interesting topic.
for me, online has been a safe way to discover my own lmitations and desires. with each online conversation or interaction i learn a bit more about what kind of submissive i am and what kind of Dominant i will need to teach and train me. it has been a means of discovering whether this is to be a phase or a lifestyle choice.
online has been invaluable and without it i don't think that i would be as far as i am today because i believe it would have taken me much longer to go into a local community environment unescorted.