^I think it’s the other way around.
It’s rarer to find someone genuine online whose online persona is the same as offline.
I would have found my husband boring if I met him online, he’s not a very interesting virtual person. Actually, I have very few friends that I would say are the same online and offline.
As for knowing someone for years. When you virtually know someone, let’s say their life isn’t going anywhere, all their excuses make sense as you only have what they say to go on. Knowing them in real life, would show you the whole picture. Maybe they are just lazy and have no drive? All those people who they blame in life, when actually they are the ones causing it. And for some people - What the hell are they doing online all the time in the first place? “talking to me of course”. Actually, not. they would have been online anyway wasting their life away, even though you convince yourself that they are up until 4am coz you get on so well and have so much to talk about. ------> it’s just an example of what i’ve seen numerous times.