Is socializing in a video game real socializing?

Here's an interesting article about a World of Warcraft social life. Guess when people say MMO players don't have a social life, they forget that they play with other REAL PEOPLE, not robots. If chatting (text and voice) doesn't count as social, I suppose when you call your friend on the phone or text them, you're not being social, you must actually be in the same room. Curious, I'd better turn off that phone, it's getting in the way of my social life!