Ask a Furry

[Tani Coyote]

After confirmation from the moderators, I have decided to go ahead and start the "Ask a Furry" thread! In accordance with the requirements set forth by the moderators...

1. What is a furry?

Trying to lay out a specific definition for furry is difficult. It's like trying to lay out what an American or any nationality is. If I had to put it in layman's terms, it would be a person who is interested in anthropomorphic(humanoid) characters. This is pretty much the only unifying characteristic of us all.

For an example of a humanoid character, you have likely seen these all over the place, in Sonic the Hedgehog, Looney Toons, and in maybe some more obscure shows such as Summer Wars or Onmyou Taisenki. Disney's fairly big on them as well.

Pretty much, everywhere you look, you can find one or two anthro(I'll use that instead of anthropomorphic) characters. Furries more or less have a fascination with these characters, and a strong liking of them. This is the basis of the fandom.

When all the furries, diverse as they are, come together, they form what is called the "furry fandom." As I said, it's quite diverse, and thus can be quite mysterious to any outsiders. That's why I asked for permission to open this thread, to help detail the many parts of the fandom for outsiders who are genuinely curious.

2. Why am I qualified to speak for them?

I am a self-identified furry, and I know plenty of furries. Most of my art is furry, and pretty much everything I do is related to furries. My favorite characters are "furries", in the sense of being anthropomorphic animals. I am registered at several of the major furry sites, as well, so I'm a part of the community.

3. What will I discuss, and what won't I discuss?

I will ignore blatant trolling.

I will not discuss anything that's sexually explicit(i.e. if it violates the forum rules, it shall be ignored, or maybe even reported. On the other hand, I would answer a question such as "how is sex viewed in the fandom?" (if the trolls are any indication, the topic will likely come up, even if in a genuine question form), since I don't think that would violate the rules per se).

Moderators, please clarify where the boundaries of appropriate/inappropriate on sex are, so I know what to avoid discussing.

Other than that, I'll answer whatever questions you might have.

Alright. I think I said everything I needed to, as per the mod's requirements. Ask away!

 

[holy king]

what kind of animal turns you on the most?

 

[LightFang]

Where's the dividing line between being a furry and being obsessive over a character/game like Sonic?

 

[Quackers]

have u ever dressed up as sonic or whatever and had sex

 

[Eran of Arcadia]

Moderator Action: It should (but probably doesn't) go without saying that any trolling or flaming (including posts which exist only to insult the OP or furries in general), as well as any inappropriate sexual content, will be dealt with accordingly.

 

[civ_king]

I have heard that heterosexual furries are rare, is this true?

 

[Tani Coyote]

Where's the dividing line between being a furry and being obsessive over a character/game like Sonic?

Hmm... tough one, I'd say. I'd say it depends on whether you a) consider yourself a furry and b) try to become part of the community.

But those are actually just bonuses.

I'd say the real qualifier for being a furry is whether you think being an animal makes a character more appealing(not sexually, just appealing) automatically. For example, if you match the same character personality, qualities, etc. next to eachother, but one happens to be a tiger and the other a human, and you pick the tiger simply because they have more appeal, that might be a sign of being a furry.

However, I wouldn't qualify that as being furry; I would qualify it as that if it happens over and over again. I myself automatically like many characters off the bat simply because they happen to be a certain species besides human. I also identify as a fur and participate in the community, so I think I'm fairly solidly a fur.

It is the aesthetics that I feel determine the furry factor of a person. If you find yourself automatically liking one animal character after another, chances are you might be a furry. However, just to be safe, I think it's self-identification and association with the furry community that seals the deal.

have u ever dressed up as sonic

I'm ignoring that second part because it is inappropriate, but I have dressed up as Sonic, yes. Fursuiting(i.e. dressing up as an anthro animal) is a fairly common thing among furries, but by no means do all furries do it.

Please though, keep questions to furries in general and not me.

 

[Babbler]

How do you feel about CSI's Fur and Loathing in Las Vegas, i.e. the furry episode?

 

[Annex]

Would you rather be a character like Sonic or a human?

 

[holy king]

what kind of animal fursuit turns you on the most?

 

[Tani Coyote]

I have heard that heterosexual furries are rare, is this true?

Most furs I know are either bi or gay, but that may just be like-attracting-like, because of the fact I'm gay myself.

I have seen cases of female furs dating male furs...

...But I have also seen cases of male furs pretending to be female furs. More than once. I think this could just be a general internet thing and not furry-exclusive, however.

I also know that there are some furs who consider themselves gay/bi/lesbian/straight/etc. in regards to anthro animals, but aren't sure in real life.

Overall, I'd say I can't really qualify to explain the sexual orientation statistics of the fandom. I'm sure there's plenty of heterosexuals in the fandom, but I can only speak from experience and what I've personally seen, and not from some statistical standpoint.

 

[Cheezy the Wiz]

(not sexually, just appealing)

A Freudian would say there is no other kind. Just a heads up.

 

[Tani Coyote]

How do you feel about CSI's Fur and Loathing in Las Vegas, i.e. the furry episode?

I haven't seen that personally, but I have heard about it. I think I can speak for the fandom to say there was a HUGE uproar on some of the furry forums in regards to it. Similar to the furry episode in 1000 Ways to Die.

In both cases, I sided with the opinion that, as furries become more revealed to the public eye, we first have to go through periods of being RL-trolled/made fun of before we're accepted. Just like any minority group.

Would you rather be a character like Sonic or a human?

I'd be a furry character over a human if I could, definitely. I don't think all furries feel the same way, but I know a great deal do, hence the presence of "fursonas."

 

[Tani Coyote]

A Freudian would say there is no other kind. Just a heads up.

Think in terms of art. You see a bunch of squiggly lines in one painting, and then a very impressive, detailed picture of some ancient battle. The first one is ugly, the second is appealing to you.

That's how I think of it anyway, and that's how I meant "appealing" in a non-sexual manner.

 

[Leonel]

In before FURSECUTION!

 

[dannyshenanigan]

Have you ever met this guy?

Link to video.

 

[_random_]

I have heard that heterosexual furries are rare, is this true?

Well, one example doesn't prove it's not true, but...this would indicate that it's clearly not a universal phenomenon.

 

[civ_king]

A guy at my school loves writing about anthropomorphic wolves and drawing them too, however he thinks furries are freaks, is he in denial?

 

[Tani Coyote]

In before FURSECUTION!

Please do not spam my thread. Thank you.

Have you ever met this guy?

Link to video.

Nope. Closest I ever came to that was the hyena boys(i.e. where they walk on two legs and wear suits that cover everything but part of their face and their chests/abs) in The Lion King, and even then, I was at a distance.

 

[Traitorfish]

Why do self-described furries feel the need to draw apparently divergent strands of artistic style, cosplay, sexual fetish and totemic spirituality together under a single, notoriously ill-defined banner, and what use is it felt to serve?