Cloud
Mlem
Much of the internet (generally outside of more queer spaces like here) hates on us for some combination of: impressions gained from cherry picked cringe compilations of the most extreme on YouTube, neurodiversity, assumptions of zoophilia, assumptions of dressing up to attract kids, valid concerns about how easy it is to stumble across the tons of porn, and just bandwagon hating on something a bit weird.
In fact for the most part they're some of the kindest, friendliest people I know. (Okay and some of the gayest. Straight furries are actually very rare), generous with charity stuff at conventions, etc. You get some bad apples of course.
In fact for the most part they're some of the kindest, friendliest people I know. (Okay and some of the gayest. Straight furries are actually very rare), generous with charity stuff at conventions, etc. You get some bad apples of course.
Rachey
A little bit lesbian
- Joined
- Feb 3, 2004
- Messages
- 78,823
Can I ask a question please! As this is something I've never really known about.
What is it that appeals to you/others about furries?
I mean I love a bit of dressing up and if I was to be one I'd love to be a cat! But it doesn't appeal enough to make it a hobby/lifestyle.
Cloud
Mlem
It shouldn't take a great deal of digging to verify if you don't believe me. We seem to have improved in terms of SEO if you type "furries" into Google, but just to use an example, join a public world in VRchat in a furry avatar and see how long before you get told to kill yourself (heard it many times, water off a duck's back), or just for fun, check a few comments sections on any article or video on the subject.
Some learn though. I've heard many, many anecdotes of "I used to be a hater, then I got too curious and now I am one and regret bullying them"
Basically like any other fandom or subculture? The community, the joy of a shared interest, mutual understanding and probably more than a dash of rebellion. Similar sorts of reasons I guess that there are those who make LGBTQ a lifestyle and participate heavily in the community (not that I mean to imply any comparison between criticism of a hobby Vs persecution for one's identity/orientation/etc). Or maybe a less risky comparison would be Trekkies, "well I like to watch Star Trek sometimes but...". You get events and gatherings with like-minded people. Meanwhile you have some others who aren't interested in making it an identity and even see making it one as a bad thing and that you should just get on with loving the same sex or whatever like they're doing.
But there's a lot to it also. For many, the art (creating or admiring), writing stories around the characters or species and other forms of creativity, roleplaying, yes the lewd stuff (in most cases between intelligent, adult anthropomorphic characters), the meets and conventions, or just wanting to be a few cute cuddling kitties for emotional comfort without anyone getting distracted by your beard, baldness and beer belly (I only have the belly)
It's a lot more than just dressing up and a lot of us don't even bother with that (until VR enabled similar, and 24/7 convention atmospheres, at a fraction of the cost)
On re-reading and reflection, Trekkies are probably the closer comparison. But without so much in the way of YouTube cringe compilations
