the people who have never been in a physical relationship. There are exceptions, or course, and I'm not saying that my observation and theory is fact, but I think that's because those people have not experienced the intimacy part of a relationship. I mean, when you're younger, say 13/14, it is not so much of an issue, but when you grow up a little bit more lust becomes an enormous part of your life in terms of relationships. You want to feel like you belong with somebody, you want to be touched, you want to be touching somebody (*WINK*) because it releases pleasure throughout your body (if you want to get scientific, it's usually a pleasure hormone called Dopamine).
You experience that lust and desire in one relationship, and then you enter one online. It is hard to re-experience this lust and desire and pleasure, so it just doesn't work. Which sucks, because I've met people online who I've had very strong emotional bonds with who I haven't been able to date due to the lack on contact we'd have. I have a friendship like this currently, where I would happily date them if they were in my physical life.
As for myself, I have never had a long distance relationship via the internet. I have entered a relationship with a person I met over the internet but could meet up with at least every fortnight (we all make mistakes, and this person was one of mine).
