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Dragons Anonymous
by Jocelyne Gregory
“Steve waved his hands and tried to get the other dragons under control. “We have talked about this; dropping gold and jewels in the cities’ slums is not paying taxes.””
Seven dragons sat on a circle of metal chairs in the basement of an old church. The faux wooden panels of the basement’s walls were a sharp contrast to the faded red shag carpet that had fallen victim to the arts and crafts of generations of children. The metal chairs groaned beneath the dragon’s various weights as they shifted and tried to find comfortable positions for their wings, tails, and long necks without bumping into one another or destroying the popcorn ceiling. They waited as a brilliant orange scaled dragon settled on his seat and tucked his tail around his clawed feet.
“Good afternoon!” The orange dragon smiled at the group. He clutched a clipboard in his hands.
“Good afternoon, Steve.” The other dragons mumbled in response.
“I’m pleased everyone was able to attend this week. Charlie, I would like to start with you. Last time we spoke, we were talking about your latest acquisition. Have things changed since then?” Steve picked up a pencil and set it to the clipboard.
Charlie shifted in his seat. He glanced at the other members before he let out a heavy sigh and powder blue smoke drifted from a nostril.
“Well, you see, I was— I mean, I— I was going to return the jelly to its rightful owner. But the way it jiggled and wiggled? I couldn’t bring myself to do it.” Charlie said.
“Just to clarify for the group, was this a jelly for jam? Or a real-life jelly?” Steve asked.
Charlie fidgeted. His lavender scales shimmered in the flickering ceiling lights.
“I thought it was just some jam an adventurer had brought along with them to have with their bread and butter, but when I opened the jar there was this little face peeking up at me. I couldn’t bring myself to return it to the adventurer’s family.” Charlie explained.
“And how many jellies do you have now?”
“Five hundred and thirty-three,” Charlie confessed.
The other dragons in the circle murmured to each other.
“I just don’t want to let them go!” Charlie blurted, “I feel so bad for them. Adventurers, thieves, barbarians, and wizards? They have no problem killing jellies for potion purposes or to find out what the jelly has eaten. It’s not their fault!”
“I think we have a bit of a conundrum here,” Steve addressed the group. “Does anybody have any suggestions for how Charlie could help his jellies, but at the same time keep them safe?”
The other dragons glanced at each other until a platinum dragon raised its tail.
“Yes, Melony?” Steve asked.
“Charlie could build a dungeon, or claim a forest, or some grass lands and put up warning signs that the land was protected by a dragon?” Melony offered.
“I could do that,” Charlie said. “They might be happier than being stuck in the back of the cave.”
“I know the jellies’ welfare is your greatest concern, and this would be better for them.” Steve kindly said.
Charlie mumbled under his breath and another puff of purple smoke drifted from his nostril.
“Does anybody want to speak up next?” Steve looked to the group.
The dragons glanced at each other.
A skeleton dragon raised its bony tail.
“Taylor?”
“I let some of my skeleton soldiers return to their graves,” Taylor scratched their neck bone.
The other dragons clapped in approval. Charlie gave Taylor a thumbs up.
“Wonderful! How did that make you feel?” Steve asked.
“At first I was lonely and I felt unsure and honestly I thought I was going to collapse into a pile of bones, but this little human girl came to my cave with a fresh loaf of bread and some flowers she picked from her mother’s garden, and…” Taylor trailed off and looked away from the group.
“And?” Steve pushed.
“She thanked me for letting her father and grandfather go to rest, but she thought I might be awfully lonely so she said she’s going to come visit me every week and read to me from her story book,” Taylor’s voice cracked.
“That is amazing progress, well done, Taylor!” Steve clapped his hands.
An obsidian and emerald scaled dragon patted Taylor on the back and both murmured words of approval and comfort to Taylor.
Taylor whispered a quiet word of thanks to the others and sipped from their coffee cup; The black liquid dripped down their bony neck and onto their ribs and the chair they sat on.
“Does anybody else have some more good news? Yes, Ginger?” Steve gestured to the obsidian dragon.
Ginger leaned back in her chair. Her lips peeled back into a sharp and toothy grin. “I killed a group of raiders that threatened to attack my village,” she said.
“Can I have the bodies?” Taylor asked her.
“Taylor.” Steve warned, “Ginger, I thought you were going to take a step back and allow the town’s people to protect themselves.”
Ginger huffed.
“It’s part of your treatment. Remind the group what you horde.”
Ginger glowered, then huffed a puff of smoke.
“I horde praise and worship,” Ginger admitted.
“And by continually protecting your village, you…” Steve trailed off.
“I’m worshipped and praised.” Ginger sniffed.
