yeah, i'm inclined to agree that irc is definitely the way to go. I've made a few people i actually consider friends there which is quite an accomplishment for me.

anything else, f.i. commenting on someones lj/myspace/whatever, Myspace friends especially has not and will not get you anything but the shallowest kind of friend.

(actually it got me laid once but i deeply regretted that in a bad way so it doesn't count)