Majority of the people I know call me Sekotta or Seko or Sekky....its almost weird when they cal me by my real name anymore.

I'm not a big fan of my irl name (though someone telling me it sounds awfully close to Magneto's actual name made it a bit more bearable lol), so I'm often called by my internet handle of the respective community (though in most communities, I have the same handle; which is not Yeno :P).

As for the character/fursona... I guess it's a sort-of extension? I use it as an alter ego, I guess. I have a lot of characters with which I can identify, though. I don't have some sort of deep emotional or spiritual attachment to my fursona.

I thought people referred to each other by their usernames here. XD

Everyone calls me noka even though my fursona is named Blitz. Not to mention, my icon is showing someone else's OC.

I'm guessing if the username matches the fursona name, that's where the alias becomes hard to detach.

Everyone offline as well as online refers to me as 'Wolfie'. I've actually had this nickname long before furry was even a thing though. It's been my nickname since I was very little. Long story. X)

I'd say my character Wolfie is a pretty good representation/extension of myself. We're both average joes. But generally happy and content. I put a lot of my own personality into him. :)

Funny enough, my fursona name is John Andrews, my real name being Andrew they generally call me Andrews or Andrew haha.

But as an extension of myself? Hmm, I wouldn't say currently per se but I guess in a reality where anthropomorphic beings did exist I'd say my fursona would probably represent what it would be.

Well, i'm a cosplayer, so I get a long list of names, namely -

Slendy
Kaito
Gildarts
Len
Voku (my sona)
Zero
Kalin
Nero
Dante
and my actual name - Ben.
Which in turn gives me -

Benny
Benny-boy
Benji
and Bane, since I adopt the voice of Bane from Batman constantly.

Although Slendy is common since I stalk people in my Morphsuit constantly x3

It's kind of weird when people say my first name, but it's not weird when the children I take care for say it (I work in Early Childhood).

I answer equally to my RL and furry names. Part of this is down to having been in a long term relationship and living with a partner who was furry, and who also had the same RL name as me, so we tended to call each other by our furry names.
But I've always been Saba and Saba has always been me, he's just prettier and has stripes. :3

"Huskion" is more of a handle to me, and people call me by my real name both in person and online. It's more common in the UK to call other furries their real names after you get to know them well enough.

Well as I use my craft name for my fursona's name I'm normally called Road or Roady. I enjoy that name better as it something that I chose to be me. To me my fursona is basically me, though a tad cooler looking and a wolf anthro.

For me, personally, Kaine and Slander are both extensions of myself. Kaine being my Male Fursona, Slander being my Female Fursona. In real life, I am transgender, FtM. Prior to "coming out" about my gender identity, Slander was, and still is, me. Though, upon coming out, and developing my new "out-and-about" personality, I have evolved into; Kaine. I do plan to change my real name to Kaine, simply because, not only is it my Fursona's name, but it is my real name as well. So it all fits together there. Kaine and Slander are my two halves. Kaine is my serious, deadly side. Where as, Slander is my more outgoing, fun loving, friendly side. Complete opposites, though they make up who I am.

I, personally, loathe my real name...with a burning passion. Thus, I ask those who want my name, to call me by; Kaine. :3 It's just who I am.

So, to answer any questions; My Fursona's are extensions of myself. I have based them solely off of my personality and in a spiritual sense as well. They are me, in Fursona form, so to speak. :3 Thus, I enjoy being called by those names, versus my real name. 8D

I've always been a bull, personally. The name 'Eik' simply didn't stick until I made a DK of a similar name, and then everyone began calling me Eik. It stuck, and while my fursona is different than my DK, the DK and any other characters aren't extensions of myself.

I'm Eik, DK Eik is DK Eik. :D

as my "character" is essentially myself, i suppose we're merely extensions of one another with a touch of suspension of disbelief. and they're more a concept and distillation of the more feline aspects of my own personality. my own personal digital thought-form, i suppose that i can utilize as a nom de plume/guerre when i wish to. and my "online" handle has always just been a nick-name for me for those individuals who are more acquaintance than bosom chum who might not rate knowing my real name. i've always been twitchy about naming, knowing names and naming people personally. like the witches of yore, there's power in knowing someone's name. but still, my nickname ain't going on my driver's license any time soon, that's just showing a bit -too- much hatred toward yourself.

well my main fursona's name is just a mix of mine, if i switched the 3rd and 5th letters then it becomes Johan instead of Jonah

My character is me, and I'm him. He's sort of a more idealized version of myself. If there was a parallel universe where people are animals, he's me and I'm him. We share the same initials as well as personality and traits :)

'sides that, I love werewolves/lycanthropes, hence the combination of those two words to make up a name (which is a bit hard to pronounce for most people.. for some reason haha!). I wouldn't mind being called Were both on net or in real life though. Werewolves are just my thing and why not let people around you remember you by the things you're interested in?

