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.
There's all sorts of things that the majority of folks don't sexualize that some people do. Are you going to get upset about someone wearing knee high socks in public just because it is a fetish for some people?
I think its worth noting that this could be happening right now. Anyone wearing sandels might be subject to someone finding their feet attractive! The horror! :) As a side note, lots of people wear clothing that's revealing but most of us aren't up in arms because someone is revealing part of their cleavage. I'm specificlly refering to people wearing pants down around their bum. With there ass cleavage hanging out :)
I would think it's weird for the people who fetishize knee high socks to wear them in public. So I don't think it's necessary bad for anyone to wear furry stuff, but it is if they get off to it.
I don't think they're incapable, just impolite. Like I'm sure someone could wear a butt plug out and about without feeling stimulated. But I think it'd still be impolite. Maybe the best comparison I can think of would be maid outfits. I don't think it'd be good to wear them out and about if you have a fetish for them, even if you aren't aroused at the moment.