The Internet hatred for furries always bothered me. I'm not into it, I think it's weird, but so what? I think BDSM is weird too, but we don't treat people into BDSM like we treat furries- as if they're some sort of disease. I've met a few working at sci-fi/comic cons over the years and they've always been really nice, decent people. They just have a kink. Lots of people have kinks.
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I think it's the fact that furries tend to bring their kink public. I have not consented to engage in your sex games. If he showed up to a ceremony in leather and a ballgag no one would be ok with it, but the fur suit is the equivalent and I'm expected to applaud.
the fur suit is the equivalent [of] leather and a ballgag
I mean, no. It's really not.
I do get what you're saying and generally agree otherwise. That one was just a bit much.
I agree. I’ve seen furries in public and while I find them odd, I never saw any of their costumes as inherently sexual.
bring their kink into public
But it's not a kink for them.
The fursuit is the equivalent??? I'm actually laughing rn people think this???
You sound like the kind of person that wants to ban drag story time at the libraries because "kids shouldn't be exposed to someone's kink"
I blame the astroturfing early on. The furry community never really overcame the weird allegations from their first major convention. It also doesn't help that people think furry is JUST a sexual thing.
Imma level with you chief: I would think it was less weird if it was JUST a sexual thing.
“I like to wear a cartoon animal suit when I go to the grocery”. —> weird, but you do you I guess.
“I get into some wild and depraved shit when I’m horny” —> me too buddy, me too.
And many replies here are people hating on furries, and people actually thinking fursuits are primarily a sexual thing, this is wild lmao.
From someone actually from the community, fursuits are NOT a sexual thing for the VAST majority of furries, and should not be treated as such. Can't believe I still have to say this.
Echoing what pugjesus said below, it would be easier to empathize with if it were a sexual thing. Sexy times have gotten weird, especially with the modern internet and the specificity of porn. Most people could imagine how a fursuit might spice up things in the bedroom, not to mention the anonymity of wearing a mask. But few people understand the desire to wear a fursuit for day-to-day activities. I imagine it would be too warm and uncomfortable, and I wouldn't get any joy or comfort out of it.
Personally, I'm on the live and let live team. I don't have to understand your lifestyle or your hobbies, nor do I feel the need to justify mine. But that's probably why you have to keep explaining it to everyone.
My kid is into the whole Furry scene. She makes the art, she’s learned valuable skills working on the suits and things.
Here’s the thing though. She doesn’t wear a fursuit for “day-to-day” activities. She does this stuff only with friends online. It’s just a creative community working with each other and building on each others work. I don’t get it, the appeal that is. It’s silly to me.
Most of the people she talks to are into drawing and creative type stuff. They’re musicians and artists from around the world. They have this odd thing in common that gives them a reason to create something familiar, quite often, with friends.
It isn’t her whole personality, it’s just a part of it. A social part even. It’s something to give them a sense of community and belonging.
I’m not a social person. I don’t have close friends and I don’t have any interest in sharing hobbies with other people, so it’s super foreign to me as a person on almost every level.
I just think people have serious misconceptions about what it is they’re doing. They’re just roleplaying and goofing with friends while being creative.
Sure, there’s a seedy side, but people make Simpsons porn for fucks sake. The difference in how we feel about that is that we all know the Simpsons and we know that’s not what it’s actually about. It’s just a few degens making weird shit. That’s the deal with furries too. A few degens make it sexual or make their whole life about it.
It’s goofy, but they’re having fun and meeting people.
Thank you very much for providing your insight to the discourse!
Hey, you’re welcome.
It bothered me bad when my kid started getting into it because of all of the bullying those folks get.
She’s a teenager and she’s having fun. She’s learned to draw and sew because of it. I haven’t seen anything even remotely worth my concern. They create characters and stories and just have fun. She’s learned to use 3D modeling software and serious art software. I got her a decent drawing tablet and she draws things for the kids who can’t draw. She’s developed some serious skill as a result of her interest in the stuff.
I’m for it. I don’t get it, but I’m for it.
if only all parents could be as supportive. keep up the good work friend 💖
Yiffit, you say.
you know, funnily enough i was actually encountering less porn on yiffit’s local than i was lemmy.world for a while
Furries are odd fellows, but they ~~steam a good ham~~ make a good cooling suit.
It ain't for me, but I do somewhat respect that they have a hobby they're all-in on.
we don’t treat people into BDSM like we treat furries
I mean, unless they ask for that.
Right on, sibling
Sure they're all nice and great people but I can see the other side, comparing it to BDSM it would be like going to work in a gimp suit.
My wife and I were talking about this and it made me wonder if anybody even actually gives a crap about furries at all, or if hating them is just an internet meme and nobody actually cares IRL.
I cringe when I see fursuits or people making their lives about their fursona, but it's their lives and no one should hate them for it.
Yeah, for me it's like people who go ALL in on collecting kitsch. Is it a bit cringe? Sure. Is it hurting anyone? No, there's nothing inherently wrong with it. And if you have the guts to stand up and show it proudly, man, more power to you.
Nobody actually cares. Well, some people do, but they tend to be the ones that hate themselves and everyone else so their opinions don't matter.
The furry community is just one of those things that is weird enough to merit laughter and common enough to become a meme.
But people should be allowed to live their lives without hindrance, so I support em.
I give a crap in that they're people and should be treated respectfully like you'd treat anyone. Other than that as long as no one's getting hurt I really don't bother myself with dictating how others should live their lives. Life's short, do what makes you happy.
I don't care as long as it stays anthropomorphic.
It's definitely one of those internet's stupid "hate for the lulz" things
During work travel a few years back I happened to stay at a Marriott with my wife during a furry convention. We knew something was odd when, while looking for a parking spot, we passed by a patron who was unloading luggage from their trunk and we thought we noticed a tail protruding from the back of their pants. For about a minute we didn't make much of it. Then, while walking from the lot to the main entrance, we noticed from about 100 yards out, a few people in what we assumed were mascot costumes. It was only when we made our entrance that I realized what we stumbled upon. I felt like a regular doctor Doolittle - surrounded by all kinds of animals that I could actually talk to and they to me (well, sorta - when I passed by a couple squirrels near the sushi bar, I was unable to translate the chirping noises they were making to each other). Long story short, it was super entertaining and they were cool when I asked them about their culture, etc. I only wish I loved something (family/friends aside) half as much as they love to dress like furry animals. But I'm boring. Even this wall of text I wrote makes me want to nap.
Throw a fay_kreal family and friends convention.
Do you know the meaning of real fear?
Do uWu?
I say a man that is willing to put that much of himself on display fear only but one thing, and that would be bubble gum.
Oh shit, I haven't thought of that. But that would be a proper nightmare.
This is what Putin should fear. His army can never compete with the tactical uwus and rawrs of our special foworces.
I dug the Semper Fur pun. That is all.