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The furry subculture has a certain connotation in popular culture for their, ahem, mating habits. But not much beyond this small facet of this vast culture is widely known.

We here at the Weekly enlisted the help of the world's leading television naturalist, Figgy Dobbs, to enlighten us beyond the Bloodhound Gang level of knowledge of this fascinating culture. Mr. Dobbs witnessed these creatures from afar at one of the country's largest furry conventions, located right here in Irvine.

He featured it in the latest episode of his nature documentary for us all to get a closer look of the elusive furry. Let's take a look.

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Hey there, folks!  Some issues with the way that we license our works from authors came up recently, and I figured it was probably about time that we make all of that as clear as we can!

Everything on the [adjective][species] site, including its sub-sites such as the visualizations and, to a lesser extent, polls, is licensed from the author. All we do is ask the author for the rights to post their content under a certain license. They can choose not to accept that license and opt for something more or less restrictive if they want, but so far, that’s not been an issue. The license that we use is called the Creative Commons license. This is a very liberal license that allows work to be shared freely on the internet. The CC license comes with a few different ‘clauses’ that can be added on to modify the terms of the license. In our case, we use the CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 version (we’re currently looking into upgrading to the 4.0 version).

What does this mean?

This means that anyone – including you, and including syndicators, such as Flayrah, who syndicates our articles through RSS – is free to take the articles on our site and share them, remix them, use them for your own purposes! Totally free. We make no money off anything at [a][s], so we’re not about to start clamping down for any reason.

So what does the BY-NC-SA stand for?

• The BY portion means that you can repost or remix any of our content, so long as you attribute it back to us.
  
• NC stands for Non-Commercial. That means that you can share, mash up, or use any of our content, so long as you aren’t making a profit on it. We want our articles to be free for anyone, inside the fandom or out, to read. This means not posting anything behind a paywall.
• SA stands for Share-Alike. What the Share-Alike clause means is that you can share our content however you like, EXCEPT that it must be licensed under the same CC BY-NC-SA license, which just means putting that somewhere around the article.

So, to reiterate, you may post anything we license out on the web, so long as you

1. Credit the author (or, failing that, [adjective][species])
2. Release it for free
3. Put “This article released under a Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 3.0 license” somewhere, such as at the bottom of the article or after the attribution.

I do apologize for the complexities of licensing, but [adjective][species], as a business, does bear some of the legal, not to mention ethical, burden of ensuring that our writers are fairly recognized as fantastic contributors to the furry subculture, and so we really do try to make sure that that is the case.  If you have any additional comments, you can feel free to respond here, or, if ever you want, email me at makyo@adjectivespecies.com

All my best,

~Makyo/Madison Scott-Clary

Qui sont les furries, ces étranges créatures mi-hommes mi-peluches ?http://www.telerama.fr/sortir/qui-sont-les-furries-ces-etranges-creatures-mi-hommes-mi-peluches,128210.php


These anthropomorphism fans who think they are bisounours subject of a documentary currently visible to the Museum of Modern Art in Paris, where they will be present Sunday in flesh and hair. Deciphering the phenomenon "furry" by the filmmakers.

It is not always easy to identify. Some are content to display the image of an anthropomorphic animal on their Facebook pages. Other running around with cat ears or a fox's tail. Others, finally, practice "fursuit" - complete disguise - and attempt excursions to the public space to the delight of children who, seeing those big tumble doggies and other vixens of space, take them for mascots Disney.

These are the "furries" (or "furs" or "fur" in French): an underground community born in the 1980s that grew wider with the emergence of the Internet. Present in the United States, Canada and Europe (1), furries have opted for an alternative existence by identifying with a totem animal. At major international gatherings, waddle away from humming "I want to be cat" Pow Wow group, they organize parties frenzied backdrop of electro music.

• Documentary Juggalos, clowns cursed America

Alain Della Negra Artists and Kaori Kinoshita followed these strange creatures where they are most numerous and most active: the United States. From this meeting was born a disturbing documentary, The Lair (2009). The latter is currently presented to the Modern Art Museum of Paris under Asides the exhibition, which offers young artists to exhibit one of their works, along with some selected pieces from the museum collection. Alain Della Negra and Kaori Kinoshita, who organize Sunday, June 21 a meeting with the public, in the presence of some representatives of the furry community, returning to the phenomenon.

