It doesn't seem false to me if you think that what Bear is talking about is projecting a false/non-true/idealized image on to a stranger. Because I can't do that to people I know. I might have more emotions attached to them, more expectations based on how real our friendship is, but the image I have for them is very much rooted in what I observe, hear, and get from them in terms of factual, interactive, tangible interaction. I do think you can get to know someone online, but I also think it's easier to do that in person.

The more canon on is exposed to, the more reliably one can predict the subject's behavior, but this strikes me as being true regardless of whether one comes across this canon by watching their interviews on YouTube, reading their blog, or meeting them in person. Regardless of how you know it, the more you know about someone . . . well, the more you know about them (true or false). And even this is never a certain guarantee against them doing something unexpected!