I agree with Johnny that to really know someone you need to see their facial expressions and hear the inflections in their voice. The communication we have had in cyberspace is better than I had expected.  IM is in real time.  However, for example, I have never met Nate in person.  I have seen his picture; from reading his messages on screen I know that he has a good sense of humor, but without seeing facial expressions and hearing the inflections in his voice it is difficult to get a true sense of who he really is.  We rely so much on nonverbal cues for meaning.  So much of what is being said is not spoken.  This is one downfall with distance education.  I believe it will improve in the future. 
Already, some people have webcams on their computers and they can look at each other on screen and hear each other talk; only time will tell how things will change.