How to become a furry?

There motivations and lifestyles very different. What unites them is the attraction to anthropomorphic animals or simply to their representations. Some strongly identify with their totem animal, others are more attracted to the "furry art". Thus, the first action of a furry is the "commission" passed with a furry artist, responsible for shaping the "fursona," or character, described by Sponsor. On this basis, furries create themselves or make their costumes make them, again, by a specialized artist. However, only 20% wear a "fursuit" or full suit, which also is quite expensive (starting at several hundred dollars). Most so wear some accessories like earrings or a necklace ... In the US, they are "thoroughly" and also more freedom: some will even work with their tails!

Are the Furies artists?

They are all amateurs, drawings, especially manga and comics. Among the artists, there are stars, odds ... and even auctions that are organized in the "conventions", the name given to international gatherings of furries. There is a crude art side and outsider who were very interested us. Maybe we discovered Henry Darger, like the man who draws only mermaids with incredible mythology around it.

How is this community appeared?

With the development of internet, as early as 1980. The first role models were cartoons like King Leo, from the manga of Osamu Tezuka (aired in the 1960s, Ed) or Robin Hood (which dates from 1973 and where malicious fox portrays the hero, Ed). We have discovered by chance via the virtual world Second Life, we had invested in the framework of our previous documentary (The cat, the reverend and the slave, 2010, Ed). There was a lot of avatars with animal heads: it was furries! Second Life is out of fashion, but they are very active on social networks, forums and discuss their even have a specialized Wikipedia (WikiFur).

Are left this approach?

It was long. Furries are very suspicious of the media. They regret that the whole community will be presented as obsessed and plusophile (sexually attracted lint, Ed). The issue of sexuality is very sensitive. When we wanted to go to the largest gathering of the furry world, Anthrocon in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, they were stung by an episode of the TV series Crime Scene Investigation. We decided to go incognito, with furries we knew, the idea of ??filming did they. But it was quickly grilled, because they had bought rabbit ears in the corner of the costume shop, because we did not have the attitude. The way to play a character, the itches that last 10 minutes ... We looked lost. Fortunately, when they knew, they accepted us and we were able to do a lot of interviews.

These are plants in your documentary. The voice of the furries is the only one that can hear and immersion is quite disturbing. Was that the objective?
We see people who seem perfectly normal to talk about them so incredible, as animals. But when they describe their pet, fursona, they still talk about them. This can evoke a psychoanalysis, this way of recognizing its weaknesses, to question the construction of identity. What interests us is the disorder that exists between reality and fiction. And how the viewer will be located relative to it.

Hospitalities. Meet the authors of the documentary The Lair, Sunday, June 21 at Museum of Modern Art, in the presence of some members of the furry community, from 10 am. More information .
As part of a coach tour organized on 21 June by the TRAM - contemporary art network of Île-de-France, which places different cultural rally on the occasion of the 5th edition of hospitalities.

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[These will be a series of short stories I'll be writing that are based off events that have happened to me. To make it more interesting, I'm replacing myself with my fursona (which has the exact same personality as me so it'll stay true to the things that really happened) and everyone else as anthros of animals that I think suit the way they looked and behaved. Words written in italic are things I'm thinking in my mind. Let me know what you think!]

I bet... if this bus crashed right now... then I wouldn't need to go to this interview... I stared out of the large window at the vibrant green and brown fields that covered the bumpy countryside of Northern Ireland. What about all these people on here with me though? I suppose it would need to be an accident big enough to put the bus out of order... but also not harm everyone on it. Maybe it COULD harm everyone a teeny bit, actually. That way I can heroically rescue everyone! Yeah! I wouldn't need to go to that stupid interview AND I make it into the local news as the foxcoon that saved an entire bus full of people from a minor bump into a bush!!! Oh! Noticing my stop coming up, I leap off the seat and limp to the front of the bus. I wasn't injured or anything, my left leg had just gone completely to sleep.

