Labels don't exist in nature. BUt they're what humans use to help understand teh world :3

Its human nature, humans are weak so we try to find one thing or another to gain"ground" on each other to feel higher on a ladder

...that's a... um. One way of putting it.

I see what you mean actually, and it really is rather pathetic if you think about it. XP

I know right, we make hundreds of shows and media of gossip, stereotypes, etc. Because deep down we wanna feel better then others

Ummm...No.

Grouping, segregating, bullying, and forcing the unworthy from a group does exists in nature. In nature its a lot more cruel actually.
Becoming part of a group, or labeling oneself to be included in the group, is an instinctive act. Being part of a group makes us feel comfortable and secure because being part of a group/pack/herd is a method of survival in a savage world which humans had to survive through.

Labeling, segregation, bigotry, and bullying are nothing more then byproducts of an ancient survival instinct. Join the group, secure your position in the group, and protect the group. So, when people are cruel and bully others not in their group or try to force others out of their group its not because they are just icky humans its because they are acting on an instinct they don't fully understand.

I remember talking to ya about this before.
I agreed with you then, I still agree with you now.

I have to say that I agree with everything you said here 100% as base principle, and feel it is truly shameful that in this world prejudicial thinking of this nature is still so prevalent. I myself challenge a lot of traditional gender role boundaries by being an effeminate male, but I am not a trans, want to be a woman, or many of the other ignorant categorical questions I get asked on an almost daily basis. With something as complicated and diverse as the furry fandom there's going to be pigeonholing, especially if, in the U.S. at least most people can't stop obsessing over whether what they are looking at is a man or a woman: let alone a rich, imaginative, freethinking spirit with a preference for anthropomorphic animals.

So I can sympathize genuinely with your plight, and I personally feel a pang of sadness whenever I hear a child that passes me in public urgently and frantically asking their parents, "Is that a boy or girl? She has girl hair, but boy voice? What is him?" And if I ever get the opportunity to, if the parents are (so frequently) ignoring their children, I'll simply tell them kindly, "I am me, that's what matters."

This is very true, in psychological association stereotypes and labels are used very frequently as a means to say "I know something general about this group...so i can assume a lot of them are like this". It's useful for the fact that our brains can't remember every single person or what every single person we've ever met is about, so it's more of a categorical ordering system. A sort of defense mechanism if you will. However, all too often people get tied up in this system and use it purely in and of itself, whereas people need to realize that labeling and stereotyping of groups can be useful, you still need to remember that each person in said group is an individual, and should not be labeled individually as just some other statistic in our filing cabinet of categories.

tl;dr-Labeling is a part of our human mental process, but there needs to be a bigger push to not get strung up in it.

Well, it suffice to say the word 'furry', no matter in what contaxt, to attract negative perception. I think the word was badly chosen back when it was first invented. Trekkies gives the same result!

What? This is an outrage!
You have to be a furry. Because people say so. Bend yourself for them! How could you not do it?!
Outrageous! Humbug! Blah!

(jokes aside, be what you like to be and don't let anyone tell you what you have to be!)

You called?

..Oh wait. No you didn't. Nevermind. :3

Haha, I was just thinking that when I read this. XD

you know .. there was this batman video i saw once, where they where sending harley quinn to the asylum and all the inmates start chanting "one of us!"


since i couldn't found that video , you will have to imagine the room full of animal costume wackos saying

"one of us! : D , one of us! : D
"one of us! : D , one of us! : D
"one of us! : D , one of us! : D
"one of us! : D , one of us! : D
"one of us! : D , one of us! : D
"one of us! : D , one of us! : D
"one of us! : D , one of us! : D
"one of us! : D , one of us! : D
"one of us! : D , one of us! : D

Welcome to the Asylu...*cough* i mean Fandom Forest Wolf XD

Haha, I remember that one I think! And I only accept welcomes in terms of plates of cookies and/or brownies!

well ...I Fear can only give you "A" cookie or "A" brownie.. ...and I can't really assure you that any of these options will be bigger than me

being mouse does have away to cripples your resources and capacities to mass produce baked goods

though..

I could give you lots of comically small cookies and brownies .... would you like that Forest W. ?

Honestly, a ton of comically small cookies and brownies would be hilarious and I'd love them. XD I'd have to bust out my miniscule chopsticks to eat them with though!

Personally, I think it makes more sense to say I "enjoy furry art" than that I "am a furry". I know there are many people who become more extremely engaged with one or more "fursonas", such that their characters become a substantial part of their personal identity. There are just as many or more who's relationship with their characters is more like a tradition nap comic artist's: a way to express parts of yourself.

