Dadaist and raven18 have the right idea, here. We all have stories, it seems, about meeting people from online. Can't be scared to take a chance, it's not much different from asking someone on a date as far as fear of rejection and possible relationship failures.
My first online girlfriend has been engaged to a guy from the net an had it break up. It's easy to lie on the net about yourself, it's also easier to only show what you want, but think about it. Is the guy at the deli guaranteed to be more "normal" then the guy who posted a bio of himself to an online dating service? They also have telephone dating services, which can be just as scary. The advantage is, you can meet ANYONE online.
It's like, I believe it's possible to find a compatable mate here (online), especially considering I live in a small town with poor transporation options. It's a big world and we're all looking for a needle in a haystack, proverbally. Of course, if I don't pop my head outside and look around 3-4 times a week she might be right next door, how would I know?
I've visted a few people from the net, I've had a few visit me. My dream is to get rich and through a big bar-b-que and fly in all my IRC friends, like a big chat room with no X in the corner
My 2 cents.