Furry Lifestyle

[Sabre]

Something I found interesting, his dad (person behind him on the video) stays there and listens the whooooole time, makes you wonder that stories about furries "coming out" have good endings with their families, too. Unless of course, his dad is a furry himself xD.

Most likely he is "In on the joke" assuming it is a joke of course. I couldn't get the vid to work.

Some react badly. That gay friend I mention alot? When his family found out, his mam likes it (he has a costume) but his dad banned him from watching the narnia film in case he suddenly started masturbating.

Also I read a comic that, to cut a long story short, had a scene based loosely on true events (but I will change the details for clarity). In it there is a scene where his pairents find out he's furry and basicly tell him to stop being furry, throwing out all his furry stuff. Over time after trying to supress it, he comes to terms with being furry and thus is furry in secret. I remember one panel that "I tried to hide it, but I think they (his pairents) knew, but they never said anything or appeared bothered by it." and I think that summed up furries, or indeed any undesireable group. Out of sight, out of mind, and as long as you appear to make an effort to be hinding it no one cares.

[Xortberg]

That's basically what I'm asking. I wanna find out why anthro stories and art specifically appeal to him rather than "just" good stories and art. Reason for this is, I want to find out what about them can be promoted while ditching the negative stereotypes. Don't forget that stereotypes are born for a reason, and that not all art and stories featuring anthros are furry works.

I don't think you quite grasp the concepts here. Is there an easily definable reason why some guys like blondes while others like brunettes, and even others like redheads? No. To understand why someone, on a psychological level, prefers one thing over another would require quite a bit more to be done than is really feasible over a forum like this.

As for what about them can be promoted while ditching the negative stereotypes, it's quite simple. Ditch the porno, basically. In essence, anthros are just a reskin of humans, similar to a skin on TF2. If you want to promote the positive side of the furry fandom, take some notes from non-furry fandoms.

[Rogue Fox]

That's basically what I'm asking. I wanna find out why anthro stories and art specifically appeal to him rather than "just" good stories and art. Reason for this is, I want to find out what about them can be promoted while ditching the negative stereotypes. Don't forget that stereotypes are born for a reason, and that not all art and stories featuring anthros are furry works.

First of all, why do things in general appeal to people? Why is the furry fandom in some category all alone? Aren't their fans of furry art and writing just as there are Star Trek fans, Death Note fans, people who like Harry Potter series, etc?

To me I am a fantasy fan. I read mainly fantasy novels, I watch fantasy movies, I go on sites like Deviant Art and look at fantasy art.

What got me into the fandom was while looking at fantasy art I stumbled upon anthropomorphic characters. I was interested in them because I see them as a fantasy race just as others would see elves or faeries or werewolves as fantasy races. I am also a fan of animals and having a creature that is an animal with human characters in interesting. What I also like is furries can be applied to many different settings like medieval, modern, scifi, steampunk, etc.

Furries are also a race which branches off into a myriad of options from the more realistic to surreeal. Want to draw a leopard furr/ Great! How about a dog furry with green fur? Yes!

True, not all anthro art or stories are done by people who consider themselves part of the fandom. Yet the fandom is a community for the most part that accepts and appreciates those who are interested in anthro art, stories, etc. One cannot have a black and white stance on the furry fandom or and fandom for that matter. The furry fandom has it positive side of promoting creativity, encouraging expression of one's ideas, allowing those with similar interests, etc. It also has negative areas including drama and some strange fetishes.

Now how a person can promote any fandom would be the following:

1) Realize that there are both good and bad aspects of a fandom.

2) Realize that as part of a fandom one has the choice on whether to emphasize the positive aspects or negative aspects.

3) Promote the positive and downplay the negative.

Note that I said downplay not ditch the stereotypes, because there will always be stereotypes until both the members stop perpetuating the stereotypes and the media and outside world stops using these stereotypes. These I don't see changing anytime soon sadly.

As for me, I write clean stories. I will be drawing clean art. I realize there are stereotypes but choose to be differet that them. Will some still think that I'm part of the negative stereotype? Maybe, but personally I don't care what others think if I know their views of me are skewed.

I like this debate, it helps me test my brain.

