Perhaps the dope is sort of like the swarm theory that I just saw in another thread.
Friends? Not so much as a trusted co-worker.
A co-worker that knows pretty much everything, and can’t rat you out. 
Hey, I’ve never met any Dopers!
Or have I?
Nah, no way. I haven’t.
I refer to Dopers and WoW-guildies akin as “internet friends.” And I think of certain specific individuals as my “internet crushes.” I’ve never met any so far, may never meet any (although I’d still like that lunch with Mouse_Maven), but I’ve had fests with people from other 'net communities and I can truly say I knew them quite well. The wife of one of them was quite interested in some of the old war stories that surfaced - her husband hadn’t been part of that particular community for years, having given it up when it interfered with dating her, but another person who was coming knew he was in the area and had invited him; we knew skeletons of his that she’d never had the slightest hint of. One of my longer-lasting bf’s came from one of those fests 
Yeah, you’re acquaintances, a sounding board, and many of you have boobs that I hold in the highest regard!
By the way, we need something reliable to spot fellow Dopers on the street. I was talking to someone that I thought could be a Doper, but then I made an ass of myself when I brought up 1930s Death Rays and such. I even went so far as to explain “You know…death rays…‘pew pew pew!’…kinda like…lasers…” while cocking my fingers like guns.
Yeah, we need something better. Like a t shirt or something.
I think we need another word. Webfriend?
My friends are people I’ve met in real life, who I like and trust. I know how they are likely to react and what they like doing.
The SDMB is packed full of knowledge - from finding obscure film references to sciences (like astronomy and maths) to sympathy for family situations. 
There are posters here who I know will give accurate information. 
There are those who share my interests.
there are a few … err … slightly unusual ones too. :eek:
So the anonymous posters here have got a solid reputation with me, but I don’t know them in the way I know my friends.
Having said all that, I’m looking forward to my first Dopefest in Las Vegas!
Start at the top, that’s what I say.
I started a thread similar to this one — much poorlier writed and less concise — and the most interesting response I got was from WhyNot.
As for me, I suspect my Doper friends ignore me a lot more than my IRL friends.
Of course he/she didn’t understand you, who’s ever heard of a death ray gun from the 1930’s?
On topic: No, not friends.
It doesn’t work if you never tell me you love them. See? They’ll get all droopy and upset if they think nobody loves them.
hangs head in shame
I’ll just go sit over here now.
Now there’s a ringing endorsement!
Aw shucks. Yeah, I still feel that way.
Damn – I knew I shouldn’t’ve gushed like that … 
I believe you! There has probably never been a poster who has made me madder than him. I said something to that effect once, and he e-mailed me to apologize, and I we corresponded a little. I think if we knew each other IRL, we could definitely be friends (don’t know if he feels the same way, but he was very nice in his e-mails!)
As far as friends on the SDMB, I definitely have an affection for certain posters here, but it’s not quite the same as a real-life friends. It’s hard to judge how people feel about you when it’s just words on a screen…much easier when you have visual & vocal cues in conversation.
Some of them have gotten to be my pals; the others I think of as friendly folks, supporters and acquaintances.
Yes, I would say I consider four or five Dopers I’ve not yet met to be my friends, and several others are in the region of pals.
If I’m relating a story from a thread to my not web savvy IRL people, I just shorthand it to “my friend online” even if I’ve never had an actual exchange with that individual Doper. It’s just easier.
And everything WhyNot said, as usual.
I agree. I couldn’t consider anyone that I’ve never met to be a friend. It has so much to do with personal chemistry. Impossible to get that online. (For me, anyway.)
This is a terrific community, and I love hanging out here. But there aren’t any specific individuals that I seek out or hope to connect with when I log in.
Perhaps I’ll make a friend or two at the Dopefest next weekend.
I’m friends with all of you!
Except the ones that I’m not…and particularly not the ones that I despise…
I like that word. Webfriend. “I was talking* with my webfriends last week, and they said that George Bush is going to be assassinated over Scooter Libby’s pardon.” Then I would have to explain who Scooter Libby was, and
why he was pardoned.
I wish I was going to the Las Vegas Dopefest. Say hi to DMark and LVGeoGeek for me (and various SO’s). 
Oh yeah, the OP - not friends per se. Webfriends covers it for me. I consider the ones I have met as friends, though.
*We need a word for talking in message boards, too. “I was typing with my webfriends” doesn’t have the right feel.
Conversing?
“Talking”? “Chatting”? “Holding oral discourse with”?