I met folks on rec.sport.football.college that became friends and are still IRL friends today. That first meeting in person was a bit weird back in the early 90s before virtuality became a part of everyday life.Damnit son, you need to post moar! Usenet is still around, fwiw. I have an account or two.
rec.music.gdead & rec.music.phish warped my fragile mind in my early teens.
And I'm voting WOT e-persona until proven that's a negative.