I did not know anyone from AllDeaf.com when I'd joined.
I've met, at one point or another, with some ADers before I would know who they were on AllDeaf.com.
I will always embrace them in person. I always welcome any sign of humanity.
17 times (I have a scorecard on my monitor's side) I've been contacted by people via AIM and Yahoo!, claiming to know me via AllDeaf.com.
All who you interact with via AllDeaf are human - I'd like to believe and all are unique; not duplicates. Some fascinate me; some come up with so many questions that I'm, quickly, turned off.
Ultimately, your self-view of your self-value is put to the test here. There is, overall, respect for each other (even though, some of us have choice words to make you believe differently).
Be yourself and be strong. You can tell a tree by its fruit. If your fruit is not rotten, then you've nothing to worry.
Keep your chin up.