“And admittance is the first step to treatment. I know that in previous group sessions you’ve been reluctant to let the villagers defend against raiders and approaching armies. But you have to ask yourself the question: what if they chose to leave the village? Or a plague comes through and there are no more villagers? Who will worship you?”
Ginger grumbled; the sound echoed off the faux wooden panels.
“Buildings cannot worship. Empty towns cannot give praise. Praise and worship can come from within, but only if you give yourself a chance,” Steve said.
“I suppose the next time there is a group of bandits or raiders, I could just step back and watch how the villagers handle it.”
“That’s a good step, Ginger,” Steve said.
“But!” Ginger’s tail thumped hard against the church’s carpeted floor. “If they can’t handle it, I’m stepping in.”
“And that is very understandable.” Steve smiled and turned his attention to the green dragon who shifted uncomfortably in her seat. “I know this hits a little close to home for you, Phial, how have you been since last week?”
“I started writing a dream journal,” Phial slowly admitted.
“Instead of stealing and hoarding mortal’s dreams?”
“Yes. I thought about last week’s exercise, and how we had to imagine ourselves as our hoard, and early last week a necromancer actually showed up at my cave because he thought I might have the dreams of a prophet that would give him a hint as to how resurrect the Dark King,” Phial explained.
“And do you?” Steve asked.
“Yes, but I wasn’t going to give it to him. The Dark King gives nothing but nightmares, and it really darkens the dream orbs I’ve got in my cave. So, I entombed him in vines and he died last night,” Phial said.
“Can I have the body?” Taylor asked.
“Taylor,” Steve warned again. “Phial, how does this help with your hoard?”
“I had a very pleasant visit from this wizard a few hours after the necromancer showed up, and in exchange for helping the wizard with the prophecy, he’s going to travel and write down people’s dreams for me. I received the first owl this morning in fact. This boy he met dreamed of a flying metal machine in the sky. It was fascinating.” Phial smiled.
“That is wonderful progress, Phial. And it looks like you might change perceptions of yourself, too,” Steve commented.
“It’s a beginning, and I know I have a long road ahead of me, but it feels kind of good.” Phial’s scales turned a shade of deeper green.
“Good job, Phial,” Steve said. The other dragons clapped approvingly. “Any other good news stories? Yes, Bill?”
“I started paying taxes.” Bill puffed with pride, his red scales the colour of blacksmith flames.
The group paused before they began to laugh.
“Bill,” Steve waved his hands and tried to get the other dragons under control. “We have talked about this; dropping gold and jewels in the cities’ slums is not paying taxes.”
“It should be,” Bill muttered.
“Are people worshipping you yet?” Ginger leaned close to Bill.
“They’ve started drawing images of me on the castle walls and saying I will be the next King.” Bill grinned at her.
“What a brilliant idea.” Ginger rubbed her black scaled chin.
“Ginger, no. Bill, what is it that you hoard?” Steve asked.
Bill rolled his eyes.
“Bill?”
“I hoard political dissidence and government instability. Look, it’s not my fault the court is corrupt! That stupid spymaster staged a coup two years ago and the people are still suffering. I’m just trying to help out,” Bill ranted.
“And what will happen if you keep dropping gold and jewels into the cities’ slums?”
“Then there will be more political dissidence and government instability,” Bill grumbled.
“And what will you do about it?”
“I don’t know. Maybe I’ll follow Ginger’s lead and just take a step back and see how the court handles things. Let the people have their own revolution.” Bill sighed.
“That’s a good step, Bill.” Steve gave him a reassuring smile. “Now, I think everyone’s had a chance to speak, so let us end this meeting and…” He trailed off as the rest of the group stared at him. “What?”
Charlie leaned close. “Come on, you have to speak up, too. How have you been since last week?”
“Me? I’ve been good. Yeah, I went out on a date last Tuesday,” Steve rambled.
“Come on, Steve. Speak up, we all have,” Bill said.
“Yeah, tell us how you’ve been treating your hoard,” Ginger dryly said.
“I— I have been perfectly fine since last week,” Steve stuttered.
“It’s okay, Steve. You’re among friends,” Melony soothed.
Taylor wordlessly nodded their head.
Steve looked to his scribbled clipboard and set it on his lap. He took a deep breath and let it out before he began to speak
“It’s been three days since… since…”
“Yes?” Melony asked.
“It’s been three days since I last heard someone’s confession.” Steve’s tail fell limp at his side. “It’s just so hard not to want to collect them and keep them safe! So many stories, so many ideas, so many lives. It’s so hard not to collect them all.”
“And that is why you’re the one who asks the questions in the group,” Melony said. “But you must remember that each confession has a real person behind it with a real identity, and you can’t collect them all.”
