I’m just a curious soul.

My questions:
1. Do all furries identify as animals
2. What is it like identifying as an animal
3. What are some of the hardships furries face in real life
4. What is the most common misconception about furries
5. What is something you would want non-furries to know more about your community

1. No, the vast vast majority do not. It is a common misconception that furries think they are animals. When you dress up for Halloween, do you think you are what you are dressed up for? No, you are just dressing up for fun.
It’s the same with furries. Fursonas are another way for them to express themselves, if they see themselves as clever and wily like a Fox, their fursona is a Fox. That doesn’t mean they think they are a fox.

Okay, this is very good to know, thank you. I was not aware of what “fursonas” were.

Pleased to meet you! I'm Magma, one of the three owners on the stream, and I hope I can helpfully answer your questions! :)

1: Definitely not. The majority of furries don't actually! We just like anthropomorphic animals in art and culture. Those who DO identify as animals are called therians or otherkin, and many of them are indeed furries. Just remember therians equal furries, but furries don't equal therians.

2: I'm personally not a therian nor otherkin, so I cannot answer this one, sorry!

3: I'm constantly harassed online. All I want is to post art of my cats, and people with far too much time on their hands think it's funny to sabotage my posts. I don't know it just leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

4: Common misconception: We ARE NOT zoophiles! We ABSOLUTELY HATE zoophiles, animals cannot consent!

5: Honestly, I'd just really like people to listen to what we have to say. We aren't zoophiles, we don't think we're animals, we're just people who love wildlife.

Ok, that’s a lot of information.
First off, thank you for answering my questions. Secondly, thank you for all the info. I just want to have this useful knowledge. Third, I think I’m going to be able to synthesize with your community a bit more now. No one should be harassed online for their ideas or beliefs.

SO sorry for writing you a novel! Than you so much for reading, and I hope this helps!!

Hello!
1. No, furries do not think they are animals or anything like that, it’s a common misconception.
2. I cannot answer this question, since I myself don’t identify as an animal.
3. People (mostly MSMG) harass furries.
4. That we’re zoophiles, which, most of us are not, although I’m sure there are a few out there.
5. We’re mostly just a friendly and wholesome community!

1: no
2: idk
3: constant harassment and bullying
4: all furries are zoophiles
5: we're not bad, we just want people to be happy

1: Absolutely not. We're anthro enthusiasts, not anthros ourselves. It's something I hated a lot as a Furry sympathizer, and something I especially hate now that I'm one myself.
2: IDK
3: When you try to find good fanart of a Furry character you like (for me, Mr. Wolf and Diane Foxington from The Bad Guys), but then you search it and all you find is art of them in scanty clothes - if any at all. I hate it when characters whose personalities and qualities I love so much get turned into dumb stuff like that.
4: That we think we're animals. Seriously, every time I mention the Furry Fandom in front of someone I know, they immediately respond with "aren't those the people who think they're animals?"
5: We're really just normal people from all walks of life who like the concept of anthropomorphism. Nothing more and nothing less.

This is my understanding of things, mods, please correct me if I'm wrong.
1 Nope!
2 ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
3 Mainly harassment by people who have nothing better to do/think it's "cool" to harass us.
4 Being stereotyped as zoophiles. Zoophilia is not condoned in any way, shape or form, in this stream. All of us can agree that it is simply wrong, as animals cannot consent. Also, fun fact, it is illegal in most countries, for example, Australia, Canada, and most of the U.S.
5 Whoo boy- I would like them to understand #4, that we aren't zoophiles, but also for them to realize, we're normal people as well. Generally, furries suit as their fursonas not because they believe that they are that character (usually), but because they 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁 to be that character. Our fursonas can have different meanings, like the ideal self (who you want to be), the true self (who you perceive yourself as being), and a few more that I don't know off the top of my head. Truly, "being a furry" does not have a static definition, and is bound to change with different people, as no two people are the same. Some like the art, some want to cuddle a big hot, fluffy dog, and some just like animals! Nobody should be judged or harassed for wearing the vague title of "furry".

I hope this helps clear some things up! I apologize about the length, I tend to ramble quite a bit. Anyways, thanks for reading! Have a great day/afternoon/night!

This is a lot of information that is all very helpful. Thank you.

Anytime!

I just live among the humans normally

Greetings, oh curious one seeking answers. I may have the answers you seek.
1. No, not all
2. I wouldn't know, I don't identify as one
3. Mainly bullying and being harshly looked down apon by others
4. Being accused of being a zoophile (wanting to sleep with actual animals)
5. Furries are just like everyone else, but with a few extra things in the bundle. There is not much that separates us from other people.