I think we’re friends in a meaningful sense. My in—real-life friends live all over the world and we have a group thread. I don’t see that as too different.

I remember hearing some futurist a decade or so ago say how indistinguishable real-life and online life will be eventually. At the time I couldn’t believe it but your comment synthesizes it in a way.

I would be considerably more lonely, less inspired and knowledgeable without this community. That’s friendship to me.