Hey guys, I'm a furry

[DeliveryGodNoah_v1legacy]

I've seen CyanCapsule's work around before. I'd be lying if I said their art didn't peak my interest once or twice. Their work is a little more on the "human" side of things, which I can find appealing. It helps they're quite talented.

They have another character named Emelie that's kind of adorable.

Meh. I've seen far better femboys than that. Furry and IRL.

Right, I have as well, but it was the one that was brought up to me currently by Worgen.

 

[DeliveryGodNoah_v1legacy]

I've seen CyanCapsule's work around before. I'd be lying if I said their art didn't peak my interest once or twice. Their work is a little more on the "human" side of things, which I can find appealing. It helps they're quite talented.

They have another character named Emelie that's kind of adorable.

Meh. I've seen far better femboys than that. Furry and IRL.

Furry, eh? Sounds bad. Is there anything I can do to help?

Stop raping me with your 8-bit eyes and respect my personal space.

Wait, guys actually come in forms like that? On one hand I'm curious as hell, on the other I'm not sure I want to complicate my sexuality.

You have the infinite power of the internet. It's up to you if you wish to delve into it. If you want basic and familiar areas to start, Tumblr is full of femboys, IRL and otherwise.

If you don't wish to complicate things, then continue as you are.

 

[Arnoxthe1]

Wait, guys actually come in forms like that? On one hand I'm curious as hell, on the other I'm not sure I want to complicate my sexuality.

As Noah said, it's up to you whether you want to go down that rabbit hole or not, but also consider that your sexuality is more set than you think. Looking at pictures of attractive femboys isn't going to change it. Just makes you realize what else interests you. Sometimes we don't realize the full extent of our sexuality. Happens all the time.

 

[RedRockRun]

Even so, yes, I whacked him straight away.

Wat. Those strikes have been on my account for literal years. How long does it take them to be removed.

I frown upon blood lust in the forums.

Hehehe... And what is the current CoC but another form of blood lust, hun?

Now give in and ban RedRockRun already. We're gonna have a great time here. We'll all get along so much better this way.

If you're being ironic, then you're going awfully far with it - not that I think you're serious after going full capslock.

 

[Arnoxthe1]

If you're being ironic, then you're going awfully far with it - not that I think you're serious after going full capslock.

I'm trying to illustrate a problem, but nobody wants to listen. Well, some do listen but the actual people who can change it won't.

 

[RedRockRun]

I'm trying to illustrate a problem, but nobody wants to listen. Well, some do listen but the actual people who can change it won't.

So you reported me to... prove a point? I don't get it.

 

[Arnoxthe1]

So you reported me to... prove a point? I don't get it.

Actually, believe it or not, I didn't report you. lol

 

[McElroy]

Stop raping me with your 8-bit eyes and respect my personal space.

You can't say that before our first date. It's rude.

 

[Addendum_Forthcoming]

A furry is simply someone with an interest in anthropomorphic creatures. Usually that interest is sexual in nature and based on appeal of the form, but it can also definitely be a non-sexual interest too.

Spoiler: The Why of the Furry Fandom

The very first thing that came to mind is the emphasis on fursonas and how much author/artist stand-in characters there are. Why do we as a fandom even have fursonas as a main thing? And furthermore, why the incredible overabundance of porn? I believe that the answer to these questions is that although the Furry community is indeed about enjoying anthropomorphic art/stories/movies/RP/etc., another huge part of this fandom, in fact I daresay, maybe an even bigger part of it, is general escapism.

Now it's very true that you could say that about many fandoms. But the thing about those fandoms is, they're focused on one consistent particular universe. They wish to live in that SPECIFIC kind of world. And the desire to live in that world usually have specific reasons. For example. Someone may be in the Star Wars fandom because they would love to be able to be a Jedi/Sith.

The furry fandom has no such specificity at all. Settings range anywhere from tribal to sci-fi to modern day. As such, the fandom emphasizes escapism and embraces it completely and totally in all its forms, the fans immersing themselves in their own personal paradises. This also explains the massive amounts of porn. After all, we're all human, and there are few betters ways to escape and experience bliss than sex. So, it's natural that porn is hands down the most common way the fandom emphasizes and practices escapism.

