Why would you have a close "friendship" online when you could have a real one with a touchable person?

As one friend told me it's for the emotional connection. Then there is the lonely syndrome, That being with someone and still feeling alone is hard on the heart and hurts like heck when the emotion is missing. Too connected to leave but too disconnected to feel wanted, loved, sexy, desired and fulfilled. Then there is the self-esteem thing where that online gives you that needed push to excel in the love at hand. Then again, I may be far off base on this!