pollux.codes

what-is-a-furry.md (4926B)

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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 degenerate¹ 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...

What Furries Are Not...

Zoophiles...

We are not zoophiles! This is the most annoying² 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.

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.