[Satan]

and a few of us who've met irl sometimes still call each other by our forum usernames face-to-face.

I can definitely see your point.

It's somewhat premature to say, but If I were to meet you IRL, I don't think I'd refer you by your real name. Given we're so accustomed to each other's cyber Identity, It's odd (to me anyway) to veer from that alias.

I've done that with previous forums. Its just natural that way, IMO. They are their screen names in my head. Even a guy who I talked to outside of a forum through Skype and MSN and such, we never referred to each other by real name even though it was known between us.

Its not even a habit, its just who they are in someone's head.