Another person whom I communicate regularly with via the internet is my new girlfriend. She's one of the most internet savvy friends I have, and I really enjoy being able to 'talk shop' with her. But it's kind of an awkward experience to read about yourself on someone else's website. This all bleeds into a full-length post I was going to make about how people tend to be far more honest online than off. Honest isn't the right word.
People seem to be a lot more forthcoming online than off.
So you're free to share at your own pace. You're also not subject to the discomfort of sharing something awkward, because there will be no immediate reaction. The biggest drawback to all of this, of course, is the sterility - the lack of inflection. When chatting on ICQ with my girlfriend, it's all too easy to misinterpret a joke because the snide grin is lacking. It's also easy to miss the compliments, because the warmth of the eyes isn't there.