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Why are furries, y'know, furries?

Discussion in 'Chit Chat' started by BrokenRecord, Sep 8, 2015.

  1. BrokenRecord

    BrokenRecord Guest

    I hope I don't sound like a bigot for asking this, but could the furries on this site help me understand why they chose to be furries? Like, what was the initial thought process? What road led to the choice of lifestyle? How does it feel to be one? I'm mainly asking these questions so I can understand more about the community, as well as feel a little more comfortable around furries.

    As some here on this already may well know, I am writing a graphic novel starring a cast of anthropomorphic animals going through real-life occurrences in a college setting, yet I am not a furry myself. Along with the questions above, I was also wanting to ask if there are any ways of eluding the all-too-common furry comic tropes so I don't end up writing another Concession. I've been compared in the past online to the creators of the webcomics Concession and Incontinent Student Bodies by people on sites like Encyclopedia Dramatica just because my book's a story of anthro characters in college life.

    I've sort of developed a fear of being labeled as a furry myself that I've been working on trying to get over ever since I came here, as I'm wanting to turn over a new leaf with the furry community (I used to be very anti-furry back in the day) and give them and other people a story with anthro characters that isn't pornographic in any way, shape or form, and is actually good. I thought it would be a good idea to ask the community itself how to avoid those furry comic tropes so that I can craft a story good enough to leave those awful furry comics of the past in the dust and probably become a good outside advocate for the finer points of the community, and help make a better public image for furries in general. I really feel bad that the only thing people think of when they think of furries is the awful porn . I actually want to help change that fact. I just need a little help starting doing that, which is why I wanted to ask these questions. :slight_smile:
     
  2. Simple Thoughts

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    Well that was quite a bit to read.

    I think the story for how each furry became a furry is different, but in the end it call comes down to an appreciation for anthropromorphic art and literature. Many of us grew up on cartoons featuring anthro characters, or read books involving them and have developed our own fandom for the furry awesomeness ^-^

    If you want a good way to think about furries think about Comic book fans or scifi fans even. We're just people who get really into a certain genre of media and enjoy dressing up ( some of us ) for the part so to speak. Just like how you'd see many people dressed up like Captain America, or Thor, or batman at Comic con you're likely to see a few people dressed up as anthros during a furcon. It's kinda the same thing.

    We get a bad rep for some reason. I guess people like to stereotype us as being into weird kinky stuff, but honestly that's not true. For the most part our fandom isn't about that, and only a very small subgroup even do that kinda stuff. Our minority just seems to get more attention from the outside than our majority which is kinda disheartening really. :c
     
  3. BrokenRecord

    BrokenRecord Guest

    I see, and that's what I'm wanting to devote my life to help change. I really do want to make a more positive image for furries without being one myself. I guess one of the reasons there's a bad reputation for the furry community is because there's a bad reputation for every fandom. Bronies, gamers, anime fans, they all get some kind of bad reputation on some level from outside sources who prefer to stereotype others to make a point, good or bad. Usually bad, from my experience, especially with trolls. I can also kind of now see the resemblance to other fandoms the furry community has, as being a Transformers fan myself, I know that there are the types of people who go out to conventions for Transformers where they dress up, share art and collectibles and try to have fun with others like them. That concept for the furry community doesn't seem so alien to me anymore. Plus, there are the types of people who for some reason or another create disgusting porn of the characters and give the fandom a bad name. It doesn't help that some of that porn is actually canon :confused:
     
    #3 BrokenRecord, Sep 8, 2015
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 8, 2015
  4. Austin

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    I'm pretty sure its like all interests or all sexual kinks... combination of your life experiences that somehow manifests in your unique person.
     
  5. Chiroptera

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    Although it is important to remember that there is a huge part of the community that isn't related to 18+ stuff, i think it is important to understand that, like any kind of fetish, it may be disgusting to people that don't like it, but it may be totally ok to the ones who like it. And, again, as any kind of fetish, as long as everyone involved is ok with it (and, of course, everyone involved is an adult), i don't see any problem with it.

    That said, i really like most aspects of the furry community, especially the art. It is really nice to see the effort and passion that both artists and fans put in the drawings and works in general. The fursuits, too, are amazing, and some of them are really, really detailed and well done!

    I hope to attend a con one day, it must be really fun!
     
  6. Simple Thoughts

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    How is the porn canon? @.@

    How does that happen!?


    Also yeah, Furries are just another fandom like any other. We get an especially bad rep, but it's w/e. Most of us don't mind too much, and we've taken significant strides forward I believe.