This also explains why the furry fandom can be so attractive to newcomers. The focus on escapism allows them to embrace their deep desires. A lot may not even understand why they feel attracted to this fandom, but they'll still feel it, and sometimes they're affected so strongly, it makes them obsessed with such.

-

The second part of this furry sandwich here is another huge part of the fandom. And that is the general friendliness, inclusivity, and unity of the fandom as a whole. Now, the why of this actually is a bit unknown to me here, although I have a small theory. Now, it's obvious that when one is generally in a good mood, they're less irritable. More understanding. More loving. Etc. And since everyone as mentioned above is participating in their own escapism and desires, sometimes on a very deep level, this makes them generally more happy and serene of course. More able to accept the differences of others. And since the fandom can be a potent little drug, it brings out these traits in people much more than other fandoms.

I also believe that the happiness of this fandom is very infectious. If you're around happy blissful people all the time, at least some of it's gonna rub off on you. That or you'll be weirded out and leave for another place. But there you have it. Either way, what's left is just happy, inclusive, serene people. This unity, along with escapism, also heavily contributes as to why this fandom can be so attractive and so addictive in a way.

-

How this all arose in the first place though (the escapism and the unity) from an anthro appreciation... I don't really know. I believe it's the fact that since the Furry fandom doesn't focus at all on any one particular work like Star Wars or Lord of the Rings, it had an incredibly open "canon". Hence, people filled in the blanks for themselves. And they filled it with what they desired it should be. And as everyone started doing this, they began to, unintentionally or no, immerse themselves in their own individual fantasies and began to talk, socialize, and accept each other more and more, and soon, the massive appeal of the fandom was born and it had begun to spread everywhere.

Now having said all that, I want to emphasize that I'm speaking in a broad sense. The Furry fandom has obviously had fights and problems just like any other fandom. But quite honestly, it's impossible for us all not to, sometimes. We're not perfect at all. And the fandom of course isn't going to solve all social problems at all with a wave of it's furry hand. Nevertheless, these two effects are very heavily present in this fandom, sometimes even to an intoxicating level.

That seems like a straight forward enough explanation. Though it seems to cover a lot of people.

So one question I want to ask is about the furry community andhow it seems to have a prosocial behavioural bent to it as you've explained here, as in community-centric environment based around a niche material matter. Is there any other niche atmospheric environments you feel you've felt some aspects of this elsewhere?

Like I'll give you an example. The prosocial behaviour that I've clicked with that I've found in various boardgaming groups that hang out, play games, and due to their nature on a variety of boardgames that enculturate a certain social contract (like games with many players beyond simply 2) requiring a certain level of group escapism. Where players come to the group with a sort of 'friendly mutual competitiveness', balanced by routine contact, necessitated fairness by an assumed social contract beforehand, and the desire to have routine fun every fortnight or so, as well as a sense of community given everyone chips in to afford the venue.

Is that kind of what you're describing, as well? If so, have you experienced anything like this sense of connection in this fandom in other places you can think of?

 

[Arnoxthe1]

You can't say that before our first date. It's rude.

That seems like a straight forward enough explanation. Though it seems to cover a lot of people.

So one question I want to ask is about the furry community andhow it seems to have a prosocial behavioural bent to it as you've explained here, as in community-centric environment based around a niche material matter. Is there any other niche atmospheric environments you feel you've felt some aspects of this elsewhere?

Like I'll give you an example. The prosocial behaviour that I've clicked with that I've found in various boardgaming groups that hang out, play games, and due to their nature on a variety of boardgames that enculturate a certain social contract (like games with many players beyond simply 2) requiring a certain level of group escapism. Where players come to the group with a sort of 'friendly mutual competitiveness', balanced by routine contact, necessitated fairness by an assumed social contract beforehand, and the desire to have routine fun every fortnight or so, as well as a sense of community given everyone chips in to afford the venue.

Is that kind of what you're describing, as well? If so, have you experienced anything like this sense of connection in this fandom in other places you can think of?

Umm... Well, as I stated above, the furry fandom is kind of unique in that it's so lovey and dreamy due to everyone becoming high on their own endorphins because of the escapism.

