Not a silly question. We don't meet until or if we see each other. There is no way of knowing if the person is who they say they are, how honest they are about themselves. I've found people don't really know each other until you start sharing more space, maybe even living together. Somehow reality sets in, nasty hidden habits come out, personalities clash etc. I once thought I was in love with a man I liked and only knew online, skype calls ...it took me years to realize I could not say I love you, to him, and really mean it. I still am tempted to believe I love him. But until you know all the parts of someone that aren't "all so pretty" we can't KNOW someone.