# Is the "Furry" fetish a product of Disney animal cartoons? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 25, 2009, 10:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-furry-fetish-a-product-of-disney-animal-cartoons/504211 "2009-07-25T10:32:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Meeko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e495f1/32.png) [@Meeko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meeko)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2009, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-furry-fetish-a-product-of-disney-animal-cartoons/504211/81 "2009-07-30T16:39:45Z")
I just said they were more human towards each other. I didn’t think that being more human towards each other would draw this much fire. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2009, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-furry-fetish-a-product-of-disney-animal-cartoons/504211/82 "2009-07-30T16:52:21Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > you’re “outcasts?” who’s casting you out? Can you not get a job? do you get hassled by the cops? Are you not allowed in restaurants? Also from the Antrhocon article: “Ryone Caru, 19, of Jacksonville, Fla. … said he was once fired from a McDonald’s restaurant because management found out he was a furry and misinterpreted it as a sexual fetish. Mr. Caru and others prowling the Westin Convention Center hotel yesterday stressed that the fandom isn’t about sex – it’s just about people who are devoted to animals with human characteristics, in a cartoonish way.” ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2009, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-furry-fetish-a-product-of-disney-animal-cartoons/504211/83 "2009-07-30T17:04:49Z")
> [@Lute Skywatcher](#): > > Also from the Antrhocon article: “Ryone Caru, 19, of Jacksonville, Fla. … said he was once fired from a McDonald’s restaurant because management found out he was a furry and misinterpreted it as a sexual fetish.” I’d be curious to hear management’s explanation for this claim. ---
**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2009, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-furry-fetish-a-product-of-disney-animal-cartoons/504211/84 "2009-07-30T17:16:13Z")
Thank you, furries in this thread. I thought furries all dressed up and drew furry art as part of a sexual fetish (I knew a guy in college who did like to draw clearly-sexual furry art). I was afraid to Google about furries if it was a sexual fetish, so thanks for setting me straight. Interestingly enough, now I know that I accidentally explained furries accurately to my mother-in-law not too long ago. Somehow they came up in conversation, and she asked me what they were. I said they were people who liked to dress up in animal costumes, but didn’t mention anything about sex (I think I might literally die of embarrassment if I discussed that with my mother-in-law). > [@Meeko](#): > > I just said they were more human towards each other. If they are, they have that in common with lots of other groups of humans. Dividing the world into “us” and “them” and being nicer to fellow members of “us” seems to be a very common human trait. ---
**Author:** ![Meeko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e495f1/32.png) [@Meeko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meeko)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2009, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-furry-fetish-a-product-of-disney-animal-cartoons/504211/85 "2009-07-30T17:31:34Z")
> [@Anne\_Neville](#): > > Interestingly enough, now I know that I accidentally explained furries accurately to my mother-in-law not too long ago. Somehow they came up in conversation, and she asked me what they were. I said they were people who liked to dress up in animal costumes, but didn’t mention anything about sex (I think I might literally die of embarrassment if I discussed that with my mother-in-law) Glad to help. Again, I felt that I had to put in my two cents worth in here, to separate the community at large, from the very, very few that do partake in those activities. I do not own a fursuit, much less use a fursuit in those ways. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2009, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-furry-fetish-a-product-of-disney-animal-cartoons/504211/86 "2009-07-30T17:44:28Z")
> [@Meeko](#): > > Glad to help. Same here. I personally belong to the larger anthrofan population as opposed to those who have an animalistic alter-ego but have known some who do. ---
**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:** [July 30, 2009, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-furry-fetish-a-product-of-disney-animal-cartoons/504211/87 "2009-07-30T20:02:43Z")
> [@Meeko](#): > > I just said they were more human towards each other. What does that even mean? > [@](#): > > I didn’t think that being more human towards each other would draw this much fire. you didn’t think claiming that your fan group is morally superior to all other humans would draw fire? ---
