Hello, everyone. I've seen threads of this vein exist before but I feel as though they have done a generally bad job actually authentically both portraying and discussing furry culture and the different tenants of being a furry in general, or have mostly fallen flat/became more cyclical in discussion. As someone who has both been involved and observed furry culture for the past decade or so of my life I think providing a good platform for both talking about it in a respectful and open manner that also can help inform people about what it entails.
My goal with this thread is to hopefully clear up a few misconceptions, allow for people to share their experiences/sonas/whatever, and create a platform for people to ask questions about things they are unsure about. If you'd like a live chat, casual experience, you can join our Discord server here!
Ground rules (taken from the LGBTQ+ thread):
All site-wide and Cong-specific rules apply, but violations of these particular pointers especially will not be tolerated here.
Q: What is a furry?
A: A furry is someone who resonates with anthropomorphized animals as a modem of expression. The concept of anthropomorphism does not mean having a humanoid appearance, however! For something to be "anthro" it has to possess humanoid qualities, which can consist of simply having human behaviors, thought patterns, or habits. However, it absolutely can also mean having a more humanoid appearance, but even this does not have to be verbatim as it can be as simple as having a designated creature standing up and still having digitigrade legs. Contrary to popular belief this is not a sexual thing. Because animals and character designs can have insane variance, furries often associate with animals hugely because it is a great way for them to connect with others in a very individualistic way.
In general, furry-adjacent designs can be fictional or non-fictional; there are many kinds of furries who associate hugely with Pokemon, for example. Furthermore, these animals can have fantastical qualities. For instance, spirituality can play a huge role in components like color palettes, associations, and accessorizing. Because furry designs are at their core fictional, they can be designed to the whim of the person in question.
Q: What is a fursona?
A: A "fursona" is a design or character that an individual uses to express their individual in the furry community. The term fursona derives from the term "persona", which is known as an identity that is presented in public. A fursona is effectively the same thing, but is specified in this case as a furry identity presented in public. This can extend to other things: for instance, the idea of a "sona" is applicable to a wide range of communities. There are terms such as a pokesona which is very similar to a fursona and can outright be the same thing by definition. The thresholds are very arbitrary and ultimately what categories your sona falls into is to your discretion. Furthermore a fursona doesn't even need to have fur, as a "furry" is a term to refer to anthropomorphic but distinctly non-human creatures in general.
A fursona can be as close to who you are as you desire. There are many people who have multiple to represent different tenants of themselves, but there are also many people who make one who isn't very close to their real-world identity and is instead more of what a persona by definition is: a self you present to the world.
Q: Are all furries fursuiters?
A: No, not at all. There are actually many furries who outright do not care to, and those who do often cannot afford fursuits due to the heavy expenditures involved with commissioning them such as time and resources. Fursuiting is a very common method for furries to express their furry identities in a real world setting, but there are many who are comfortable simply doing so in an artistic or roleplay-based context.
Q: How do you know if you're a furry/can I be a furry?
A: You know if you're a furry if you simply feel you are one. It's as simple as that. There's no real initiation or requirement, because at the end of the day, if you resonate with anthropomorphized characters and associate with them to some extent, that is more than enough. You don't need a fursona either. It can help to talk those feelings through with people who are familiar with furry culture or your friends if you personally are not sure how to navigate them.
Q: Is being a furry a sexual thing?
A: Absolutely not. For some people it can play a role in their experience but the reality is that furries are not intrinsically defined by deviance or sexuality. It is a mode of expression and connection.
--
Feel free to ask if you have any questions! If something is asked often enough I will probably append a universal answer to this OP. Thanks and please be respectful.
My goal with this thread is to hopefully clear up a few misconceptions, allow for people to share their experiences/sonas/whatever, and create a platform for people to ask questions about things they are unsure about. If you'd like a live chat, casual experience, you can join our Discord server here!
Ground rules (taken from the LGBTQ+ thread):
All site-wide and Cong-specific rules apply, but violations of these particular pointers especially will not be tolerated here.
- No trolling, or flaming: This should be common sense, but these things are counterproductive to healthy discussion. If someone says something you take offense to or otherwise disagree with, respond calmly, control your anger, and don't flame them. Moderators will delete and/or infract people if the situation calls for it (regardless of what side of an argument it happens on).
- No discrimination: Once again common sense, but people should be able to feel safe in this thread. Discussion about discrimination is fine, but if you start posting anything which actively discriminates against other users (targetted slurs etc.) you will be infracted for it.
- No derailing with memes: While the occasional meme is alright within reason, steer clear of using them to derail the present discussion, as they tend to undermine the serious discussion that often goes on within this thread. Use Smogoff for posting completely unrelated material.
Q: What is a furry?
A: A furry is someone who resonates with anthropomorphized animals as a modem of expression. The concept of anthropomorphism does not mean having a humanoid appearance, however! For something to be "anthro" it has to possess humanoid qualities, which can consist of simply having human behaviors, thought patterns, or habits. However, it absolutely can also mean having a more humanoid appearance, but even this does not have to be verbatim as it can be as simple as having a designated creature standing up and still having digitigrade legs. Contrary to popular belief this is not a sexual thing. Because animals and character designs can have insane variance, furries often associate with animals hugely because it is a great way for them to connect with others in a very individualistic way.
In general, furry-adjacent designs can be fictional or non-fictional; there are many kinds of furries who associate hugely with Pokemon, for example. Furthermore, these animals can have fantastical qualities. For instance, spirituality can play a huge role in components like color palettes, associations, and accessorizing. Because furry designs are at their core fictional, they can be designed to the whim of the person in question.
Q: What is a fursona?
A: A "fursona" is a design or character that an individual uses to express their individual in the furry community. The term fursona derives from the term "persona", which is known as an identity that is presented in public. A fursona is effectively the same thing, but is specified in this case as a furry identity presented in public. This can extend to other things: for instance, the idea of a "sona" is applicable to a wide range of communities. There are terms such as a pokesona which is very similar to a fursona and can outright be the same thing by definition. The thresholds are very arbitrary and ultimately what categories your sona falls into is to your discretion. Furthermore a fursona doesn't even need to have fur, as a "furry" is a term to refer to anthropomorphic but distinctly non-human creatures in general.
A fursona can be as close to who you are as you desire. There are many people who have multiple to represent different tenants of themselves, but there are also many people who make one who isn't very close to their real-world identity and is instead more of what a persona by definition is: a self you present to the world.
Q: Are all furries fursuiters?
A: No, not at all. There are actually many furries who outright do not care to, and those who do often cannot afford fursuits due to the heavy expenditures involved with commissioning them such as time and resources. Fursuiting is a very common method for furries to express their furry identities in a real world setting, but there are many who are comfortable simply doing so in an artistic or roleplay-based context.
Q: How do you know if you're a furry/can I be a furry?
A: You know if you're a furry if you simply feel you are one. It's as simple as that. There's no real initiation or requirement, because at the end of the day, if you resonate with anthropomorphized characters and associate with them to some extent, that is more than enough. You don't need a fursona either. It can help to talk those feelings through with people who are familiar with furry culture or your friends if you personally are not sure how to navigate them.
Q: Is being a furry a sexual thing?
A: Absolutely not. For some people it can play a role in their experience but the reality is that furries are not intrinsically defined by deviance or sexuality. It is a mode of expression and connection.
--
Feel free to ask if you have any questions! If something is asked often enough I will probably append a universal answer to this OP. Thanks and please be respectful.