    ---------- Post added 8th Sep 2015 at 07:07 PM ----------

    I'm going to my first ever con in December ^w^
     
  7. BrokenRecord

    BrokenRecord Guest

    I guess it might be inevitable that I might have to appear at conventions as well, considering my future line of work with the whole 'graphic novel with anthros' thing. At least I can find solace that at the rate I'm going with my development of that career, I'll be able to have fans of the book furry and non-furry alike, as I've discussed my book in great detail with many non-furries IRL, who definitely took a liking to my story idea! ^‿^
     
    #7 BrokenRecord, Sep 8, 2015
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 8, 2015
  8. Simple Thoughts

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    Ah cool ^-^
     
  9. metalkitsune

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    Conventions are fun. Of course most of them are really big. I went to Anthrocon in 2014 and it was so huge. Of course i like the fursuiting and artwork and such. Of course one thing that gets me is how furry is judged on the adult side,when in fact other fandoms have a dark side. At a panel at a comic con,some people were mentioning the adult side of star trek,star wars,anime and such,yet furry gets judge on it's rule 34, when other fandoms get a free pass on it. Hopefully one day furry will get the same respect other fandoms have.
     
  10. Simple Thoughts

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    Remember when the lady from MSNBC laughed at our existence, and a bunch of other news sites jumped her shizzle?
     
  11. BrokenRecord

    BrokenRecord Guest

    This is what I'm wanting to help happen. I'm wanting to repent for past sins I have made against the furry community by supporting the good side of it and advocating for better treatment towards the fandom.
     
  12. metalkitsune

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    Yup. I have seen it on youtube. Very unprofessional to laugh at the gas attack. Many at the con could have died.
     
  13. kageshiro

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    "fetish" might be the wrong word, but yeah, i feel pretty comfortable saying most furries are probably people who're attracted to anthropomorphic characters to at least a basic degree. I mean, you can say, being a furry is just a form of self expression, and the people who do the hardcore porn and dress up in fursuits and bang are actually a minority within the larger community, which I'm sure is true, I'm just saying, I've still yet to meet any furries who don't sexualise their characters to some extent. I mean, there's probably a reason nearly all furries go for aesthetically beautiful animals, like cats or wolves, as their persona, instead of like an octopus or something. lol.
     
  14. Simple Thoughts

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    What past sins?

    Did you troll some furries or something? =/

    ---------- Post added 8th Sep 2015 at 07:37 PM ----------

    Yeah it was terrible, but when she did that a lot of people came to the furry defense and some sites even released a few articles about furries in general. It felt nice to see people supporting us for a change :slight_smile:

    ---------- Post added 8th Sep 2015 at 07:40 PM ----------

    One of the more prominent furries in the fandom is an insect I believe. I don't remember exactly what he was anymore because it's been awhile, but that was a thing.

    Also the way the characters are draw is not really any different than any other fandom. We give life, personality, and identity to our creations. Sometimes that comes off with sexual undertones I'm sure, but every fandom does that to an extent. It doesn't necessarily mean the creator fetishizes the work.
     
  15. metalkitsune

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    I know there is a new film coming called zootopia by disney that seems to have anthro animals in it. supposed to come 2016
     
  16. BrokenRecord

    BrokenRecord Guest

    Oh yeah, now I understand what you two are talking about. I once read about it when I was working for Encyclopedia Dramatica. I probably thought the same thing as the MSNBC woman back then, and I feel bad about the occurrence now.

    Actually, I've seen an anthropomorphic octopus in some French ads for Orangina soft drinks before. Those furry-heavy Orangina commercials were some of the most disturbing things I had seen at a young age. Thanks, YouTube! Ugh.

    I kinda did a little worse than that. I was part of a big group of people on image boards who would outright verbally attack furries mostly for the porn-dumping, partially for just being furries, among other nasty things. I feel really appalled at myself nowadays for doing such things as threatening death upon other people I don't even know just for being different from me. I still don't understand what the Amtrak F40PH train has to do with fursecution, though.
     
  17. Simple Thoughts

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    Yeah I'm excited for it, also a sly copper movie is coming out 2016 as well ^w^

    ---------- Post added 8th Sep 2015 at 08:01 PM ----------

    Eh past is the past, and I dunno what any of that last sentence means 0.o
     
  18. BrokenRecord

    BrokenRecord Guest

    It's some stupid thing where you post images of the Amtrak F40PH and it's supposed to be really offensive to furries, something to do with running on charcoaled fursuits, I think? I'm just trying my best to explain it, not trying to be offensive. Honest.
     
  19. Simple Thoughts

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    Is there a resource on this?

    Like some background info...it kinda sounds like one thing and I'm really hoping it's not.
     
  20. metalkitsune

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    i know in second life too,i used to get griefed by a group known as the PN who used to crash sims and had my avatar set on fire by them.