Cheers, it's a good topic to think about. :)

So for me, my fursona is just an extension of myself. My playful, slightly mischievous side. And I use my real name and fursona name (Skye) interchangeably when I get to know you.
For those I meet online and have never meet in real life, I have a tendency to stick to my fursona name because I don't necessarily think you need to know my real name *Shrugs* Its more a fear of creeps on the internet I guess? hahaha

Also, the name of my fursona was easy, its a name I've been in love with for years. And I respond to it easily.

I also think it would be different in suit. I would 100% of the time, in suit, only want to be called Skye, where as at a meet with just a tail on *Shrugs* Either or, haha. And I think I would want people in the fandom that I don't know personally to know my fursona name and use that. Skye is an extension of myself and so using her name... Its kind of, natural?

^_^

My fursonas represent parts of me, so in some way an extention of me. Most of my non-furry friend call me by my real name. The furry one tend to call me by my fursona name, even if they do know my real name. Anyway, I don't mind anymore which name they call me :)

I had the same discussion about this recently with my fiancé and our good friend Rico
We came to the conclusion that our characters are either developing into our ideal selves (more confident, physically stronger, more deviant) - some of those traits have entered into us as people; or on the other hand they're a figment of traits which can't be developed physically for whatever reason (Tig is a feral fur, but for obvious reasons that can't be changed in real life for example)

As for fursona names, if I know someone well enough I'll use both their fur name and their real name interchangeably (I don't mind being called by my real name of Kate, it shows people are interested to know the person behind the fursona) :3

I kinda have the same view as you, but a bit more lax. My closest friends on here know my real name and have complete permission to call me by it or any other nickname whenever they want, unless we're talking somewhere anyone can see (comments, shouts, a stream chat, etc). But over skype or notes, they can call me my real name if they like. My main character, Eira, isn't exactly an extension of myself, more of just a character heavily based off of my own personality and such. I tend to think that "me" Eira and the actual character are somewhat separate entities, "me" Eira being more of an online alias, while the character is, well, the character, if that makes sense...

Most of mine are extensions of myself, but I would want to be called by my real name unless I was at some kind of event where people don't know me well or I don't know them well and they just know my fursona names? It actually kind of catches me off guard on wh if someone I don't know knows my real name, haha. So in that case, I'd mostly only rather be called by my real name if we've already actually introduced each other.

Also, excite to see your Tibetan mastiff :o

Well, it's just a nickname. I wouldn't mind at all if someone called me by my username.

My fursona, Aeris, is literally me in furry form XD

We have the exact same personality :)


However, after I have told someone my real name, it can be weird if they don't call me by it

A furry name is a name that you pick yourself, not one your parents give you. To me, both are equally "real". When a friend mentions me by my fur name, it feels safe in their mouth like they're sending me a secret that only we know about. It carries history and stories. And that's a lot of weight. I guess when you meet someone, you go by the first thing you know them by (birth or furry name), because that's where all the meaning is attached to. Switching over is hard because it's like you're erasing the old memories.

yes I am a 2XL

tru fax

My main 'sona, Ishiga, is for all intents and purposes an extension of myself as the fandom deems. He's literally just my face in the fandom with no real difference between personality traits and mannerisms. The physical differences are obvious and plentiful but that goes without saying. I took this interest and this whole community to give my self-image a chance to be as cool as I wanted to be.

I have 3 other characters that, while I do consider extensions and fursonae, are not so directly representational of me. They are fragments of me and my personality as a whole, inspired by my likes, the animals they are and their habits, and the parts of me that they represent.

For instance, my tiger, Imatsu, is the passion, lust, and anger that is a very real part of who I am. I'm a very sexual person in general and as such the tiger fit the bill. He is my chinese sign, as well he has the power of fire, very aggressive and draining powers inspired by the elemental influence the Chinese zodiac incompasses as well.

The lion and bear are the same, And while they are easier to embellish since they're intentionally exaggerated facets of me, they still hold a piece of me that I identify greatly with, giving me a connection to them that is impossible to detach or trivialize.

Just how I roll I guess. I could elaborate more but I'm pretty much sleep. Figured I'd just throw my pennies in.