[Milkyway64]

I don't think you quite grasp the concepts here. Is there an easily definable reason why some guys like blondes while others like brunettes, and even others like redheads? No. To understand why someone, on a psychological level, prefers one thing over another would require quite a bit more to be done than is really feasible over a forum like this.

Most of the time, the answer to those are "because it's just hotter." I don't think the same answer is wanted in this case, otherwise we're right back to the oh so denied statement that furry is a fetish.

As for what about them can be promoted while ditching the negative stereotypes, it's quite simple. Ditch the porno, basically. In essence, anthros are just a reskin of humans, similar to a skin on TF2. If you want to promote the positive side of the furry fandom, take some notes from non-furry fandoms.

Sure, we can do that. But can we do it and deny sexual ties to it is the question. The difference between TF2 skins and this is generally, when you reskin something on TF2, you either just want a change or it remodels x thing into something you like, ala the Metroid sapper. Furry fandom is more broad than that, as there's no concrete fandom to make the decision on. It's a blanket term that just assumes that if it has arms, legs, and fur, you like it, period. Hence the furry fandom, and o guess what it suffers near endless ridicule from true stereotypes centered around the sexuality and fetish bits that some furries try their hardest to deny and disprove to little effect, see the video posted above.

First of all, why do things in general appeal to people? Why is the furry fandom in some category all alone? Aren't their fans of furry art and writing just as there are Star Trek fans, Death Note fans, people who like Harry Potter series, etc?

Because those happen to have (good) stories and likable characters not focused entirely around their comfortability in cold temperatures. People are a fan of those things because they have established universes and complex plots. Furry work has... anthro characters. Why the hype?

To me I am a fantasy fan. I read mainly fantasy novels, I watch fantasy movies, I go on sites like Deviant Art and look at fantasy art.

What got me into the fandom was while looking at fantasy art I stumbled upon anthropomorphic characters. I was interested in them because I see them as a fantasy race just as others would see elves or faeries or werewolves as fantasy races. I am also a fan of animals and having a creature that is an animal with human characters in interesting. What I also like is furries can be applied to many different settings like medieval, modern, scifi, steampunk, etc.

Good for you, but how many does this apply to? Nova and User could differ, as would 90% of the KLA. Also ask around the FA forums, I'm willing to bet they have answers that'd make you cry.

And again, your question about trekkies and death note fans falls flat seeing as you turned around and took your argument into a completely new direction to fit whatever you happen to be defending.

Furries are also a race which branches off into a myriad of options from the more realistic to surreeal. Want to draw a leopard furr/ Great! How about a dog furry with green fur? Yes!

So you like character design and the thought of their place in fantasy settings. Nice, I'm totally down with that, but race and character freedom does not a good piece of fiction or art make. There's more to it, and the same freedom applies to ANYTHING, as humans can have varienty in their skin tone and features dipping into alien territory (see Star Trek.) We need more, here.

True, not all anthro art or stories are done by people who consider themselves part of the fandom. Yet the fandom is a community for the most part that accepts and appreciates those who are interested in anthro art, stories, etc. One cannot have a black and white stance on the furry fandom or and fandom for that matter. The furry fandom has it positive side of promoting creativity, encouraging expression of one's ideas, allowing those with similar interests, etc. It also has negative areas including drama and some strange fetishes.

In other words, we have a seperated cult on our hands divided between those who have a prefence to this one particular fantasy race type and those who like quality writing in general and doesn't hate if you happen to use anthros. News flash, the first type (which also includes those who find said prefered races hot, mind you) is the furry, and the second type (the kind who accepts and appreciates that type of race in fantasy works) are fantasy fans. Being a furry and enforcing the idea that we are in this in a form of pseudo fantasy racism and not an appeal on a deeper level doesn't work. Hey, I'm a furry, and I happen to prefer anthros because they outdo humans in the attraction department. Does this mean that's ALL I care about, no, it isn't, but it's a driving force that keeps me closer to this particular fantasy race as opposed to elves or dwarves.

Now how a person can promote any fandom would be the following:

1) Realize that there are both good and bad aspects of a fandom.

2) Realize that as part of a fandom one has the choice on whether to emphasize the positive aspects or negative aspects.

3) Promote the positive and downplay the negative.

1. Yeah, there are, but in doing this you have to accept that the fandom is full of the fetishists freaks you so desperately wish were gone in the name of a better fandom.

