Interested in FDR members Thoughts on this

[iHuman]

Open to Everyone Including Stef, Go to the linked page, read the article, then post your thoughts. (preferably civil & logical ones)

 

http://www.anthrocon.org/about-furry

 

 

[Kevin Beal]

I don't understand it, and I'm skeptical, by default, of things I don't understand. Maybe that's like some light form of bigotry or something, but something doesn't seem right about it. I have no logical argument, they aren't hurting anyone, I want people to come together and have fun over shared interests and values, but my mind automatically churns away to come up with reasons to reject it, with no effort from me.

 

The current hypothesis is that this is arrested development, where people are stuck in a period in which they played with stuffed animals.

 

I have no interest in stuffed animals or furry things, and I casually notice a general lack of interest in those things in most adults, so my assumption is that this is normal and people that deviate from that might possibly have an unhealthy fascination.

 

Obviously, this is very shallow thinking. I just heard about furries recently, so it could turn out that I eat my words.

[TheFifthApe]

Weird topic, here are my thoughts as they come.

Anthropomorphism, attributing human characteristics or behavior to an animal or object, is a cultural phenomenon.

A passive approach to this with regards to one’s belief might lead one to own a pet. An unhealthy extreme to this might be marrying your dog or literally thinking that your pet iguana understands how you feel. The passive approach here has cultural and social acceptance in America. I can put on my jacket right now and take a stroll down Manhattan and see dogs wearing jackets, shoes and being kissed by their owners. I would probably never see that in the heart of Haiti or Jamaica.

There are universal characteristics and behaviors amongst all living things; humans included. But to call those similarities anthropomorphic would be troublesome and oxymoronic. For example, are we more like birds because they have eyes or are bird like us because they have eyes? Is water wet because it is water, or is something wet because it contains water? The "teddy bear” became a stuffed toy due to then President Theodore Roosevelt refusing to physically gun down a real life bear out of it being “unsportsmanlike”.

I think Kevin Beal is on to something with the term “arrested development”, but the result - furry fandom - may not be that linear in causation. That is to say “furry” fandom may have numerous causes none based on the real similarities between real living organisms and all based on falsely imposed one. The falsity in these imposed opinions rather than factual similarities leads to depictions of disfigured animals.

For example, a teddy bear doesn’t look quite like a real bear. But if a model of a bear was rendered, whether by painting or sculpture, to look identical to a real bear that wouldn’t be seen as neither furry fandom nor anthropomorphism. Thus, furry fandom is the extremity in this equation relative to reality.

I am not sure as to what degree any of this can objectively be called normal, but either position (proximate bear drawing vs. bear-human stuffed toy) isn’t morally right or wrong.
 

[Omegahero09]

I don't know too much about it myself, but I've met a couple furry's myself out here in Arizona, and they all struck me as odd, or dysfunctional.

 

My theory is it might have something to do with a channel for empathy- since it's much easier for most to empathize with animals than people. Marrying the two concepts may be an unconscious survival mechanism to keep sane, after leaving or during living in a traumatic environment.

[ResurrectMyself]

I have the feeling that "furry fandom" goes farther than just dressing up as anthropomorphic animals, it usually involves roleplaying a "persona" (fursona for insiders) they invented.
More often than not it seems to be familial/romantic/sexual roleplay that furries are most interested in, inventing families (mothers, fathers, sisters, etc) for their fursona, consisting of a network of other "people/fursonas" on the internet as a form of family roleplay.

I personally think people interested in roleplaying a family with strangers on the internet is missing a family in real life.
 

I'm not a furry, have read a bit about them here and there.

[Anuojat]

I don't know too much about it myself, but I've met a couple furry's myself out here in Arizona, and they all struck me as odd, or dysfunctional.

 

My theory is it might have something to do with a channel for empathy- since it's much easier for most to empathize with animals than people. Marrying the two concepts may be an unconscious survival mechanism to keep sane, after leaving or during living in a traumatic environment.

 

As a furry myself this strike strong emotional cord with me. Art is better reflected in furry fandom since costumes can often look not as good as the drawn character due to expenses, many opt for cheaper ones but would have more detailed costumes if rich enough. Anyhow, its like i and other furries seem to push/put all or most good attributees of humanity unto these characters, sometimes even bad ones usually with sexual connotations.

 

But the positive one get spinned into "this reflects me" "this is who i am inside" phrases. It is as if humanity is too... bland, hollow. Where as furry characters are colourful, full of personality and character. An identity that resonates with something in us that most havent processed (i have though,)

 

Lastly, i am obviously speaking form MY experience and experience with other furries, but it has often been the case that i feel exactly what youre saying here that it literally is part of us that we try to keep safe that inner child or "true form" or whatever words people use that wasnt appriciated or kindly talked about in childhood. Its not like people wouldt have interest with good childhoods, but it would be vastly differant id think.

