Ask a Furry

[Tani Coyote]

I don't see how you can have an ''interest'' in Harry Potter either. It's a film. You might like a film, but its hardly an interest.

I think we must work to different definitions of the word.

It's a fandom. In that sense, it's on par with the furry world.

If furries stopped being so goddamn agressive with their interest, and kept it to themselves, instead of wearing it for all to see, as a sign of pride, like a JEwish yellow star, they wouldn't be so hated.

No other group goes so out of their way to single themselves out, and certainly noone else publicly screams their interest from the rooftops.

Fixed.

Though I'm not going to bother anymore at this point. There's been more than enough pages for furryness to be understood as being more than a sexual fetish, but as a community and interest group.

Anyway.

No more aggressive than a Christian wearing a cross around their neck, or protestors holding a rally for whatever cause... don't forget conventions for the one hundred million other fandoms. Are they all aggressive too? What does Church count as? It's people of a common belief system, interest, etc. coming together after all. Are they aggressive about it because they're gathering in a place of worship?

Furthermore, have you ever thought the problem could be peoples' prejudices for what they do not understand as much as the furries?

 

[nonconformist]

No, cos I don't tell people about my sexual hang-ups, and if I did, I'd fully expect to be mocked.

Get over yourself, you're not special, you're not persecuted, you just give people the ammunition to mock you.

 

[Harvin87]

Anyway.

No more aggressive than a Christian wearing a cross around their neck, or protestors holding a rally for whatever cause... don't forget conventions for the one hundred million other fandoms. Are they all aggressive too? What does Church count as? It's people of a common belief system, interest, etc. coming together after all. Are they aggressive about it because they're gathering in a place of worship?

Furthermore, have you ever thought the problem could be peoples' prejudices for what they do not understand as much as the furries?

Of course furryness its more aggressive... it's an offence to the human eye.

No, cos I don't tell people about my sexual hang-ups, and if I did, I'd fully expect to be mocked.

Get over yourself, you're not special, you're not persecuted, you just give people the ammunition to mock you.

This...

it is the same reason why clowns go dress themselves ... to get mocked.

 

[Eran of Arcadia]

I don't get this "shouting their perversion from the rooftops" bit. Even if we continually ignore the nonsexuala spects of furriness (and we may as well, right?), I have only ever seen one furry self-identify as a furry, outside of a furry-specific setting, and even that was on the internet.

 

[Tani Coyote]

I don't get this "shouting their perversion from the rooftops" bit.

It seems to be a myth made up to justify anti-furry sentiment, along with such things as "all furries are pedophiles" or "all furries are into bestiality" or "all furries like to dress up as animals and do things that can't be discussed on CFC."

The closest thing to this would be furry conventions... and that's no different than any other kind of convention: people of a similar interest come together.

Even if we continually ignore the nonsexuala spects of furriness (and we may as well, right?),

Hahaha, fair enough.

I will say that it's silly to assume all furries are raving perverts... but it'd also be silly to deny that there are still plenty of sexual furries. Hence the reputation; stereotypes, more of then than not, are based partially in fact, if only by a very slight degree; i.e. the actions of one out of a hundred taken to be representative of all 100.

I have only ever seen one furry self-identify as a furry, outside of a furry-specific setting, and even that was on the internet.

Precisely, it's for the most part limited to online communication. And I don't blame most furs; sure most insults happen online... what would keep them from happening in reality? Sure the anonymous circumstances of the internet allow many to troll without consequence, and as a result many people might not be serious about their anti-furryness.

But what would prevent, say, some archconservative religious denominations from protesting a furry convention, or people threatening violence against the openly furry? It sounds silly, I know - people don't beat up Star Trek, Harry Potter, etc. hardcore fans - but you never know.

Faced with all the internet trolling, the beginnings of RL trolling, and the prospect of full-time social rejection if they become open about it, it's no wonder furries are exactly the opposite in terms of shouting things from the rooftops.

 

[Eran of Arcadia]

I must admit that I think that furriness is kind of weird - but the great thing is, I think lots of stuff is "kind of weird", and presumably lots of things that I do are considered "kind of weird" by others, so why single one particular thing like this out?

 

[Traitorfish]

What do you mean by an ''interest'' in these cartoon animals? If it's not sexual then in what way are you interested in them?