“And that’s why you’re the one who asks all the questions,” Taylor agreed. “Even though Melony is our sponsor.”
“Melony just likes to hoard warm and fuzzy feelings,” Bill grumbled.
Ginger snickered.
“I think we all made progress today in understanding our difficulties and challenges, but in recognizing our hoarding, we can begin to understand why we hoard. So, until we meet again next week, I want us to think about what life events took place that led to your beginning to hoard and we will discuss that next time in group,” Melony said.
* * *
About the Author
Jocelyne Gregory is an MFA graduate of the University of British Columbia’s School of Creative Writing and a graduate of Simon Fraser University’s The Writer’s Studio. She has worked as a graduate teaching assistant and a manuscript consultant with The Writer’s Studio and community libraries. She has written reviews for children’s books with UBC’s Young Adulting Review. Her previous works have appeared in 50-Word Stories, Emerge16, and New Zealand’s Flash Fiction. When not hoarding writing degrees like a dragon, she can be found on British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast rescuing plants, painting, and writing poetry and fantasy romance novels.
Lisa Cheese, What Happened To You??
We got this announcement sent right to us from the source! Lisa Cheese and Ghost Guitar: Attack of the Snack is a new upcoming graphic novel from Top Shelf, written and illustrated by Kevin Alvir. “In Lisa Cheese and Ghost Guitar, a sweet unicorn girl from another dimension moves to Earth City hoping to make a name for herself as a folk singer…but her very first open mic is a disaster, leaving her with a bionic arm and an identity crisis. Now she’s starting a crummy office job, her parents back in their home dimension are laying on the guilt trip, and the cool girl at the record store leaves her tongue-tied. But once she’s drawn into a knock-down, drag-out encounter with a gang of hamburger-headed goons from the sinister megacorporation Beef is Burger, Lisa must rally a ragtag band of supernatural hipsters, conspiracy freaks, and burnt-out office coworkers to thwart their diabolical ambitions!” Might all make more sense if you check out the preview pages over at Major Spoilers. Lisa Cheese hits the shelves this September.
image c. 2023 Top Shelf
S10 Episode 8 – Fandom Barriers - What keeps you from living your best life? What keeps others from exploring furry to the fullest? Roo and Nuka talk about barriers between yourself and the fandom. - NOW LISTEN! SHOW NOTES PATREON LOVE
NOW LISTEN!
SHOW NOTES
PATREON LOVE
The following people have decided this month’s Fur What It’s Worth is worth actual cash! THANK YOU!
Tails Bursting out of Pants Supporters
Ashton Sergal (Pic Pending), Nuka, Ichigo Okami
Fancy Supporter Tier
Rifka, the San Francisco Treat and Baldrik and Lufis (Pic Pending)
Deluxe Supporters Tier
Guardian Lion, Ashton Sergal, Harlan Fox, Plug (Pic Pending), Refractory Rictus (Pic Pending)
Plus Tier Supporters
Ausi Kat
Chaphogriff
Lygris
Bubblewhip
McRib Tier Supporters
TyR
MUSIC
Intro: RetroSpecter – Cloud Fields (RetroSpecter Mix). USA: Unpublished, 2018. ©2011-2018 Fur What It’s Worth. Based on Fredrik Miller – Cloud Fields (Century Mix). USA: Bandcamp, 2011. ©2011 Fur What It’s Worth.
First Break: Railroad Wrath - Ghost, Creative Commons 2022.
Second Break: Mystery Skulls – Ghost. USA: Warner Bros Records, 2011. Used with permission.
Third Break: Out of My Mind - Ray Collins Hot Club, Odd Chap Remix, Creative Commons 2022.
Closing: Cloud Fields (RetroSpecterChill Remix), USA: Unpublished, 2018. ©2011-2018 Fur What It’s Worth. Based on Fredrik Miller – Cloud Fields (Chill Out Mix). USA: Bandcamp, 2011. ©2011 Fur What It’s Worth S10 Episode 8 – Fandom Barriers - What keeps you from living your best life? What keeps others from exploring furry to the fullest? Roo and Nuka talk about barriers between yourself and the fandom. - NOW LISTEN! SHOW NOTES PATREON LOVE
Meet Wally the Alligator – it helps its owner deal with depression
这是沃利鳄鱼——它帮助主人处理抑郁症问题
Animal Folk Tales from Around the World
Capstone Press recently gave us a new series of full-color graphic novels for young comic readers, featuring folktales from cultures all over the globe. And of course, many of them are furry. For example: The Sky Fox, A Peruvian Graphic Folktale, written by Alberto Rayo and illustrated by Fabiana Faiallo. “What happens to a fox that won’t stop teasing the others animals? Read this Peruvian tale to find out.” Other books in the series include The Magpie’s Tale (Sweden), The Turtle and The Geese (India), and The Tortoise and The Hare (West Africa). Each of the titles features writing and art by folk from the culture in question.
image c. 2023 Capstone Press
Episode 534 - Queer Beer
Rainbow capitalism isn't our friend, but it has some very funny reactions from the braindead right wing who got told to be mad about it. Also: Tesla's are spying on you, and 'transvestigators' make some really wild swings.
