PAL and TWB are great places to hang out for me not so much for the purpose of networking, but to enjoy good ideas, good company, and sparkling conversation.
That's the way to make friends, and if they like you and what you have to say, they'll follow you and upvote your posts and comments. Certainly people go to these chat rooms to get noticed, but when you are genuinely interested and contribute, it is natural for people to warm to you and become familiar. I have a hard time sitting still that long.