2. Yeah, they do, but no one actively decides to tarnish the furry fandom's image while in it, they emphasize whatever they're here for and what appeals to them most. A good deal of furries are into the "They're hot!" portion and lo and behold, we have furaffinity, the most well trafficked and popular furry website on the internet which is dominated by sexual stimuli.

3. See number 2. There was a talk about self fulfilling prophecy a while back, but do keep in mind that I've personally known, including myself, who wanted a cleaner fandom but was in denial over the fact that those same individuals had physical and sexual attraction to the same. It's a heroism mindset that not a lot can live up to. See how devastatingly hard it is to be a religious nun or monk. THAT ALL SAID, this only applies to those who dabble in both sides of the fandom, who accept it for what it is but sees the potential for a better image.

Note that I said downplay not ditch the stereotypes, because there will always be stereotypes until both the members stop perpetuating the stereotypes and the media and outside world stops using these stereotypes. These I don't see changing anytime soon sadly.

Because of this reason, which supports what I said above. The members won't stop because it's prominently there. The media won't stop because of the above. Look at the Weekly Gametimes thread, a member here is using an anthro pinup as "furry representation" because it's hot. He won't outright admit it, but this is the reason and we all know it, especially seeing as all the requests he got for the source of said picture aren't mirrored by other quality sprays that DON'T expressly appeal to the male (or lesbian/bi) furry

As for me, I write clean stories. I will be drawing clean art. I realize there are stereotypes but choose to be differet that them. Will some still think that I'm part of the negative stereotype? Maybe, but personally I don't care what others think if I know their views of me are skewed.

I like this debate, it helps me test my brain.

Which is all fine and dandy, but you have to evaluate what "clean" means. Is it dirty-lite, ala tailsrulz? He's a clean artist, but every last one of his art pieces are specifically designed to tease and arouse by bending the definition, and he even embraces this in describing his work. This does not count as it is just as big a part of the negative stereotype in not bigger, as "clean" fans who cling to that type of art are the denial type I mentioned waaaay earlier in this thread.

However, if you're the clean type who can easily swap out his furry characters for humans, orcs, and elves, power to you, although it sheds questions on the legitimacy of calling your work "furry" even though it is by principal of the artist/writer (you) favoring them.

[Sabre]

First of all, why do things in general appeal to people? Why is the furry fandom in some category all alone? Aren't their fans of furry art and writing just as there are Star Trek fans, Death Note fans, people who like Harry Potter series, etc?

To me I am a fantasy fan. I read mainly fantasy novels, I watch fantasy movies, I go on sites like Deviant Art and look at fantasy art.

What got me into the fandom was while looking at fantasy art I stumbled upon anthropomorphic characters. I was interested in them because I see them as a fantasy race just as others would see elves or faeries or werewolves as fantasy races. I am also a fan of animals and having a creature that is an animal with human characters in interesting. What I also like is furries can be applied to many different settings like medieval, modern, scifi, steampunk, etc.

Furries are also a race which branches off into a myriad of options from the more realistic to surreeal. Want to draw a leopard furr/ Great! How about a dog furry with green fur? Yes!

True, not all anthro art or stories are done by people who consider themselves part of the fandom. Yet the fandom is a community for the most part that accepts and appreciates those who are interested in anthro art, stories, etc. One cannot have a black and white stance on the furry fandom or and fandom for that matter. The furry fandom has it positive side of promoting creativity, encouraging expression of one's ideas, allowing those with similar interests, etc. It also has negative areas including drama and some strange fetishes.

Now how a person can promote any fandom would be the following:

1) Realize that there are both good and bad aspects of a fandom.

2) Realize that as part of a fandom one has the choice on whether to emphasize the positive aspects or negative aspects.

3) Promote the positive and downplay the negative.

Note that I said downplay not ditch the stereotypes, because there will always be stereotypes until both the members stop perpetuating the stereotypes and the media and outside world stops using these stereotypes. These I don't see changing anytime soon sadly.

As for me, I write clean stories. I will be drawing clean art. I realize there are stereotypes but choose to be differet that them. Will some still think that I'm part of the negative stereotype? Maybe, but personally I don't care what others think if I know their views of me are skewed.

I like this debate, it helps me test my brain.

