General Discussion

Kinda.

If I recognize someone I did group back then in old EQ, and assuming we have a relatively good friendship, then I will still consider that person a "friend".  However, this means only a little bonus chance to get that trade or that group going.  Maybe I will even "help" someone with a problem they have, if I am in the mood (a friend to me is someone who MAY help you, not necessarily will).

It would be more accurate to compare MMO-friendship to EQ faction.  Guilds stuff doesn't affect your faction with Anofalye unless you join guilds I despite.  You left my favorite guild?  Sure, might be tons of reasons, for all I know maybe a hot person in RL ask you to.  You join any guild or remain guildless?  Sure.  You join a guild I despite...now you take a hit; evil creature!  :P  I mean, sure, you join Five Rings or Triad on old Luclin, that is kinda cool I guess, but eh, you may just as well leave them for various reasons and still be a nice person.

Peoples I meet on old BBS are still friends I enjoy playing with.  Peoples I meet in RL from MMOs that I didn't know before...I lost sight of them all.  They are kinda friends.

if the MMOs like each other... =P

seriously, it depends. But I am more sceptic these days after years of experience then once.

I've met some people that I seriously think I'll be friend with them forever. I have met a few of them in real-life after knowing them for 2-3 years in-game.

So yes, I do believe you can have a true real friendship from an MMO, I think many people act fake online, but some are mature and some arnt.

I have about three buddies from Shadowbane about 5 years ago that I still talk to on the phone just about everyday, we're all still game hopping together..lol

Of cos, it all depends on how you define a friend.  Do you need to meet him in person and knows about his personal details, like the primary school kid-mates you know?

For me friends online are friends I interact with and enjoy doing so, online.  I never need to meet them in RL, b/c the purpose of my interaction with them is the business online.  We need not go camp a boss together, we just need to interact online say chatting or whatever.  We might go beyond that, like moving onto other games, that is additional development.  As I move around a lot in RL, I have difficulties meeting people I know online.  I only got to meet 1 person once.

The key is, do you enjoy interacting with them during the online sessions?  If you do, they serve the role as people you want to be with.  Actually, as a friend who never meet in person, there is less burden in accepting them with open arms.  After all, I know I have less fear about meeting a crook, b/c I will never share my account with them, and all they can do to hurt me is borrow a few gold and move on.