I think it is different for each person. i personally do not like my human name (yes i say human name ) and i go by Ark which is as im sure you figured out short for Arkarian. I am in the process of legally changing my name to my fursona's name at least the first one :) i generally do not tell people my real name even non furs. for the non furs i simply say call me Ark and if they ask if that's my real name i just say no but its what i've been going by for a long time and tell them i don't remember how it came to be lol.

Almost nobody calls me "Stinkdog" online or off. There may be some people who message me for the first time on AIM or something who do, but I'm quick to give them another option because it can be awkward for both of us if they keep calling me that. My character's name is completely different from my FA handle, but he is only an extension of me in the way that any other Dungeons and Dragons character would be. When I go to conventions, I usually put my FA name on my badge so people can associate the face with the profile, but I still would rather people use my real name.

In short, furry isn't a lifestyle for me, it's a hobby. My "fursona" is a character I play and my handle is a goofy name that I got from a GWAR song. I am myself behind the handle, but I prefer if people call me by my real name. =p

Unless i'm mistaken, shouldn't fursonas be their author's avatar? And the majority have a heavy wish fulfillment in them me included :x.
So, I believe people like being called by their fursona name because they are identified with their cool character, or with his works, or just for
being 'unique'. If anyone calls me by my fursona IRL, I know that person probably saw my works, or my galleries, or anything related.
(not to mention it is funny indeed xD). It can also be that they just don't like their name or, in extreme cases, themselves...

Anyway, for the sake of a secure storytelling, I'm trying lately to set my fursona apart from me as far as I can, little by little.
I don't mind what I'm called, though I will react different depending on who called me, how and where.

I always check the user profile to see what he/she prefers being called... What can I do if I can just call you Orion? ù_u

i prefer my real name, but it doesn't stick

My fur friends irl use my real name and my fursona's name interchangeably
I suppose I prefer that they use my 'sona name because it's not something most people would ever call me

As for my fur friends online, even if we do learn each other's real names, we always stick to our fursona names

many years ago yes very very much
years ago it sorta it did
few years ago felt more like a property
nowadays I feel kinda detached

XDXD XD

I agree with you and prefer real names. I'm a bit old school, though - when I got into the fandom, people didn't really have fursonas (and the term didn't even exist yet). In my case, Soba was not created as a fursona and was intended just as a character; I have numerous other characters in the menagerie, also.

Eventually - especially after I started attending cons - people began referring to me as Soba, and these days, probably 99% of the people I interact with don't even know what my real name is! I just went with it, as Soba is a sufficiently silly and nonthreatening name to sound okay even when verbalized. :)

My fursona's name is Glare, and in the fandom she is a representation of myself. Her personality Is built off mine.

I've never really cared much about what people called me. My character's name is just like a nickname, so I will respond to it if that's the only name you know. But then again, i'll answer to just about anything if I know you're talking about me XD

My dragon char is me. Who I am.

i actually hate calling people by their online alias if i know them on a personal level, especially in real life. likewise, it makes me uncomfortable to hear my online names used, lmao.

Interesting that you mention this subject. In my case, well, I don´t have any fursona or any sort of that, but I can´t ignore the fact that each of my characters are a graphic representation of some emotions, personalities or ideals, nothing physic, pure psychologic.

As for my relation with some other people here? for those that I don´t know I don´t have any other option but to call them by their account name or with the name that they have on their profile. BUT, for my friends, I always rather more to call them by their real name, if they allow me to know it first, of course. If not, regardless, it´s for respect to call them what they want. And about me? I prefere to be called by my real name, Symbolhero, Hero, Red, or Scaly are kinda strange for me to hear XD

Yeah, my fursona is an extension of myself *shrug*

I'd call you Orion because I think of the fursona's name as a nickname of the real user. Besides, calling you Josh would be weird considering that I don't know you.

I havent had enough people who really visited me outside the few, and even then they have called me Ly (lycan shortened) I really honestly dont mind. If they called me by my real name am fine with that too, because I guess my fursona is kinda an extension of myself.
Either that or I have bren called ly so many times its basically just a nickname I recognize myself by, so it doesnt really bother me in the slightest. But hey, that is probably just me I suppose

Well I share a similar view as you, where I call people by their fursona/username until I learn their name. However when people address me, my real name is Billy, and it has bugged me my whole life how unoriginal and thoughtless my parents were in naming me, so I personally really enjoy getting called Beatz.

I did give my fursona a name based on my favorite character from one of my favorite movies. But I do consider my fursona as an extention of myself, similar in almost everything other than the name and a few minor physical changes (no glasses while I do wear them, longer black hair when mine's short and grey). He has my same personality, same quirks, same likes and dislikes. My fursona is what pretty much represents me here.