[iHuman]

Great Comments/Analyses so-far. (Please Keep them Coming)

 

My own thoughts are that this differs little from Theatrical Societies or people who hold/attend costume parties, sci-fi/game/anime conventions or even Shakespeare festivals, true their can sometimes be underlying things linked to some who take an interest to this, but that is not necessarily representative of the whole/majority.

 

in short I see it simply as a innocent hobby that people have fun doing.

[Omegahero09]

As a furry myself this strike strong emotional cord with me. Art is better reflected in furry fandom since costumes can often look not as good as the drawn character due to expenses, many opt for cheaper ones but would have more detailed costumes if rich enough. Anyhow, its like i and other furries seem to push/put all or most good attributees of humanity unto these characters, sometimes even bad ones usually with sexual connotations.

 

But the positive one get spinned into "this reflects me" "this is who i am inside" phrases. It is as if humanity is too... bland, hollow. Where as furry characters are colourful, full of personality and character. An identity that resonates with something in us that most havent processed (i have though,)

 

Lastly, i am obviously speaking form MY experience and experience with other furries, but it has often been the case that i feel exactly what youre saying here that it literally is part of us that we try to keep safe that inner child or "true form" or whatever words people use that wasnt appriciated or kindly talked about in childhood. Its not like people wouldt have interest with good childhoods, but it would be vastly differant id think.

 

This is wonderful

 

While furry fandom doesn't spin my gears, I greatly empathize with furries because I empathize more easily with cartoons and anime than with people

[PGP]

Random idea: could it have anything to do with cartoons? Like Coyote, the rooster cartoon thing, bugs bunny etc. A bit like the comicon, Star trek phenomenon.

Seems to me alot of kids might have had more time with cartoons than parents. Might explain why this is appearing now?

[iHuman]

Random idea: could it have anything to do with cartoons? Like Coyote, the rooster cartoon thing, bugs bunny etc. A bit like the comicon, Star trek phenomenon.

Seems to me alot of kids might have had more time with cartoons than parents. Might explain why this is appearing now?

 

Yep It is about Cartoon/Anime & even Sports Mascott Animal characters.

[Justin K.]

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[iHuman]

I've seen this before. I don't want to judge it, but it appears to me to be kind of like a fetish, or perhaps people seeking a new or diversionary identity. It may be as harmless as a video game avatar or a profile online. But there seems to be something not like bestiality or pedophilia, but some type of strange hybrid. Just intuitively, to be fair I have nothing to back that up. Just a hunch. But I think Trekkies & comic con, tatoo expos all kind of do similar things. I'm sure there is much variation of motives even among the group.

 

A Fettish? why does it strike you as that?

 

I'm Sure their are liable to be a few fetishists in the group but the same is true for just about any group.

 

I'm a Star Trek & Star Wars fan myself and even those have that 1% or less who always try to twist it into/use it for some outright disturbing perversions, but lumping in the other 99% is a bit like saying that because 1% of Humans are flat out Evil that no Humans could possibly be anything else.

 

 all the same I found a interesting video on the subject and one convention I thought I would share.

 

[DaVinci]

The current hypothesis is that this is arrested development, where people are stuck in a period in which they played with stuffed animals.

I think in some of these individuals that might be the case, but I theorize it is more of a reaction to society at large and the way children are raised. Many parents will at some point tell their children, who are naturally curious and playful, to stop being that way and that they need to "grow up" and "go get a job". Playfulness for its own sake must be pushed aside in favor of "what has to be done". This happens at different ages for different children, and the parents generally don't give a reason to the child other than the typical "authority" or "Cause I say so" type of response. The parents make it worse by not allowing for any type of transition. It is more like a switch is thrown and the way you were before is gone.

 

To further complicate matters when the child comes back to the parent to vent frustration over the world they were pushed into they are met with a lack of compassion. The child is told, "That is how it is", and is expected to self anesthetize to get through it. This process of frustration, feeling imprisoned, feeling a loss over a part of themselves they had to give up, voicing themselves to parents, and being rebuffed takes it toll. In some cases they have a reaction to this, similar to the way kids of highly conservative religious parents become super liberal atheists.

 

So I see the furry community as being an example of a reaction to the way that they were raised. They are pushing back against the world and trying to reclaim something they lost. I think that is a big draw for not just the furry gatherings, but almost all the conventions where people dress up in costumes. They are, at least in that setting, allowed to be playful again free from arguments of authority. For some of them I would argue it is a form of self therapy.