Why is anyone interested in anything non-sexual?

Just because an interest or fandom has a sexual component doesn't mean that it is fundamentally sexually; the existence of Suicide Girls doesn't imply that London Calling is fetish material.

 

[Yared]

Link to video.

Waddya think about this?

 

[Ekolite]

Why is anyone interested in anything non-sexual?

Just because an interest or fandom has a sexual component doesn't mean that it is fundamentally sexually; the existence of Suicide Girls doesn't imply that London Calling is fetish material.

No, what I think of as an interest is something more academic, like you could have an interest in psychology for example. In my opinion, liking cartoon animals doesn't really cut it. On the other hand, a sexual interest is something a bit different, but he's already said he doesn't have a sexual interest in them.

 

[Traitorfish]

No, what I think of as an interest is something more academic, like you could have an interest in psychology for example. In my opinion, liking cartoon animals doesn't really cut it. On the other hand, a sexual interest is something a bit different, but he's already said he doesn't have a sexual interest in them.

Well, semantics aside, my point stands. Of course, my post was apparently misdirected in the first place, so I apologise for the misunderstanding.

 

[civ_king]

Before I begin, I'd like to politely request you just snip out the relevant part of the post rather than bolding it... it makes posts much shorter.



I do deal with it; I've had experiences with RL bullies, so these online panzies have nothing. It doesn't make it any less wrong/ignorant/stupid on their part, however. An insult isn't the same as assault, but it's still pretty wrong when nothing has been done to deserve it.



I'm sorry, would being "mass insulted" be a better term? How about being socially rejected as freaks? How about being grossly misunderstood?

Simply because it's moved online doesn't make it a non-issue; it may not be on par with the Holocaust by any means, but I don't think severity makes prejudice any more correct or wrong.

Let's not forget that there are RL anti-furry crusaders based on all I've heard, but thankfully most anti-furries are just trolls. But as furries come more into the public light, some ignorant minority will continue to bash us in reality, instead of online, as being Satanists, as being perverts, as being bestialophiliacs, as being pedophiles, as being just about anything horrid. It's not a stretch to assume this will happen, as being rejected is the first step of acceptance in most cases, ironically enough.

Furthermore, plenty of online people do call us that. It's when it branches into IRL we have to worry. And it likely will as furries move more into the open and less online or in tight-knit communities.

try to not be so visible. not pedophiles? then what exactly is cub art??? Softpaw Magazine?

The same way people are interested in Star Wars, Star Trek, Harry Potter or any fictional series. We just like a fictional concept rather than any particular series. And from that, we tend to like multiple series.

Of course the interest can turn sexual, but there are plenty of furs with a taste for SFW art. This is why there's a "tame" section in the FurAffinity galleries; indeed, there's one or two furry sites that have banned sexual content entirely.

I see people dress up like Muggles all the time and they don'y get heckled, maybe being less obvious would help?

It's a fandom. In that sense, it's on par with the furry world.

Anyway.

No more aggressive than a Christian wearing a cross around their neck, or protestors holding a rally for whatever cause... don't forget conventions for the one hundred million other fandoms. Are they all aggressive too? What does Church count as? It's people of a common belief system, interest, etc. coming together after all. Are they aggressive about it because they're gathering in a place of worship?

Furthermore, have you ever thought the problem could be peoples' prejudices for what they do not understand as much as the furries?

usually crucifixes for wearing for small, is a Sonic suit small?

I will say that it's silly to assume all furries are raving perverts... but it'd also be silly to deny that there are still plenty of sexual furries. Hence the reputation; stereotypes, more of then than not, are based partially in fact, if only by a very slight degree; i.e. the actions of one out of a hundred taken to be representative of all 100.

Precisely, it's for the most part limited to online communication. And I don't blame most furs; sure most insults happen online... what would keep them from happening in reality? Sure the anonymous circumstances of the internet allow many to troll without consequence, and as a result many people might not be serious about their anti-furryness.

But what would prevent, say, some archconservative religious denominations from protesting a furry convention, or people threatening violence against the openly furry? It sounds silly, I know - people don't beat up Star Trek, Harry Potter, etc. hardcore fans - but you never know.

