reflect on what you just suggested.
isn't it weird enough that we make up names/pictures for ourselves and talk to strangers on the internet without starting to talk to randomers on instant message on your phone (which somehow makes it more personal the therefore more loserish/creepy)
what would you say if your gf was looking through your bbm and saw [insert NS name] and asked who it was. "well you see i really like this internet site, everyone is real neat and we talk about skiing and random stuff all day" "so it's an internet friend?" "ummm yerr i suppose so" "haven't you any real friends?" "umm yea but.." "but what?"