Blush Thanks guys. I hadn’t checked my e-mail for a few days, I’ve had other things to do on the computer. (Like remembering coding in setting up my own website,grr. piteous wail)
I’ll tell you about my hobby first, then move on to RL. 
My SDMB name started out, believe it or not as just a radomnly generated first name on Everquest. I liked it’s lyrical flow, so I kept it. During my adventures with that character I encountered a lot of clawed beasts which I slew handily. (My character is also a seven to eight foot bi-pedal feline, that fights martial arts style. A kung fu kittty, that can cast a few spells and travels with a tiger companion. lol)
When you attain level 20 in Everquest, you have the option of taking a last name, which I did. I chose “Clawbane” because of it’s dual meaning. I am the bane of clawed creatures, and my claws are the bane of evil doers.
I play other roleplaying games, but this character has become my special pet. I put a lot of myself into creating this fictional character. This character stands up for what she believes in, and works to change things that are wrong. I have an affinity to cats, don’t like rude or unkind people, have a sense of “fair play” etc. You have the chance to chat in game real time, so people’s personalities tend to really come out on the screen. My friends in game know me as ZabKat. I’m known for my wicked sense of humor, both in RL, and in game.
Example: my character recently gained the ability to cast a spell that will shrink me. I can cast it until I am knee high to a dark elf (they are about five feet tall). I told my online female friend (who likes to flirt with females and have a harem in game, she lives with her boyfriend, they both play EQ) that if she brought her character to where I was, I’d jump in her pocket and purr, and that I guarenteed she would smile. grin This worked to cheer her up, she was stressed out due to RL work problems.
My RL nickname is “Kat”, short for Katherine. People remember Kat though, because I am so like a cat. This is what they tell me, and it’s true. I climb trees, am shy, am agile, have “claws”, (which are usually retracted) observe many things, some of which I tell etc. People ask me what I think/have observed about a person because I “pick up” on little things that indicate personality that others miss. I have a “feel” for people, which ones to keep at arm’s length and beyond, and which ones to let closer. I was taught to look beyond the “mask” that people present to the world at large, and consider the person inside when I interact with them. This is why people ask me what I think, I’m teaching my friends how to do this, and they are learning.
In real life, I am wary of new people. This does not stop me from jumping to help a stranger if I see I can aid them. I have literally thrown on a pullover dress, and slide on shoes (I was in the comfy clothes I wear around the house, not fit for going out in public) to help a poor kid who had caught his pants leg in his bicycle chain. His cries were heartbreaking, he was really stuck poor thing.
I told him to fasten his pants legs closer to his leg, and to get “lace biters” for his shoes so it wouldn’t happen again. I showed him how to get loose from the chain, but he was stuck firmly, and needed someone to lift the bike up and move the pedal for him that time. He had been stuck for quite a while too, he finally started sobbing in distress, which I heard. I had been reading, so did not see him.
I try to always conduct myself with grace, and show consideration to others. I am an artist, and don’t like “ugliness” in any form. This affects how I act towards others. I also have a great deal of empathy, so I can feel other’s pain. I can step into another person’s shoes, and see their veiwpoint most of the time. Once I see their veiwpoint, I go by how I would feel, and what I would want if it were me. Sometimes all I can offer is a shoulder, other times I can offer what I did at a similar time.
I always keep in mind that others feel too, and that things I say or do could hurt them. I’ve been hurt badly in life myself, so I don’t want to hurt others. I do tend to get annoyed at people who are displaying thick headed selfish attitudes, or are showing themselves to be “willfully ignorant”.
I also have what I term a “Celtic” temperament. What I mean by this is, I don’t usually fight, but if I decide to, then I won’t back down. I “stand my ground”. This usually applies verbally, (or in type) but there has been a time or two when I’ve stood “nose to nose” with a person bigger than me until they backed down. The battle was worth it, it was my ex-husband and he was trying to physically intimidate me into agreeing to something finacially that would have ruined us.
Once I’ve chosen to battle, I stand up for my beliefs, and don’t budge. (There are exceptions, when I can see the idea is firmly stuck, and won’t be dislodged, those people I just leave alone.) It doesn’t happen often. (Believe it or not, “notorious” threads notwithstanding.)
A good example of this was when our teacher was trying to tell us the founding of Jamestown happened two years later than it did. I had just come from spending a summer visit in Virginia, and had in fact brought the tourist pamphlets to class to show him. I stood up to him, and held my ground until he read the pamphlet. He actually apologized and admitted he was wrong, and had the class correct the text books.
I also try to remember that others have not had the very formal manner/etiquette teaching that I got. My mom was 40 when she had me, dad was 41. Her father was raised according to Victorian standards, and he (my grandfather) passed some of this on to me in the form of manners, and a code of conduct. (This does not include the closed minded attitudes that were held then.)
Both sides of my family consisit of “free thinkers”. My paternal grandfather was once asked in my dad’s presence. (He was about 16 as he recalls, so that means US circa 1947) "What would you do if your son was going to marry a “n****”. My grandfather replied “Get my suit to the cleaners and show up to the church on time!”
I also value “play”. I work to stay “innocent” and never forget that laughter, dance, and fellowship are among the important things to strive for. I value learning too, and try to learn a new thing each day. Because I have such a “youthful” outlook, I tend to make youthful friends. However, I have friends that are my age, that are “lifelong” too.
I guess my motto sums it up, “Balance”. I strive for it in all things for myself, and help others to obtain it when I can.
Here is a link to my webpage, it’s not near finished yet though, so be gentle on comments. 
My page.