Thanks for supporting us, you rock~
LINKS
Tesla employees reportedly shared videos captured by cameras on customers' cars | Engadget
Telegram fan chat: https://t.me/+Ma4PTE0IsWVmMDQ5
Furry as a place to be yourself w/Paroto #shorts #snippet
Being yourself in the fandom with Paroto. Catch the full episode here: https://youtu.be/tXHPCJbdV1M ---- Social Media: Official FABP Twitter: https://twitter.com/foxandburger Michael: https://twitter.com/foxnakh https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCK9xoFQrxFTNPMjmXfUg2cg Burger: https://twitter.com/L1ghtningRunner Paroto: https://twitter.com/Paroto_Music ---- #foxandburger #shorts #snippet #furry
TigerTails Radio Season 14 Episode 33
TigerTails Radio Season 14 Episode 33. Join the Discord Chat: https://discord.gg/SQ5QuRf For a full preview of events and for previous episodes, please visit http://www.tigertailsradio.co.uk. See website for full breakdown of song credits, which is usually updated shortly after the show. If you like what we do and wish to throw some pennies our way to support us, please consider sending a little tip our way. https://streamlabs.com/tigertailsradio/tip * Please note, tips are made to support TigerTails Radio and are assumed as made with good faith, so are therefore non-refundable. Thank you for your support and understanding.
Bearly Furcasting S3E50-Nifty fifty!
MOOBARKFLUFF! Click here to send us a comment or message about the show!
Sorry for the late posting all you furs. Raccoon has been burning the candle at both ends this week. This episode has Rayne and Taebyn hosting while Bearly is on his vacation. We tell jokes, talk about the Past Today, share a new batch of Obscure Movie Quotes, listen to some Stupid News, and talk about our Media habits. Enjoy this slightly late episode with my apologies-Rayne
Thanks to all our listeners and to our staff: Bearly Normal, Rayne Raccoon, Taebyn, Cheetaro, TickTock, and Ziggy the Meme Weasel.
You can send us a message on Telegram at BFFT Chat, or via email at: bearlyfurcasting@gmail.com
Is the furry fandom inclusive? w/Kofu #foxandburger #shorts #snippet
How inclusive is the furry fandom? Listen to what Kofu has to say. Watch the full episode here: https://youtu.be/5lUg3_tqykU ---- Social Media: Official FABP Twitter: https://twitter.com/foxandburger Michael: https://twitter.com/foxnakh https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCK9xoFQrxFTNPMjmXfUg2cg Burger: https://twitter.com/L1ghtningRunner ---- #foxandburger #shorts #snippet #furry
TigerTails Radio Season 14 Episode 32
TigerTails Radio Season 14 Episode 32. Join the Discord Chat: https://discord.gg/SQ5QuRf For a full preview of events and for previous episodes, please visit http://www.tigertailsradio.co.uk. See website for full breakdown of song credits, which is usually updated shortly after the show. If you like what we do and wish to throw some pennies our way to support us, please consider sending a little tip our way. https://streamlabs.com/tigertailsradio/tip * Please note, tips are made to support TigerTails Radio and are assumed as made with good faith, so are therefore non-refundable. Thank you for your support and understanding.
FWG Monthly Newsletter April 2023
We’ve skipped over April Fools and jumped right into the month itself, where we are now deep into the annual Furry Awards Season.
The Ursa Major Awards have now closed for voting, with announcements of the winners expected at the end of the month or early next.
FWG members can still get their votes in for the Coyotl Awards for another couple of weeks – until April 15th.
The Leo Awards currently have the judging panel convening to determine the winners. There is no further public votes for these awards.
The FWG will be sure to share announcements of all the winners for these three awards, so keep your eyes on our socials as well as those for the individual awards to keep up to date with who will be chosen this year.
In case you missed it last month, we announced a revamp of FWG membership profiles, encouraging all members to utilise their profiles better, to give links to works and to make it easier for readers to find out more information about the incredible talent our members have. This is in conjunction with a massive update to the Suggested Reading List. Work on the updated profiles has been completed based on the responses through the form – members who have not yet submitted their profile update form can continue to use the one emailed out in February. If you have already had your profile updated, we prefer that you use the standard profile update form. There are still some updates to be made to the Suggested Reading List, including the Anthology Series.
