I've noticed a lot lately that the Furry fandom is becoming more mainstream. With more awareness of what a Furry is, it makes me wonder what everyone think of them?

FIRST, let me start off with what a Furry actually is: A Furry is someone who draws, makes costumes/dresses as, or feels a general connection to anthropomorphic animals (animals that walk on 2 legs and have human characteristics). They can be a myriad of things from watchers to creators. However, Furry is NOT to be confused with Zoophilia (sexual attraction to actual animals) or Therian/Otherkin (belief that you have the soul of an animal/mythological creature, but born in the wrong body). Zoophiles, Therians, and Otherkins can be Furries, but Furry does NOT mean you are any of those things. It really frustrates me that people automatically assume you are a Zoophile when you tell them you're a Furry (Furries typically feel disdain for Zoophiles). Fetish art and pornography is common with Furries, but Furry itself is NOT a fetish.

So now that that's out of the way, let me share my end. I'm a Furry, and have always been even since before I realized there was such a thing. I love the works I create and the general open, accepting community. As someone who had a very rough life growing up, the Furry community really made me feel like family. I fell in love with Furrydom. I made my first fursuit (animal character costume) at 16, and went to my first con at 17. Though I have a great time with it and don't hide it from anyone, I have gotten very mixed signals from other people about being a Furry; most of which were very negative. Most of what I'm met with when I tell someone I'm a Furry is a look of disgust and a rude comment such as, "You screw animals?" or the classic, "Better hide the dogs." To me, I find this very offensive. It may not be a normal thing for a 20 year old to dress up as a giant albino rabbit, but the fact I like to draw and create animal themed artworks does not mean I am attracted to animals. In fact, I am solely a clean artist, and I dislike Furry porn. Still, I am usually met with eye rolls, disgust, or confusion when I state that I am in fact a Furry. Something that confuses me the most is how cosplayers will attack Furries (those who fursuit, namely). We are both putting on costumes to portray a character, whether original or not. I decided to play an animal character. Why is that so different and looked down upon? I was going to go suiting at comic con one year, but was intimidated out of it after meeting some people who were going to be cosplaying, and they were quite nasty with me. If any of you out there cosplay, please tell me what I'm missing that's so different about us that leads to an attack? I don't get it. .-.

What do YOU guys think? Any experience with Furries? Share your thoughts. ^^

Well I'm one of the misinformed masses for the most part, not destaining of, just not sure of what it is. Or rather I wasn't sure what being a Furry is. Thanks for explaining what it is to you so straightforwardly!

My opinion: I suppose what I think is you're not hurting anyone, so why should someone be unpleasant to you because of a harmless hobby/lifestyle/furrydom? Sorry not sure of the term. Basically it's a why would it be their business? Why would it be my business? I think if you've found an open and accepting community it's an awesome place to be and a heart-home that not everyone is lucky enough to find ^-^ Plus I think a cutie in a bunny suit sounds freaking adorable and huggable ^-^ cuddle fiend >:D

My Guess? I'm sorry you've had such negative experiences with confused folks like me. My (possibly optimistic) guess is that many of those that make disparaging remarks are misinformed on the definition, like I was (am?). The more notorious aspects of what I think is an umbrella term of "furry" are the ones that get the most attention right? Because there scandalous/taboo to a large portion of society, and people focus on the things that break pattern. Not fair, but it's my best guess.

I'm okay with the people who enjoy the art (I enjoy it myself, but just the normal stuff, nothing sexual or weird... like I enjoy Bugs Bunny and other anthropomorphic characters) and who like to draw it, or have an avatar of themselves as an anthro animal. Dressing up is... iffy. I just find costumes like that are kind of freaky in general though.

People who think that they are an animal, though... nope. Also, the sexual art is messed up but at least it doesn't hurt anyone so eh.

C00kie: I don't understand why people are so outright rude either. I suppose you're right on the most taboo and notorious people being the "light" on the fandom. It's just sad that the majority of us is is thrown into the same category as the very few bad apples. It also doesn't help that any time the media does a story on furries, it's always about the dark side of furry" and "the scandalous fandom". Sure, a lot of furries are sexual and enjoy looking at dirty things, but I thought humans in general did that? XD It's not like the media says it is at cons either. There's no orgy happening, no grabbing of certain areas. The con I went to was very pleasant; everyone was so easy to talk to and kind. The only physical contact people had were hugs. Furries love hugs. XD Also some of the suits are super adorable.