I was required to attend an interview at a place that's supposed to help me find a job. They'd be simply asking deep and personal questions about who I am, what I can do and why I don't have a job. Oh God, there's the place... A young adult wolf stepped out of the building, looked at me and propped the door open with his paw. Shit, he's holding the door open for me! I might need to say something to him like 'thank you' or am I supposed to initiate small talk with this man!? Abort! Abort!!! I'll just look away and pretend I'm not going in there. I made a sharp left turn and headed another direction. After a few paces I turned to see that the kind fella had left the scene so I skipped back to the door. Why isn't it opening? I pushed and pulled on the handle Come on, what's going on!? Ah screw it! I'm making an idiot of myself. I began to stroll around the area trying to think of what to do. Maybe my brother can help. I lifted out my phone, rang him and he explained what I needed to do in great detail.
"Yeah you push a button beside the door and it unlocks" he mumbled sleepily.
"Oh... ok. Thanks." I hung up and hurried back to the building.

After going through a maze of corridors, I finally found the right room and was sitting down with the interviewer who was a rather beefy husky.
"Alright so you're Felix Foxcoon?" he asked.
"Yes" I replied.
"You were born on the 15th August 1996?"
"Yes"
"And you are male?"
"Yes..." Does my really long hair actually make my gender seem questionable? Cool.
The questions continued and my replies remained either a simple 'yes' or 'no'.
"What's the main want to get a new kitchen reason you want to get a job?"
"...Uhh... I'm sorry?"
"What's I really the main need to reason you get that want to sink replaced get a job?"
"I..." God damn it, some loud English woman behind me won't shut up about getting a new kitchen fitted! I can't hear a thing he's saying!
"What's the main reason why you want a job?"
"Oh, right, sorry. I suppose it's because I'm bored and need something to do during the day" I muttered.
"Perfectly kitchen table valid answer"
Huh, I was expecting him to say that was stupid. Woah, is... is that nose hair I see dangling from his nostril? That must be uncomfortable! Does he feel it? Does it tickle? Surely it must make him sneeze when he breathes. Kinda looks like a spider trying to climb out of his skull... No, don't think of spiders or skulls. This situation is frightening enough without thinking of those.

An hour later the interview was over and I walked out of the building. That wasn't too bad. Now I just wanna go buy some Pringles and play Dark Souls. Then I headed to the bus station.

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So I recently found out there actually is a subreddit for furries to post off-topic stuff. This was news to me because I didn't yet see anything about it, although a Reddit search for "furrylobby" did come up with results.

I have no idea how I or anyone else missed it, as it has a nearly nonexistent number of subscribers, but I think we should be using it because there's more to this world than anthropomorphics and I like the idea of being able to openly discuss non-furry things with other furries.

As a side note, I also think it should be added to the list of Related Subreddits.

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I'm normally a Lurker to the Extreme™ in this sub, but there's something that comes up every now that I feel I need to address, and give my own personal insights on a topic that may help some of you.

I see a lot of furs posting about "coming out" as furry to friends/family, and questioning the best ways to go about that. Inevitably, there are a number of comments that can best be summed up as, "Furry is just a hobby! Like being a Star Trek or Star Wars fan! You don't "come out" as furry!" And y'know what? For the majority of the fandom, that advice is likely completely valid.

But like everything in this fandom, (and life in general), one size does not fit all.

"Coming out" means different things to different folks. For some, it revolves around their sexual orientation; gay, bi, asexual, etc. For others, it's more to do with their deepest character and identity. More often than not, it's a mix of the two, (or more!).

I'm gay. I've known, deep down, that I was gay from my early teens, (~20 years ago). I've also known I was a furry, (or before I knew what it was called, an attraction to anthros), for as long, if not longer. It was only when my family got the Internet, and found I other folks like me, that I could put a name to it, (who remembers alt.* and MUCKs?!). This is true for both the gay aspect, and the furry aspect.

Now, my upbringing wasn't that different from a lot of you, I'm sure. I was a nerdy kid, and because we lived in the middle of Nowhereville USA, I was pretty lonely, and spent most of my time online. Because I found out about both gay and furry at an early age, the two aspects became utterly entangled. And because I spent way too much time online, it was only encouraged, (and likely equally by the goddamn Disney Afternoon).

When I was a Senior in highschool, I felt this deep, extreme desire to come out to my family and close friends. But there was a problem. It was pretty much "okay to be gay", but it definitely wasn't okay to be furry. This is about when the Internet was realizing how much of an easy target we were, and were pretty much the laughing stock of every forum and site around. So I had to make a decision; stay quiet, or come out as "half" of what I am. I chose the latter, and was extremely relieved when I had a (mostly) positive reaction. But I still felt like they only knew half of the story; half of my being.

