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Why I no longer consider myself a furry
7 years ago
Hearken to me, my subjects!
OOC
Not really intended the title to be so clickbaity, but it might come off that way. But just to be clear: No, I'm not retiring Etheras.
I've been struggling-with the furry identity a little bit over the past year or so. You might have noticed many more journals of mine revolving around topics of the meaning of being furry and how that relates to the wider world. Lately I've found myself a little shackled by the term. When I was younger, if I were to describe myself, I'd state my job, and where I grew up, and that I'm a furry. Today, I don't think that I would. Its not that there's a stigma around being a furry (although admittedly there still is) - so its not a social acceptance thing. For me, it just has more to do with my self-identification. When I think of "furries" I just don't think of myself as being one. Maybe it has something to do with me no-longer attending conventions, but I think it probably has more to do with the fact that my life has been filled up by other things, that the volume of interests that were once central in my life have had to shrink to make room.
That's not to say that I no-longer enjoy anthro art, stories and characters. I still do, and probably always will. Just that furry is becoming less of a identity for me and more of an interest.
So what does this mean for Etheras? Nothing. I still love my fennec characters Etheras and Jaspian, and I will continue to get artwork (particularly of Etheras). But if I seem a little more disengaged than I once was, the sincere truth is: I am a bit more disengaged. And I kind-of just wanted to clear the air about that.
Anyway, still here. :P
~ Etheras
OOC
Not really intended the title to be so clickbaity, but it might come off that way. But just to be clear: No, I'm not retiring Etheras.
I've been struggling-with the furry identity a little bit over the past year or so. You might have noticed many more journals of mine revolving around topics of the meaning of being furry and how that relates to the wider world. Lately I've found myself a little shackled by the term. When I was younger, if I were to describe myself, I'd state my job, and where I grew up, and that I'm a furry. Today, I don't think that I would. Its not that there's a stigma around being a furry (although admittedly there still is) - so its not a social acceptance thing. For me, it just has more to do with my self-identification. When I think of "furries" I just don't think of myself as being one. Maybe it has something to do with me no-longer attending conventions, but I think it probably has more to do with the fact that my life has been filled up by other things, that the volume of interests that were once central in my life have had to shrink to make room.
That's not to say that I no-longer enjoy anthro art, stories and characters. I still do, and probably always will. Just that furry is becoming less of a identity for me and more of an interest.
So what does this mean for Etheras? Nothing. I still love my fennec characters Etheras and Jaspian, and I will continue to get artwork (particularly of Etheras). But if I seem a little more disengaged than I once was, the sincere truth is: I am a bit more disengaged. And I kind-of just wanted to clear the air about that.
Anyway, still here. :P
~ Etheras
I personally dont see any direct set of classification to determine if someone is a furry or not, no set number of conventions, interactions with the fandom, or anything like that.
If you like upright antrho animal characters or even personifying ferals then thats furry enough in my book x3
But thats just me ^^
Bottom line is its personal identification like you explained ^u^
Just... personally it just felt like an announcement "Not a furry, but still like it". Nothing wrong with that, and heck, if they are happy with the decision, all the power to them. No need to get defensive and try to shield them from my words, when I didn't mean any harm :P
The furry fandom is truly mysterious.
To have a strong connection to (more or less) anthropomorphic animals.
Well, do you?
I've never been to a con. I've never (knowingly) met another furry IRL. I don't wear suits or any furry apparel. I do have some naughty stuff laying around though - giggity -, and I watch a whole lot of por.-ahem.. art!