Curious about the furry fandom - An Outsider

[★Amethyst★]

Huh, I didn't know those two were related....

I dislike mentioning Tumblr as if it's all bad(I do like parts of it), but I think that site is exasperating the whole concept of otherkin. Not just animals, but you have people claiming to be gods, inanimate objects, things like stars and space, fictional characters, historical people, etc. Sometimes they even have several "kintypes" at once! I can't tell how many are jokesters, teenagers wanting to feel special, or are legit serious about it.

Again, it's cool to have an imagination and wonder "wouldn't it be cool to be something else?". I get that. But if you really believe you're not human or aren't yourself and it impedes your daily life/causes distress, that's bordering on becoming a mental disorder. But that's just my opinion on the subject.

[Obey138 (Matthew "Fluffy")]

Huh, I didn't know those two were related....

Therians < Otherkins

[★Amethyst★]

Huh, I didn't know those two were related....

Therians < Otherkins

I meant Markiplier and the author of Twokinds

[Eden-H]

It is an extremely common misconception that has been further perpetrated by tumblr and similar websites that therian and otherkin do not think they are physically human. Every last one of us, ignoring the vocal minority, are very well aware of the fact that we are human beings, living human lives with human problems.

The spiritual side of the belief applies to the human soul whereas the psychological generally agree that 'the human brain is just damn weird'. It is akin to any other spirituality and/or religion that believes in reincarnation or incarnation, though it typically applies to the soul reincarnating/incarnating from a mythological (otherkin) or Earth animal (therian) source. You can easily find similar systems of belief that hail from Shamanism, Druidism, Native American and even Celtic mythos.

As for Fictionkin, they are a highly debated subject and typically considered apart from the otherkin umbrella, rather than a part of it, though this highly depends on who you ask.

In regards to Mark and his brother, he is proud of his sibling and can commonly be heard boasting about him and his comic in some of his videos.

[Goblin Cat 😸]

1. Why and how you join the fandom?
Because you want to? There's not really a how, you just jump into a community and there you are. If you enjoy anthro stuff, you can be part of the fandom.

2. How big is the "other" side of the fandom?
Pretty big. Sometimes it's for self indulgence, other times it's for self expression, either way I don't think it's anything abnormal compared to other fandoms. There's always the "other side" of every fandom.

3. How is it like being a furry?
Just like being in any other fandom, honestly. You make art, stories, costumes, and other stuff, only based around anthros rather than say, Star Trek. If you don't make 'em, you enjoy them and support artists for doing it.

4. Have people like me done stuff like this before?
Yes. I can't count how many times people have come in to poke and prod around about furries. It's a common occurrence. But then again, I've been here for a very long time, so that may be why it seems that way to me.

5. How you guys came out of the furry closet? As at all, and why?
There is no closet. I didn't come out. I do what I've got to do and if people don't like it, oh well. I think the stigma is sort of silly, though there is some truth to how awful people can be here. It certainly isn't the only side of the fandom, though. If someone doesn't have the ability to separate someone from a group of people, then they likely aren't worth my time.

6. What's your thoughts on the other-kin?
If they aren't hurting anyone, what's the issue? Most otherkin I know tend to be so to cope with other things in their life. They love a character or creature they relate to so they can eventually love themselves. Not everyone does this, but again, I don't understand what the problem is so long as they aren't hurting anyone or themselves.

7. Why do some people RP?
Because it's fun. Because some people like to write and read. There's a variety of reasons, really. I personally RP because it's fun and I like to fill out my characters through interacting with others. It's like collaborative story time, imo!

[HollowOfHaze]

Huh, I didn't know those two were related....

I dislike mentioning Tumblr as if it's all bad(I do like parts of it), but I think that site is exasperating the whole concept of otherkin. Not just animals, but you have people claiming to be gods, inanimate objects, things like stars and space, fictional characters, historical people, etc. Sometimes they even have several "kintypes" at once! I can't tell how many are jokesters, teenagers wanting to feel special, or are legit serious about it.

Again, it's cool to have an imagination and wonder "wouldn't it be cool to be something else?". I get that. But if you really believe you're not human or aren't yourself and it impedes your daily life/causes distress, that's bordering on becoming a mental disorder. But that's just my opinion on the subject.

I share this opinion in its entirety.

[Angder]

1. Why and how you join the fandom?
I came, I saw, I posted. I shared some of the interests, and that's the only real requirement.

2. How big is the "other" side of the fandom?
Big, I reckon even here about 30% of people are in some way involved in it, and off this site that percentage is probably even larger.

3. How is it like being a furry?
Everything I have to say on this subject Mortimus-maximus said better

4. Have people like me done stuff like this before?
I have seen it twice not including you I believe, and have been here under a year.

5. How you guys came out of the furry closet? As at all, and why?
My parents found out in less than a week and did not care.

6. What's your thoughts on the other-kin?
Mostly harmless, and I honestly don't care as long as they are not hurting anyone.

7. Why do some people RP?
Its a fun method of creative writing, and allows you to, for a brief time, be someone you are not. Both are reasons why people RP.

[Dagmar1177]

1.Why and how you join the fandom?
Saw some suggestive images really liked them wanted somewhere to talk about it without weirding people out here I am.

2.How big is the "other" side of the fandom?
God I don't even know all I know is I'll never have a shortage of it 

3.How is it like being an furry?
Personally depressing make it even harder to find a girlfriend. But I don't give up hope.

