You're very welcome. I imagine I'm kind of preaching to the choir here, since the majority of people who read my LJ are online friends and acquaintances of some description.

That's appalling that you have to resort to calling your internet friends 'pen pals'. Luckily my real-life friends and family are pretty accepting/understanding of the validity and strength of my online friendships, or at least tactful enough to keep their feelings to themselves.