What actually makes someone a "furry"?

[twisted_tails]

I've been rolling this question around in my head for a long time, and a brief scan of recent forum topics didn't show any results for this particular point of interest. Unless I didn't look hard enough? If'n that be the case, feel free to lock a redundant thread and send me on my way where this is already being discussed. Otherwise, onward!

So what is it exactly that makes someone "furry"? Where is the line drawn when someone else thinks you're a furry, but you don't think you are?
Is it a certain mentality, maybe one thinks they should have been born in an animal body? a misplaced spirit?
Is it that they role play an animal-person?
I know it can't be summed up in one simple thing, that "being a furry" is generally more complex than just one thing they do to be qualified... which is why I'd like it discussed, see what people consider themselves and on what grounds.
It HAS to be more than just drawing furries...
I for one, have Always preferred drawing animal-people rather than human-people. I've always believed humans are pretty much a bad idea. Four legs good, two legs bad, all that. I would prefer to have been born something of the feline persuasion, perhaps, but I don't act it out in real life. And with my art.. Until recently (and even now I hesitate to call it "furry art") I always just called my work Fantasy art.
And this all applies to long before I found any such furry community. This is how I felt before I realized there's a whole Bunch of people who draw like me and have similar beliefs.
In my mind, I'm nothing more than a fantasy artist with a preference to animals. Animal and furry smut doesn't turn me on, I draw it because other people like the content, and it helps me continue to evolve as an artist with a captive audience.
So, would others consider me a furry?
In short, I suppose all I want to know, is what is the furry mentality that makes someone "furry"?

[The Anonymous Guy]

When you start calling regular people "mundanes" :[

[Dead-Zero]

not very much, its pretty vague. I think people all see of it in a different way.
I see it as thinking furry's (art wise) are hot in some aspect

[darkcobalt86]

When you start thinking less like a human and more like an animal

[TheGru]

Read this journal and see if it helps you draw an opinion.

I am a Furry

I would go on a tangent to help, but I think she said it better then I could.

[ChibiJaime]

I don't really find furry art "hot." I enjoy drawing it as much as I draw anything else. I'm just... an artist? Me? Someone who happens to draw furry/anthropomorphic artwork?

Is there a way to define it? I don't draw porn. So, um. Does that mean I'm not a furry? I was drawing furry critters long before I knew there was some group that considered themselves "furry" to be a part of.

I consider it a fandom anyway. I'm part of the fandom, someone who partakes in the hobby, more than "being a furry."

[Dead-Zero]

I don't really find furry art "hot." I enjoy drawing it as much as I draw anything else. I'm just... an artist? Me? Someone who happens to draw furry/anthropomorphic artwork?

Is there a way to define it? I don't draw porn. So, um. Does that mean I'm not a furry? I was drawing furry critters long before I knew there was some group that considered themselves "furry" to be a part of.

I consider it a fandom anyway. I'm part of the fandom, someone who partakes in the hobby, more than "being a furry."

again, there is no huge set in stone law of what you have to do to be a furry. its all personal opinion, which is half of what makes the furry fandom so great. people are alot more open.

[Acorndeer]

You are a furry if you say so, that's all, The moment you say you are a furry the first time you say so you're branded as furry until the day you die by suffocation into a hairball.

[Hakar]

You're a furry if you like anthro animals.

[RailRide]

Read this journal and see if it helps you draw an opinion.

I am a Furry

I would go on a tangent to help, but I think she said it better then I could.

I read it, and it sounds much more like "furry lifestyler", which shouldn't be confused with the fandom in general. I've been drawing anthros for much longer than I was aware there was a fandom centered around them, and I don't feel any "spiritual" connection to any of them.

In fact, it's my fairly-recently-formed opinion that this sort of soul-searching compulsion is responsible for much of the drama-queen behavior attributed to furries--too many are being led to take this hobby with far more seriousness than it deserves.

---PCJ

[net-cat]

I think this about sums it up:

If you ask 50 people what furry means, you'll get 65 different answers.

However, if you associate with people who are "furries," don't be surprised if you get labeled as one, even if you are not.

[Roose Hurro]

You're a furry if you like anthro animals.

You're a furry if you have hair anywhere on your body...


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[sateva9822]

So just loving anthos and drawing them isen't furry thing?
I thought the furry fandom was a fandom of furrys... Like people who just love how they look.
Not people who have aimal spirits ect.

So if i draw and love furrys, am I a furry?

[Dead-Zero]

So just loving anthos and drawing them isen't furry thing?
I thought the furry fandom was a fandom of furrys... Like people who just love how they look.
Not people who have aimal spirits ect.

So if i draw and love furrys, am I a furry?

its all opinion, as has been said many times. if you think you are one, you probably are one.

[The Sonic God]

It all boils down to 3 questions:

What is a furry?
Do you consider yourself a furry?
Do others find you to be a furry?

Understanding, self-realization, public realization. If you have those 3 elements, then you are truly a furry.

Because the definition itself is vague, what can and can't be considered furry must be agreed upon by everyone. Since this is not possible, the only way you can consider (or not consider) yourself a furry is if you call yourself one.

A furry could be:

• One who has a relationship with animals.
• One who creates anthropomorphic/animalistic artwork.
• One who identifies him/herself as an animal of some kind.
• One who believes that his/her spirit is that of an animal.
• One who has a strong connection to animals.
• One who has a strong understanding of nature, and how all mammals are somehow related.
• One who behaves or acts more like a non-human animal.
• Any description implying animals and one's association to thereof.

[twisted_tails]

Woo! So many responses already, wow. I realize being furry is a matter of thinking yourself one, moreso now that it's been pointed out.. and I should have realized that this topic has been talked to death, should have dug around a little more and found old threads discussing it >_> But I didn't! So here we are.
Really the main purpose of the question was to really gather a collection of individual "why do you think you're furry". I have a strong interest in psychology, so I'm always trying to find out more about how people identify themselves in this big ol' game of life.
Thank you all for the responses

[Bokracroc]

Because ur mom siad so

[Gol22]

When you start thinking less like a human and more like an animal

I agree with that, and or, if you feel more affection to other furries you see.

[sateva9822]

Because ur mom siad so

Last night! oooooh!


(sorry it fit so well.)
*Back out of the thread slowly*

[Poink]

When you think you're different, have a fursuit, say "yiff" instead of porn and hates /b/.
LOLOLOLOLOLOL

[Rave_fox]

i just think its a feeling also i mindset thats more of an animals...like you have a certain connection to them...and wtf is /B/

[themocaw]

What makes you a furry? If it whines like a furry, gets butthurt like a furry, and faps off to weird-ass pr0n like a furry. . .

[Scarlet Fox]

I'm not sure what actual guidelines might be. I take it that once you declare it, you are one.

[Poink]

...and wtf is /B/

Lurk moar

[sgolem]

It depends on who you ask. I'd say just associating with the fandom, and/or being a fan of artwork and/or stories involving anthropomorphic animals makes you one. I don't think porn has to do with it.

When you start calling regular people "mundanes" :[

lol... nice one