If you are an FWG member but did not receive the email advising you of these changes, please get in contact with us through the guild email so that we can ensure you are not missed in this update.
We would also like to remind readers and writers alike about the launch of our Patreon page. Through this, we hope to ensure the guild is able to cover its own costs, as well as taking on the costs of the Coyotl Awards, which have previously been taken on by the award chair. This could allow us to expand the impact of the awards, giving us more options in the future to make them bigger and better in all aspects.
We hope that our members will consider the Patreon page as a way to provide voluntary dues in the absence of any regular membership fees, and that readers can use it as a way to benefit furry writing as a whole. We are grateful for any support that is given, and in the future we will look to ways to reward that generosity with more tangible benefits.
April is also the start of the new election campaigns for the major positions in the Furry Writers Guild. Members who wish to announce candidacy for any of the officer positions in the FWG are required to announce their intention to run before April 30th by posting in the relevant thread in the forums.
Should there only be one candidate per position, there will be no election held and the candidates will be elected unopposed.
Not interested in running for a guild officer position? Why not instead consider a story for one of the following open anthology calls:
Paw Anthology – Deadline May 1st
Dog Save The King – Deadline May 19th
Get Wild – Deadline September 1st
This Is Halloween – Deadline When Full
Furry Femdom Erotica – Deadline When Full
F/F No Erotic Anthology – Deadline When Full
Isekai Me! – Deadline When Full
Children Of The Night – Deadline When Full
Furry/Lovecraftian/Erotic/University Themed Anthology – Deadline When Full
Beyond Their Pale – Deadline When Full
#ohmurr! – Deadline: Ongoing
Zooscape – Reoccurring submission windows.
Please also consider picking up one of the following pre-orders or recent releases from our fantastic members:
Rafts, by Utunu. Released March 16th 2023.
Kelpie House, by Frances Pauli. Released March 27th.
A Zookeeper’s Guide To Dating, by Roan Rosser / Ian M. Keller. Released April 4th 2023.
Don’t Ask Me If I’m Okay, by Jessica Kara (Jess E. Owen). Available for pre-order. Released May 16th 2023.
As always, if you are a FWG member and have a new release you would like added, please get in contact!
Please keep an eye on our socials over the next month, as well as the forum to see who will be putting their hand up for the guild leadership positions.
Stay safe and happy writing.
J.F.R. Coates
Episode 533 - I Wanna Go To Beast World
Savrin got their copy of "Delvers Guide to Beast World", E3 is dead, christians aren't under attack, and an elderly Floridian faces legal trouble.
Thanks for supporting us, you rock~
LINKS
The Delver's Guide to Beast World: a 5e Supplement & Setting by Heartleaf Games — Kickstarter - You can preorder the regular releases of the book/pdf
Southpaws | creating and promoting The Queer Agenda | Patreon
Telegram - https://t.me/+Ma4PTE0IsWVmMDQ5
The Worst Furry Stereotypes
Article Content
- Introduction
- Why Are There Stereotypes Surrounding the Furry Community?
- Common Furry Stereotypes
- Misconceptions About Furries & Sexual Deviancy
- Relationships
- Social Interaction
- Social Contribution
- Furry Art
- The Takeaway
The furry fandom has a tendency to cross-over into the more mainstream hobbies of science-fiction fans, artists, writers, etc. and this can cause some friction. Often due to the furry association with these genres, certain stereotypes have become attached to its members.
While many of the furry fandom’s stereotypes can be attributed to malicious outsiders, some have been perpetuated by its members. One of the most pervasive and damaging stereotypes is that all furries are sexual deviants.
But these stereotypes have a spectrum of harmfulness. These can range from believing all furries are geeks or nerds while others try to draw a comparison between the fandom and zoophilia.
However, a lot of these stereotypes derive from ignorance and misunderstandings, so it’s wrong to believe these stereotypes describe a diverse community comprising people of all colors, races, countries, genders, and backgrounds. Furries are simply people who like to express themselves in a certain way. And just like every other person, they also have individual personality traits, interests, sexual preferences, gender identities, and diverse opinions.
The furry fandom isn’t defined by any of those stereotypes, and it’s unfair to assume it does. So it’s essential to be mindful of these stereotypes and not judge the entire fandom based on them. To do that, you might need to learn a little more about these stereotypes and where they stem from.
Why Are There Stereotypes Surrounding the Furry Community?Humans have an inherent tendency to speculate when they do not fully understand something. We have done this since the dawn of time, assuming the world to be flat and seeing the sun as an entity to be worshiped.
