Stealth: This particular trope has been invoked in my life...strangely enough, it also happens most commonly at conventions. It swings between the three varying types mentioned in the main article with little to no advance warning, and the entire story can be summed up as "an alternate character I created on a whim seems to have has gained a distinct Internet fandom of his own." It gets to the point where several people actually refer to me by the character's name (and of course I answer to it), but people are unable to figure out where the person and the persona are delineated as a result. The difference ''is'' rather considerable. Normally I'm a quietly lazy and laid-back fellow whose life consists of work, creative ventures, electronics (and video games), and the occasional hanging-out-with-friends. In other words, low key and mundane. At conventions though, the alternate character's personality shines through--that of an amusingly
rowdy, gleefully
overacting, and quite friendly
...dog. The funny thing is that is that it all seems quite natural, both on my end and according to those who I've met when I've been alternating between idly chewing the fat and cheerfully ChewingTheScenery.