[Anuojat]

I think in some of these individuals that might be the case, but I theorize it is more of a reaction to society at large and the way children are raised. Many parents will at some point tell their children, who are naturally curious and playful, to stop being that way and that they need to "grow up" and "go get a job". Playfulness for its own sake must be pushed aside in favor of "what has to be done". This happens at different ages for different children, and the parents generally don't give a reason to the child other than the typical "authority" or "Cause I say so" type of response. The parents make it worse by not allowing for any type of transition. It is more like a switch is thrown and the way you were before is gone.

 

To further complicate matters when the child comes back to the parent to vent frustration over the world they were pushed into they are met with a lack of compassion. The child is told, "That is how it is", and is expected to self anesthetize to get through it. This process of frustration, feeling imprisoned, feeling a loss over a part of themselves they had to give up, voicing themselves to parents, and being rebuffed takes it toll. In some cases they have a reaction to this, similar to the way kids of highly conservative religious parents become super liberal atheists.

 

So I see the furry community as being an example of a reaction to the way that they were raised. They are pushing back against the world and trying to reclaim something they lost. I think that is a big draw for not just the furry gatherings, but almost all the conventions where people dress up in costumes. They are, at least in that setting, allowed to be playful again free from arguments of authority. For some of them I would argue it is a form of self therapy.

 YES!

 

So muhc yes for this post

 

"The world is harsh and cruel and if youre happy and palyful and childlike, well youll be jsut crushed like pile of weak bones so better become like us!"

[insert parents and bullies and some teachers here]

[iHuman]

I think in some of these individuals that might be the case, but I theorize it is more of a reaction to society at large and the way children are raised. Many parents will at some point tell their children, who are naturally curious and playful, to stop being that way and that they need to "grow up" and "go get a job". Playfulness for its own sake must be pushed aside in favor of "what has to be done". This happens at different ages for different children, and the parents generally don't give a reason to the child other than the typical "authority" or "Cause I say so" type of response. The parents make it worse by not allowing for any type of transition. It is more like a switch is thrown and the way you were before is gone.

 

To further complicate matters when the child comes back to the parent to vent frustration over the world they were pushed into they are met with a lack of compassion. The child is told, "That is how it is", and is expected to self anesthetize to get through it. This process of frustration, feeling imprisoned, feeling a loss over a part of themselves they had to give up, voicing themselves to parents, and being rebuffed takes it toll. In some cases they have a reaction to this, similar to the way kids of highly conservative religious parents become super liberal atheists.

 

So I see the furry community as being an example of a reaction to the way that they were raised. They are pushing back against the world and trying to reclaim something they lost. I think that is a big draw for not just the furry gatherings, but almost all the conventions where people dress up in costumes. They are, at least in that setting, allowed to be playful again free from arguments of authority. For some of them I would argue it is a form of self therapy.

 

 

you may have a point there, at least for some individual anyway.

 

Our society loves to try to keep people from thinking/behaving outside of the box it has set up as "normal" a normal and common response for some is to "Rebel" against whatever they are being forced by others to do.

 

however I think as probable as that may be, it is most likely limited to a minority/percentage, from what I have seen is that fandoms are many different things for many different people, anything from a business venture (vendors of art/products) to what you stated or just simple escapism (no different than a camping/fishing trip).

[DaVinci]

you may have a point there, at least for some individual anyway.

 

Our society loves to try to keep people from thinking/behaving outside of the box it has set up as "normal" a normal and common response for some is to "Rebel" against whatever they are being forced by others to do.

 

however I think as probable as that may be, it is most likely limited to a minority/percentage, from what I have seen is that fandoms are many different things for many different people, anything from a business venture (vendors of art/products) to what you stated or just simple escapism (no different than a camping/fishing trip).

Yes, fandoms can have different draws for different people, but I don't think those things, and what I said are mutually exclusive. In fact I think what I said is felt by a lot of people. Now it could be the case that only the minority complain, and so it looks like only a minority of people feel that way but I don't think that is the case.

 

I have never dressed up as an animal, have no plans or desire to, and I haven't intereacted with anyone outside of some people on internet forums who do. Yet, I get this issue. I get it because it happened to me with art. My parents thought art was a big waste of time. Thought it was a distraction from "true work", etc. Basically all the things I said in my last post. So I think a lot of people go through this. In fact I think a majority of people are told by their parents, or other authoirty figures at some point in their life "you have to stop doing x because I said so", and "X" is something that isn't hurting anyone. It would be like if your parents suddenly told you today that you had to give up ice cream, or watching movies or something, and when you said "Yeah, but I like those things. Why should I give them up?" and all they could respond with is "cause I say so". You would probably just laugh at them today. But when you are a kid, especially when you depend on them for survival, you have to do what they say. It's why they hit you with that crap so young. It's actually kind of disgusting.

