Well done. Admirable that you took the time to make these points clear - and quite concise, at that.

Furrys are cool. I love them. I'm a wolf-dragon furry (would the dragon side be 'scaly?') at heart, and I love writing stories about anthros! Especially Etimis, my tiger anthro character. But this was really insightful... thoughtful... there might be a different, better word that my brain is trying to get at, but I'm not sure. Anyways, I love it!

I've just discovered "Watership Down" fandom, after seeing the movie and reading the book- which I enjoyed far more than I thought I would- and so I found your essay online. Thank you for an essay so well-written and informative! I admit I never really had very many positive thoughts regarding furries: I'd go to Comic-Con and cringe at all the people in the plush suits. However, after reading "Watership" and now your essay, I feel that I have a bit more of an understanding as to why furs do what they do. Bunnies rock!

By the way, have you ever checked out "The Animal in You" by Roy Feinson? It's a very interesting typology book about animal personalities.

(Also: pay no attention to that idiot Legato. I'm a Catholic, and transubstantiation is in the Catechism.)

Excellent essay. Although I still don't understand your lifestyle, I can respect you for simply explaining yourself coherently. And ignore "Legato with vengeance". You had it right, Catholics do absolutely believe that the bread and wine become literally the body and blood of Christ while retaining the appearance of bread and wine. Not a symbol.

Very nicely written-easy to understand and everything. I may be a fur, but I'm not sure what type of animal. I have several of the qualities you listed-especially the thing about being nervous and shy around company, but comfortable and silly around friends. That describes me perfectly, and the stuffed animal thing, too. When I'm around people I don't know, it's like I put on a mask, like I'm completely different, but around my friends, we're always being loud and silly. And since I was in elementary school I've viewed my stuffed animals as real. My house is full of animals, and sometimes I'll just look at my dog and completely understand him, just for a moment or too.

This was really informative and I've learned a lot from it. Thank you!

Wow! I just finished reading this piece and I must say that I've been pretty naive. I never knew that furs even existed and I'd *never* even heard the term being used in this context before. You've certainly opened my eyes and I want to thank you for that.
What you've written has made me understand furs and what they feel in a way I know I never would have had I not read something so eloquently expressed. What you've shared here shows that you not only have a deep connection with your animal, it's also something that you take very seriously and I applaude you for being able to disreguard all those people who call you insane - like that 'I'm-not-wonkey-donkey' character.
While I'm not going to pretend I am a fur, I do know what it's like to be deeply affected by animals. I've always felt close to horses since my first ride on a pony when I was in pre-school. I get emotional when racehorses retire or have to be put down, I cried like nothing else when Artax from the Neverending Story died in the Swamps of Sadness, and whenever I see horses in their paddocks jumping gaily or galloping I smile and want to run free with them. They're such beautiful spirited creatures! :)
So whether all this makes me a fur I don't know. I just know what I feel - which is something that I felt when I read what you wrote. You are in tune with yourself and again, thank you for sharing this with me and everyone else who has read it.
~*~ RivErStaR ~*~

NO WE DO NOT! bread does not *become* the body of Christ, wine does not *become* the blood of Christ, by the thoughts of the Christians, these things are mearly a *symbol* of Christ, they are not Christ himself and no one, not even the Chatholics think such a popostorus thought as bread and wine *being* Christ! If you whish to insult someone, make sure you know you know somthing real about them, not just some silly rumor!