Mouse: I can understand the off-putting aspect of the costumes. In fact, the fear of mascots and animal costumes is a very common fear. I myself have seen some pretty creepy looking suits. Yeah, I suppose I don't quite understand Therians. I've met some nice Therians, but I've also met some violent ones. The nice few I met just behaved oddly to me, always wearing tails and ears, and wagging, pawing, whimpering, licking, ect. The violent ones I met would growl, bite, and scratch people. I don't get it, but I've never been in there shoes. If someone ever bit me though, I'd probably have to punch them in the nose. XD A lot of people feel the sexual art is wrong, but do keep in mind that it is not Zoophilia. ^^ Most furries I've seen will enjoy furry porn on occasion, but they are definitely not Zoophiles. In fact, when a Zoo is discovered in the fandom, a lot of people will try to push them out or boycott them. It's easy to think, "These are animal characters, so porn of them is wrong." But remember that they do have humanoid bodies and features (and sometimes faces) and that's where the attraction lies. If you take a furry who enjoys furry porn and show him Zoophilia art, I guarantee that they would be disgusted by it. It's easy to misconceive, and I still respect those who still dislike it. ^^

Yeah it bothers me when people lump all "furries" into one category, even though I'm not part of the community. Like I said, I like the art but the sexual stuff bothers me. Some costumes are okay, but the huge headed ones are creepy. XD

I think live and let live. It's not my cup of tea but as long as they aren't doing themselves or others any harm, I see no problem.

I used to find it vaguely weird. Then I dated a furry (I guess you'd call him a closet furry) for a short amount of time and now I find it very weird.

To each their own. I don't attack anyone for their interests.

I don't have an opinion. As long as everyone are consenting adults, than do what makes you happy.

I think it's an interesting thing to play around with, if that's what you're into. I'd never put someone down for their interests, unless it's something that hurts someone else. I would possibly consider a furry outfit for a costume if it was a cosplay or something, but it's not something I'm into. It's zoophiles/fetishists that bother me. I will draw furries if someone asks me to. But not the overly sexualized kind...those just kind of ick me out.

I'm somewhere in the middle. Overall my interest is a general attraction but is halted by the fact that these creatures simply don't exist. Not the way they're portrayed. Some dumbass friends will say get someone dressed like them. That to me isn't just a poor substitute, but a fucking insult.

- Fluffy bunny! :D

I have absolutely nothing against furries. I'm even one myself. I consider myself to be a kitsune... with only fox ears and a tail. But, I can also feel like an anthro fox with angel wings. However, I act like a human, not a fox.

I never really got into the community. I wanted to, but I used to be very non social and haven't had the chance. I want to own faux fox ears and a tail one day. I don't want a fox body suit.

I like furry art, but don't like porn of it (or any porn for that matter). I don't care if furry porn exists... it's just fictional human-like animals. Besides, there's porn of nearly everything, so why attack the furry portion of it?

I used to be scared of telling people I was a furry, because of the whole Zoophillia thing. I think Zoophillia is absolutely disgusting an people who have that should get help, since real animals (and sometimes people) can get hurt. But, there's noting wrong with being a furry. No one gets hurt by just being a furry.

Basically, people are very misinformed on what a furry is. If the mainstream didn't label furries as malfunctioned humans that like to have sex with real animals and aren't able to contribute to society, then there wouldn't be such a negative view on us.

OH LOOK, DINNER. Sorry, that's always my first response when meeting any rabbit furries. I consider myself to be a lioness, so I'm another representing member of the fandom here. Also, I'm probably one of few if not the only representative on Subeta from the Texas Furry Fiesta Convention Staff! And that gives me a pretty decent place to comment I suppose.

As with any other fan group, you're going to get the good and the bad. That's just how it works. I've met furries that are seriously bottom of the barrel, darn near worthless in my eyes. I've met just as many amazing, would give you the shirt off their back furries. They're not any different from regular people for the most part. Heck, from my experience, the population as a whole tends to actually be a lot nicer and more accepting than most humans.

Also, holy cow, furries are generous. Our convention spans three days at the end of February and our average attendance is roughly 2,500 people, and every year we raise anywhere from $15,000 to $20,000 for a local big cat rescue. Every year. In three days. Try and do that with any other group of people. It's not gonna go well.

