Finding the Balance

The chat environment gives the user a lot of control, something that is difficult to have in the real world. I can decide how much of myself I want to share with someone and if a conversation gets too intense, I can just leave. I could never do that in the real world without making myself feel bad or uncomfortable. I guess, at times, I forget that there is a real person on the other side of the keyboard. How much of this is real and how much is just playing games? How much of a real relationship can you have in a not so real place? I am just left with questions but I am still searching for the balance in the world of chat.