The same has happened in the case of furries, where many people do not fully understand the concept, falling prey to misinformation and misunderstanding. Like any other community, the furry subculture also has different groups, some of whom may confine to certain stereotypes.
These groups do not represent the whole community. But the rampant misunderstanding surrounding the community has led many to believe that these stereotypes are universal traits among furries.
Another reason people stereotype furries is due to their unusual behaviors. In mainstream society, furry behavior is often seen as odd or strange, leading to the assumption that all furries must be weird. It can lead to people forming negative opinions about the furry community as a whole.
The portrayal of furries in the media has further fueled these stereotypes. Many sensationalized TV series and new stories show furries in negative roles, perpetuating the stereotype that furries are weird, awkward, and creepy.
There is also a consensus that the furry fandom is a cult, and every member has similar values, beliefs, and practices. Since cultist mentality is already seen as a negative trait, many people group furries into the same category, often discriminating against them in educational, professional, and social settings.
Many stereotypes, such as those associated with sexual behavior, can harm the furry community. Therefore, there’s a dire need to debunk these myths and create a more understanding atmosphere for furries.
By doing so, we can help destigmatize the furry fandom, allowing it to be seen as the diverse and multifaceted community it is. We must also recognize the individual members of this group and view them in their unique perspectives rather than as a collective culmination of a singular stereotype.
Fox Fursuit
Image via Esquire
Common Furry StereotypesFurry stereotypes can be put under several categories, from medical disorders and sexual deviancy to appearance and sexual orientation. Let’s discuss each type in detail.
GeneralThe general thought about the furry community is that it is a fetish-based fandom, where members have a fetish for anthropomorphic animals and dress up in elaborate costumes.
Many also believe that the furry community is a subculture at best and will never become a mainstream culture. Not many believe it to be as well-established as anime or science fiction.
Some also believe that furry fetish is just a fad. People who become a part of the community merely do it for attention and leave the fandom once the novelty wears off.
However, this is not entirely true since being furry does not describe a member’s lifestyle. Being a furry is just a part of their existence, just like being an American or a Christian or vegan would be.
It doesn’t define every aspect of a person’s life or dictate all their behaviors or beliefs. As for it being a fad, the furry fandom has been going strong since the 1980s and has only increased in size.
AppearanceAnother common stereotype about the furries is that they are predominantly white men who are also a part of the LGBTQ community. Many furries are thought to be either overweight or underweight and conventionally unattractive.
The older furries, also called gray muzzles due to their graying hair, are thought to be grossly out of shape and averse to fitness. Meanwhile, the LGBTQ furries younger in age are often called furry twinks, which is an insult to the LGBTQ community.
It’s also a common belief that furries are unhygienic and do not wash due to their association with an animal-life lifestyle. While outdated and offensive, these stereotypes are still pervasive in society today.
It’s wrong and downright foolish to believe that all members of a community will look like or have the same sexual preferences. In reality, furries are a diverse group of people who look different from each other and have various sexual preferences. While most furries might be white males, whiteness is neither a prerequisite nor an identification mark for a furry.
Furries live their lives like any other person. They wash, dress well, have jobs, socialize, and look after their appearance just as any non-furry would.
Medical DisordersSome people also believe furries suffer from mental health issues, such as Asperger’s Syndrome and body dysmorphic disorders. These assumptions are rooted in the belief that furries have an obsession with anthropomorphic animals, which is seen as a sign of autism.
It is also believed that furries may have personality disorders. Many people associate furries with otherkins, individuals who believe their physical form does not define their mental states, spiritual nature, psychology, or personality.
Otherkins believe they have a sympathetic affinity or connection with an entity or animal. Traditionally, otherkins have been mythological, beginning with fay folk and becoming dragons, demons, griffins, and unicorns.
However, there is no scientific evidence to prove that furries have mental disorders or that the attraction towards the furry fandom is due to a genetic or mental underlying cause. The misconception about the correlation of being furry with having a mental disorder comes from the lack of understanding about the community.
We should keep in mind that everyone has unique interests. The way someone expresses themselves is not an indicator of their mental health.
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The belief that furries engage in unconventional sex acts is also a common stereotype. According to the stereotype, furries engage in the following types of sexual behaviors.
- Fursuit Sex
Also known as zoot sex or fursuited sex, fursuit sex describes sexual interaction in which one or both parties wear a fursuit. While some furries might engage in sexual activities wearing a fursuit, it is not always a norm.
Fursuits can be uncomfortable and large to maneuver, making it difficult to perform most sexual activities.
- Pedophilia
It’s a common misconception that furries are pedophiles, mainly because of the growing number of children entering the community who rely on adult furries for guidance.
