What is furry

[Oni]

This is the best I could find on the internet. Though for each Furry they have there own personal definition.
I found this from http://www.humantruth.info/furry.html You can look there for more info if you like. And if you have any questions feel free to ask. I can only answer from my personal view on the matter and not a representive of the Furry Community.
But I thought I would put this out there for those that are curious.


Furry Philosophy

There are as many Furry philosophies as there are furrys. Furry as a subculture is not based on philosophy or logic, but on a person's external behaviour, so that no matter what your beliefs are about animals and humans you will still fit in. Here I attempt to describe some generic philosophies.

Mental Shifts; I use the term Mental Shift. Some readers will be unaware what this is. A mental shift is when a person changes into a noticeably different mind set. Sometimes it is purely to do with self perception, sometimes it can result in the person behaving with a completely different personality.

Rugby players performing a dance before a game are enticing a mental shift. Business men in high stress jobs, who relieve tensions during a football game undergo a mental shift. Certain forms of martial art train and entice adherents to perform mental shifts during meditation or training - the phenomenon itself is normal.

Species means a species of animal, such as Otter, Squirrel, Lion. A species could also be fictional such as dragons and unicorns, or a hybrid such as a cabbit or a catwolf. Or a variation on a real species such as a Black Lion.

Generic philosophies:

   1. Spiritual Mental Lycanthropy
   2. Holistic Species Lycanthropy
   3. Inspiration Species
   4. Unknown or psychological reasons

Spiritual Mental Lycanthropy
This is when a person who experiences [be it real or imagined] a mental shift feels that they cease behaving as themselves and instead behave as a particular animal. Native Indians (especially in the more Southern Tribes) would believe that they allowed an animal spirit to take over their body whilst they were hunting or fighting.

Holistic Species Lycanthropy
This is very similar to Spiritual Mental Lycanthropy except that the person does not feel that a single animal will takes hold; but rather that they mentally become a member of that species whilst remaining themselves. An example would be that a person feels he mentally changes into an animal of a particular species; that he becomes tuned in to an entire species and his perception changes accordingly.

Some forms of martial arts, noticeably the various forms of Silat in Indonesia, train a person to mentally assume the mindset of particular species during combat training and meditation. Kung Fu is one of the more famous anthropomorphic body arts; the five forms of Kung Fu are all based on the persona of particular animals; although not as extreme as the animal worship found in Silat, the assumption is still there that people can tune in to a holistic, ever-present animal mindset that is not related to our own genus.

Inspiration Species
The image, style and personality of a particular species cause particular feelings of empathy and inspiration. In the way that Buddhists strive to be like Buddha, an enlightened being, many furries are so inspired and feel empathy towards a particular species that they adopt it as a label. Many people feel that they act like, or are comparable to, a particular species (or hybrid or fictional species) and so choose to represent themselves as a member of that species within the Furry subculture.

Unknown or psychological reasons
Most furries do not know, exactly, the reasons that make them associate themselves with an animal. Most neophytes to the scene are simply on to something that feels comforting, or allows them to express themselves without the dogma of restrictive 'normal' society. But many acolyte furs also remain unsure as to 'why they do it'.

[Rosa D.]

I guess you could say that I'm involved in the furry community. I mean some of my best friends are furries. The thing is that I don't really think of myself as furry. I draw "furry" art, but does that really make ME a furry? I don't think so. I've been drawing anthropomorphic animals ever since I can remember. Most cartoons feature anthropomorphoic characters, that doesn't mean that the creators are furry. I think what really got me into anthros was the fact that I've been in love with werewolves ever since I first saw The Howling. Anyways, what I want to ask you is if you really think that I am a furry.

[Oni]

Meow,
that's  a fair question. But you know I can't answer that. Furry is something different for each person who calls them selfs Furry. Just cause you draw anthromophic art dont make you a Furry. Even if you like Furry art, that dont make you a furry. Furry's are normaly self proclaimed, because of the fact that they each view it differently. I know some furrys that call them selfs furries just cause they like the art, and others cause they think they are a werewolf. The actuall definition veries from person to person.

I call myself a furry, because I am a cat. I and I view myself in that light. Though I dont think of myself as the stereotypical furry. I am unique. but that's  how i view myself in general as unique.

