Online game communities: do they really "count"?

Had an interesting conversation with some guys in a clan I play Battlefield 3 with.  Does hanging out online in a game with online friends count as social interaction?  My vote is yes, but it does seem like gaming really just has some kind of stigma as something that loners do.  However, when I'm playing team-based multiplayer games, I never play alone unless I absolutely have to, but then I play with a headset and try to meet other people with mics.  I want to know what other gamers think about this.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/09/070915110957.htm

http://webspace.ship.edu/jacamp/psyberpsych/Gaming/social_interaction.html