Why the hate?

[Aleolus]

Here's a question for you all. Why do you think that the vast majority of the internet, if not most people, don't like furries? If you actually know any of them, they are some of the nicest, most tolerant people you will ever meet! I know, I have a very good friend who is an open furry, and he gets along great with everyone we know! Sure, they razz him for being a furry, but nothing too intense.
And he is quick to point out that there is a difference between 'furf@gs' and furries. If my understanding of his analogy is correct, then furf@gs are equivilent to LARPers (Live Action Role Play), and furries are people who play stuff like D&D. The LARPers are a relatively small group, who are extremely vocal, and give the rest of them a bad name. Same with furf@gs and furries.

My belief as to why people don't like furries and feel the need to flame them so intensely is that they fail to see the difference between furries and beastiality. There is a difference, and if anyone on here doesn't understand the difference, I would be happy to clear it up. Other opinions?

[ShiroiHikari]

This thread seems like flamebait to me...

That said, I don't like furries because...well, to me it's just weird. It's a matter of personal preference.

[Shao Feng-Li]

I'm not really a fan of human/animal deals...

[GhostontheNet]

Warning: The following is a joke and is intended to be taken as a jest.

I think people hate the furies because they're really ugly and very cranky. They say their eyes drip with blood, and their whole appearance is horrific and appalling. Sometimes they have the wings of a bat or bird, or the body of a dog. And then, to make matters worse, the whole 'bring agonizing death to all liars' thing makes them very unpopular. While they're handy to have around when dealing with sharkish lawyers and unscrupulous businessmen, its best not to get too attached to them.

[Mr. SmartyPants]

Because people like to make in fun of people that are different.

[animewarrior]

As somewhat of a furry myself I get faced with this daily. joy. Lol I know some people find this kind of thing extremely odd but hey I don't freak out at some peoples obssession with anime characters (lol hey fangirls) and some peoples obsession with ONLY ONE certain series (aka everything else sux). So when you see someone around with cat ears on or bell around their neck** or just them talking about the whole animal issue please don't vocalize your opinion if you don't like it. XD Its greatly appreciated.

Sincerely, animewarrior
**and yes I do wear a cat bell to the city and in school XD

[LadyRushia]

I don't know that much about furries, but even if I knew all there was to know I wouldn't hate them. They're probably mocked because of the extremists.

[animewarrior]

They're probably mocked because of the extremists.

You have that exactly right Lady Rushia. *shakes head* now if only more people would realize this problem.

[ChristianKitsune]

Well to be fair... I've been bashed by a furry before..for being a Christian so... i guess it's a two way street, ne?

(it was actually really random too, I happened to join a Antho art site, so I could post some comissions there, and for no reason this person noticed my name and just felt free to make fun of my faith... I had never even talked to taht person before.. O_o )

I guess it makes me wonder if he had been treated badly by Christians... Which really saddens me if that was the case... :/

That being said, I think as Christians we should love everyone, despite them being a little different from us. I've been comissioned by a good friend of mine who loves furries, and I'm going to draw his characters for him. It's a challenge!

It's a bit wierd, sure, but hey so are giant eyes and small mouths.

I don't know much about furries though...I always get a bit confused and I never can seem to keep them straight. Are furries the same as anthros?

Because if that's the case..there are a ton of cartoons with talking, walking on two legs, animals...

[animewarrior]

ChristianKitsune... to clear up any confusion you have about furries...TO WIKIPEDIA! *copy and pastes link* Here you go - I think teh definition is pretty accurate... or at least in my experience. **This link covers anything from extremists to your average people... however the random animal cosplay outfits is Totally a suprise to me..

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Furry_fandom

[~darkelfgirl~]

I don't know that much about furries, but even if I knew all there was to know I wouldn't hate them. They're probably mocked because of the extremists.

Same here. I've heard the name 'furry' several times. If they're people who like nekos and stuff (if that's what they are), then I don't see what the problem is. They have a furry fashion statement--so what? They're not a threat to national security, lol, nor are they doing anything immoral.

People just like to bash people who are different to make themselves feel better. It's insecurity speaking. People who bash "weird" people are actually jealous, because they don't have the courage to step out of the status quo.

[mechana2015]

In some cases its return fire for cases where a furry has claimed what they are, people showed a general lack of interest, furry got mad at said disinterested people and accused them of being furry haters, at which point the people decided that, while they didn't care before, now they have a distinct dislike since the example they have been provided was combative, irrational and rude.

(many non furries take exception to furry personas being used in normal conversation, as using animalian traits tends to warp the discussion or detract from typical conversation patterns)

[minakichan]

Usually, when people bash "furries," they mean the people who are into furries because they find them erotic (or are freaking Otherkin). If someone's bashing you for being into furries when sex (or magical reincarnation mysticism crap) clearly isn't in context, they're probably just joking or being jerks.

That said, I can't stand furries (the actual creature characters). Human/wolf spawn? Ew, totally not my thing.

[Mr. SmartyPants]

In some cases its return fire for cases where a furry has claimed what they are, people showed a general lack of interest, furry got mad at said disinterested people and accused them of being furry haters, at which point the people decided that while they didn't care before, now they have a distinct dislike since the example they have been provided was combative, irrational and rude.

(many non furries take exception to furry personas being used in normal conversation, as using animalian traits tends to warp the discussion or detract from typical conversation patterns)

This is quite true in many cases.

[Tsukuyomi]

If you actually know any of them, they are some of the nicest, most tolerant people you will ever meet!