On issue here. The main reason (I think) people prefer sci-fi, westerns, ect. is because of the cliches that come with them. For example, Sci-Fi tends to be very thinky as it usually paints a 'what if' scenario and plays it. (Halo, Fallout) even bad sci-fi (Blacksite) can interesting elements to them. I hate westerns because they always play out the same. The duel in the street at the end, travelling the frontier, shooting indians, ect. If you like westerns, that stuff is what you come for.

Certain genres also preach to the choir. Samuri films always bang on and on about honour and duty. World War 2 stuff always bangs on about how great america is and so on.

You describe anthros as being good without the confines of genre or cliche. That's a bit liking Ice Cream that doesn't have any flavour.

[Xortberg]

Most of the time, the answer to those are "because it's just hotter." I don't think the same answer is wanted in this case, otherwise we're right back to the oh so denied statement that furry is a fetish.

But why are they hotter? You're providing shallow answers and looking for deep ones in return. As I said, there's always some reason one thinks they are hotter, and as I said, it's far too difficult to ascertain that reason over the Internet, and without a degree in psychology.

Sure, we can do that. But can we do it and deny sexual ties to it is the question. The difference between TF2 skins and this is generally, when you reskin something on TF2, you either just want a change or it remodels x thing into something you like, ala the Metroid sapper. Furry fandom is more broad than that, as there's no concrete fandom to make the decision on. It's a blanket term that just assumes that if it has arms, legs, and fur, you like it, period. Hence the furry fandom, and o guess what it suffers near endless ridicule from true stereotypes centered around the sexuality and fetish bits that some furries try their hardest to deny and disprove to little effect, see the video posted above.

Remodels x thing into something you like, huh? Anthro art could be said to remodel animals into something people like or to remodel humans into something people like. As for your Metroid example, what of the Metroid porn that doubtlessly litters the Internet? It certainly counts for less than furry porn, which comprises a good bit of the fandom, but it has to count for something. Does liking Metroid not fall under the same scrutiny because of the existence of porn?

Because those happen to have (good) stories and likable characters not focused entirely around their comfortability in cold temperatures. People are a fan of those things because they have established universes and complex plots. Furry work has... anthro characters. Why the hype?

Now, I'm no furry myself, but I would assume the hype is simply the fact that people like anthros. Let's throw out a non-furry example: I love love love writing Kingdom Hearts fanfics - specifically, ones centered around the Organization. I liked to do so even before 358/2 days came out and developed a bit of character for them, and even now the only non-Sora related member to be developed at all really is Axel. Yet I still like writing for them. Why? Because I like the characters. Again, you could continue pressing for the underlying reason as to why, but I don't believe we're going to manage to really figure that out.

Good for you, but how many does this apply to? Nova and User could differ, as would 90% of the KLA. Also ask around the FA forums, I'm willing to bet they have answers that'd make you cry.

And again, your question about trekkies and death note fans falls flat seeing as you turned around and took your argument into a completely new direction to fit whatever you happen to be defending.

Only problem is that unless you get a representative sample all this is is speculation. Very well based speculation, maybe, but speculation nonetheless without legit numbers to back it up.

So you like character design and the thought of their place in fantasy settings. Nice, I'm totally down with that, but race and character freedom does not a good piece of fiction or art make. There's more to it, and the same freedom applies to ANYTHING, as humans can have varienty in their skin tone and features dipping into alien territory (see Star Trek.) We need more, here.

Humans don't have nearly as much potential for physical variety as anthros, bro. Skin tone and features bordering on aliens can't quite compare to being able to bang a shark lady and then go bust through the garage door of a blue and black tiger and punt its little robot through the wall. And race and character freedom can make it easier to make a good story than having a more restricted selection of shit to choose from.

As for the rest of your post, tl;d fucking r. 'R' being respond, of course - I did read it. I just can't be arsed to deconstruct your restatements of your previous arguments when I've already done so in this and other posts. If anyone else wants to take on the other half of Milky's post, feel free.

[Rogue Fox]

Well this is getting good.

I will skip all of the long winded responses and just cut to the chase on my beliefs about the fandom.

1. The furry fandom is simply those who appreciate anthro art.

2. The fandom has its range in content from tame to very adult. Although accepted by the fandom, one has a choice what they want to read or see just like any other media.