See, I like that better. I could say I like anime and manga and stuff, but I wouldn't label myself an otaku or something. Then again, I've run into people who've said "Oh, you like anime? Like that hentai stuff?" and I just have to roll my eyes. XD You just can't win!

:3 yep sounds about right, though then again we have to assume people have a higher level of understanding.

I tend not to label people nor do I care to do so. It makes my world a lot easier to just accept things and befriend them if I can. I agree with you though I wouldn't mind getting to know the character and the artist more.

While I respectfully disagree with some of your points, it's mainly on a philosophical level and not a personal level. I feel like I understand what you're getting at, and when it really comes down to it, being 'a furry' really comes down to whether you identify yourself as one. And whatever the case may be, I'll keep on enjoying the show. :3

This is exactly my point of view as well. It's just a matter of identifying yourself as a furry or not, and deep down it doesn't make much difference. The important thing is just that you go with what you feel works for you, and don't pay attention to the people who get upset about it (and I really don't understand why someone would get upset over something like this)

Yeah, these comics aren't always so clear, since they're mostly a "flow of consciousness" thing, and not really a "well structured dissertation", haha. I just haven't seen anything good come from using labels on people. I am curious what points you disagree on though!

Forest wolf is what he wants to be. And thats the person i want to know and befriend.

I've said this to other people, but it's applicable here too: Stereotyping isn't as bad as people make it out to be. At least, not when used properly.
You often -can- judge a book by its cover, but here's the thing: When you get to the contents of the book, if things differ (usually they do in some way or another, whether major or minor), you have to be willing to drop that initial impression and change your mind.
BUT if you judge a person's worth based on the initial impression, rather than simply making an assessment of "This person probably acts like X," you're doing something wrong. Judgment of worth should be based on actions, not on initial impressions.

It's an unpopular opinion, but I find it to be reasonable.

THAT SAID, there is a word for the way you describe yourself, should you choose to adopt it: "Furfan." Basically it's someone who doesn't identify as a full-on furry, but enjoys the community/stuff that comes out of the community.

You know, that point about stereotyping rings very true. It reminds me of the few times where I had my initial impressions turned on my head. Stereotyping does have its uses, and in some degrees it is required and can protect. Particularly with me working currently as a night clerk at a gas station convenience store.

But I had one time where my stereotyping of an individual was completely off and I had to drastically adjust my impressions. An coworker of mine introduced me to her long time boyfriend. My initial reaction to his appearance and his voice was, "this guy is a drunkard redneck good 'ol boy, and will be a bore to talk with." I could not have been more wrong, because even tho he sounded and looked like the type to prefer a beer and talk about nascar, he didn't drink at all and happened to be one of the most intelligent people I've ever personally met, albeit with some "colorful" metaphor usage.

Echoing your sentiment, one can always judge a book by its cover for a cursory preparation for the encounter, but must reserve full judgement after its inner worth is laid bare.

Exactly. Sometimes cultural influences just fashion the outside appearance of someone while not affecting their personality at all. Could be any number of reasons why their appearance may belie their real personality, but once you figure that out, it's ridiculous to hold onto the first impression.

If anyone finds this message offensive, there is something very wrong with them

I believe that only God can tell us who we really are, but it's up to us to decide if we're going to act on that or not--others might encourage us but ultimately the decision lies with us. Even God doesn't force Himself on us.

I'm reminded of when Groucho Marx said he would never join any club that would accept him as a member. The only groups I want to belong to (with the possible exception of the Dominican Order if I'm called to that vocation) is the Catholic Church, my country, my ethnic group, and my family--and while I can change my country, I can't change the others except my religion, but I will not change that, and I have no plans at the time to move out of the country (don't know where I would go anyway).

I admit, I was incredulous when I saw the first part of this, but you bring up an excellent point, labeling people as part of certain groups tends to do more harm then good, so indeed ignore the labels and just have fun enjoying what ya love.

I've considered before whether or not I actually consider myself a "furry". I have Kamunt, but I would actually NEVER want to BE Kamunt. Kamunt's entire point of existing is that he doesn't want to be an anthropomorphic cat, mouse, wolf, or a dragon or an elf, etc. He just wants to be a human being. While I put a lot of TLC into his character design, he's never a character I've wanted to BE. Just an avatar. Not to mention the striking distinctions I find between myself and most other furries, at least online... It's strange, but I guess it really doesn't matter whether I am or am not a furry. Same with you.

*hugs a woof*
Would it surprise you to know I already knew this :)
It's one of the most endearing points of your character that you are brave enough to say this to us all.

I have to agree. The fact is that I am only on this site because there are some really good artists on here.