So I hid the furry from the world. I had no issue telling people I was gay, but I vehemently denied anything about being a furry. I was still active online just as much as ever, but made a very hard line between that, and my "real life."

That was fine for a few years. Then the depression set in. Then the anxiety. Then the identity unease. It all crept up slowly, and again, for many years I was able to repress it, and function like a "normal" adult.

Then about two years ago, something snapped. Suddenly things were not okay. Suicide was becoming more and more of a legitimate option. My partner of nearly a decade, (another furry), started to become more and more concerned. The feeling of my body not being mine, feeling wrong in my own skin, started to finally take its toll. Despite having an outwardly successful life to that point, I was in shambles. I suddenly realized that hiding half of myself from the world was slowly killing me.

Fast forward to the present: Things are better. I'm in therapy for the identity issues. I'm on medication for the depression and anxiety. I left a toxic career. It's still a struggle, day to day, but there is now some small glimmers of hope.

But the biggest change? I'm not hiding half of myself anymore.

Now, I'm not the type of person that would scream from the rooftops, "I'm a furry and I'm proud!" I don't wear it on my sleeve any more than I wear being gay. But if people ask? I don't deny. I had a fursuit made, which is something I thought I'd never do. All of my close friends now know, as well as a few choice family members, (with positive reactions all around). And y'know what? It feels great to finally not have to hide half of who I am.

...Wow, okay so this turned into way more than I expected, and I did have a point, I swear! Sorry for the wall of text.

I guess if I had to TL;DR it, it would be this:

Furry is something different for everyone. A hobby, an income, an escape, an identity, and any and all combinations thereof. Also, "coming out" means something different to everyone as well. If the two intersect for you, don't feel ashamed to come out as a furry. Or gay. Or bi. Or trans. Or anything at all. If it's part of what makes you whole and makes you you, don't ever be ashamed of it.

You guys are awesome. <3

EDIT: Words are hard.

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Dear Papabear,

I am currently a politics student with aspirations to enter the world of politics later on in life, either as a councilor or as a Member of Parliament. However, I am concerned that, as a politician, my private life would come under much scrutiny by the media, including my identification as a furry. Based on your doubtless rich experience and opinion, do you think that it would be wise for a furry like me, whom nobody outside of the furry community knows that I am, to go into politics?

Many Thanks and Kind Regards,

Dai

* * *

Dear Dai,

While I’m more familiar with politics in the U.S. than in Britain, it’s pretty much a cutthroat occupation, wherever in the world you may go. You can be assured that, should you run for public office, your private life will be scrutinized with a tweezer and microscope. And if any flaws—real or perceived—are discovered by an opponent, they will be used against you. It seems that these days more elections are won based on attacking one’s opponent, rather than running on one’s own merits.

Being a furry is not a flaw, of course, but you can imagine how it will go for you once someone discovers a site such as e621.net and calls you a furvert.

But, many people of various minorities have run for office, been attacked, and won. Public office used to be the domain solely of white, straight (or apparently straight) men. Britain has been a bit ahead of America in terms of accepting minorities into their government. In 1790, Robert Jenkinson (an Anglo-Indian) was elected to Parliament. And there have been quite a few minorities in Parliament since then.

It took longer for a gay man to be accepted in Parliament. Being gay in the UK was illegal until the Sexual Offenses Act of 1967, as you probably know (think of poor victims of this law, ranging from Oscar Wilde to Alan Turing). Since then, LGBT people have slowly been gaining ground and offices.

Now, if LGBT people—who were once considered deviants to a criminal degree—can gain acceptance, I believe a furry can, too (and more easily in Britain than in America, where half the population still thinks the Confederacy should have won). Really, it depends upon you and how willing you are to stick up for your furriness. You could, I suppose, hide or abandon that side of you in favor of your political career, or you could not hide it at all and assert your right to be who you are, including the best politician you can be.

There is some good news, too, concerning furries and acceptance. As with the LGBT community, there has been a slow turning around of public opinion about furries that is represented in articles such as this one from the Huffington Post.

I can’t make that decision for you about your career, but I would say that if you have a passion for public service and you abandoned it out of fear of your being a furry, then that would be quite a shame and a loss to your community. I, for one, would be very proud of you if you put aside your fears and won even a small, local election; that could be the start of an amazing future for you.

Good Luck,

Papabear