# Furries: why do so many dress as foxes? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 13, 2008, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/furries-why-do-so-many-dress-as-foxes/449198 "2008-05-13T20:08:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2008, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/furries-why-do-so-many-dress-as-foxes/449198/21 "2008-05-13T21:54:39Z")
[QUOTE=NajaNivea] Except that furries won’t agree with you in that characterization. Many of them are just fans, or enjoy creating characters, or drawing animals without a sexual aspect involved. [/QUOTE] I think I’d be inclined to pick a different name for my hobby, then, as there is definitely a mental association between the term “furry” and a sexual fetish for anthropomorphized animals. If I decided to announce to everyone I met that one of my hobbies was “felching,” I don’t think I could claim righteous indignance when nobody seemed to understand that my own _personal_ definition didn’t actually involve… well, you can look it up if you need to. The “furry doesn’t necessarily mean sex!” thing seems like a lame retconning attempt to me. About as believable as Ted Nugent’s “it’s not about shooting animals, it’s about the excitement of stalking your prey!” bullshit. ---
**Author:** ![Autumn\_Almanac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d26b3c/32.png) [@Autumn\_Almanac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autumn_Almanac)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2008, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/furries-why-do-so-many-dress-as-foxes/449198/22 "2008-05-13T21:57:12Z")
You see a lot of catgirls and rabbit-girls in the anime/manga/JRPG scene. Is that considered a part of furry fandom or is it a separate phenomenon? ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2008, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/furries-why-do-so-many-dress-as-foxes/449198/23 "2008-05-13T21:57:29Z")
[QUOTE=Tengu] Because that is _ **BULLSHIT** _. Furry fandom is being a fan of furry characters. Period. [/quote] My kids like to watch SpongBob Squarepants. Are they furries? What’s the difference between being a furry and just liking a cartoon? ---
**Author:** ![NajaNivea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/22d042/32.png) [@NajaNivea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NajaNivea)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2008, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/furries-why-do-so-many-dress-as-foxes/449198/24 "2008-05-13T21:59:03Z")
[QUOTE=Vinyl Turnip] About as believable as Ted Nugent’s “it’s not about shooting animals, it’s about the excitement of stalking your prey!” bullshit. [/QUOTE] I actually wouldn’t disagree with the naming part, though less with the retconning idea as that the wankers get a lot of public exposure, so that when you hear “furry” you think “felching in fox costumes”. And, you know, for some of us, it really isn’t about shooting animals. Except for The Nuge. That guy just likes to kill shit. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![NajaNivea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/22d042/32.png) [@NajaNivea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NajaNivea)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2008, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/furries-why-do-so-many-dress-as-foxes/449198/25 "2008-05-13T21:58:47Z")
[QUOTE=Vinyl Turnip] About as believable as Ted Nugent’s “it’s not about shooting animals, it’s about the excitement of stalking your prey!” bullshit. [/QUOTE] I actually wouldn’t disagree with the naming part, though less with the retconning idea as that the wankers get a lot of public exposure, so that when you hear “furry” you think “felching in fox costumes”. And, you know, for some of us, it really isn’t about shooting animals. Except for the Nuge. That guy just likes to kill shit. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Grossbottom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ba8739/32.png) [@Grossbottom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grossbottom)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2008, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/furries-why-do-so-many-dress-as-foxes/449198/26 "2008-05-13T22:06:22Z")
[![](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:FurryGamesMidwestFurFest2006GreenReaper.jpg) ](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:FurryGamesMidwestFurFest2006GreenReaper.jpg) Look at their faces. That is some serious furry business going on at that hotel. Check out the dude, second from the left. He has like, an orange helmet on, and he’s holding up a cheap white teddy bear with a bowtie on it. I think he wants to have sex with it, who knows. ---
**Author:** ![NajaNivea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/22d042/32.png) [@NajaNivea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NajaNivea)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2008, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/furries-why-do-so-many-dress-as-foxes/449198/27 "2008-05-13T22:06:27Z")
Stupid double-post! ---
**Author:** ![NajaNivea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/22d042/32.png) [@NajaNivea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NajaNivea)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2008, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/furries-why-do-so-many-dress-as-foxes/449198/28 "2008-05-13T22:07:29Z")
Oh my sweet Og, that was a quadrupal-post! ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2008, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/furries-why-do-so-many-dress-as-foxes/449198/29 "2008-05-13T22:26:25Z")
[QUOTE=Vinyl Turnip] The “furry doesn’t necessarily mean sex!” thing seems like a lame retconning attempt to me. [/QUOTE] It’s more the ‘furries are sexual perverts’ stuff that’s the lame retconning. We were around for a long time before the media at large noticed us - and then it started out looking at the 'suiters and lifestylers. The yiffy stuff became the media’s focus a few years later, and _that’s_ when the whole thing exploded. I’m rather offended by the idea we should have to give up our terminology because the media decided to focus on one part of the fandom, rather than the people mis-informed by the media stepping back and realizing they’ve been misinformed. [QUOTE=Autumn Almanac] You see a lot of catgirls and rabbit-girls in the anime/manga/JRPG scene. Is that considered a part of furry fandom or is it a separate phenomenon? [/QUOTE] Yes. 