I love knowing their name(s)
I stumbled upon very few trans folks in real life, but quite much more online. I enjoy so much knowing the name they chose for themselves.
Not many people get the choice of their name in our society and while online has given us all this liberty, only a few of us get their chosen name printed on official documents. Disclaimer here: changing the name on documents for trans folks is not an easy path at all, and can be impossible in some countries. ( • ᴖ • ｡)
Now don't get me wrong, I love my real name. It fits me. But if I had to change because it didn't fit me anymore (or i just got more restrictive about my own gender1), I'd enjoy to have this online name become my official-printed-laminated name.
In the case of trans folks, I've known some pre coming-out and when they announced a change of name, I get so fricking excited. I need to know. Yes, give me the name of your soul. It's an unstoppable curiosity.
I'm never as curious when it's a baby name or an OC name. I'm maybe a bit curious for people I know in real life but when they tell me their online name, I often get disappointed (like Paul, you could get a little more imaginative than calling yourself Paulo99 Ê• ï¹· á´¥ ï¹·Ê” ).
Still, names matter and I love when they reflect our souls. When we fill them completely and are one with them.
Having many names to mirror every little aspect. Or a single one because it's the one that matters the most.
Now, the funny thing is that I mix them all up. I can't retain real life people names and struggle to keep up with online ones. On Discord, if you change your profile picture, there is 50% chance I don't know who you are anymore. But that's with having a photographic memory.
I try my best. ʅʕ•ᴥ•ʔʃ
Basically I view gender as a very blurry thing and while I think I could fit into the non-binary box, I actively chose to be a woman to extend this definition, while not associating any characteristics to this specific gender. Yes, I am autistic.↩