Faced with all the internet trolling, the beginnings of RL trolling, and the prospect of full-time social rejection if they become open about it, it's no wonder furries are exactly the opposite in terms of shouting things from the rooftops.

Actions of a few? Rampant homosexuality/bisexuality doesn't help acceptances

Of 7023 respondents, the number describing themselves as:
A "zoophile": 1191 (18.39%)

http://www.klisoura.com/ot_furrysurvey2008.php

 

[SG-17]

/snip/

Waddya think about this?

Oh my Darwin..... Just more fuel for my misanthropy.

 

[Traitorfish]

usually crucifixes for wearing for small, is a Sonic suit small?

No, but neither is the Pope's formal regalia; do not confuse well-known extremes for either means or medians.

Oh my Darwin..... Just more fuel for my misanthropy.

Don't you mean mislycanthropy?

 

[Tani Coyote]

This response SHOULD be a "" and/or "", but I'm willing to try.

try to not be so visible. not pedophiles? then what exactly is cub art??? Softpaw Magazine?

1. The actions of the few do not represent the many. If that's the case, then let's try this with different terms: All humans are pedophiles as well since they have a pedophile minority too. They're also all murderers, rapists, drug dealers, hardworking, intelligent, etc. See, that doesn't quite work, now does it? Try again.

2. Softpaw magazine is banned at several conventions due to its nature.

3. Speaking for myself, I am not a bestiality person or pedophile. In fact, I'd watch the usage of those terms; you probably could get flagged for calling someone those. I think a large chunk of the fandom is the same way, too. I have seen PLENTY of things - not necessarily sexual - between animals that walk on two legs in the fandom; not so much for all fours.

I see people dress up like Muggles all the time and they don'y get heckled, maybe being less obvious would help?

Why do we need to hide who we are anymore than anybody else? Maybe being more open-minded would help, mmm?

And to reward the open-minded, I started this thread, where they could get actual answers rather than stereotypes. You have to win minds before you can win hearts.

usually crucifixes for wearing for small, is a Sonic suit small?

Traitorfish, the other TF, already debunked this...

Actions of a few? Rampant homosexuality/bisexuality doesn't help acceptance

Who cares.

The furry fandom has a nature of being mistreated for no reason other than misconceptions and ignorant opinions. This has caused us to be more open, and so many furries in turn have explored things about themselves they would not. Since we're already falsely considered pedophiles and beastialiphiliacs, we figured we'd throw in the whole package, and this explains our "weirdness" on average. Similarly, with all this openness, we find ourselves having a higher incidence of homosexuality and bisexuality. Go figure. I bet if society was open as we tend to be, you'd see an increase in bisexuality and homosexuality too.

Polls can be skewed. Based on the ignorant opinion that liking anthro animals = liking regular animals, saying yes to "I would have relations with an anthro animal" could be misinterpreted as "I would have relations with an animal" and therefore be interpreted as zoophilia. This is basic social studies or some such, that polls can be easily misunderstood and answered wrong appropriately. Not to mention the people who conduct them can just as easily have picked a bad sample, or have an agenda.

What is your beef with furries? Some gross misconceptions that I've debunked time and time again, and yet people plug their ears and shout at the top of their lungs to avoid the truth that we're not all hungry for children and your pets?

 

[civ_king]

No, but neither is the Pope's formal regalia; do not confuse well-known extremes for either means or medians.


Don't you mean mislycanthropy?

The Pope looks awesome in it,

but....

Tancius, I simply derive pleasure from it, just as Sonic makes you happy

 

[Ekolite]

It always amuses me just how evil the Pope looks, if you look at his face particularly. I guess that's the Catholic Church for you

 

[Harvin87]

that pic is epic ... I mean, how could anyone take these seriously?? .. it's a joke

 

[Bugfatty300]

Look at that big long purple thing on the far left. Wonder what that's supposed to be.

 

[Heretic_Cata]

Look at that big long purple thing on the far left. Wonder what that's supposed to be.

Long thin purple thing - what could furries do with it i wonder.

 

[Harvin87]

Lol ...

When I was a kid, I was always scared of this type of costume ... and seeing it now .. it's still scary , specially .... as bugfatty pointed out, when you see those strange devices like the purple thing on the far left.... as far as I'm concerned... furries are disqualified.

cheers.