IIt depends on each person, actually. Some people just make a character to be told apart from other members of the fandom while others prefer to use them as avatars of themselves to, I don't know, immerse themselves more in the fandom? It changes from person to person and whatever each person feels mroe comfortable with

When I saw FA as a teenage age and never join FA, I use my base my look from real life from myself just part of it, I may faked my full name as "Kai Drandro" but my half friends still call me Ed, eduardo or anything they call me.

Well few people people call me "Eduarizard" who are Pokemon fans, and most of them know my real name as "Eduardo" cuz I remove char to Edua. Well I used to be shy for showing my real name but I'm getting use to it.

I say it's normal for people can call each other nicknames

Well the furs of here callme bunny or something like it. But some of them call me by my real name. My fursona also is my secret side, i mean is like the dark side of me. The things that i want to do or i did, my fantasies made true by my character or maybe by me who knows. But is like a part of me, also i put my personality into him.

Ya know. This actually gave me a cool idea of a concept about sonas and there relations to people. Possibly making a more sinister side to it.

In my case when I created my fursona I wanted to create something like a "better version of me".
I sometimes think of my main fursona as something like of role model (even in real life) for me. sometimes when I'm facing some stressful situation I say to myself "calm down and think about what your better self would do"

My fursona, JJ, some people irl call me that, closest friends and FA people do. Reason for that is because of my irl name(s).

For the most part, my sona is a direct representation of me aside from a few notable things like, of course im not that muscular x3 or as tall, he's 1ft taller than i am irl which isnt very tall. Physical traits like the chinstrap beard, goatee, glasses, top head hair, that's all me. His personality is also mine, fierce, fighter but loving and caring, music nerd, musician, Sax player (saxwuff) :P

Reason I picked wolf is because "wolfman" is a name that followed me since i was 5 years old, I have lots of hair, always had, even at birth.

http://www.furaffinity.net/journal/602752/

TLDR: yes

I always felt my character not so much as me, but what I want to be like, personality like at least. Through calling me by my character name, it allows me to push myself to act how I want and feel like any thoughts about me is about my character and not myself allowing me to be more outgoing and sorts.
Though, I am called by my character name around furries and not when I'm around non furry friends, it also helps translate how I'd act. Like you wouldn't act the same way around your family as your friends, this just gives an extra push.

Hmm....yeah I would have to say Erikku is an extension of myself. Personality, morals and what not are the same. However we look nothing a like.
However, I've had people on FA and DA call me Erikku and Erick. After all Erikku is just the Japanese way of saying my name ^^;

I think this is a good question though. Many people see there sona as an extension of themselves while others don't. It's fascinating to say the least.

I'm really, really late on the draw thanks to traveling and having a guest, and I'm a little out of it right now as I type, but I might as well reply anyway. And yes, I know it's all madness, but I'm feeling strangely uninhibited right now.

To me, Torsut is kind of an identity. Not something that I resort to, or just use online. but a full-on identity that's evolved as the years have passed by. Writing about years-ago Torsut is equivalent to writing about experiences I had in school years ago, in that I'm still very embarrassed about some of the things I've done, and wish I could change it, but feel as though changing too much of it would be dishonest to the point of giving me guilt.

I've thought about it a lot, and I'm not really sure what to make of it. I had one very vivid, detailed dream when I was 11 that changed everything, in which I was Torsut and I went on an extended adventure that probably counts as my best dream and worst nightmare at once. I felt a lot of weird dragonish things from that night on, but at the same time, I realize that there's nothing special about it, and it was just a dream.

The end result, though, was that I woke up a lot different than before. I just had to write, because I'd had such an insane dream. My memory also happened to get worse sometime after the dream, and I developed an obsession with dragons. I remembered the dream really strongly, and... I guess in a way, the memories made me feel like I'd done a lot of things before, and put a lot of things that I'd worried about on a smaller scale, while making me paranoid about things I hadn't given a shit about prior.

From that, I sort of developed this stance that I am Torsut, or I'm all that's left of him. And based on what I've become, I'd try to conclude that Torsut is me, and I've made up all sorts of other characters, some that I find much more interesting than myself, to occupy this world that I explored in my dream. I've gone and expanded on it, too, and it's all just become a big mess of memory and imagination, and I guess I think it's better that way, kind of like being Torsut is made better by the experiences I've had since then.

That's my attempt. I'm kind of groggy today, so forgive my lack of clarity.