😃 Seriously, whether Nekomimi count depends on who you ask. I definitely count them as a kind of furry character, but not everybody they appeal to would necessarily be a furry fan - and there are some who would consider them not to be furry characters, being literally humans with animal bits stuck on. Bunnygirls are usually of the Playboy Bunny type, and, IMO and IME, neither count as Furry characters, nor hold any special appeal - either intended or actual - for Furry fans. Though we’re no more or less effected by them than any other person. [QUOTE=Diogenes the Cynic] My kids like to watch SpongBob Squarepants. Are they furries? [/quote] Dunno. Maybe, maybe not. No real info to go on for that assessment, here. > [@](#): > > What’s the difference between being a furry and just liking a cartoon? To put it simply ‘just liking a cartoon’ makes you a fan of the cartoon. Being a furry fan means being interested in the concept of anthropomorphic animals in general. Just enjoying a series with anthro characters doesn’t put you in furry fandom. Just liking many series with anthro characters doesn’t put you in furry fandom. It’s liking them BECAUSE of the furry characters that marks you as a furry fan. I’d never have read the Redwall books if they were just generic fantasy with humans and elves, but since it’s mice, badgers, and hares vs rats and stoats, it got my attention. That’s what marks me as a furry fan. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2008, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/furries-why-do-so-many-dress-as-foxes/449198/30 "2008-05-13T22:29:21Z")
[QUOTE=photopat] So, being a Bugs Bunny fan makes me a furry? [/QUOTE] Not necessarily. If you’re writing Bugs/Daffy fan fiction, then I’d start to worry. I’m way too scared to actually search. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2008, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/furries-why-do-so-many-dress-as-foxes/449198/31 "2008-05-13T23:08:53Z")
[QUOTE=Diogenes the Cynic] What makes a furry a furry is the sexualized aspect. [/QUOTE] I disagree: try reading the Kevin & Kell cartoon. Lots of sharp observations, satire, humour, and more, on business, people, and everything. ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_Tyger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@Silver\_Tyger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Tyger)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2008, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/furries-why-do-so-many-dress-as-foxes/449198/32 "2008-05-13T23:23:28Z")
[QUOTE=Quartz] I disagree: try reading the Kevin & Kell cartoon. Lots of sharp observations, satire, humour, and more, on business, people, and everything. [/QUOTE] Also: [Freefall](http://freefall.purrsia.com/) and VGcats. The best even-handed explanation of furries is actually on TVtropes. I’ll admit I was surprised, just because I’m so used to automatic hatred and dismissal of furry fandom. [The page is here](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/FurryFandom) I will never understand why furries get such a bad rap. Why aren’t Trekkies universally considered freaks who dress up like Klingons and learn alien languages? Why aren’t otaku all considered tentacle-rape fans? Because that would be silly: most people have watched at least few episodes of Star Trek or have read manga or watched anime, even if only with their kids. But they don’t realize they’ve also watched or read furry stuff. ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2008, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/furries-why-do-so-many-dress-as-foxes/449198/33 "2008-05-13T23:51:24Z")
The fox as a popular character might also owe its popularity, in part, to the romantic, and sometimes erotic, [Kitsune mythology](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kitsune) of Japan and Korea (Asia in general). The kitsune can also assume human form, so there is probably some shape shifting morphology and symbolism connecting furryism and mythological foxes. ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2008, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/furries-why-do-so-many-dress-as-foxes/449198/34 "2008-05-14T00:01:05Z")
Really, from what little I know about furryism, it seems like a subset of the anime crowd, and the kitsune has a few occurrences as different anime characters. Maybe, it might be the Japanese (anime) connection? ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2008, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/furries-why-do-so-many-dress-as-foxes/449198/35 "2008-05-14T00:10:43Z")
Could [this](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXRGdElsm14&feature=related) be an influence? ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2008, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/furries-why-do-so-many-dress-as-foxes/449198/36 "2008-05-14T00:52:21Z")
> [@](#): > > Well, that’s a relief. It’s one thing to sit around and jack off to cartoon animals—but to dress up like one? That’s crazy. There are more things in Heaven and Earth than are dreamed of in your philosophy. > [@](#): > > Really, from what little I know about furryism, it seems like a subset of the anime crowd, and the kitsune has a few occurrences as different anime characters. Maybe, it might be the Japanese (anime) connection? Furryism isn’t dependent upon anime. The first furry-types I saw were drawing in a completely non-anime style. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2008, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/furries-why-do-so-many-dress-as-foxes/449198/37 "2008-05-14T01:01:14Z")
[QUOTE=devilsknew] Really, from what little I know about furryism, it seems like a subset of the anime crowd [/QUOTE] Not really…I mean, there’s overlap, of course, but the two fandoms grew up separately, more or less at the same time, and there’s still fans in both groups outside the overlap zone. I’m acquainted with more than one furry who loathes anime. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2008, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/furries-why-do-so-many-dress-as-foxes/449198/38 "2008-05-14T04:40:37Z")
[QUOTE=Silver Tyger Girl] I will never understand why furries get such a bad rap. Why aren’t Trekkies universally considered freaks who dress up like Klingons and learn alien languages? [/QUOTE] Would you feel less put upon if I said that Trekkies are indeed, for the most part, considered prosthetic ear-wearing Klingon-learning freaks? ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2008, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/furries-why-do-so-many-dress-as-foxes/449198/39 "2008-05-14T05:46:32Z")
[Obligatory link.](http://64.147.165.83/images/geekchartbig.gif) ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2008, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/furries-why-do-so-many-dress-as-foxes/449198/40 "2008-05-14T05:59:38Z")
Best part of the obligatory chart, of course, is that the fact that the fandoms in the level above the furries all look down on the furries… AND VICE VERSA. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/furries-why-do-so-many-dress-as-foxes/449198.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/furries-why-do-so-many-dress-as-foxes/449198.md?page=3)