Author Topic: Fursona Troubles (Read 7357 times)

Benjamin · « **on:** April 22, 2003, 09:09:31 pm »

Some people call it their "personal furry" since it's their own personal character and a representation of themselves. Most, if not all, personal furs are of their players' favorite species, and like Terastas said, it's a species they can relate to and/or admire.

Essentially, the personal furry is an extension of one's RL self into a fantasy character form. It's like a mask that one dons while chatting or role-playing with other furs, and acts like an avatar for themselves in some ways. It can be what you become recognised as.

It's really not a requirement to have a personal furry or a fursona, but it can help you relate to your fellow furs a bit more strongly.

Not everyone has or needs a personal fur, and don't feel that you need to have one for whatever reasons. It's your own choice. There're plenty of furs without a personal fur and there are those that have a character that changes form along with their moods. Even if you'd like to settle on one species, keep in mind that it doesn't have to be set in stone. Try out a few for a while and see what you feel fits best.

Still, you're no less a fur if you don't have a specific self-defined fursona.

Benjamin

Richard Smith · « **Reply #1 on:** April 22, 2003, 06:37:31 pm »

Okay, so I was talking to friend over AIM one day and she asked me about my fursona so she could draw it for me. I gave her a blank stare.

A -what-?

She then took the time to explain to me (patiently) that this was the word used to describe the furry character that best represented its creator. This got her another blank stare.

So, there's my problem. Ever the enterprising fur, I can hardly learn about a new thing like this without wanting to do it myself, but creating a fursona has been nearly impossible for me. I'm so used to playing characters that are in no way like me that the thought of developing a tangible relationship with one is rather disturbing. Besides: where do I begin? I imagine the process of thinking one up involves a lot of deep, soul-searching thought, but along which paths of thought? Should I make a straight-across representation of myself, but in furry form? Should I use subtle psychological imagery to represent certain things about my life psyche? I know this sounds like a completely off-the-wall inquiry, but I really need help with this.

« **Reply #2 on:** April 22, 2003, 07:14:36 pm »

Well, first of all, your fursona doesn't necessarilly have to be what you relate to. In my case, my fursona is who I wish I could be. In other words, don't spend too much time trying to get it right; throw a little fantasy in with your fursona.

I couldn't recommend what species your fursona should be; only you could answer that, though the best way to pick your species would be to pick an animal that:
A) You can relate to.
B) You admire.

As for imagery, that's up to you. Its cool if you can point out every detail of your character and say: "I made him this way because whatever," but its not important. The only really important thing is that you be content with him. Be creative, be original, and be willing to be known as whatever you decide. That's all there is to it.

'>

Jadnar · « **Reply #3 on:** April 22, 2003, 07:16:13 pm »

Well, alot of people do it diffrently. Some people do it in relation to them selves, such as I, to me it is easier then creating a whole new person. But for some their furry self is closer to whom they are. I would advise not to Think to hard at it, More let it come naturally, I mean it is you who would come naturally. Be who you want, and what you want.

Thats the only way I can say it really, The furry fandom has soo many diffrent ways of doing things that I don't think there is one set way, or one 'normal' way, as there is no such thing as normal.

DrakonianDanceR · « **Reply #4 on:** April 23, 2003, 09:06:30 am »

I agree with Benjamin, that it is not a requirment to have a "fursona". Though I don't consider myself a fur as such, I feel I do have a broad understanding of the various aspects within the fandom. Regarding your issue, one thing I have found with many furs, that many are simply animal fans. Nothing wrong with that at all, but that is what they are. Though, they do often have a good understanding of animals, inparticular their favourite one(s), obviously. So those people would create a fursona based on their favourite animal, or animals. These furs are the sort that do tend to change their fursona quite a bit. The other type of furs are animal spirits. These furs have, or strongly believe themselves to have the spirit of a particular animal. Whereas the other furs choose their favourite animals, these sort of furs almost have the animal chosen for them. What is interesting is that both groups of furs have those that do have fursonas, and those that don't. One view I have is that because a lot of furs are artists, and/or art fans, they create fursonas for themselves to draw, and for others to draw. Maybe they do it because they like art, maybe they do it because they're vain, I don't know. One thing to remember is that the furry community is too broad a thing to generalise. There are all sorts of people, from all walks of life in the fandom, and so to generalise is difficult, and often inaccurate. Anyway, I'm rambling. These are my thoughts, and I hope my words have been of some help to you.

