I dont know.. I always thought that was for desperate people but these days it seems to be getting more and more popular especially with people using other websites like bebo and myspace as a dating website in a way like they would look for peoples profiles who live near them find someone who they thinks sounds and looks attractive and get in contact with them, this seems to be getting a more and more popular way to meet people.

But yeah just because they're online you never know you might have a great bond together like birdgirl said go for it!