What is a 'Furry' and do you think you a

5 min read

Deviation Actions

FuzzyBunsOfSteel's avatar
Published:
321 Views
I've become fascinated with a series of comments I made on an "I like Furries" stamp made by someone.

I said this specifically: "I don't consider myself a "Furry" and I never will, but I do agree that all furries are normal people with a favorite hobby..." And yadda yadda.

For some strange reason it bothers people that I don't label myself as "Furry" but I do what a Furry does. Hm...maybe, I've never been into the fandom until a year ago and I've got my OWN interest in it and I don't relate to that word because I've never done anything that people associate the word with?

I've always loved costumes. I've loved anthro animals/alien humanoids. Well, there you go. I call them "Anthros." Not "Furries." It's a name that Furries gave themselves and that's okay. I just...don't feel like using that label for myself. What, am I going to jail because I'm not following the rules?

Anthrocon is just that...."Anthro" Con. Not "Furry" con. It's a technical term. For some reason it bothers people that I prefer a more technical term than the general universal label and I refuse to use the universal label on myself....the question is...why? Why does that bother people? Why do people care that I might have to go around explaining to people that, "No, I'm not a "Furry" I just "Costume" or "Roleplay".


Yeah, I love to make people laugh and smile while in my animal costume, but does that make me a furry? No. Why would it? Yes, I like to draw anthros. Why the crap would that mean I was automatically a "Furry"? WHo said that's when you used the word? I draw other things besides JUSt "anthros". I like "Anthros" "Cartoon animals" "Alien humanoids." Why? Because that's terminology I was using before I knew that "Furry" existed. I don't like change. So, I'm not changing my labels. (Shrugs) Wait...do I even have a label at all?

Do I dislike people that do call themselves Furries? No. I just don't consider myself to be labeled as one. Do I get upset when people automatically assume I'm a furry? A little, yes, but what the crap? I let it slide online. There's no use explaining it in a conversation. The stamp wasn't a convo, it was open for debate and I put that in there. It's something I like to share openly. I think literally when I process such things so forgive me if you don't like it. (Shrugs again) It makes more technical sense for what I do NOT to be called a "Furry". I don't "Furry" when I costume. "Costume," "Cosplay" or "Perform." A mascot "Performs for children." Are they "furries?" No. They are probably just someone who is hired to "Perform" at a ball game or something. They do everything the same a Furry does, but no, they are not a "Furry" and they probably don't consider themselves one by their own initiative.

Personal preference, overall, I guess. I just don't relate to myself as being one. Never have. So I don't use it. It's not in my signature, I don't call myself one when I talk about it to other people. This is a business I'm trying to start. "Costumes." "Fursuits", yes, but I am not a furry because I like to build the suits, draw them, and act out in suit. Furries do that and that's what they specialize in, but that does not make me a "Furry".

Now, in extreme cases, YEAH, if I got to a con for Furries specifically, yeah, I"m gonna be automatically assumed to be a furry. No, I"m not gonna worry about what people call me too much. If I refer to myself in third person or as a group, no, it's not going to be "We, Furries." I don't have a relationship to the word. I'll say "Fursuiters." I mean, it is what we're doing at that specific time. "Fursuiting."

Sorry, I rant, but do you guys call yourselves "Furries" and if you do, why? What do you think you do that makes you one? I really do think its personal preference. I'm just the crazed psycho that put too much thought into the word and refused to be called one. Nothing wrong with that I don't think. Hopefully, I haven't made anyone feel condemned for calling themselves one. I 'm not aiming for that. I just, personally, don't desire to label myself as one. That is all.

It's so funny about the stamp. People are so eager to say what something isn't and then have a double standard over something like what people do and what it makes them. Yeah, I take medicine, but that doesn't make me a drug addict. It's just..such a funny occurrence. So fascinating how people have double standards.
© 2012 - 2024 FuzzyBunsOfSteel
Comments11
Join the community to add your comment. Already a deviant? Log In
Mazelina's avatar
Sooooo I get the "Are you a furry?" question on occasion,and I must say that I'm not. Some people just don't associate with 'the fandom' that way.

How do I explain this exactly? Really it's sort of difficult.

I like the art,I like the costumes, I'm on a few forums....but I can't say I'm a furry per-say. There's just a disconnect between myself and the fandom. I'm honestly in it for the art and the expression. I've always liked anthropomorphic creatures, I've used then in my art and in my imagination for ages. I've adored halloween and costumes ever since I was a child. I just enjoyed the new form of self expression that came with being 'furry' i.e : fursuiting. Busting out the costume and running around being either a wonderful piece of artwork that is enjoyed by all, or an entertaining character.