Connections

I think you just have to work through the idle chatter as vampire_neko said, my partner met one of his best friends on here, and I have a couple I talk to quite often. You just have to find the right people; the more you have in common the more likely you'll keep talking and develop deeper connections.

Also another idea is starting a thread phrasing a question or a bit of food for thought and wait and see if that stir up a conversation or find out some interesting answers.