So it's up to you if you want to call yourlself a furry. But from what I know of you hun. I would not call you a furry just cause you like the art and are faccinated with wolfs. But i know other poeple who would call you a furry for that same reason. LOL.
So the answer is up to you.

What do you think?

[Rosa D.]

I think that you are right. But I've met people that disagree. I admit though, I thought that I was a furry, but it didn't feel right. I think that I was just influenced by a friend at the time. I have nothing against furries, but I just wish people would stop with the whole "u r furry lol!" It drives me nuts sometimes.

[Oni]

The Furry Community can be ... well rather pushy at times. LOL
Furry for me is a feeling and a knowing, not something some one told me I was.
hehe But then again if you are a squirl furry then you will love being driven nuts

[ViewSonic]

Hi ya all. I am tickled pink to see that there are furries amogst thing group. Even more so to see that there is a thread abou them.

How many of you have heard of furries?
What do you think abou them?
What is your personal views of what a furry should be?
What makes you furry? (if you are)
Do you think we could get all the furries of Alaska here?

[Oni]

I'm ... what you would call furry.

Every one who is furry raise there paw.

*raises paw*

I have heard of furries. Though I was furry before I knew of the fandom. I always thought of myself as a cat as far back as I can remember, even had a few friends of mine tell me that I am the reincarnation of the last of a very powerful cat speciecs that use to be on this planet....ya they were weird...but ya it stroked my ego.

Dont forget we use to be worshiped as Gods, and we will be again. LOL

I think most furries tend to be EMO. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emo_%28slang%29 please look there for info. And some tend to latch on to quickly to others going from one mate to another. I tend not to associate myself with a whole lot of furries. Because of there clinky emo attitudes. Harsh to say but it tends to be widly true.

Though there are some very cool furries. Like Tigerpaw who helped me set up this wonderful website for all your pleasure, and 2 the ranting Griffin. http://www.ranting-gryphon.com/Rants.htm http://www.furrynetworks.com/ those are there web sites. I encourage you to listen to 2's rants, and if you are a furry in search of a place to find a home for your website to talk with Tigerpaw.

There are those Like Fox and my self. And others on this forum whom I will let come out on there own. AS i dont want to out people with out there permision as that would just be rude of me, and when are cats rude. ... ok you guys dont have to answer that.

A furry should be what ever they choose to be. For each furry the definition is different. I hope that not only furries find this thread but others as well. As it will give people a look into a new part of cuture and life.

I make myself furry. That and I am a cat. With out a doubt. A Bengal Cat, one of the more expensive breads out there. 
I think it is possible with a little help and coxing to get all the furries of alaska to at least come to  this site. I think that would be a lovely thing. But I would love it more if all of alaska could come to this place and call it a home.

[Kitsu_Kirkorian]

Why hello thar XD quite the interesting topic I might add. I am a furry. But a little off the wall then normal ones i'd say. Hard to say why I picked what I am. But I beleive it fits me the best and i've really grown into it. Guess I could blabber on forever to how I got tot his point o.O;; but i'll save that for msn or other messanger chats XD.

Anyways, more to the point. I am a pokéfur, meaning one that chose a pokémon for my fursona. I am a mewtwo. A but different from the normal one. Here's my most recent picture. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v628/Mewtetsu/2007-6-3-0.jpg?t=1180945012 But as you can see, it's a bit different then what u'd expect. If anyone wants to chat with me on how or why I went with this, can add my msn or aim if you like.
MSN: knifeman2003@yahoo.com
AIM:Renshichan

Wellll, lets see, imma fur. I've been in the community for about 3 years. I've known quite a few. But I think the community is full of lets say... people who aren't really furs. But morely people who use it as a portal to go with their own personal kinks or fetishes. The furry community is, usualy, pretty open minded about things. So it's easier to dive into something your curious about without needed to worry as much about it having an impact on your personal life.Hard to explain I guess D:

As to my veiws on what a furry should be. I don't think we are any different then anyone else. He have our likes and dislikes. Love, hate everything anyone else has. I think everyone should be who they feel is who they are without needing to worry about the people who speak against it, or the people their bound to come across who give them grief. You are who you are.

And as to getting all the furs in alaska here. I dunno if that's  possible yet. It would be nice, but alot of furs are, lets say shy about comming out and saying irl I'm a fur. Like myself, i was nervous about it. Because online as apposed to irl, its alot easier to be a fur online, because you don't come face to face with the jerks you would irl. But all in all, i would like to see mroe alaskan furs here.