Having said that, there are some fandoms out there I've seen that looked really incredible. The Myst one for example. It's pretty small these days and it's sadly getting smaller, but I know Uru, the online Myst game they made a long time ago, had a really amazing inclusive fandom.

 

[Tsun Tzu]

Yiff.

So are you the suit kind or the art appreciator kind...which is not at all me, no siree...and what's your opinion on traps?

Gay, not gay, 2.19% gay?

 

[Arnoxthe1]

So are you the suit kind or the art appreciator kind...which is not at all me, no siree...and what's your opinion on traps?

Gay, not gay, 2.19% gay?

The latter. Furry fandom has got some crazy good art if you know where to look.

The thing with traps is, sexuality is much more a spectrum than a black and white hetero-or-gay thing. So, going by that, traps would simply be right in the middle.

 

[Samtemdo8_v1legacy]

So are you the suit kind or the art appreciator kind...which is not at all me, no siree...and what's your opinion on traps?

Gay, not gay, 2.19% gay?

The latter. Furry fandom has got some crazy good art if you know where to look.

Yeah Krystal from Star Fox certainly got some quality made "art" of her over the years.

Which makes me jeleous of why can't that quality extend to actual human charcaters in these "Arts"

 

[Arnoxthe1]

Yeah Krystal from Star Fox certainly got some quality made "art" of her over the years.

Which makes me jeleous of why can't that quality extend to actual human charcaters in these "Arts"

I actually like furry-drawn Krystal a lot more than the actual official way Krystal is supposed to look. I find that kind of hilarious. Also, there's some quality art here as well. Not just "art".

Spoiler

I guess the closest for human stuff is anime/hentai. But that too often has way too many anime tropes in it.

 

[The Rogue Wolf]

Meh. My philsophy has always been "if you want it done, do it yourself".

Spoiler: Doesn't always mean you get something good.

 

[Arnoxthe1]

Meh. My philsophy has always been "if you want it done, do it yourself".

Faces are definitely the biggest problem I see whenever I look at amateur furry art. The problem is, proper faces are also a ***** to draw. So many details you can mess up. Not even talking about making sure it's in proper perspective.

 

[dscross]

I have a question. Is your (or anyone's) fursona supposed to represent a similar, but idealised, version of yourself. And also, over time, does your own self-concept become more like that of your fursona? I was thinking that interacting with others as your idealised self might validate it and helping you to internalise it as part of yourself.

 

[Arnoxthe1]

I have a question. Is your (or anyone's) fursona supposed to represent a similar, but idealised, version of yourself. And also, over time, does your own self-concept become more like that of your fursona? I was thinking that interacting with others as your idealised self might validate it and helping you to internalise it as part of yourself.

Making a fursona is a pretty loose affair. For some, it's who they are at their core. For others, it's just a body they find sexy.

For me, Zoe is an ideal, both in body and in personality. Her being an ideal of body though is somewhat more abstract for me than the ideal of personality which is pretty straightforward. I already act a whole lot like how she would.

 

[dscross]

I have a question. Is your (or anyone's) fursona supposed to represent a similar, but idealised, version of yourself. And also, over time, does your own self-concept become more like that of your fursona? I was thinking that interacting with others as your idealised self might validate it and helping you to internalise it as part of yourself.

Making a fursona is a pretty loose affair. For some, it's who they are at their core. For others, it's just a body they find sexy.

For me, Zoe is an ideal, both in body and in personality. Her being an ideal of body though is somewhat more abstract for me than the ideal of personality which is pretty straightforward. I already act a whole lot like how she would.

Interesting. Also, another question, because Furries spend considerable time anthropomorphising animals, does that means that many view most non-human animals as falling within the same moral domain as people do? So, for example, are furries more likely than non-furries to be opposed to the use of non-human animals for commercial or research purposes?

 

[Arnoxthe1]

Interesting. Also, another question, because Furries spend considerable time anthropomorphising animals, does that means that many view most non-human animals as falling within the same moral domain as people do? So, for example, are furries more likely than non-furries to be opposed to the use of non-human animals for commercial or research purposes?

It does indeed tend to fall that way, but again, furries really are a widely assorted bunch.

For me personally, you can anthropomorphize a fox all you want, but bring it in the house and it'll just pee and shit everywhere while tearing everything up. That sums up my view on animals IRL pretty well.