Why Are We Furries? (Please Add Your Own Opinion On The Subject)

[HollowOfHaze]

There have been have seen several threads about when we were first exposed to the fandom, or how we were introduced. Very rarely have I ever seen the topic of why we are furries be discussed.
I don't mean what movie gave you your introduction to the fandom, or a book, or a friend, or anything of the sort.
I really mean why are we furries? Is there a common link?

As always, all of this is purely my own opinion, so feel free to add your own as well. I have no intent to offend any person in any way, so apologies in advance if this thread causes any offense in any way to anyone. I actually look forward to seeing opposing views on this topic discussed in a civil manner, just to get a feel for the diversity of the people in this community. Give me your corrections, your objections, your heartfelt responses, and everything that follows afterwards.

For me specifically, I see the fandom (or at least my currently minor involvement with it) as a  method of interaction with others who have similar, or dissimilar, interests. However, it is done in a way which allows anonymity, while also providing the opportunity to make an alternative form that people can associate me with, in this case a fursona.

The use of a fursona allows a freedom of alteration in appearance and perceived personality traits which is not possible in other environments or situations. This fursona, consistent or otherwise with a person's actual traits and appearance, can be tailored to suit either a person's perception of their "true self", or a specific trait. In a manner similar to the logos of a business, fursonas allow people to give others a glimpse at how they really are as part of their first impressions, separate from preexisting prejudices based on actual age, gender, religion, and so on and so forth.

Common traits which I have noticed include in many people (including myself in some regards): A person's desire to truly be themselves without fear of repercussions, existing or preexisting traumatic experiences, or negative experiences involving varying degrees of prejudice based on gender, race, age, personal beliefs, or disabilities of various types. There is also a creative spark commonly expressed in the form of art and RPs, which can become truly remarkable works of literary talent and artistic ability when properly done. The will to dream and express oneself is always present, and the people of this fandom and community realize that will in a way I have seen nowhere else. The all-encompassing acceptance of people is remarkable as well, and I am happy to see it on a regular basis whenever new people join.

To repeat, I am writing this as my truthful observation and opinion regarding the furry community which I have seen over the past several years, and interacted with for the past few months.

Respond how you will. Preferably in a constructive manner. I do not expect people to agree with me, but with luck, I do expect to learn something.

[George]

Because we can be whatever we want! There's no right way to be a furry, which means we're not a gang nor cult and nothing to get sick of. A fandom of something gets boring after a while, but a community based around individuality just means you get to meet all kinds of people who act however they want instead of how society tells them to!

[Obey138 (Matthew "Fluffy")]

People have different (CONTENT REMOVED).
This is just one of them, regardless of how different it is from the others.

[George]

^If it's just a (boop), then you wouldn't be on here, now would you? I'm sure there's more to it than that.

[Karric]

its a hobby and a bit of fun we make friends while doing it and we are social animals so it is socializing we crave to be social as a species plus we get a bit of a laugh and i agree with billy as well their are other factors but they are obvious

[Ryan Naismith]

its a hobby and a bit of fun we make friends while doing it and we are social animals so it is socializing we crave to be social as a species plus we get a bit of a laugh and i agree with billy as well their are other factors but they are obvious

Hah, social ANIMALS

But honestly, im in the middle ground between mr polish guy and the OP. I think its a (more boop). Its a thing that we're into, and it allows us to only display exactly what we want, be exactly what we want. So it offers a convenient escape.

[PLEASE DELETE THIS ACCOUNT]

maybe its more rooted in something biological? We cannot deny that furries tend to as a whole, sexual the artwork. This artwork is still rooted in the basis of having human and animal traits. Maybe in our biology we still have long dormant or "junk" code that still makes us partial to a genetic lineage we may have once shared? Not saying this to be crude or mean but there is no reasonable way you can look at the massive amount of artwork out there on the subject, and turn a blind eye to possible bestial roots. This part of the topic ends here else, well downward spiral will ensue and i run the risk of making a lot of people angry

Maybe its rooted in our life experiences.