3. The fandom has fetishes, mainly because it is open to practically everything related to anthro art. While this allows for maximum expression, it creates the never ending stereotyping where the media and others think the furries are all sex crazed and as a result those with fetishes feel welcomed to join the fandom without bias. This causes conflict with those who wish to maintain the integrity of the fandom and dispel the negative stereotypes.

4. The only way to remove the negative stereotypes is to show the positive aspects of the fandom to the general public and restrict the fetishes. Unfortunately, however, one cannot be able to remove all stereotypes because there will be one individual who accepts these stereotypes. Also history shows that we still have stereotypes in America despite many civil reforms.

5. Asking why a person likes the furry fandom over other fandoms/tastes is a moot point like asking a person why they prefer the color green over the color blue. A person may or may not like their reasons why thus trying to pry deeper into the universal question of why do people choose some things, ignore others, and dislike others.

[Milkyway64]

Well this is getting good.

I will skip all of the long winded responses and just cut to the chase on my beliefs about the fandom.

1. The furry fandom is simply those who appreciate anthro art.

2. The fandom has its range in content from tame to very adult. Although accepted by the fandom, one has a choice what they want to read or see just like any other media.

3. The fandom has fetishes, mainly because it is open to practically everything related to anthro art. While this allows for maximum expression, it creates the never ending stereotyping where the media and others think the furries are all sex crazed and as a result those with fetishes feel welcomed to join the fandom without bias. This causes conflict with those who wish to maintain the integrity of the fandom and dispel the negative stereotypes.

4. The only way to remove the negative stereotypes is to show the positive aspects of the fandom to the general public and restrict the fetishes. Unfortunately, however, one cannot be able to remove all stereotypes because there will be one individual who accepts these stereotypes. Also history shows that we still have stereotypes in America despite many civil reforms.

5. Asking why a person likes the furry fandom over other fandoms/tastes is a moot point like asking a person why they prefer the color green over the color blue. A person may or may not like their reasons why thus trying to pry deeper into the universal question of why do people choose some things, ignore others, and dislike others.

1. Debatable. There is no blanket definition and even something as vague as that doesn't count, as many would say that doesn't make a furry.

2. Agreed.

3. True, and not so true. I dunno about you, but every furry I've seen, including on this site (which is likely to have tamer ones) I haven't seen many furries that dislike the whole sexy fetish thing. Some do, a vast majority don't.

4. One? Try over 50% of the fandom. The sterotypes won't disappear because they are true and actively practiced by hundreds of thousands RIGHT NOW.

5. Already been over this with Xort, nothing much to really say on the matter at this point.

[Rogue Fox]

So Milky, to sum up your findings:

1. The fandom is undefined. Not even the fact of having an interest in anthros defines.

2. The majority of the fandom are perpetuating the stereotype that they are into the fetish thing.

1. So my question to you and to all is: What defines the furry fandom? More importantly, what defines any fandom? I've said my point that I believe the furry fandom is based on those that share a common interest in furries.

2. If the vast majority of furries in the fandom are into porn or fetishes, then why do some have drama when they hear the stereotype from trolls or the media?

Personally I'm into furry art and stories ranging from tame to PG 13 and no fetishes. I guess with the ideas presented here, this makes me a minority. :?

[Milkyway64]

So Milky, to sum up your findings:

1. The fandom is undefined. Not even the fact of having an interest in anthros defines.

2. The majority of the fandom are perpetuating the stereotype that they are into the fetish thing.

1. Exactly. No one has ever had a concrete definition, as there's so many different peoples on different levels with different beliefs.

2. Yep, they do, because they're into it. Not all of them are in the open about it, but enough of them are for the stereotype to be born in the first place. Go to a con, or barring that, ask User. The Krystal Fanart thread was also a nice place to look before it got cleaned and restarted.

1. So my question to you and to all is: What defines the furry fandom? More importantly, what defines any fandom? I've said my point that I believe the furry fandom is based on those that share a common interest in furries.

2. If the vast majority of furries in the fandom are into porn or fetishes, then why do some have drama when they hear the stereotype from trolls or the media?

Personally I'm into furry art and stories ranging from tame to PG 13 and no fetishes. I guess with the ideas presented here, this makes me a minority.

