Of course it's not. I think life is pointless if it lacks love. And I'm not referring to romantic/sexual love, per se; I'm talking about love in general, of people, of life, of animals, of friends, etc. etc. Friends fulfil humankind's basic need for emotional gratification. I don't see any distinction between my love for some of the people I meet online and the people I meet offline. I find the internets far easier to socialise in; for starters, I meet people with similar interests [some of mine are considered eccentric]. Secondly, many people act more intelligently on the internet. Thirdly, it doesn't take many social skills that I don't have. Offline -- facial expressions, body language, tone of voice, etc.... all beyond me. With just words and smilies, I can get along quite well. ^_^
There's just no point coming onto a forum to complain and whine and be jaded. And I do that. ): [Not here. I have friends here.]
I agree with Andy -- ultimately, there's a person behind that screen [and don't be juvenile; I'm being serious XP]. As much as people use the internets to lie, people do it offline, too. I hold these people in as great esteem and treat them with as much respect as I would if I knew them offline. I only make a distinction for the purposes of clarification. I've spoken on microphone [briefly -- I broke mine and never got a new one 8D;] with some of my friends. [The day I use a webcam is the day you ask who I am and what I have done with me.] It really hits home how real people are. Having voices and everything.
Although it made me feel sort of shy because I'm so self-conscious XD