If you talk with someone for a while, you can find out a lot about their beliefs, interests, level of maturity and education, etc. Oh, and their writing ability. You'll find that out pretty quickly :P

Of course, you can create a fake identity online. But you can do that offline as well, to a lesser extent - hiding an extramarital affair, hiding socially unacceptable beliefs or interests, being really nice in some circles and mean in other circles, etc. And there's only so much that you can fake. A smart person can pretend to be ignorant, but ignorant people can't convincingly pretend to know what they're talking about.

The main difference between getting to know people online and offline is their physical characteristics. There are people I met on the internet years ago whom I consider to be good friends, and I don't even know what their hair or skin colour is. I'm sure they would tell me if I asked them, but to me these details are unimportant.

Most definitely. Most people express themselves better through writing then through words. I know my FB friends better through that then through a bonfire on a friday night...well some of them. So yeah, you see the good, bad, and the ugly.

I think it is possible to judge a person's character through internet chatting or even texting. Firstly, even though a person may lie through these means of communication, a person may also express him or herself through internet chatting or texting and most of the times, as the conversations becomes more often, the person may actually open up to you making it even more comfortable when meeting in person. You can judge a person by how intellectual their conversations are and also by the type of questions they tend to ask you. Many of us would say that internet chatting is unsafe but so is meeting a person face to face, because you never know who you are chatting with and if a person wants to lie to you, they can do it behind a computer or phone or even infront of your face.

But a talk in general is all that is needed for a good behavior. Of course a lot can be judged from the way they write, their courtesies and manners, and even if one does fake it to impress others it is something which they will not want to shed afterwards; it will become their identity at a later stage and will no more be a mere 'faux'! If a person does lie while chatting/texting how can one be so sure as to the person won't lie in person? A person who is 180 degrees from their words will not become a 360 even after you meet them in person! Even the essays of Mark Twain were identified as a sarcastic one for granted without his personal presence...and his attitude and mindset too was only known by his works...not by any bunch of mates he possessed!

Moreover, it is possible that a person is more able and feels more free to express his/her own self by use of words. After all, one should never undervalue the power of words, and that is best expressed in writing. One cannot fake himself or herself much through internet, and even if they do, they won't be any different in person as well, a very few who can never be trusted! I know a few of my very good friends whom I am acquainted only via internet, and I am pretty sure of their character. Thinking as such is really stupid since this world ain't full of wicked cheats, there are a good many noble people around too! :D

I wouldn't consider it to be called judging anyone! Its rather obvious to see through people by there personal opinions, insight on topics, and there behavior with certain issues!! humans have very strong senses that we use to warn ourselves against others that differ from our own personal beliefs and feelings!

I think a person can be judged somewhat from Internet chatting.

I don't know. But I quit talking to someone because she was 30 and texted like a 13 year pregnant white trash trailer queen on the Springer show - you know all caps, wat instead of what, yo, fo' reals, blah. I have standards damnit.