1. No one knows, but it seems to boil down to three common conceptions. A. Furry is a kink like BDSM and such. B. A furry is someone who believes he is an animal in a human body. C. A furry is someone who goes to conventions in fursuits with very high chance of being tied to A.

2. Because no one likes being pegged as a freak and normality is subjective. The general thought process is "So what if I frequent MUCKs and have 3 gigs of sleazy to dirty furry art on my hard drive, I'm still sane! They're not even real animals, so it isn't bestiality FFS! Also, I do NOT wear and have sex in fursuits, how dare they insinuate that I do?!"

Basically, fursuiting is a minority as is bestiality and plushophilia, which are two things the media likes to overhype. However, this does not stop the constant river of furry porn uploaded to the internet every hour and the fact that a good, good majority of the fandom likes that. Yeah, you are in a minority if you despise the more adult aspects. You are in the minority if you think that the fandom needs saving, because the cold reality is most of the fandom is in here for those reasons.

[Samantha Weltzin]

2. If the vast majority of furries in the fandom are into porn or fetishes, then why do some have drama when they hear the stereotype from trolls or the media?

Another answer, besides what Milky said before, is this thing called "Cognitive dissonance." That's where you have two conflicting ideas in your head and believe them both, which causes discomfort in the mind, so the negative is downplayed through self-justification.

In this case, we've all been taught that sex is bad, and kinky sex is even worse. However, we have these sexual urges, and fetishists in particular have completely bizarre ones for one reason or another (I assert that it's biology, but there are good arguments on both sides). These two thoughts cannot coexist without coming to the conclusion that those who have these kinky sex urges are bad people, so we try to downplay the negatives and focus on the positives, just as you're saying should be done. However, when the media or whatever else calls us on being kinky perverts, we are reminded that that is exactly what we are, and we don't like it, so of course we lash out and try to go back to the former way of thinking that, no, we aren't perverts. We're just special.

By the way, I'm not into the "adult" stuff myself, as genitalia gross me out a bit. However, that's been replaced in my sex drive by one of the sub-fetishes (vore), and I had to wrestle with myself a lot about why I'm not a bad person for being sexually attracted to that. Eventually I got over it and realized that the societal norm is just bull, and I'm not a bad person because of that, so the two can coexist in my brain, but obviously most people don't think that way. Recently I read a book called "Mistakes Were Made (But Not By Me)," which describes, in detail, this cognitive dissonance thing and self-justification, and it struck a chord in my own struggle with this fetish I have. That's why I know about it, and that's why I bring it up here.

["User"]

Well this is getting good.

I will skip all of the long winded responses and just cut to the chase on my beliefs about the fandom.

1. The furry fandom is simply those who appreciate anthro art.

2. The fandom has its range in content from tame to very adult. Although accepted by the fandom, one has a choice what they want to read or see just like any other media.

3. The fandom has fetishes, mainly because it is open to practically everything related to anthro art. While this allows for maximum expression, it creates the never ending stereotyping where the media and others think the furries are all sex crazed and as a result those with fetishes feel welcomed to join the fandom without bias. This causes conflict with those who wish to maintain the integrity of the fandom and dispel the negative stereotypes.

4. The only way to remove the negative stereotypes is to show the positive aspects of the fandom to the general public and restrict the fetishes. Unfortunately, however, one cannot be able to remove all stereotypes because there will be one individual who accepts these stereotypes. Also history shows that we still have stereotypes in America despite many civil reforms.

5. Asking why a person likes the furry fandom over other fandoms/tastes is a moot point like asking a person why they prefer the color green over the color blue. A person may or may not like their reasons why thus trying to pry deeper into the universal question of why do people choose some things, ignore others, and dislike others.

1. At it's simplistic definition yes, it is. Sure that makes it vague of course but even though many people have their own definition of what makes someone a furry it's up the person themselves whether or not they identify themselves as one. Hence why some artists who draw furry material publicly state that they aren't a furry, even if the majority of the population thinks they are one.

2. I concur

3. Agreed, but right now the fandom really doesn't have any integrity or reputability left.

4. In addition the fandom is a very welcoming atmosphere to people who have any sort of fetish that the general public would shun them for. Since most of these fetishes involve sex to some extent that is why the fandom is as open as it is. Taking away all the "bad stuff" would be kind of like a freedom of speech violation for the fandom.

