Furry Fandom, plushophilia and sex
Sex Columnist
Lucy Moore
Issue date: 1/31/08 Section: @Press
All of you are familiar with Wikipedia. What about Wiktionary, the free content dictionary? Or TCCWiki, the online encyclopedia for drug information? Finally, what about WikiFur - "the free encyclopedia written for and by the furry community"?
The word "furry" might bring up several associations: hairy animals, something plush and soft, or even Johnny Drama from Entourage having sex in a bunny suit. Above all of this lies the furry community, the group of people who run WikiFur and who could also be involved with several different activities and interests under the phrase "furry fandom."
While I will be talking about the sexual aspects of this group, I must quickly debunk the myth (brought on by pop culture moments like those in Entourage or Vanity Fair) that furries are simply humans that share a fetish for engaging in animalistic sexual behaviors, or wanting to only have sexual relations in an animal costume (fur suit). On the contrary, to be in the furry fandom is purely to take an interest in anthropomorphized animals: either to study them, to draw them, to go to conventions and/or parties honoring or role-playing them. As defined by alt.fan.furry, a community forum organized to discuss all things related to furries and maintained by Jordan Greywolf, a furry is "a) An animal-like character known as a 'furry' or b) a person who is a 'furry fan.'" Alt.fan.furry further defines furries and furry fandom (or furrydom, for short) as "In general, the discussion of artwork or fiction (including movies, TV series, game systems, novels, illustrations, etc.) involving 'furry' subjects, theorizing about 'furry creatures.'"
Furries come from everywhere in the world-represented on the Internet by millions of different forums. Some are LiveJournal communities like "Christian Furs" or "West Coast Furs," offering a common space for furries to discuss their interests, much like those heavily interested in anime or World of Warcraft. However, within these communities, there are many members who are sexually involved in the furr-osity: those who feel so close to their furry animal that they express themselves physically and mentally in the context of their animal.
One Wash U. senior, who preferred to remain anonymous (and will be referred to here as "Liz"), dated a man who turned out to be a furry. He connected himself with a hedgehog similar to Sonic of Sega Genesis fame. While many websites discussing furries make it clear that not all furries are sexually inclined, Liz says that "Sonic" surrounded himself with friends who were all part of the furry community, and they all engaged in furry sexual activity. While first looking at furry porn, predominantly fantasized illustrations of different anthropomorphic animals engaged in sex acts, he then went on to ask her to "call him super Sonic in bed" and explained his angry behavior by saying "his spikes were out." One woman friend of his, known for her sexual furry side, called herself "Dragonwolf" and, as Liz confides, "treated me like a leper when I wouldn't believe I was a housecat [her associated animal according to Sonic]."
Sonic, Dragonwolf and their other furry friends believe that to find your personal animal (hedgehog, dragon-wolf hybrid, squirrel, etc.), a sort of soul-searching is involved, including online personality quizzes and a personal (fursonal) inclination towards a particular animal. Once one finds his or her animal, this becomes a second identity, often blended together with the human identity. Some furries find their interest in becoming a baby animal, and these are called diaper furries. These furries wear diapers in addition to a fur suit and many engage in sexual parties where they act like baby animals, including the uncontrolled excretions that go with that identity.
While some of this may seem surprising, or even too out of the ordinary to understand, it is important to remember that an association or love for something more plush or animal-like (plushophilia) is similar to being attracted to a movie character, or even adoring the personality of a cartoon. For example, if you really loved Freddie Prinze Jr.'s character in She's All That, and you secretly wanted to be with him and put pictures of him in your locker, then maybe you can understand furry love and furry fandom. While some furries take it to the next level and make it a reality, it can be also be a casual interest like any other.
For more information on the vast and well-covered topic of furries, furry fandom, and plushophilia, please visit:
http://www.faqs.org/faqs/furry/faq/
http://www.furaffinity.net
The word "furry" might bring up several associations: hairy animals, something plush and soft, or even Johnny Drama from Entourage having sex in a bunny suit. Above all of this lies the furry community, the group of people who run WikiFur and who could also be involved with several different activities and interests under the phrase "furry fandom."