[J. The Fuzzy]

I don't know much about the Furry sub-culture or fandom, even though I have a Furry-sounding handle.   J. The Fuzzy is short for J. The Fuzzy Bear Kat and I often go by some variation of that online.  I came up with that because I think it seems to fit my personality and physical appearance.    I feel in tune with my animal-like side, but I don't think of myself as an anthropomorphic animal like I guess many Furries do.   

[Goman Fox]

The only thing that defines a furry (specifically, the only thing all furries have in common) is the interest in anthropomorphic animals.  That's it.  All furries have that in common, but there are no other common interests to all furries.

The first two examples (and partially the fourth) actually aren't related to furries at all.  The third can be, yes, but not the others.  The others actually fit more into "therianthropy."  There's a big difference between furries and therians, although there are quite a few people who are both.

The more spiritual side is actually therianthropy, where a person feels they are an animal, or they take on the mindset of an animal.  I have to friends that are therians (NOT furries) and they once described to me the way they think that makes them feel they are therians.  They're both cats, and at times, they have experienced thinking kind of like an animal.  Instead of thinking with words, like humans do in language, they think in pictures.

In a way, I'm a bit of a therian, as well as a furry (which is probably why my therian friends are able to stand me, since they generally don't like furries.)  I feel a connection to foxes and such, more than just a "source of inspiration" or something like that.  When I picture myself in my mind, it's actually more like an anthropomorphic fox (although that could have been a trained thing, just like the actions I've been known to take that resemble animals, although those have been around since I was really little.)

As for what "furry" is, it's just being a fan of anthropomorphic animals.  That's it.  Anything added on to that is just personal preferences/definition or fits into another subculture.  There are even "furries" out there who don't pick their own anthropomorphic animal fursona, but just stick around the fandom for the artwork, stories, people, or whatever.  So you really don't have to feel a connection to an animal to be a furry.

[foxguardian]

topic by simba and foxguardian

                          so simba and I were discussing ... something i dont remember, and we came to people who  are part human and animal like a cat boy or cat girl or something like that in an anime way of putting it...nekomimi... i think ?
       

"if you don't like fursuits and furcons and furry art, then I'm sorry, but as much as you would like to wear the title, you're just not a furry they call themselves furries, but they don't like fursuits or anything, only nekos"


i agree with this quote

wat do you think?
i would like your opinion [every one who views]-even simba lol

[SimbaSpirit]

Lol your powers of recollection are breathtaking xD

JK.

But to clarify, I personally think that the people who are into nekomimis in anime (catboys or catgirls) should not call themselves furries. If that were the case then why not any kid who likes barney and pokemon? I think that to be called a furry you should "Subscribe" to one of the many areas of the subculture. Whether that be fursuiting, art, RPing, yiffing, etc.

Just because someone thinks that people who consider themselves furries is cool doesn't mean that they themselves are a furry. Once they actually actively participate in the subculture, then they've earned the title.

"And that's  all I gots to say about that" -Gump xD

[foxguardian]

i love you ^^
not realy but awsome
you totaly rocked its socks
couldnt have done better

[SimbaSpirit]

Rofl thanks *scritches*
(is it just me or is it getting hot in here? JK)

[Oni]

From my experiance the Definition of Furry Verries from person (furson) to person (furson). From some it is the simple fasination of the animal or catboy/girl, for others it is  spiritual connection to the animal.

For me personaly well lets see.
I like the Art, of all sorts, from the artistic to the erotic. But I also find my self associating with cats alot. The way I explain it to people who are not furries. is .... I am a cat like I am gay. I just am. I am what I am. Most do not understand that. Through the general idea of Furry, I call myself a furry. But each furry has there own definition. I really think that that definition is best asked, what do you Personal think Being Furry means?

Realisticaly though I think the people that just like catboys/girls should stick to anime, cause that's  were they  most likly found it, and I havnt found many of those that actually like the anthromophic style, just the ones with the ears, paws, and tails, of the animal.

I think to be furry you have to have more than just a liking for that type of art, but a connection to a type of animal. Something that I supose calls to you. Like a Cat for me, and a Fox for my other half.

Furries that jump animals every week, or are 20 different animals at the same time, always bothered me. Its like they are trying to over componsate for lack of something, or just to be cool.