But this is entirely false and unfounded. While some individuals might have inappropriate thoughts or desires, it’s unfair to make a blanket statement about all furries being pedophiles.
- Plushophilia
People who have a deep love and appreciation for stuffed animals are called plushophiles, and the concept is termed plushophilia. However, in most cases, this is only limited to playing with plushies or using them for support or comfort.
But sometimes, plushophiles may feed their sexual desires with plushies. The satisfaction may come from fantasy gratification or pure sensual enjoyment. Since plushies are animals, many associate plushophiles with furries, painting the latter in a negative light.
But with any other negative stereotypes, it’s important to remember that it’s only a few outliers that give the whole group a bad name.
- Zoophilia
Zoophilia refers to the attraction of humans to animals, which is paraphilia. It means that zoophilia is not an accepted form of sexual expression and can be considered illegal or immoral in many countries.
Many wrongly assume that furries are into zoophilia because of the mix of animals and humans in the furry community. However, this is not true. In fact, many zoophiles also distinguish themselves from beastialists, people who have sexual contact with animals.
To say that all furries engage in sexual activity with animals is untrue. Furries express themselves through art, costume-making, literature, and music related to anthropomorphic animals. But that does not equate to sexual affiliation or attraction.
RelationshipsSince many people do not understand what goes inside the furry community, they think furries are not capable of loving others or having normal relationships. Some people even go as far as thinking that there are no married couples in the furry community, and if there are any, they do not have children due to genetics or personal problems.
Kids who join the furry community are thought to be brats with poor relationships with their families, especially parents. None of this is true since furries are just like any other regular person with their fair share of relationship conflicts, love interests, and children.
Furry Couple
Image via BuzzFeed News
Social InteractionMost of the stigma around furries comes from the stereotypes around their social interactions. For instance, many people think furries are overtly sexual, a stereotype that fits in with the misconception about sexual deviancy.
Similarly, furries are thought to be geeks, nerds, or fanboys with little to no social skills. Some people also believe furries to be egomaniacs, only interested in talking about themselves and their fursonas.
But all these are just misconceptions. You never know if your friendly local librarian who helps you find the sequels of all your favorite fantasy books may be a furry. Similarly, the kind-hearted doctor at the clinic may also be a furry.
Being a part of a specific group does not dictate how someone behaves socially. Likewise, acting a certain way doesn’t mean you belong to the furry community.
Furry Dating App – Ferzu
Image via Ferzu
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Another stereotype closely related to poor social interaction is that furries do not contribute much to society. They are uneducated and mostly hold low-prestige jobs. Furthermore, most are on welfare assistance, such as disability.
Again, enforcing a stereotype like this is like saying that gamers or anime enthusiasts do not contribute anything to society because they are so focused on playing video games or watching anime.
The truth is that furries come from different income levels and demographics. Like non-furries, they may or may not have jobs, may or may not be educated, and may or may not be socially involved. Affiliating with a particular community does not translate to one’s uselessness in society.
Fursuiter in Pink Fursuit
Image via CNN
Furry ArtA somewhat illogical – and unkind – stereotype about furry artists is that their art amounts to nothing, and they do not have the same skill level as non-furry artists. Going back to assumed sexual deviancy, many believe that furry artists only create pornographic content and often use it as a gateway to children.
All of these are generalizations that do not hold any truth to them. While furry art often has sexual undertones, not all artists create pornographic content. Furry art tackles various genres and can often be seen in galleries, conventions, and publications—all attended by children and adults alike.
The TakeawayIt’s not uncommon for misunderstood communities to be ostracized and stereotyped. But we live in the era of technology and fast Internet where misinformation can spread like wildfire.
It’s about time we learn about the furry community and understand that one or a few outliers do not define the entire population. Furries are just like any of us who have lives, relationships, and careers. They may have their own style and preference, but that doesn’t make them any less of a human being.
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It’s All So Pretty…
Magnetic Press brings us a new graphic novel: Loonicorns, a fantasy from a different angle. “Looniland is a joyful and colorful world populated by mythical and extinct creatures: Unicorns, cyclops, dodos… But behind this facade hides a highly unequal society: From an early age, each inhabitant of Looniland is categorized as ‘beautiful’ or ‘ugly’ according to certain subjective criteria. The life of the ‘beautiful’ is idyllic, while that of the ‘ugly’ is filled with drudgery and danger. But the balance of society will be upturned by the arrival of Penny, an amnesic human child.” Loonicorns is written by Ced, and illustrated by Waltch and Gorobei. No, we don’t know them either! But take a look!
image c. 2023 Magnetic Press
Bearly Furcasting S3E49-Bearly, Taebyn, and Rayne...Again
MOOBARKFLUFF! Click here to send us a comment or message about the show!
