h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Can you have a conversation with someone you don't know? That's not at all the question I wanted to ask, besides being a remarkably silly question anyway, but it'll serve as a starting point.
A friend of a friend has brought him-/herself to my attention via this praiseworthy institution, and I'm wondering if s/he is someone I know. Being the introspective type (sometimes), I'm now wondering why I'm wondering. Does it matter? Do I need to know who I'm talking to? Can one have a discussion with someone one knows without knowing who they are? Oh dear. I know what I'm trying to say, but somewhere between brain and keyboard it's getting hopelessly garbled.

*cogitating while eating lunch*

Eureka! I have it! What I'm wondering is, would it make a difference to what I'd say to this unknown someone (and what I'd make of their replies) if I knew who they were? More generally, how valid is one's perception of someone 'in the flesh' if it would change how you perceive their mind (as manifested reasonably purely in text-only communication)?
Having, in the past, had a serious long-term relationship that started and was largely conducted online, and being currently in an in-the-flesh one, I'm very interested in this kind of question - in the differences between how you react to someone online and IRL (à la "You've Got Mail" - dreadful movie but interesting concept), and which if either is the more valid point of view, and what it really means to know someone.
Anyway. That was rather deeper than I had intended - it's only lunchtime, after all - but I knew that train of thought was going somewhere and I had to find out where!

Your question is a good one 'Even'.
What also must be considererd is that the other person must have the exactly the same question and therefore is equaly on their guard adn what sort of conversation does that make for?
The long distance relationship you speak of, how does one get romanticaly involved with someone who,lets be honest,could very well be a six year old girl?
By the way you seem to have been able to make 42 out of your R.No.
can you verify this for me? 1+1+1(5*8)+1/8 = 42 It must be done on sci-calculator!

Your sum is close, but it makes 42 and one-eighth. Try this:

(11-1)+(5*8*1)-8 = 42

I'll answer the rest of your comment tomorrow - right now I'm rushing out of the office, and refuse to be here a second longer than absolutely necessary!

Only one way to find out.
Add me to your friends!!!

I already did. Therefore I demand enlightenment!

Maybe i mislead you. I won't be telling you who i am at the moment, sorry.
What i meant was that you should add me to your friends (mostly because when a visitor goes to your space and you havn't added any friends it says, 'Even' has no friends' Its horrible!)
and in doing that it would be the first step in showing to yourself that yes you can know not to whom you speak and still have a meaningful conversation.
(Though my fear of your being a six year old girl/Convict still plauges me with great em em ... plauge!)
By the way i have sworn TRiG and am soon to swear Moke (thank you for discovering him by the way!) to secrecy as to the identity of my em ... Identity!

TRiG and Moke can vouch, if not for my sanity, at least for my having attained my majority and retained my liberty. (That is, I'm not six and not in prison.)

That statement does not rule out the possibility that you may be 7 and on parole, but i will accept that Moke and TRiG know you and that is enough for me (To never go near you again Yes! I did it!
Bye.

Something has just occurred to me which I should have thought of ages ago. You don't know who I am either, do you? Otherwise you wouldn't be afraid I was a pre-pubescent jail-bird...

Now I can't figure out whether to be delighted you don't have the advantage of me, or insulted that you haven't tried to find out.

I make no comment on that whatsoever! (Coughing quietly into his and and looking away) You never know.
I guarantee this will mess with your head Do i know your identity or do i not. Or am i feining ignorance as to your identity? Enjoy your doubt!

You're older than six, certainly.

Well, physically at least. Mentally, I've been known to go as low as three. It can be very refreshing to give your adult mind a break and go back to the important issues of toddler-hood, like where your next piece of chocolate is coming from.

Has the train of thought left it's metaphysical station?

Remove that extraneous apostrophe IMMEDIATELY!

Its been a while! Were you off saving the world or something? Where were you?

Oh they were happy days, eh? And I'm the only one of the bunch still around. Pity, that.

TRiG.