**Author:** ![Meeko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e495f1/32.png) [@Meeko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meeko)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2009, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-furry-fetish-a-product-of-disney-animal-cartoons/504211/88 "2009-07-30T20:06:42Z")
If you don’t know what it means to be human, then I can’t help you. It wouldn’t surprise me, given how you constantly attack me here. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2009, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-furry-fetish-a-product-of-disney-animal-cartoons/504211/89 "2009-07-30T20:14:26Z")
> [@Meeko](#): > > If you don’t know what it means to be human, then I can’t help you. It wouldn’t surprise me, given how you constantly attack me here. Humane might make sense. Human just means, to me, different from animals. (Ironic, because of the furry thing?) You can be incredibly cruel to someone and still be human. Humans are known for some terrible acts. ---
**Author:** ![Meeko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e495f1/32.png) [@Meeko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meeko)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2009, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-furry-fetish-a-product-of-disney-animal-cartoons/504211/90 "2009-07-30T20:15:29Z")
> [@Meeko](#): > > If you don’t know what it means to be human, then I can’t help you. It wouldn’t surprise me, given how you constantly attack me here. Ok, so this perhaps was a bit harsh here. I’m honestly not sure I can add much more to this conversation. ---
**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:** [July 30, 2009, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-furry-fetish-a-product-of-disney-animal-cartoons/504211/91 "2009-07-30T20:22:34Z")
> [@Meeko](#): > > If you don’t know what it means to be human, then I can’t help you. It wouldn’t surprise me, given how you constantly attack me here. Constantly attack you? I don’t remember ever speaking to you before this thread. I want to know what it means to be “more” or “less” human to somebody? Do you more _humane_? More compassionate? Do you seriously believe that your own little fan culture is more ethically evolved than all other humans on earth? ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2009, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-furry-fetish-a-product-of-disney-animal-cartoons/504211/92 "2009-07-30T20:30:32Z")
When’s the last time you saw a suicide bomber dressed as an animal? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2009, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-furry-fetish-a-product-of-disney-animal-cartoons/504211/93 "2009-07-30T20:32:44Z")
> [@Lute Skywatcher](#): > > When’s the last time you saw a suicide bomber dressed as an animal? 😃 At PETA’s [del]chicken[/del] land sea kitten of the sea rally. ---
**Author:** ![VarlosZ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d78d45/32.png) [@VarlosZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VarlosZ)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2009, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-furry-fetish-a-product-of-disney-animal-cartoons/504211/94 "2009-07-30T20:54:35Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > I’m not harming or harassing them or impinging on their rights in any way, so who is anyone else to try to dictate what I have to think about them? Going well out of your way to call a harmless group of people “maladapted losers” at a time and place at which members of that group will undoubtedly congregate \*\*is \*\*harassment. You must have known exactly the type of response you’d get, too. I can’t think of a single flattering reason you’d want to get into a fight with a bunch of people minding their own business. ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2009, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-furry-fetish-a-product-of-disney-animal-cartoons/504211/95 "2009-07-30T22:17:04Z")
> [@Meeko](#): > > I just said they were more human towards each other. > > I didn’t think that being more human towards each other would draw this much fire. If you honestly can’t see why claiming that members of your subculture are not human, but are in fact better than humans, would contribute to others having a bad image of this subculture then I don’t know that there’s anything I can do to help you with it. ---
**Author:** ![Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malleus_incus_stapes/32/3293_2.png) [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malleus_Incus_Stapes)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2009, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-furry-fetish-a-product-of-disney-animal-cartoons/504211/96 "2009-07-31T01:47:53Z")
> [@Argent\_Towers](#): > > 😕 > > You really have no interest in having sex? At all? _shrugs_ I’m asexual (probably). To be honest, the idea of having anyone stick anything inside my bodily orifices squicks me out. I dunno how normal kids make the transition from “The opposite sex has cooties” to “The opposite sex is attractive”, but it just didn’t happen to me. But, anyway, back to your regularly scheduled Furries. ---
