I like how in online communities we get time and space to think. I can word things better in writing, take my time and make sure it says as close to what I want as I can get. I can be a little more directly honest, get around more of my filters in writing because I know if things "go wrong" I can take a break from the computer and still have "more" of my life (as opposed to taking a break from real Life, not really possible or something I want to do much of :-)

The flip side of that though is that one can be "sincere" online without as much cost or effort as it takes, for me at least, in person. But what I learn online and the risks I take, I can often adapt those to real life so do become a better person from being online.