While I will be talking about the sexual aspects of this group, I must quickly debunk the myth (brought on by pop culture moments like those in Entourage or Vanity Fair) that furries are simply humans that share a fetish for engaging in animalistic sexual behaviors, or wanting to only have sexual relations in an animal costume (fur suit). On the contrary, to be in the furry fandom is purely to take an interest in anthropomorphized animals: either to study them, to draw them, to go to conventions and/or parties honoring or role-playing them. As defined by alt.fan.furry, a community forum organized to discuss all things related to furries and maintained by Jordan Greywolf, a furry is "a) An animal-like character known as a 'furry' or b) a person who is a 'furry fan.'" Alt.fan.furry further defines furries and furry fandom (or furrydom, for short) as "In general, the discussion of artwork or fiction (including movies, TV series, game systems, novels, illustrations, etc.) involving 'furry' subjects, theorizing about 'furry creatures.'"
Furries come from everywhere in the world-represented on the Internet by millions of different forums. Some are LiveJournal communities like "Christian Furs" or "West Coast Furs," offering a common space for furries to discuss their interests, much like those heavily interested in anime or World of Warcraft. However, within these communities, there are many members who are sexually involved in the furr-osity: those who feel so close to their furry animal that they express themselves physically and mentally in the context of their animal.
One Wash U. senior, who preferred to remain anonymous (and will be referred to here as "Liz"), dated a man who turned out to be a furry. He connected himself with a hedgehog similar to Sonic of Sega Genesis fame. While many websites discussing furries make it clear that not all furries are sexually inclined, Liz says that "Sonic" surrounded himself with friends who were all part of the furry community, and they all engaged in furry sexual activity. While first looking at furry porn, predominantly fantasized illustrations of different anthropomorphic animals engaged in sex acts, he then went on to ask her to "call him super Sonic in bed" and explained his angry behavior by saying "his spikes were out." One woman friend of his, known for her sexual furry side, called herself "Dragonwolf" and, as Liz confides, "treated me like a leper when I wouldn't believe I was a housecat [her associated animal according to Sonic]."
Sonic, Dragonwolf and their other furry friends believe that to find your personal animal (hedgehog, dragon-wolf hybrid, squirrel, etc.), a sort of soul-searching is involved, including online personality quizzes and a personal (fursonal) inclination towards a particular animal. Once one finds his or her animal, this becomes a second identity, often blended together with the human identity. Some furries find their interest in becoming a baby animal, and these are called diaper furries. These furries wear diapers in addition to a fur suit and many engage in sexual parties where they act like baby animals, including the uncontrolled excretions that go with that identity.
While some of this may seem surprising, or even too out of the ordinary to understand, it is important to remember that an association or love for something more plush or animal-like (plushophilia) is similar to being attracted to a movie character, or even adoring the personality of a cartoon. For example, if you really loved Freddie Prinze Jr.'s character in She's All That, and you secretly wanted to be with him and put pictures of him in your locker, then maybe you can understand furry love and furry fandom. While some furries take it to the next level and make it a reality, it can be also be a casual interest like any other.
For more information on the vast and well-covered topic of furries, furry fandom, and plushophilia, please visit:
http://www.faqs.org/faqs/furry/faq/
http://www.furaffinity.net
Viewing Comments 1 - 4 of 11
Scott
posted 1/31/08 @ 2:41 AM CST
See, this article made me wonder something: If 'furries' simply mean they adore anthropomorphic animals, does the animal actually have to be furry? Can someone have a furry fetish for a ratsnake or hagfish?
mathomas3
M. Alan Thomas II
posted 1/31/08 @ 2:11 PM CST
Ah, furries: the fandom group everybody else loves to hate. (c.f. the famous Geek Hierarchy, http://www.brunching.com/geekhierarchy.html) Unfortunately, many furries are exclusionary, erotically-oriented, or overly serious-minded. (Continued…)
random furry guy
posted 1/31/08 @ 9:52 PM CST
In answer to Scott, yes some furries choose reptilian, avian or even insect avatars, we just stick to "furry" because most anthropomorphic characters are, well furry. (Continued…)
bored now
posted 2/07/08 @ 4:12 PM CST
You know, "furry" or not, asking to be called "super Sonic" in bed is somewhere between downright funny and issue-tastic. Which is pretty much the sort of gossip I hear from one night stands gone sour. (Continued…)
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