A random stranger. Sorry not sorry dude. I never consider someone on the internet as a friend if I don't have any irl connection with them. I rarely call someone I know in real life as a friend, at best, I'd call them an acquaintance.
Man, it's nothing personal, it's 30 years of being on the internet in one form or another. I enjoy spending time in these forums, but they can't replace the relationships with family and friends in meatspace. I have also seen someone who seemed 'normal' suddenly come unglued online, and it's weird. So please don't be insulted, just realize that what goes on inside the box isn't the same as what goes on in the rest of the world, and some of us want a bit of a firewall there just in case.
but what do you think about us, tho?