I have used some of these emails in this column. I hope you don't mind as I don't have all the words, but you spoke how I feel. Alot of people already know what the content of that article contained, but I don't think anybody realised the true extent that some people will go to for love. Love comes in many forms, loving a person, loving your dog, loving irc, loving quake. Its all variations of a instintive need that we all have, which is the need to love or be loved by someone.
Quake is a spectator sport.
It's a form of competition, irc is like the pub or the locker-room. You go there after games, etc to chat about life or just have fun. You meet people, your teamates, your enemies, your friends. This is based on your perceptions and how people present themselves online. Relationships are formed.