5. Yeah, that whole thing is more complex and beyond the scope of this board - as Milky and Xort already talked about.

And regarding Milky's points:

So Milky, to sum up your findings:

1. The fandom is undefined. Not even the fact of having an interest in anthros defines.

I disagree. The fandom identifies with animals/anthros at it's root. I fail to see how one can be a furry without at least having a minuscule interest in one of those two things - unless you are referring to just any random Joe declaring they are a furry despite not knowing ANYTHING about the fandom (in this case said random Joe wouldn't be a furry at all - just lying about it)

2. The majority of the fandom are perpetuating the stereotype that they are into the fetish thing.

According the most reputable online furry survey that I've seen and known about for years now (it gets updated constantly) I find it funny how most furries describe as the sex aspect of the fandom for themselves as a small part while thinking that for everyone else it's a large aspect. Very...interesting.

1. So my question to you and to all is: What defines the furry fandom? More importantly, what defines any fandom? I've said my point that I believe the furry fandom is based on those that share a common interest in furries.

Technically furries are US. A better answer would be animals/anthros.

2. If the vast majority of furries in the fandom are into porn or fetishes, then why do some have drama when they hear the stereotype from trolls or the media?

The answer is quite simple: To avoid stigmatization and the negative labeling that comes with it. Most furries I've found who downplay the sex aspect of the fandom and argue more ferociously against it are the more casual furries who aren't into any of that. The sad thing is that these are "furries in denial" and, even though they might have good intentions, by pushing this type of "OMG YIFF IS A SMALL PART OF THE FANDOM!" they are not only lying about it but also opening themselves up to some ridicule as well.

Personally I'm into furry art and stories ranging from tame to PG 13 and no fetishes. I guess with the ideas presented here, this makes me a minority.

From my personal experiences yes, it does. Most furries I know who claim to have a far less mature interest in anthros are either lying about it or not mentioning it. I'm not saying you are lying of course, but I've met a ton of people who at first glance are opposed to the whole concept but then I later find out through some way or another that they do in fact have a sexual interest.

And I didn't see Samantha's post until after I finished this one...geez I miss that notification system when someone posted while you were making your own. :(

[Sabre]

In this case, we've all been taught that sex is bad, and kinky sex is even worse.

In the US maybe, but it's the opposate here. Being a virgin is something to be mocked. I would say it's a British thing, but America mocks vigins much worse then people here do. Hell, there's even an america comedy film where that is the entire premise. "This guy has never been laid, lol." If anything, kinky sex is bad, but not sex is also bad.

[Samantha Weltzin]

In the US maybe, but it's the opposate here. Being a virgin is something to be mocked. I would say it's a British thing, but America mocks vigins much worse then people here do. Hell, there's even an america comedy film where that is the entire premise. "This guy has never been laid, lol." If anything, kinky sex is bad, but not sex is also bad.

Actually, in the U.S., we have this weird dichotomy about virginity. It is something to be mocked (thanks for reminding me about that awful, awful movie, by the way /sarcasm), but it is also highly desirable. It's not considered a noble virtue or anything, but in a woman it is a very desirable attribute because of the physiological implications I will not describe in detail on this forum.

Either way, yeah. Europeans tend to have a laxer view on sexuality than Americans do, but the stigma is still there.

[Rogue Fox]

So what is clear is how unclear the definition of the furry fandom really is.

Some argue that it is a place for the interest in anthropomorphic creatures, while others argue it is a place where peoplr could explore their fetishes.

And let me be clear, I'm not some crusader out there to "save the furry fandom." First of all, I've seen what happens to those who try to be a crusader (get trolled, get drama from the fandom, etc.). Secondly, the only individual a person can change is themselves. An person that smokes can get advice from others, but ultimately it is their chouce whether they want to stop smoking or not. I'm not saying the fandom is an addiction like smoking (although it can be just like any group or hobby when done in excess).

What I do is my own thing, enjoying relatively tame furry art and stories. Will I get grouped into the stereotype? If a person looks at only me, they will find I'm different from the stereotype. Sadly, stereotypes look at the forest rather each individual tree. I don't like the fetishes or the hard core furry porn out there. I'm just out there to show that not everyone falls into the stereotype, even if I'm part of a small minority.