'character' = 'toon'. when and why?

[StealthAF]

I definitely remember seeing the "toon" phrase being used in the EQ classic days around 2002 or so on Cazic-Thule, and also remember people feeling insulted by it because well...back in those days people literally portrayed themselves as their character and lived their life AS that character and didn't like being called a "toon" lol.

I always used "char" but the reason I was told by people who started using it at the time, was because:

A) they looked "cartoonish" and

B) The #1 reason I got was the word "toon" is much easier to type on a keyboard by people who literally peck at the keys

Going back to remembering groups with people who would get angry and insulted...I remember them saying "Please refer to them as 'char' or 'character'. We are not "TOONS." LOL

Aww, the good 'ol days.