This is what Greenthorn is saying, I think, the characters *are* their personas. 24/7 in some cases. They are not role-playing, they are this way all the time. By meeting 'the furry' you are meeting them. If that's not ideal for you then don't engage them in conversation.
It's very difficult not to engage in a conversation with them when they persistently ignore personal space.
I have never been pounce/licked/tickled by a stranger in the SB who wasn't sporting a set of ears. They think it's okay to do it because they are playing their characters and assume they are cute and welcome.
Taken from a PM I sent to GT, I just want a place where I can turn off. Having someone pretend to be a cat in a place where I'm trying to disassociate with the characters in my mind is counter-productive. I do not want to be around people dominated by their characters while I'm trying to reassert my own personality after an intense writing session.
Eden, dear... where does that concept stop? If you want to get past the "lie," then you might as well not talk to anyone online that doesn't act exactly the same way as they would in person... which is everyone.
There are characters and there are the people who create them. I know I am not the person I appear to be online, I am not so stupid as to think any of you are as you are here. But like Kip says, it is not what I mean.
Edit - If the SB isn't the place to get some non-game relaxation, can there be? I do not want to make anyone feel victimised, but I don't think I should have to go off the forum to find a space to unwind, that is totally deprived of any RP-related discussion.