What is Real?

Working from home, i spend a lot of time in front of my computer screen and the fact that my job is supporting an online community - i also spend a lot of time investigating, using and trying to understand virtual communities. I find the notion of virtual friendship and/or community a challenging one. I think community is a key aspect of human existence.We are social beings. The virtual aspect however is a product of technology. The youth of today can somehow "feel" a sense of belonging virtually, and do not get me wrong that is great, really great. We all need to feel like we belong. But there is a physical result to belonging to a community that is not replicated virtually. That connection, that physical interaction between humans is truly what community is about. I do not mean deep friendships and loving relationships cause we can only have a few of those but that walking down the street, smiling to the person that crosses your path or buying your milk at the corner store and saying have a nice day kind to the clerk kind of connection, community. I do not know what it is called but it is deeply human, it is needed and it can never be replaced by something virtual. These communities should co-exist and should develop in concert with one another. Certainly not one at the expense of another - and if i may be so bold, on the contrary they should actively support one another.