OPEN THREAD: what does being a furry mean to your personally? When you call yourself one, what does that convey?
@indi I like this a lot. OK to boost?
@starkatt Go for it!
@indi I asked this because I just had a conversation trying to figure out the why for myself :)
@starkatt For me the 'why' seems to be some combination of neurology, spirituality, and aesthetics.
This introducing three more realms of inquiry that make the question even more complex! \o/
@starkatt It means that I like cute [feral or anthro] fuzzy/scaly critters enough that it forms a part of who I am. I like to think that it helps me embrace my human side more too because to me, it's a natural thing to be close to the critters of the earth.
@starkatt I don't, I call myself "furry-adjacent," for several reasons:
* early experience with furry folks (specifically alt.fan.furry.lifestyle) who vehemently (and sometimes venomously) insisted that "mythics aren't real furries, yeah they can be Otherkin but they aren't One Of Us"
* having scales/feathers instead of fur, claiming "furry" feels--etymologically incorrect
* never had more than superficial interactions with furry/fan social groups
* weird semi-phobia of fursuits :\
@starkatt (that last bit--seriously, the "Purple Panda" character on Mister Rogers freaked me the *frack* out as a kidlet, and I've never felt comfortable interacting with people wearing a fursuit/mascot costume. I can appreciate the technical detail, some fursuits are frankly gorgeous, I'd love to have one that matched my self-image, but they still unnerve me on some deep level. *shrug*)
@green ugh, I'm sorry about those early experiences :(
@starkatt It means a lot. I don't think I'd have survived my depression and anxiety without it. *gestures in the vague direction of gender, sexuality, and identity, a little too tired to go in depth right now*
@starkatt Whoa; this has changed a *lot* since I last really considered it.
Furry for me used to be about connection. Being with others with just enough similar interests that you could get along. It was a fun thing to gather around that became much more over time.
Then it was about sexual freedom for a bit. Being whatever gender I wanted to be, and doing anything with eager partners in any form I could dream up.
Now I'm ace, and it's about cute fuzzy things and appreciating amazing artists.
@starkatt Also: Awesome question to ask. It seems like almost everyone has a differently interesting answer.
@starkatt I feel most comfortable when I can express my identity, and experience the identities of others, via a symbol set that include animal traits (biological and cultural) as a significant component.
That leaves a huge gaping "WHY?" gap, but it does seem to address the "what." ^.^