« **Reply #5 on:** April 25, 2003, 07:46:58 pm »

As someone who kind of fell into having a "fursona", I can relate to your predicament.

I write and draw various characters who are not in shared universes like role-playing, MUCKs, fan magazines, etc. They exist purely for myself. However, as I got to know and exchange work with more furry artists, I found getting a "fursona" useful. Amongst my characters, I chose the one I relate to most. However, there are at least two others commonly used to represent me or my personality, plus two additional characters commonly used when a fun art gag is intended at me.

Lots of other people choose their characters they made for role-playing (whether those characters have much to do with their creators or not) as their fursonas. It depends upon what you want from your character. Also, changing the fursona or holding multiple fursonas to represent different sides of the owner is not unheard of.

If you cannot (or do not want to) pick a fursona by the time your artist friend wants to draw the picture, tell her, "Draw me as a ____," or even let her pick the animal! (I know I would like to see someone else pick an animal of his or her choosing and draw me as that animal, just for fun.)

Joel · « **Reply #6 on:** April 27, 2003, 07:45:44 am »

Well, on the subject of fursonas, I am a bit 'fuzzy', so to speak. *Rim shot*

Seriously, though, I have one main fursona, that of Joel Marsh, the anthropomorphic fox. I also have a few subsidary ones (Wonders if thats the right word ':dead:'

) including an anthropomorphic meerkat and racoon, which really are just diff. forms of m'self, whereas Joel Marsh is who I wish I could be. ':.'

'Tis crazy... ^^;

Ecco · « **Reply #7 on:** April 29, 2003, 07:48:30 am »

I had the same problem, until I began looking through my Magic cards...there I found the Wild Jhoval...a creature that looks like a Caracal Lynx, Tiger, Lion, and Smilodon all rolled into one tuff kitty! So that's how I found mine...I love all those cats...and MTG....why not mixing up a bunch of your favorite creatures?

Russano Greenstripe · « **Reply #8 on:** December 04, 2003, 06:01:02 pm »

I got my fursona by combining my fav anthro character (Russano the Wise) with things from my personality. So far, I've made a few friends, and I'm currently trying to get a latent furry to come to grips with his "wild side." But your fursona is up to you. It can be what you'd wanna be, what you think you are, whatever.

beyond the darkness · « **Reply #9 on:** December 05, 2003, 08:01:56 am »

For me, Beyond IS me. A furry version of me yes but still me. It's a long story but the short of it is Beyond just kinna came to me. I didn't create him for stories, MUCKS, rps or art or anything. He (or is that I...Arghh! ) just appeared from no where!

Lobar · « **Reply #10 on:** December 05, 2003, 11:01:36 am »

For me, Lobar is my personal furry, but instead of an extension of myself, he started as who I wanted to be, an 'ideal self', and my own, real-life personality has since been taking on more and more aspects of Lobar's personality. When I was un-furry, I was a lot more introverted and shy (the word 'pathetic' comes to mind). I actually used to have difficulty ordering pizza, I'd get too nervous (see? pathetic! ':p'

). But Lobar's extroverted outgoingness has changed my RL personality, and I don't have problems like that anymore

'>.

Now if only my body changed to be more like Lobar's too...*sighs and laments his bald skin and lack of tail*

Ursan · « **Reply #11 on:** December 05, 2003, 11:37:46 am »

Ursan is in many ways a caracature of myself. I wont go into why I knew I was a bear at the moment, but my being 'bearish' is something slightly different. Ursan is simply a character I came up with based on myself for use in roleplaying and what-have-you.

