What's unique is you may not have ever seen this person. Never looked into their eyes and gave them a hug. But what you do know is that you would fly halfway around the world to help them out.
You are so right about this...It truly is amazing how close of a bond you can form with others you haven't physically met. But due to the walls I think many of us put up in person I bet many of us know each other better then if we knew each other in "real life".