Why furries creep me out - a theory

[tongodeon]

dr_strych9 once told me his wife "really, really doesn't get how furries are supposed to be so damned creepy" about furries.

I've got a few explanations. I'm not trying to argue that this makes it morally justifiable to ridicule or discriminate against furries, this is a tentative theory for how and why people are inclined to do this.

In my problem with

Comments

[daakroth]

Furry surprise party at Tongodeon's place.

Details to be announced.

[flwyd]

As a counter-example to your first post, there are positive human/animal hybrid images. Ganesh is revered as are Hindu figures with extra arms and other not-quite-human features. American Indian stories are full of anthropomorphized animals. Shamanic rituals from Lapland to Sonora involve humans donning animal skins, antlers, and feathers in ways that are never considered (within the performing culture) as evil, threatening, or creepy. Of course, they also aren't usually sexual

[tongodeon]

As a counter-example to your first post, there are positive human/animal hybrid images.

On one hand this is true, and I'm embarrassed that I didn't think of this. There are significant non-western traditions honoring animal-human hybrids.

On the other hand, in this post I'm a westerner analyzing western furries. I actually thought about it for a minute or two, and if I was at a meeting of Hindu or Native American furries who were hooking up with each other while wearing traditional animal costumes I'd probably be much more comfortable with it.

[usernameguy]

I say this as one natural-born analyst to another:

Why, exactly, does this require analysis?

[tongodeon]

Because the analysis has been solicited at least twice: once by dr_strych9's wife, and once by matrushkaka. And also so that when someone asks in the future I can refer them to my written record.

[tongodeon]

Santarchy is neither formal nor a ritual. It's seasonal, but that's a matter of necessity; I'd rather wear a santa suit in japan year-round but the reception wouldn't be as good. It's about as ritualistic as "I don't go to work on Saturday", a custom which I also observe dispite being ritual-averse.

The "costume" requirement is extremely broad and applies to pretty much everything including "lobster suit", "alien costume", or "50 cent santa hat". When I say "I don't like costume" I mean events like Trek conventions, Ren Faire, fetish events, Burning Man, or the Edwardian Ball where social benefits are formally or informally rewarded based on the quality of what the participant is wearing.

[glaucon]

When I say "I don't like costume" I mean events like Trek conventions, Ren Faire, fetish events, Burning Man, or the Edwardian Ball where social benefits are formally or informally rewarded based on the quality of what the participant is wearing.

I share this sentiment, but would add santarchy to the list. by way of illustration, condider: if I showed up wearing slacks and a button down, would my chances of getting laid or having a stranger buy me a beer be better, worse, or about the same as they would be if I showed up in a santa suit?

[tongodeon]

There's a difference that I tried to define but apparently didn't do a very good job at.

Take Saint Patrick's Day. It's an event that requires specific dress (something green, something shamrock-y) but there's no "saint patricks day dress-up contest" vibe in effect. The red-haired, red-bearded guy wearing an authentic Irish-tailored head-to-toe leprechaun suit will not get more free beer than the guy wearing a $10 t-shirt saying "kiss me I'm irish". The guy wearing the leprechaun suit will probably be shunned for being a little weird, putting in too much effort, and getting the idea wrong because the event is about drinking and camraderie, not costume.

In contrast, the person showing up at the fetish event wearing a fully ponyboy outfit, wearing en-pointe-toed thigh-high patent leather boots with matching 8" waist corset, or trundling around Dalek-style in a rolling hand-welded iron maiden *will* be given more positive attention and free alcohol because fetish events are costume-intensive events and it's all about public display

[annamaryse]

I saw an interesting documentary on the fursuit thang once, and some have special fursuits with ingenious modifications to enable sexual consummation.

As an aside, we have some longtime friends (since BF's highschool days) who are seriously into this trade. (usage of the word trade as in 'rough trade')

It is what it is.