As for myself, and a good number of other furries through observation (hey... observing and psychoanalyzing furries is a proverbial gold mine) it seems that in some way we are all a little bit of a social outcast or fringe member that is vying for acceptance somewhere. He furry community as a whole is rather diverse, rather odd, and more or less openly accepting of damn near everyone. Humans need companionship in almost any form, and for some of us, that form happens to take on online relationships and discussions with others. Seeking approval from others, seeking a place of belonging, these are all natural actions for most any social animal. We are no different.

As to why that group we seek is slightly...non-normal i have no idea. Fluffy animals are almost always cute. As children we are constantly exposed to stuffed animals, talking animals in cartoons and literature. It seems only natural that some of us would form a particularly strong attachment to them. Where other children grew out of the need for these things, we continued to hold onto them and cherish them. Maybe it was the innocence, maybe it was the fondness of better times from our youth. It seems like so many of our group of weirdo had hard knocks against them. Family issues, developmental, educational, whatever it is a lot of us seem to come from broken pasts. Maybe the furry angle is us working that out and trying to create a fantasy world in which we dont have the deal with everything all at once like a coping mechanism ? we want to shape the world for the better, and maybe because we only know humanity and see what it can do to itself we wish to wash over it with something non-real that we can colour any way we like?

Just a few thoughts on the matter, by no means everything but i am kinda running out of typing steam

[Drakeyboy]

my feelings for the furry community touch along the lines of the OP but Missy has brought up a good point with her speech. i for one still have several things from my childhood still in my home, i may not use them but they are still there. and also from what i have seen a lot of people do seem like they are some sort of outcast.

but more personally for me i like the friendliness you find in outcasts because there isn't much left in the world for some reason. youtube is full of trolls, facebook is full of self righteous people, and on the streets are full of people that are looking out for nothing but themselves. despite the dysfunctional family we have here we would probably have each others back if we got into trouble. and that is beautiful thing to see anywhere.

[Obey138 (Matthew "Fluffy")]

You may be right Missy. Most of us (furries) have something to do with LGBT topics.

[anoni]

Personally I find myself being a furry more for the community than the art, though I don't mind the art at all! I find the community is very accepting of new ideas and you meet very interesting people in it. That said, lately being a furry has more become a hobby of mine, rather than a fully serious thing.

[Goblin Cat 😸]

I think people are furry because it's a fun hobby. All you have to do to be a furry is like anthro things. There doesn't have to be any adult connotations to it.

I do think people tend to flock to the furry community because it's more than gracious when it comes to being accepting, even of subjects that they should not be accepting about, though that's neither here nor there because you can find that sort of garbage patch in just about any fandom if you dig deep enough.

[Teiko]

I think some people overthink this sometimes.

I'm a fur because i was brainwashed by talking animals in movies (yes i know) as a child, and animals are just cute and floufy. Animals also retain their innocence and, canines in particular, offer us companionship, much better companionship that any human could ever offer.

[Drakeyboy]

personally i could argue against that last point you made Teiko. but i live in Canada so i think it's just a area thing.

[Teiko]

Locality has nothing to do with it. I am considering human beings as a whole. Humans domesticated animals only to torture them for amusement. We love violence and kill eachother. Humans as a whole are extremely irresponsible, selfish, stupid, stubborn, etc. We will enter relationships and cheat on eachother. We will use other people.

Then you look at a dog. That dog just loves you unconditionally. A dog is loyal, friendly, would never hurt or betray you. Innocent.

I would argue that anyone who thinks highly of humans have not been exposed to anything outside of their neighborhood.

[Drakeyboy]

well if you said as a whole then i wouldn't have even spoken up then. i already lost my faith in humanity as a whole. but personally i think it's a fifty fifty thing with the good and bad of humanity. we only see a lot of the negative because that is what makes headlines. I'm pretty sure that there was even a study on it if i find it I'll pm you a link to it. also think about it you can't have bad if there was no good. it would just be another person. same thing goes for good.