I could have written every word you said; _so true_ all of it.*
   And yes, I don't think we're talking to ourselves - and that's
   the wonder of it all to me.* There's a difference between
   looking at the glass in front of a mirror and talking, and
   looking at the glass in front of a computer monitor or phone and
   talking; an alien species may not see much difference but *we*
   know the difference... and that is that there _really *is*_
   somebody else "out there". Not alone. And, like you, were a post
   apocolyptic world happen in my lifetime, I would search for
   survivors. And... I suppose... in a way, that is what I've been
   doing my whole life.* Searching for survivors.* I believe that
   you are a survivor, as am I.* There's rarely a moment that I'm
   not absolutely amazed at the ability to connect... all this time
   and it's never gotten old, I've rarely taken it for granted...
   and it's even helped me appreciate a *little bit more* my
   relationships in 3D life... ...but in comparison.. not putting
   down the relationships I have in 'real life' of course... the
   people I know online *are* ... I don't know.. _more_.* More
   what?* I don't know.* Just... *more*. It's almost as *being
   limited* in expressiveness to words on a screen or other digital
   means of expression, forces us to focus and work harder at being
   understood and at understanding.* Plus we can an amazing amount
   of control.* I don't have to worry about raising an eyebrow for
   a moment and then having someone be mad at me because "that
   means you didn't believe me" and all sorts of body language
   shtuff. Some people complain about the Internet and its ways as
   limitations to communication but to me, it's a much more free
   form of expression.* Who want to see me sit here in a chair,
   looking straight ahead, typing really fast into a keyboard?*
   That's dull. But the words coming off of my fingertips?* They
   represent the stuff you CAN'T SEE - the invisible stuff that's
   happening inside of my brain and self; the words and concepts
   and ideas that nobody would have the patience to listen to in
   person, if I was speaking these words instead. I'll run these
   through a voice synthesizer speaking at normal speed.* I'm going
   to see how long it would take to say all of this.* I bet it's
   far longer than someone would usually have patience to listen.
   But reading is *fast* - very fast... you can skim.. you can jump
   around.* I guess writing is my #1 form of communication.* Plus
   you can take your time... no pressure... no rush.* My 100%
   Korean-only speaking friend can run my words through a
   translator and get the 'gist' of what I'm saying.* I can run his
   words through a translator and get the 'gist' of what he's
   saying. But in real life?* Would we talk?* Would we know each
   other?* if we passed on the street, would we sit down on a park
   bench and chat?* Well, if we knew each other, sure.* But
   randomly?* Not very likely. But here?* it's normal.* It's how
   things are.* And I'd be bold enough to say - it's how things
   *should be* in real life.* Free to express without fear of
   judgement; a dream realized by being 'here'. Where would I be if
   computers and the Internet did not exist?* If they never
   existed?* Honestly?* I have no idea. [responding to: PSJ who
   wrote: By making improbable relationship probable (with
   technology, or something), we can break that barrier which
   blocks us from learning more about those people who have been
   connected together through astonishing 10^930 possibilities
   (about -10^8% of earth's population and -10^483% of possible
   relationship "string"). I like that fact; in fact, by connecting
   ourselves to the "Guild of The Strangers" (also known as
   Internet and anonymous club), we can get a good connection
   together with someone we meet there; it could be the one you
   know, or it could be the one you don't know, or it could be
   nobody. Through some exchange of information, we can learn about
   the person, and be friends with them; This is how internet
   works. It's a virtual society composed of 0's and 1's. (And
   about Ham Radio, it's actually true; the longest distance for
   successful transmission was 355.06Km, about across the Pacific
   Ocean and China) I love to look back into my life, embarrass
   myself, laugh at myself, get frustrated, and so on -- Thinking
   about possibilities and results that never happened, or
   happened. Every minute, every second we are changing
   continuously; either better or worse. It's freaking awesome. And
   if we WERE INDEED talking to ourselves, that'd make me sad. But
   by reaching (or trying to reach) people I know, or I don't know
   but I want to be in the relationship of some sort, I can feel
   alive again. I am very social; and that makes me feel good about
   the humanity. What if, the world has crumbled down, and the
   post-apocalypse days has begun? The very first thing I would do
   is to search for survivors.]