**Author:** ![LurkMeister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@LurkMeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkMeister)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2009, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-furry-fetish-a-product-of-disney-animal-cartoons/504211/97 "2009-07-31T02:11:54Z")
> [@VarlosZ](#): > > Going well out of your way to call a harmless group of people “maladapted losers” at a time and place at which members of that group will undoubtedly congregate \*\*is \*\*harassment. You must have known exactly the type of response you’d get, too. I can’t think of a single flattering reason you’d want to get into a fight with a bunch of people minding their own business. He did the same thing in the other thread(s) about furries. I had tried to interact with him as if he were capable of reasoned debate then, but finally gave up after realizing that his mind was already made up and he didn’t want to confuse it with facts. And not all furries dress up as animals, either. (For one thing, it can get expensive.) There are a lot of different types of furry fans. ---
**Author:** ![Meeko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e495f1/32.png) [@Meeko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meeko)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2009, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-furry-fetish-a-product-of-disney-animal-cartoons/504211/98 "2009-07-31T02:31:05Z")
> [@Lamia](#): > > If you honestly can’t see why claiming that members of your subculture are not human, but are in fact better than humans, would contribute to others having a bad image of this subculture then I don’t know that there’s anything I can do to help you with it. > [@Meeko](#): > > IMHO, AFAIK, FWIW, IIRC, Most furries have more in common with each other, than not. Those attributes, in general, are attributes that if more people had them, the world would be a better place. Please show me where I said that I wasn’t Human. Please show me where I said that we were “better” than humans. Did I state that in the [implied] context of Furries, that I was a Raccoon? Yes. Did I state that Furries have a set of qualities that overall, in my experieince, leaves them better off than Non-Furries, in general, in my experience? Yes. The OP implied that Furries were one thing. We are many things. The vast majority of us do not Yiff in fursuits. Further the OP had assumptions in it that were wrong. I was offering input on how the assumptions were incorrect. It is clear to me that there is no moving some people off of their false assumptions. Perhaps, the problem with assumptions is on me. I thought that Straight Dope memebers wanted to over come ignorance, and would welcome education on a given matter. I reasoned further, that if people took the time to comment on a thread, they were at the very least, open to reading differing opinions. The conclusion, therefore, was that I could educate everyone about what Furry really means. However, I have nothing more to offer. Frankly, there is something going here beyond the Original Question. There is something going on here beyond what “Furry” means. Other people are doing far better jobs on it than I am. I have informed a few people about the truth of Furries. For that, I am glad. That was after all, why I felt the need to comment here. The other people can get the answers they want from other memebers, or the Internet at large. **I am done here.** – To answer the original question: NO. Disney does not have the Exclusive rights to converting people into becoming Furry. (If there was such a process, I would love to see it. I highly doubt it can exist.) NO. Furry and Fetish are not the same thing. Yes. A LOT of Furries do not have relations in costumes. Yes. We are a LOT more complex than that, and we can not be boxed in, in terms of definitions. ---
**Author:** ![Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malleus_incus_stapes/32/3293_2.png) [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malleus_Incus_Stapes)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2009, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-furry-fetish-a-product-of-disney-animal-cartoons/504211/99 "2009-07-31T02:55:59Z")
I’ll admit, I’ve daydreamed about dressing up in a realistic cat costume. Then I realized that no costume would be realistic enough to make me feel like a cat. I don’t want to be some fursuited weirdo. What I really want is to be as graceful as a cat. If there was some magic shapeshifting pill that would turn me into a cat for a few hours, I’d totally take it. But that’s not going to happen, and wearing pointy ears isn’t going to do anything for me. ---
**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:** [July 31, 2009, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-furry-fetish-a-product-of-disney-animal-cartoons/504211/100 "2009-07-31T03:13:08Z")
> [@Meeko](#): > > Did I state that Furries have a set of qualities that overall, in my experieince, leaves them better off than Non-Furries, in general, in my experience? Yes. This is exactly what makes you sound deluded and arrogant. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-furry-fetish-a-product-of-disney-animal-cartoons/504211.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-furry-fetish-a-product-of-disney-animal-cartoons/504211.md?page=6)