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The word “furry” was first used in 1980 to describe a culture where individuals identify with anthropomorphic animals. Since then, it has become a far-reaching phenomenon, with commissioned artwork filling the Internet and fur suits, costumes similar to those seen for sports mascots, becoming a fixture at almost all fan conventions.
Anime fans, especially women, are known to wear animal ears and tails for the sake of cuteness. Not all people who wear animal accessories could be considered furries. Furries identify with animals, often to the point where they think of themselves as animals in a human body.
There are many different types of furries. Some people merely
enjoy the artwork that results from those that identify as furries, and
some enjoy dressing up as animals to further incorporate the animal
identity. Although many furries distance themselves from the sexual
aspect of furry fandom, it is deeply ingrained into the subculture.
A survey by the psychology department of the University of
California-Davis showed that 2 percent of furries have interest in
zoophilia, or the sexual love of animals, and less than 1 percent
engage in plushophilia, or sexual contact with stuffed animals. Many
more furries engage in “yiffing,” or interpersonal sexual activity with
an animal theme.
Furries tend to get a bad rap. Many of them are innocent and
merely like animals. Like any group of people, there are degenerates
among their members, and there are furries who enjoy pedophilia and
other socially unacceptable activities. Not all furries are sexual
furries, but they often get lumped into the same category. As such,
many furries feel persecuted by the media, which often portrays furries
as sex-crazed perverts, as seen in TV shows like “CSI.”
The idea of people walking around in crotch-less fur suits at
conventions populated by 13-year-old anime fans is unappealing. Hentai
fans keep their animated pornography to late-night showings where
security asks for identification at the door. Furries are entitled to
their lifestyle, but this doesn’t mean they should be able to yiff in
full view.
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