This is very true ^^ I know a couple and I truly don't find them disgusting or w/e o.o They're people to who have their own likes just as we all do ^^

Hmmm, sounds like a vicious cycle if you ask me u_u I pick on you, you pick on me u_u Yeah, vicious cycle o.O

I have cat ears, but they look kinda weird on me ^^; A chocker with a bell on it actually sounds cute ^_^ I used to have a couple chockers, but they kinda irritated me Didn't like the chockey (sp) feeling it gave me Same with turtle necks xD;

[beau99]

The only furry I've come across is not only a pervert, but also an idiot and a jerk all in one.

I realize most aren't like that, but my experience dealing with this certain one scarred me for life.

[Cognitive Gear]

My sole experience with a furry in real life was severely negative. She was many things that are wrong with humanity rolled into one.

Also, the behavior she exhibited that she attributed to her furry culture seemed exceptionally unhealthy. I can't imagine that all furries behave in the same manner that she did. Regardless of that fact, the picture she painted of the furry culture was not a good one.

However, I haven't seen a whole lot of derogatory comments made about them outside of the internet. Now the people who I really see get negativity fired their direction is the emo culture. I still don't understand why people hate them so much.

[Ingemar]

The web is a refuge for [the most perverse types of] audacity.

This includes those who fetishize anthropomorphic animals and bring this paraphilia into their ...ahem... sexual practices.

Such perverts (since that is what a polite society would have called them decades ago) self-identify as "furries."

Many other people self-identify as "furry" who AREN'T into such perverse behaviour. So, "ah-ha!" Guilt by association.

However, let us return to my premise. Until the advent of the Internet and the World Wide Web, furry fandomers had very few avenues to share their interest. With the rise of the internet, awareness of the FFs also increased, as well as their dark brethren.

The fact that the internet is seen as a dumping ground of the world's most perverted media doesn't help (this view has been reinforced by the old media).

So there.

[Azier the Swordsman]

[minakichan]

It took me 30 full seconds to figure out what that picture was supposed to be.

[KeybladeWarrior]

I have a friend that is a furry fan and is a cool guy. I am just not into this whole furries hobby. It is just not my thing.

[Nate]

Hey a thread for me to avoid. WHOOP!

[Tarnish]

I, myself, am not fond of furries in part because I have searched for the most innocuous of things on Deviant Art and have turned up things no eye should ever see.

I don't think *all* furries are weird. Just the ones who go way, way overboard, as seen in the picture above.

[termyt]

We are naturally attracted to things that stand out. Maybe it's genetic, maybe it's learned, but the ability to notice differences is a pretty good survival tool.

(Hey Bahhhhhhhhb? What's wrong with Laaaaaaaaaaaarry? He's all floppy and staring off into space yet he's walking straight for us like he's on a mission. And where's he get those huge teeth?)

For good or ill, we are attracted to things that aren't normal. (By normal, I of course mean anyone who's strange and quirky personality traits are not immediately noticeable.)

Noticing differences causes a bit of a problem. You notice them, but being noticed noticing them is considered rude. Not noticing them at all is also considered rude, or at least makes you seem like a dullard.

Another problem we face is we seem to be intensely interested in what the people around us think of us. This is also a decent survival tool, but is less useful today - especially when we constantly find ourselves surrounded by total strangers whose opinions should have no bearing on our lives.

So, when someone else does something to stand out, we want to notice it, but when we do something that makes us stand out, we do not want to be noticed for it. It's kind of an odd behavioral catch-22.

My suggestion is to do a simple evaluation. Does the person showing hate mean anything to you? If not, then their attitude is irrelevant and should not affect your own attitude or mood. The effect of continued kindness and politeness in the face of outright cruelty can not be measured but it easy to accomplish if you realize their opinion of you does not matter and thus can not ruin your day.

If the person does matter to you, then it's worth having a discussion about it. What is it they don't like about it? Are their concerns justified? Do they know enough about your hobby to help you make a decision? Are they taking your feelings into account?

[Kaligraphic]

Why the hate? Mostly I think it's the walking around in fursuits with quick-access pant flaps and doing horrific and traumatizing things to people's pets. But that's just a guess.

[Kkun]

See that picture that Azier posted?

THAT'S why the hate.

[Raiden no Kishi]

The Internet is a series of tubes . . . full of hate.

.rai//

[~darkelfgirl~]

I, myself, am not fond of furries in part because I have searched for the most innocuous of things on Deviant Art and have turned up things no eye should ever see.

I don't think *all* furries are weird. Just the ones who go way, way overboard, as seen in the picture above.

Agree with everything said.

[HiddenWoodchuck]

I know what a furry is, but I really haven't seen a whole lot of trash talking. I can imagine, considering people are buttheads about everything online, but it seems to be that way for pretty much anything. I don't see how it is any different then the emo bashing or bashing for whatever... people just like to talk trash. I am kinda annoyed when people go around saying "I am such a furry" or "I am sooo emo or goth... or whatever" but that is just me... I find it really annoying. Hard to explain... but, yeah.

[animewarrior]

UMM ..... *stunned by Azier the Swordman's picture* I guess I don't understand what a furry is then. I thought a furry was a person with a like towards the animalia in anime. *wears a cat bell, etc* and yes I know some people can go crazy with the erotica crap... but the suits.... I am confused. >,< If thats what a furry is then....alright then...O.o

Now the people who I really see get negativity fired their direction is the emo culture. I still don't understand why people hate them so much.

I get this stereotype 24/7. At school, on the internet, basically everywhere... all because I wear a lot of black and like rock music... *shakes head* I wish people could understand...and then there is the whole getting emos and punks and goths mixed up...really not smart people! >,< But I'm off topic and ranting sooo yeah...