I would say that real friendship requires intimate conversation - discussing things that you wouldn't share with just anyone. This is what separates friends from acquaintances.
Intimate conversation, by definition, must be (or at least feel) private. So if you communicate with someone face to face, by phone, or by email, you may maintain the feeling of privacy necessary for real conversation. I'd allow that "private" Facebook messages might serve the same purpose.
Wall posts, however, could not. Everything is said with half a mind to how everyone else will read it.
That's only part conversation; the other part is performance.
I agree. Email, IM's do not replace face to face contact. We're biologically wired for those type of interactions, not online ones. It's a true generalization, even if there are exceptions.
Intimate conversation, by definition, must be (or at least feel) private. So if you communicate with someone face to face, by phone, or by email, you may maintain the feeling of privacy necessary for real conversation. I'd allow that "private" Facebook messages might serve the same purpose.
Wall posts, however, could not. Everything is said with half a mind to how everyone else will read it.
That's only part conversation; the other part is performance.