Critical Thinking on Furry

[Kaloth]

So I've been thinking too much again, only this time I find myself unable to come to a conclusion on a few points. The point here however, is that I find myself unable to draw conclusions on the Furry Fandom. I have a few questions that I think hearing opinions of others on this.

(Note: This is meant to be an intellectual discussion and so forth, nothing a say here is meant to personally offend anyone, and if I do I am truly sorry and will personally apologize if it would help)

While these aren't in and of themselves the issue I'm dealing with but the answers are what I believe will give me clarity... Without wasting anymore of your time:

Why do you call yourself a furry? I mean this in a deeper sense than the question first implies, I am trying to figure out what furry REALLY means to you, and why you would attach yourself to the group that identifies themselves by that name. I know it varies from person to person, but I want to know why YOU specifically feel strongly enough about the fandom to attach yourself to it.

My second question can be rather touchy so I'll be tactful. Other places (it tends to be less so here) where people who consider themselves furries, tend to react incredibly hostile towards people who bash them. On this point, I understand both sides of the coin to a point, and the reaction is exactly what they want. To any of you who do react in extremes to this kind of thing, why? I am a member of a couple of hobbies like I consider the "fandom" to be, and as a whole most of the people involved can handle themselves, and their hobby being bashed without all of the drama.

My third question is much simpler: Why the need to change words? I have seen it a lot in the time I have hung around this place. "Furends", Calling you hands Paws, Fursecution among other things. I don't understand the need for the wordplay and to take it so seriously when it is used.

I think I'll start by answering my own questions with all I can come up with at the moment.

1) For the better part of a year or two (I rarely notice with these things) I stopped considering myself a "fur". It wasn't because I no longer liked the art. I still do (to the point I appreciate any art). For the longest time, I said it was because of the fandom, that it seemed to... extreme? for me. I realize now that it was because of these questions... that I couldn't answer them. If I couldn't tell myself why I was a furry, why continue to call myself one?

For the other two, I did not experience either of these myself, so I really have no answer.

[Avan]

1) I define it quite simply as the genre/style and the appreciation of works in said genre/style
2) Dunno, I've seen lots of drama all over the net about the stupidest things. I don't actually see it any more among furries than anywhere else tbh.
3) Again, dunno, I never really caught on to that.

[Avor]

1)     Two gigs of furry adult artwork aside...It's a deep spiritual connection with the natural world that greatly  effects how I preceave and interact with everything and everyone, incluedingar myself.

2)     I suppose that some people are just incredible hostile by nature, you find them everywhere and in every group.

3)     I think alot of it is done to keep the furry flavour, the little things that keep the furry aspects front and center, like "fursona". Aside from that, I think it's
mosty done jist for fun, to makes something cute or light hearted. I support things like "fursastic" and "Fur of July"

[Emerald Blade]

1) I call myself furry because I believe I fit within that group's definition, for some people however the opposite is true; they try and fit themselves into the definition of furry because they want to belong to a group.

2) I've never cared what anyone thinks about me being a furry. For some one who is defining themselves with the fandom an insult to furries isn't just an insult to their fandom or to the person, but an insult to how they define themselves, and that is a very deep reaching insult.

3) I don't usually do it but the idea is like a secret hand shake, it's something that makes the group feel a little more exclusive.

[Sk Skunk]

1: It's a catch-all that fits. It shows that I am a part of this madness. It is also easier than stating "I have an interest in anthropomorphic animals." For better or worse, I am a furry.

2: Some folks take things too seriously. Plenty of us (points at himself) are already on an emotional edge, feel like an outcast. Furry is something that allows them to step back, be a part of something bigger than themselves. When this is threatened, they lash out. Add in the lack of tact, or the ability to laugh at ones self, and you get rage. The same thing applies where one group of automotive enthusiasts, or sports fans, get taunted by there rivals. There have been some dust ups in this fandom for sure, but I don't know of anything that could match up to the turmoil caused by rabid football hooligans.

3: It's fun. It is also quite silly. For me, that is the essences of what being furry is. It is because this is not serious business. I have used the term paws for my hands and feet long before I ever heard of the fandom. It is cute, goofy, a release, breaks the monotony. Like anything else, it can be overdone. I would like to ask those that can't stand these references, why do you hate it? Does it embarrass you? How do you find something unnecessary, in something that is, quite frankly, unnecessary? IMHO, of the things in the fandom that cause problems, this is the least of our problems.

[Arbutus]

1. I guess there are three main things:
a) I'm fascinated by anthro animals, pure and simple. It's not a particularly deep thing. They are just creatures that I find very interesting in art and stories. And like Mylo, I'm also fascinated with the idea of transforming into one.
b) I originally found furry because I have an obsession with rabbits. Some people might find it weird, but I'm glad you guys get things like that.
c) Most importantly, I love the furry community. It's an incredibly nice and open and accepting group of people, which is something that's very rare on the Internet. I came to furry because I was interested in the base material, but I stayed because of the community.

2. I think Sk Skunk hit the nail on the head with this one. Nowadays, I couldn't care less about what people think. But back when I was a teenager, I cared a lot more about keeping my identity as a furry secret from everyone, and it was for the reasons of identity that Sk laid out. (I never lashed out, though. I just got needlessly emo, lol.)

3. Why not? That's my simple answer. The wordplay is fun! You say you don't understand the need for it... of course there's no need for it! I see it as just a playful thing that a lot of furs do as a sort of "secret handshake." I don't do it much myself, but I have been known to at times.

[Yip]

1) Why do you call yourself a furry?
Pretty much what Arbutus said. I'm fascinated by anthro animals, and I like that the community understands this fascination. I will add that to those outside the fandom, I usually don't call myself a "furry" since it's usually easier to just let interests show for themselves. That is, I don't hide the fact that I like foxes a lot, or that I like anrtho characters. I just don't specifically use the word "furry" 'cause then I'd have to worry about if they have misconceptions about it and such. But for other furs, I do call myself "furry" 'cause it's a quick easy way to convey shared interest.

2) If you do, why do you react in extremes to furry bashing?
I don't.

3) Why the need to change words?
Like others have said, fun it a big reason. I will sometimes say things like "on the other paw" instead of hand for the simple enjoyment of it. Much like picture others here more as their fursonas than as humans. Even though I know they are humans, it's more enjoyable to live in a world of anthros.  Another part of it, however, is that words convey meaning. And in some cases the words have meaning that their non-fur counterparts do not.  If we are talking about a "fursona", we know it's about an anthro animal alter ego. "Persona", even "furry persona" does not convey the same information with such ease. Similarly, if I'm talking about yiffy pictures, it should be obvious that I'm referring to erotic artwork involving anthropomorphic animals characters. It's simply an easy way to refer to something.

By the way, it's common for people to develop jargon for any particular interest. Furry it no different.