Fursona's are not a requirement, you dont have to choose one, just keep going as you are and maybe one of your characters will become dominant.

zackary_rainheart · « **Reply #12 on:** December 05, 2003, 12:50:47 pm »

I am the Panther and the panther is me.
Of corse my furson-speies was a bit easy for me as I'm a therian so *srugs* I might not be of much help.
I just wish I could also do all the cool stuff that Zack gets to do in the RP over e-mail I'm haveing with me Bro.

Tobodai · « **Reply #13 on:** December 05, 2003, 02:04:54 pm »

I dont know if this will help, but I have two characters that represent me and both are different.

One is alot like me, freakishly

The other is who I wish I was

It may sound odd but it makes sense. The two never meet of course, as the one that is like me is bassically a furry mirror image that doesnt participate in the cool stuff (or at least in a different context) this one is grounded (roughly ) to reality

The other one, for which I am named, is what I wish I was, as far fetched as it amy be. In this case its a warrior, Mongol-esque general

Ulario · « **Reply #14 on:** December 05, 2003, 02:07:01 pm »

Though Ulario is my main fursona, I like to feel that all of my other characters are representations of different parts of my life/personality.

Ulario will always be the ultimate representation of myself.

Bear Paw · « **Reply #15 on:** December 05, 2003, 08:56:42 pm »

My Bear Fursona comes from more a side that reveres and holds them in high reguard . I suppose it comes acrosse a liitle like a totem I see the bear part of me as the creator the protector and the teacher. It gives me a bit of strenght of character. I sort of let it pick me after all I was a big fan of wolves and honestly thought I had a wolf furry as you call it but turns out and a surprise for me it was a bear and so here I am . Its sort of best to let yourself come acrose what you are rather than force one on yourself which may not feel right. Youll know soon enough what ya are.

Russano Greenstripe · « **Reply #16 on:** December 06, 2003, 02:01:39 pm »

Quote (Lobar Sciuridae @ Dec. 05 2003, 11:01 am)

Now if only my body changed to be more like Lobar's too...*sighs and laments his bald skin and lack of tail*

I know how you feel, Lobar. I've said several times (both here and RL) that I wish I at least had fur. *hugs lamenting squirell*

Manic · « **Reply #17 on:** December 09, 2003, 08:51:02 am »

I agree with what the others said, in particular Drakoinian, that 'fursona' means different things to different people. For me, it's mainly someone to draw, but I don't have a relationship with him, because he = me. As in, I don't sit and think about how he's like, because he basically is a representation of me, and something to use as an avatar (the one I'm currently using is an old and very cartoony version). The only thing that I sometimes change about it (other than the ones that mimic my changing personality/psyche) are tail length, fur colour, etc.. - stuff that I don't have IRL

'> I find it nice to have a character I draw most often, a 'default' character if you will. Many artists I believe have something similar, ie. a 'main' character, if you will. Like what Ulario mentioned. I tend to say the same thing in many different ways, don't I? I'll stop now

'>

« **Reply #18 on:** December 22, 2003, 06:57:31 pm »

My fursona is both who I want to be and something that describes me (me=lone wolf syndrome, want to be =wolf)

'>

Shana-chan · « **Reply #19 on:** February 11, 2004, 10:16:00 am »

I know how you feel (about not being able to find a fursona). I actually have three fursonas that I attribute to being much like myself.

Tiffany - An Arctic Wolf - She's definately more of my playful puppy side. She dresses in a relaxed manner, and has markings (a black stripe/splotch on her back, gray hair, and black ears, and a gray diamond on her forehead. She has purple eyes (h- word for red-purple, though o.o ), that change color slightly with her mood). I would be her online when I was less depressed feeling, or when I wanted to be around friends.

