commit fb5a2aacabafafae2796b3b4dd87333cb92df6c2
parent 105061f3ca8d81fb56ac1a4cbfb6ee325d4a92df
Author: Pollux <pollux@pollux.codes>
Date: Wed, 22 Jan 2025 23:28:52 -0600
New blog post: What Is a Furry?
Signed-off-by: Pollux <pollux@pollux.codes>
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+title = 'What Is a Furry?'
+date = 2025-01-25T15:55:13-06:00
+blogtags = ['furry', 'philosophy']
++++
+
+I'm sure everyone here has an idea of what I am talking about when I use the
+word "furry." Ya'know, the people that dress up as cartoon animals and attend
+conventions? The people that use an anthropomorphic animal as a self-insert
+online? The people that sometimes seem like they make up two-thirds of the
+personal web? Those people? Unfortunately, some of these people engage in what
+many (including me) would consider to be degenerate[^degeneracy] behavior. As a
+furry myself, I cannot help but feel ashamed to be associated with these
+people. So let this post serve as clarification on behalf of myself and many
+other furries: We are not like those people. And to accompany this, I would
+like to offer up my own thoughts on what a furry is. And what it is not...
+
+[^degeneracy]: I'm using the term "degenerate" here in the
+ paleolibertarian sense, which has a specific definition based on the
+ concept of time preferences. I'd recommend checking out
+ [this](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XwLO13YEvE) video for a good
+ account of what the term "degeneracy" means when used this way.
+
+## What Furries Are Not...
+
+### Zoophiles...
+
+We are not zoophiles! This is the most annoying[^harmful] stereotype about
+furries, and is the reason I have reservations about telling those close to me
+about my interests. This stereotype has been around for a while, and has been a
+thorn in the community's side for just as long (see "This Sordid Little
+Business", by Charla Trotman). Sure, there are many out there that are (see my
+above comment about "degenerate behavior"), so I understand where this
+stereotype comes from, but regardless, it is still quite annoying.
+
+There is also a debate about whether "yiff" (depictions of anthropomorphic
+characters engaging in sexual activities) counts as zoophilic. I don't have any
+strong opinions either way, as there are valid arguments on both sides of the
+debate. What I will say, however, is that it doesn't matter: porn is porn, and
+partaking in porn is degenerate behavior.
+
+[^harmful]: I'm intentionally avoiding using the term "harmful" here.
+ As a right-of-association absolutist: I believe stereotypes can only become
+ truly harmful when they involve coercion, which usually happens when they
+ are used to justify discriminatory laws that are enforced without consent.
+ (People choosing not to associate with you, even if it is for untrue
+ reasons, are not coercing you in any way.) As there are no such laws
+ against furries, at least in my country, I don't consider this stereotype
+ harmful in any real way.
+
+### Otherkin...
+
+This might need a bit of explaining, as otherkin are less well-known than
+furries. They are people who, in one way or another, consider themselves to be
+nonhuman, in part or in full. This is a pretty general concept that can
+manifest itself in many different ways, but the point I am trying to make is
+that it is not inherently a part of being a furry, and the majority of furries
+do not fall under this definition.
+
+Also, having a fursona does not make one an otherkin. Fundamentally, a fursona
+is a fictional character that is an anthropomorphic animal and is used as a
+self-insert in certain situations. This is not the same as identifying as an
+animal, anthropomorphic or not. Just as an artist may adopt an alter ego with a
+deliberately distinct personality from their own, a furry may use a fictional
+character as a self insert. Neither case requires that the artist or furry
+"identify" as the alter ego they are using.
+
+## What Does Being a Furry Mean to Me?
+
+Simply put, I think anthropomorphic animals are cool. They were prominently
+featured in the media I watched growing up (like the Secret of NIMH and
+Redwall), and continue to be appear in the media that I enjoy as an adult (like
+Beastars and Brand New Animal). I admire the character design that goes into
+making them and the interesting and subtle ways that cultural perceptions of
+the animals they are based on can support and/or deepen their character and
+personalities.
+
+## Closing Thoughts
+
+In short, I am a furry, which means different things to different people, but I
+have explained what it means to me. While I think the community at large
+definitely has issues, and there are some members I would recommend avoiding,
+there are also a lot of cool and interesting people who have done, and continue
+to do, impressive things. If you have previously written of furries as
+degenerates not worth interacting with, I hope I have given you reason to
+reconsider.
+
+If you are interested in learning more about the past of our community, there
+is a great episode of Down the Rabbit Hole (pun, I hope, not intended) by
+Fredrik Knudsen, which can be found
+[here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8aF2GxWi7Ag&t=1393s&pp=ygUUZG93biB0aGUgcmFiYml0IGhvbGU%3D).