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion on things, but I find that the people who are generally rude and not very accepting of the "Furry" fandom don't really understand what it is, as you had touched on in your original post. There are some people out there who can nearly hate something just because it's different and/or they don't understand it, and I feel like these are the types of people who are quick to judge your fandom and convey it to others as bad.

Personally, I find the fandom to be pretty interesting, even based off of what little I know about it. Animals are awesome, and anthropomorphic characters are too. I find all kinds of art to be great, and I feel like people in your fandom typically put a lot of time and effort into what they do, and I really admire that. Of course, the porn part that you were mentioning is a bit, erm...odd. I don't really have much else to say about that element, exactly.

Regardless of their own views, people really should learn to respect those around them; if no one is getting hurt by the thing itself, then people can just turn the other way if it displeases them. No need to be mean. Then again though, most people are mean. Sigh.

I used to think furries were weird. Mostly because I was a turd. I think that whatever you feel, whatever you enjoy, it's your life. No one has any right to judge you, and often times, when someone is judging any group of people not considered "normal" by society, it's because they're ignorant. They just don't understand it, and that scares a lot of people. As long as no one is being hurt, anyone should be entitled to do what they like and express themselves how they wish without being made to feel bad about it, or shamed, or bullied, etc. You do you. More people need to learn to respect others.

Nobody should be raining on your happy, especially people in the fandom community, regardless of what level and where you're at on the geekscale.

Generally speaking if somebody like a cosplayer is frowning on somebody in a fursuit it's because they already feel like an outsider themselves for getting dressed up funky, and they mirror that outsider feeling on somebody they think is somehow 'lower' on the social scale. They obviously haven't figured out that there's geek flags of all sorts of colors and none of those colors are greater or lesser, just different.

You see that same sort of judgement in any fandom. Computer gamers look down on console players. Shooters look down on campers. Chess players snark on checkers! laughs (don't know if that's really true but I wouldn't be surprised)

It all comes down to fearing being judged and snatching at any crumbs of what they think confers respectability on themselves. So long as it's safe, sane and consensual, it should all be good. Yes, even the ones that like looking at furry porn. It might not give YOU tingles in special places but it works for them, so yay for them!

Doesn't do a lot for me, but my husband hangs out with the local furry crowd, sells jewelry at furrycons and goes by the nickname of Bear even though he doesn't fursuit. We've got some anthrobear artwork hanging on the walls and it makes him happy, so that makes ME happy.

I guess it depends really. I'm not a furry but I do have friends who are furries though. I find stuff like yiff and fursuits creepy personally, but otherwise, I don't really have an opinion of the furry fandom in general though. I tend to be more of the live and let live variety personally.

Still, even if I'm not a fan of fursuits I can generally respect how much work it takes to make a costume like that though. It's just that viscerally it's always going to creep me out slightly to see random people in costumes where I can't see their faces. It's a gut reaction, more so than an extensively thought out reaction.

I'm not one myself but I think it's perfectly fine for people to be furries and even public about it. Why not? No harm is being done at all and it looks fun too. I only don't approve of beastality of course...

I consider myself a furry because I draw anthro-ish animals, I consider myself a part of the furry artist community, and I ADORE fursuits and the performances and characters created and brought to life by suiters. As in any community, there are people to avoid. I have run into some of those people. But the majority of other Furries I've interacted with are very kind, energetic, and overall stellar people. I get most of my commissions from furries. The NSFW part of the community keeps their dirty art and actions pretty well tucked away and away from the sight of minors too. I dont really ever have a problem with seeing things I dont want to.

ALSO !! Furries donate A LOT of money to charities. which is good and cannot be said for a lot of other popular fandoms.

I'm a furry, and I'm incredibly active in the community in a non-social way xD I draw, sculpt, build and do most things furry, yet... I'm anti-social. I think it's a fun little community, until people take things too far (I got licked at a furmeet once that made me nope away from ever going to one again .-.).

I love meeting other furs on different websites, because it means I can talk about all the different fur things and not need to explain myself :D (Plus my bf is / was a furry, and I met him over 8 years ago because of furries xP) Furries o/

No problems with that <3 if it makes you happy then why not right?~