Frosti - An Arctic Vixen - She's my 'sexy' side, if you will. She almost always has to be the center of attention (iRL I don't have many friends, so I'm not ever the center of attention at any point in time. In fact, almost everyone I talk to will interrupt me at some point while I'm talking), and she's often depressed or lonely, especially if she announces her entrance and gets no responses. Her fur is just white, and she has blue-green eyes.

Shana - Her species changes constantly. She started as an Irish Setter, then moved to a wolf, then a fox, then a husky. Now she's normally a creature I created; a canine of sorts, with long, floppy type ears (goat-like, almost), small horns, extremely long blonde hair often put into two high ponytails, and a long, fluffy tail, or a fluffy, husky-like tail. She has dark green eyes (like my own), and is very gorgeous. She's basically the happiest emotion I have in my heart that's created when I'm with my husband.

Basically, you don't have to have one fursona. And it can be created from anything. There's no way I could have made these three into one. Shana's far too pure to be depressed, but Tiffany's too unique to be set aside like Frosti might be. I think some people do simple put themselves into a character, wholly, but that often doesn't express much, and can sometimes confuse the way that character acts (I don't know, maybe I'm just crazy

'> ).

User_of_Shadows · « **Reply #20 on:** February 11, 2004, 08:22:50 pm »

I don't have a fursona at least not yet personaly. I put that choice off many times but in the future it be probably 1 of these 3. A dragon, because I always loved dragons and their stories and art done of them, a gryphon almost of the same reason but I always had an intrest in birds (birds of prey for the most part), or a Golden Jackal this one I am still wondering about because when I was researrching in my big notebooks of animal info the golden jackal seemed to just jump out at me.

These three you will also see in my notebooks of stories a lot also becuase of my intrest in them.

Personaly I don't think I will ever be able to choose and it does not mater if you have a fursona or not to be in the fandom.

RoseWind · « **Reply #21 on:** February 14, 2004, 07:05:11 pm »

my fursona kinda just happened, see I love all animals but for some reason I started roleplaying, and I just saw my self as a Domestic Cat, I can just see my tail twitching but im nothing like the stereotypical cat, I use as my animal mentor my unfortunately disceased (sp?) barn cat mordy (or mordrid for anyone who recognizes the name his original barn home was in fact with a horse named arthur) see mordy had a bit of an identity crisis, he thought he was a horse, until he moved into the house and then came to believe he was a human (i even caught him trying to sit up a couple of times) Mordy knew how to take command and was known as a ruthless trainer of the dogs of the house, my other cats i take my furriness from were Rasputin (or Raz we just have this thing about animal names) and Crumpet, Raz was tough and taught me how not to pull on a cats tail, and crumpet liked to fall into the closet and other such areas and I remember finally getting my dad to open the closet one night (after my having heard mewing) to find her in there.

Draska · « **Reply #22 on:** February 14, 2004, 08:58:39 pm »

My fursona originaly developed as a charqcter for a story I was writing, and I later adopted him as my fursona. He was originally a member of an alien cat race I called the Droshi (I'm in the middle fo developing their language. Making a language up is hard X_X ) He's sometimes a super warrior, and other times he's a student. He's changed to suit me more, though.

Drakalu · « **Reply #23 on:** February 17, 2004, 02:49:14 pm »

My own fursona began with my name. I was trying to create a wizard character for Diablo who was one with the arcane arts and the dragon. I had never been particularly good at "role-playing" as every attempt always was a creation of a fantasy version of myself than actually playing another part. Over the next few years the identity grew stronger and the image of him/myself grew stronger in my mind even without the aid of RPGing or online gaming.

Understanding my spiritual side has helped me to understand and develop this persona further as it too is based on the tenets of the dragon.

Everything begins somewhere, though it is difficult to see where that path will lead us. If you would have asked me 5 years ago what I knew or thought of furries I would have a much different answer that the one I have today. *wink*

Zarathus · « **Reply #24 on:** February 18, 2004, 04:11:58 pm »

Well...my "Zara" is pretty much...me. She thinks the way i do, acts almost like how i do...and..well..is me, really.