4.Have people like me done stuff like this before?
(Misread this question) probably I have to answer question about what being a furry is all the time when people initially find out.

5.How you guys came out of the furry closet? As at all, and why?
Came out? yeah didn't really do that one going online a posting anonymously without anyone really knowing who you are is really coming out. Why I don't, I realize that it's not really a socially accepted fandom and I don't like drawing attention to myself.

6.What's your thoughts on the other-kin?
Something to do with animal spirit I don't really know I'm atheist so it kinda whatever to me if someone wants to have some kind of belief let them, until it's dangerous there's no reason to oppose it.

7.Why do some people RP?
Probably the same reason people play dungeons and dragons or pathfinder or World of darkness or Ironclaw or 13th age or etc.

[The Past]

1.Why and how you join the fandom?
I've been a fan of anthropomorphic animals since I was a little kid, and when I first heard about the fandom I thought it was entirely a sexual fetish thing and avoided it for years. After learning it wasn't actually about that, I joined these forums. So here I am.

2.How big is the "other" side of the fandom?
To be honest, it's less than what the haters say and more than what many furries say. Plus, when some furries automatically think you're into the sort of thing when you're in the fandom, it's clearly a sign of something.
While the "only a very small percentage are into it" thing was true at one time, that doesn't seem to be the case anymore. Many people are joining the fandom for the fetish and believe that's what it is entirely about. To each their own, but it's not my thing.

These forums are PG-13 aside from the Adult Area, which requires proof of age to unlock. And while there is discussion about mature things and the occasional nude or sexual drawing in the Adult Area, there is very little straight-up yiffing if at all, interestingly.

3.How is it like being an furry?
Mort said it best. Outside the fandom itself, it doesn't have any real effect in daily life. I often find media such as cartoons, books, and movies that include anthropomorphic animals more appealing than those without. That's about it.

4.Have people like me done stuff like this before?
I've seen a number of people who join the site who are not furries and occasionally do a survey such as this. Sometimes they join the fandom later on.

5.How you guys came out of the furry closet? As at all, and why?
I think that concept is weird and kinda perpetuates the stereotype of the fandom being entirely a fetish or something to be ashamed of. I've drawn anthropomorphic animals all my life, so when I noted that I'm a fan of them, my family and friends had no issues at all with it. Anthropomorphism has been a thing throughout human history and is an easily understandable concept. The issue comes from using the word "furry" to describe it, for obvious reasons.
(Unfortunately, saying "I'm a fan of the concept of anthropomorphism" is a bit of a mouthful! )

6.What's your thoughts on the other-kin?
If it's believing they have the soul of a wolf, for example, that's their belief and we have no real proof for or against it. I personally don't believe that sort of thing is possible, but I won't argue with them and they can do what they do.
Now, if it's the type that legitimately believe they're a Pikachu or Pluto or something, they are probably a bit mentally "off". But it causes no real harm, so they also can do what they do.

7.Why do some people RP?

It can be pretty fun to act out a character or imagine experiencing a different world. It's a break from the monotony of the daily routine, like any other form of entertainment. I've also found it's a good way to develop story characters.

[Aldebar]

I feel like taking a crack at these questions, so:

1.Why and how you join the fandom?

For why, I've just always liked animals and remember drawing animal-people a lot when I was very young. I always gravitated toward non-human characters, which sort of leads into the how: by hopping between forums and online communities getting closer to the furry fandom each time.

I went from a board about the Super Smash Bros games to Redwall role-playing to a board about gryphons to a board about werewolves to a furry IRC server. Somewhere in between the first few is a forum centered around the Star Fox games where I learned what furries even were.

2.How big is the "other" side of the fandom?

I've never been involved with it so I can't say for sure, but I think it would be a lie to say it wasn't a huge, integral part of the fandom. I had to specifically seek out a place like this that only allows explicit content behind barriers, or isn't solely based on it. There are communities I've joined thinking they sounded like a nice place to meet people only to find out they were primarily based around yiff, or their members made it that way. At times I find it excessive and a bit disheartening, because while furries having that sort of reputation can be exaggerated at times, in my experience it's not exactly false.

3.How is it like being an furry?

I just have an interest in anthros, so it's not like much of anything to me. It's a thing I do online sometimes, for the most part.

4.Have people like me done stuff like this before?

I've seen plenty of people who weren't furries and represented themselves with human characters decide to hang around furries for a variety of reasons, it's generally not regarded as a big deal from what I've seen.

5.How you guys came out of the furry closet? As at all, and why?

I don't feel it's a necessary thing for me to do since like I said, it's just a thing I do online and haven't taken into RL yet. Most people I talk to online are at least familiar with the idea of having an alter-ego and don't care either way if someone's a furry or not.

6.What's your thoughts on the other-kin?

It depends on why they're otherkin, I guess. A deep spiritual connection with an animal is a lot more innocuous than someone convincing themself they're actually a dragon or something to escape their problems instead of working to fix them.


7.Why do some people RP?

I think it's the same reason people enjoy watching fictional TV shows and movies, reading fiction novels, and playing games set in fantasy worlds. Some minds are simply imaginative and enjoy the occasional break from the dregs of reality to create something. In my case, I find it keeps my mind much more active and it's just satisfying to come up with my own ideas regarding characters and worlds.