First off, congrats are in order Loganberry, this rules! I am so glad I stumbled across this!
I also stumbled across Furs a few years ago, and spent about a year being a member of a group, and still have some Fur friends. But while I have many of the so-called 'symptoms' of being a Fur, such as walking digitigrade and so on, it wasn't the right...er...'place' for us.
Us being a half grown male wolf called Ryre who is the other half of the soul of this half grown female human called Aisling who is typing. Not that we parted with Furs on a bitter basis, just needed to seek out somthing that was truer to us, though sadly we haven't found it.
Wonderful to see an essay on the 'furry lifestyler'. I think this is a really great bit of work, and even as someone who is is I guess an 'Ex-fur' managed to learn quite abit! And looking at the reveiws you've gotton, I'm definitly not the only one whose got something out of reading this. Possibly one of the most accurate accounts of being a Furry ever, well, that I have ever seen. 'Tis good that you covered the Yiff, and I like the fact you give examples and split it all up. Made it alot clearer!
Though a few people seem very...closed-minded. Wonky Donkey for one, who I'd personaly thinks sounds more 'fucked up' than you by far. Very cowardly, and pointlessly insulting.
I hope it's ok, but this has inspired me to try to do an essay of my own, though not on Furs alone (though they will feature). I'll shove that this inspired it on top.
Must be off to poke others I know to come read this. Freakcat 2 was the one who gave me the link, we know each other, and I'm very glad she did.
Nice one Loganberry!
from A(and R)

i agree alot with this as you know from reading my "believe". branthon is me and a panther as you know but we have other people like us but we didnt realise there were people like this. Its kinda weird n stuff...i dunno maybe thats me...

This is really interesting. I've seen some authors (for instance, werecat99, I believe) that speak about animals almost as alternate personalities. It's difficult for me to comprehend, but I believe that sort of understand (I hope!) I don't think I'm a fur, but I've always had very deep connections with cats, and near them I almost feel more feline than human. Anyway, this did help and I liked it. Thanks for giving me new perspective and showing me about this way of life.
~Kiara

i loved it - it was very informative. i've known i'mn a wolf for a while now, but i never realised that i was actually a something. a fur. this is a very surprising piece of information. and there i was thinking i was one of a kind. it's weird too, i fit in with some of the things you said, like i'm really underconfidant, i'm gay, and i've always been very attached to a toy wolf. (altho definately not in a sexual way). i wonder why there are so many wolf/cat/fox/dolphihn furs around? anyway, thanks for this essay, it was amazing

Talia: some people say there's a difference; some don't. In general, an "anthro" is more likely to be human-sized, wear clothes etc, although the borders are *very* blurred. Also, there's a political angle to it, in that a few people dislike the "lifestyler" aspect of furry, and want to go back to some (non-existent) halcyon time of purity where nothing other than the actual fannish side existed. I don't really worry about it, and use both terms almost interchangeably, but "furry" is much more common.
Cledmen: I generally delete anonymous reviews with no email address, but I'll make an exception this once as your comments are interesting, especially your response to Terra1. I would like to stress, though, that in my experience the great majority of furs do not hate humans, and don't reject their humanity. I'm human myself, and am not ashamed of it, although I am ashamed of what some of our species' members have done.

Alright, for the first part, I would like to congradulate you, Loganberry, on creating a fine piece of work here. Very good, it makes everything so much clearer.
Secondly, I must say that although I am not a fur, that it does seem very worthwhile and not at all appalling.
Now, here is what I've been wanting to say. For you, Terra1. I've read your review very carefully, and I must disagree with not only you, but others who think like you. Furs and others sorts of people with these so called "cult fads" are in no way really disrupting your wonderful "balance" and personally, I'd much rather have peace over balance if balance means war and hate.
Another thing is that I can see why they hate their own race. I, being human, admit that humanity is stubborn, proud, and rather stupid at times. But that's part of life. Don't be offended if people start to turn away from all that! They're trying their best not to contribute to what is rightfully classified as Human Stupidity.
I hope this will give all of you something to think about. And don't go rashing back without proper meditation.
Cled.

Hey, it's me - you reviewed my were poem a while ago.
Finally! Someone is able to tell me what exactly a furry is! I've been seeing them literally everywhere nowadays, maybe cause of the fantasy art site I visit.
So, is there a difference between furries and anthros? Just wondering, have heard both.

im not too much of an essay person, but this was absolutely brilliant. highly entertaining. i loved it.
i have two questions though: what if you were a penguin? would you be a feather?