What is a furry?

[velvetpage]

I have just been asked that question by someone new to my journal. She's probably not the only person wondering; I have several new people reading my journal, and since they came to my list from various and sundry locales, it's unlikely they have any knowledge of this aspect of my life.

Now, the thing is, I'm not that much of a furry. Yes, I write furry fiction and play furry RPGs, but that's about the end of it. I don't even own a tail.

So I'm asking for the help of others on my friends list who are far, far more furry than I am. Please, for the enlightenment of the (few) untutored masses: What is a furry?

I'll start things off with a brief working definition. A furry is someone who is a fan of and/or active participant in activities involving anthropomorphic animals, both those based on real animals and those based on diverse mythologies.

There. Your turn, Furries of my Friends List!

Comments

[iamradar.livejournal.com]

One of the things I have discovered is very common in the Furry Fandom is that Furries are artistic and creative sorts. This is shown in art, roleplaying, fiction, and in costume (both in fursuit and in clothing).

[velvetpage.livejournal.com]

True. I can't think of a single furry offhand who is not an avid creator of something, whatever it may be.

[perlandria.livejournal.com]

That is an arguement/discussion I have often. I don't think there IS a defition. It isn't like there is a central canon authority like the Star * universes, etc.

[velvetpage.livejournal.com]

That's why I'm asking for contributions to my working definition. On my own, I'm just not into it enough to formulate a good one, but all together we should be able to come up with one.

[perlandria.livejournal.com]

I like furry stuff for the iconic imagery that animals provide. There is a lot of cultural baggage attached to animal imagery, based on observed behavior, observed behavior through a cultural filter, assigning a different people's reputation to the animal they or you use for them, assiging virtues to animals used to represent yourself as a culture, folklore, legend etc. yadda. Besides behavior, there is a lot of loaded information in appearance - short, sharp muzzles are 'cute', long sharp muzzles are threatening, things are sleek, or fuzzy, softyly or brightly colored etc. A round, fat, white wolf puppy 'feels' very different than a skinny, leggy, toothy adult wolf - yannow?
So I am a furry for the 'language/vocabulary' that being furry adds to my life. Music adds language. Scents adds language. Animal imagery adds language. and I like what it says.
Umm if that makes any sense.
So, a furry to me is someone who enjoys animals to tell stories, for themselves and to others.

[velvetpage.livejournal.com]

Good one! Thanks.

[etherlad.livejournal.com]

If you ask 20 different people this question, you'll get 30 different answers.

One definition I heard likened "furry" to "Trekkie." A Trekkie is, for the most part, just a fan of Star Trek. And that's all. A lot of people fall into that category.

Then you have the Trekkies who go to conventions and actively engage in their fandom.

Then you have the ones who speak fluent Klingon and walk around the street in their Starfleet uniforms.

So it is with furries.

I'm still not totally positive if I agree with that, but it's a place to start. (:

[etherlad.livejournal.com]

Oh... along those lines, a lot more people might be furries than they think.

People who liked Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (and related properties, like Usagi Yojimbo). People who liked Disney's Robin Hood, the one with a fox as Robin and a bear as Little John. Both these feature anthpomorphized animals of some form or other.

[athelind.livejournal.com]

I tend to go with normanrafferty's definition:

If you've ever given a product or an entertainment a second look expressly because it had anthropomorphic content, you're a furry.

[perlandria.livejournal.com]

I'd agree with this one.

[anidada.livejournal.com]

So... every child (and adult) who likes certain cartoons and kids shows is potentially a furry, then? WB cartoons, Dora the Explorer, Bear in the Big Blue House, Little Bear, Muppets... That's a bit broad, isn't it? (Not a criticism; I just think this needs to be more specific.)

[velvetpage.livejournal.com]

I tend to agree with you; the definition is a bit broad, because it encompasses the vast majority of children's media. It's not a bad starting point, though.

[sassy-fae.livejournal.com]

Hmm, that's a tough question. I don't think there's a good answer as everyone would see the question differently. For myself, I'd likely not use the term to describe myself just due to the intensely bad rap some of the more.. intense? members of the fandom have recieved. I point to the Fur and Loathing in Las Vegas episode of CSI as an example. By numerous definitions of the term, I'd fit the bill, but I'm not entirely comfortable with the label.