The Internet hatred for furries always bothered me. I'm not into it, I think it's weird, but so what? I think BDSM is weird too, but we don't treat people into BDSM like we treat furries- as if they're some sort of disease. I've met a few working at sci-fi/comic cons over the years and they've always been really nice, decent people. They just have a kink. Lots of people have kinks.
I think it's the fact that furries tend to bring their kink public. I have not consented to engage in your sex games. If he showed up to a ceremony in leather and a ballgag no one would be ok with it, but the fur suit is the equivalent and I'm expected to applaud.
A big part of this misconception is actually from That Episode. You can actually google the phrase That Episode. No need to even specify the show, just those two words are enough (but the show is CSI). There's a bunch to read into if you'd like, but the important bit is that a big part of public opinion - which has only recently begun to change, and only in some parts of the internet - comes from That Episode's portrayal of furries
I mean if someone gets off by not hurting or interacting with you then your consent isn't important. What happens in someone else's head is theirs. How they act toward others is important. Feel free to be skeeved out, tho.
I blame the astroturfing early on. The furry community never really overcame the weird allegations from their first major convention. It also doesn't help that people think furry is JUST a sexual thing.
And many replies here are people hating on furries, and people actually thinking fursuits are primarily a sexual thing, this is wild lmao.
From someone actually from the community, fursuits are NOT a sexual thing for the VAST majority of furries, and should not be treated as such. Can't believe I still have to say this.
Echoing what pugjesus said below, it would be easier to empathize with if it were a sexual thing. Sexy times have gotten weird, especially with the modern internet and the specificity of porn. Most people could imagine how a fursuit might spice up things in the bedroom, not to mention the anonymity of wearing a mask. But few people understand the desire to wear a fursuit for day-to-day activities. I imagine it would be too warm and uncomfortable, and I wouldn't get any joy or comfort out of it.
Personally, I'm on the live and let live team. I don't have to understand your lifestyle or your hobbies, nor do I feel the need to justify mine. But that's probably why you have to keep explaining it to everyone.
My wife and I were talking about this and it made me wonder if anybody even actually gives a crap about furries at all, or if hating them is just an internet meme and nobody actually cares IRL.
Yeah, for me it's like people who go ALL in on collecting kitsch. Is it a bit cringe? Sure. Is it hurting anyone? No, there's nothing inherently wrong with it. And if you have the guts to stand up and show it proudly, man, more power to you.
from what i’ve heard talking to other furries, “embracing the cringe” is a somewhat common part of the fandom for a lot of us. “furry hate” is just an evolved form of school kids making fun of eachother for liking different things.
there’s just something so freeing about saying “yeah i pretend to be a dog on the internet for fun”, especially when you just know it’s gonna make someone somewhere SO MAD for literally no worthwhile reason.
Personally, I see it similar to wearing BSDM gear or those cropped hentai shirts in public. Are you free to do it? Yes, but I'm also going to judge you for it
I give a crap in that they're people and should be treated respectfully like you'd treat anyone. Other than that as long as no one's getting hurt I really don't bother myself with dictating how others should live their lives. Life's short, do what makes you happy.
During work travel a few years back I happened to stay at a Marriott with my wife during a furry convention. We knew something was odd when, while looking for a parking spot, we passed by a patron who was unloading luggage from their trunk and we thought we noticed a tail protruding from the back of their pants. For about a minute we didn't make much of it. Then, while walking from the lot to the main entrance, we noticed from about 100 yards out, a few people in what we assumed were mascot costumes. It was only when we made our entrance that I realized what we stumbled upon. I felt like a regular doctor Doolittle - surrounded by all kinds of animals that I could actually talk to and they to me (well, sorta - when I passed by a couple squirrels near the sushi bar, I was unable to translate the chirping noises they were making to each other). Long story short, it was super entertaining and they were cool when I asked them about their culture, etc. I only wish I loved something (family/friends aside) half as much as they love to dress like furry animals. But I'm boring. Even this wall of text I wrote makes me want to nap.