[Beour]

As someone who has been attending cons for about a decade and was on a anime con committee for two years as well as volunteering and doing a few panels, I think furries are a very misunderstood group. I'm no furry myself, it's not something for me, but I've met and know people who are into this. For some it's just harmless fun and they enjoy creating and drawing characters and sharing their creativity with other furries like a creative outlet. For others, as Anuojat has stated, it's an emotional connection or a way for people to express themselves - some people feel the same way about cosplaying (costume play, where you dress up as a cartoon/anime/video game character for those who don't know). At the same time I have also heard horror stories and personal accounts from friends about the sexual nature of being a furry(not their own sexual nature but other furries). Sadly, a lot of people who hear the term "Furry" immediately think of disturbed, sexual deviants who like to get it on in a stuffy suit. People I have met or know who are furries reject the sexual part of this fandom and don't associate themselves with such people. But yeah, the ignorant are just going to generalise them, aren't they?

 

This is a really interesting topic, thanks for sharing this iHuman! 

[iHuman]

Yes, fandoms can have different draws for different people, but I don't think those things, and what I said are mutually exclusive. In fact I think what I said is felt by a lot of people. Now it could be the case that only the minority complain, and so it looks like only a minority of people feel that way but I don't think that is the case.

 

I have never dressed up as an animal, have no plans or desire to, and I haven't intereacted with anyone outside of some people on internet forums who do. Yet, I get this issue. I get it because it happened to me with art. My parents thought art was a big waste of time. Thought it was a distraction from "true work", etc. Basically all the things I said in my last post. So I think a lot of people go through this. In fact I think a majority of people are told by their parents, or other authoirty figures at some point in their life "you have to stop doing x because I said so", and "X" is something that isn't hurting anyone. It would be like if your parents suddenly told you today that you had to give up ice cream, or watching movies or something, and when you said "Yeah, but I like those things. Why should I give them up?" and all they could respond with is "cause I say so". You would probably just laugh at them today. But when you are a kid, especially when you depend on them for survival, you have to do what they say. It's why they hit you with that crap so young. It's actually kind of disgusting.

 

Do some research then from reputable sources (their appears to be a great many disreputable info sources on this subject for some reason), from what I have learned only a small percentage costume, the majority are Cartoonists/artists (traditional and digital)/writers etc and fans of the afore mentioned.

 

and yes I agree the parental "because i say so" reason often given is quite disgusting (thankfully my own never used that, they gave a logical explanation that I could understand on things.

 

As someone who has been attending cons for about a decade and was on a anime con committee for two years as well as volunteering and doing a few panels, I think furries are a very misunderstood group. I'm no furry myself, it's not something for me, but I've met and know people who are into this. For some it's just harmless fun and they enjoy creating and drawing characters and sharing their creativity with other furries like a creative outlet. For others, as Anuojat has stated, it's an emotional connection or a way for people to express themselves - some people feel the same way about cosplaying (costume play, where you dress up as a cartoon/anime/video game character for those who don't know). At the same time I have also heard horror stories and personal accounts from friends about the sexual nature of being a furry(not their own sexual nature but other furries). Sadly, a lot of people who hear the term "Furry" immediately think of disturbed, sexual deviants who like to get it on in a stuffy suit. People I have met or know who are furries reject the sexual part of this fandom and don't associate themselves with such people. But yeah, the ignorant are just going to generalise them, aren't they?

 

This is a really interesting topic, thanks for sharing this iHuman! 

 

From what I have researched the whole Fettish thing came from one convention (of many) that for whatever reason decided to advertise to the local fetishists, from what I gather the furries that attended that convention had no idea that had been done and were so disgusted by it they not only cut their convention visit short but also never returned to that particular convention.

 

other than that the mainstream media seem to be bent on pushing that angle in almost any mention of furries for the shock value to boost ratings, couple that with the "creative editing" that media are known for doing and you can see how they keep their bs alive.

 

not to say that cons "don't" have "Adult Material" ive been to Comic Anime & Sci-Fi Cons myself, all con's have an "Adults only" Tent, heck anime cons have several tents dedicated to "Specific Types" of "Adult Content" that are disturbing to an extreme...

 

that said I have never been to a Furry Con, so I can only speak from what I have read/been told/shown/seen on video as to those.