CHARACTERS. FOR THE LOVE OF EVERYTHING THAT IS DEAR TO ME, THEY ARE CALLED CHARACTERS!
No, they are not 'toons'. Those are on TV. You may only call them that if playing ToonTown. No, they are not 'avatars'. That's either a display picture on a forum of the reincarnation of some almighty in-game god, which you, sir and/or madam that insists on using this word, are most definitely not.
It really, really pisses me off when people refer to their characters as such. I get this overwhelming urge to reach through the internet and just punch them in the mouth for their idiocy.
URGH! I need to go hurt something now. Excuse me.