In this episode of the podcast, we switch things up a bit just to keep you listeners on your feet paws! Rayne joins us for the episode to add some raccoon co-producer goodness. There's a trip to the Transfurmation Station that unlocks something STUPID, we learn how Taebyn's trip to TFF went, talk of the Past Today, chat about our media consumption, catch up with Furries in the News, get a new movie review by Cheetaro, learn some interesting math, and have some fun. Join us for the ride!
Thanks to all our listeners and to our staff: Bearly Normal, Rayne Raccoon, Taebyn, Cheetaro, TickTock, and Ziggy the Meme Weasel.
You can send us a message on Telegram at BFFT Chat, or via email at: bearlyfurcasting@gmail.com
Be A Hero! Wear Your Identity!
At this year’s WonderCon in Anaheim, we had the honor of meeting Knave Murdock and joining them on a panel discussion of LGBTQ-themed furry comics over the decades. Knave is the creator of the comic book TransCat. What’s it about? “TransCat is a transgender superhero who fights evil and doesn’t afraid of anything! Follow TransCat on her adventures as she goes to school, hangs out with friends, goes on dates, and saves the world from the forces of darkness!” All with the help of her magical cat-hat. Visit the official web site to find out all about it — or, look for the paper version where-ever indie comic books are sold.
image c. 2023 Parasomniac Comics
TigerTails Radio Season 14 Episode 31
TigerTails Radio Season 14 Episode 31. Join the Discord Chat: https://discord.gg/SQ5QuRf For a full preview of events and for previous episodes, please visit http://www.tigertailsradio.co.uk. See website for full breakdown of song credits, which is usually updated shortly after the show. If you like what we do and wish to throw some pennies our way to support us, please consider sending a little tip our way. https://streamlabs.com/tigertailsradio/tip * Please note, tips are made to support TigerTails Radio and are assumed as made with good faith, so are therefore non-refundable. Thank you for your support and understanding.
S10 Episode 7 – Boooooooooooze! (Alcohol) - Did you know the past participle of "drink" is "drunk"? Yeah, you can say you drunk a beer. Now grab one and enjoy this fresh Fur What It's Worth episode! - NOW LISTEN! SHOW NOTES PATREON LOVE The following peop
NOW LISTEN!
SHOW NOTES
PATREON LOVE
The following people have decided this month’s Fur What It’s Worth is worth actual cash! THANK YOU!
Tails Bursting out of Pants Supporters
Ashton Sergal (Pic Pending), Nuka, Ichigo Okami
Fancy Supporter Tier
Rifka, the San Francisco Treat and Baldrik and Lufis (Pic Pending)
Deluxe Supporters Tier
Guardian Lion, Ashton Sergal, Harlan Fox, Plug (Pic Pending), Refractory Rictus (Pic Pending)
Plus Tier Supporters
Ausi Kat
Chaphogriff
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McRib Tier Supporters
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MUSIC
Intro: RetroSpecter – Cloud Fields (RetroSpecter Mix). USA: Unpublished, 2018. ©2011-2018 Fur What It’s Worth. Based on Fredrik Miller – Cloud Fields (Century Mix). USA: Bandcamp, 2011. ©2011 Fur What It’s Worth.
First Break: Space Odyssey - EkkoFox, Argofox, Creative Commons 2023. Second Break: Tilt – Northern Born, Argofox, Creative Commons 2023.
Third Break: Light Me Up - Phlex, Argofox, Creative Commons 2020.
Closing: Cloud Fields (RetroSpecterChill Remix), USA: Unpublished, 2018. ©2011-2018 Fur What It’s Worth. Based on Fredrik Miller – Cloud Fields (Chill Out Mix). USA: Bandcamp, 2011. ©2011 Fur What It’s Worth S10 Episode 7 – Boooooooooooze! (Alcohol) - Did you know the past participle of "drink" is "drunk"? Yeah, you can say you drunk a beer. Now grab one and enjoy this fresh Fur What It's Worth episode! - NOW LISTEN! SHOW NOTES PATREON LOVE The following peop
Episode 532 - Blueyville
Savrin, Fuzz, and Ajax have returned intact from Furry Fiesta 2023, the discussion of which is most of the episode. We also discuss why Savrin deactivated their Twitter account, fun things from Fiesta, and have a couple cool things to discuss at the end of the episode.
LINKS
Southpaws | creating and promoting The Queer Agenda | Patreon
Boneraiser Minions - Boneraiser Minions on Steam (steampowered.com)
Telegram Fan Chat - https://t.me/+Ma4PTE0IsWVmMDQ5