Yiff Once for Yes: A Guide to Furries
In recent media, there have been references to “furries”, often identifying the furry community as one solely focused on engaging in sex with people in fursuits (animal costumes). Unfortunately, this focus on the sexual aspect of some members of the furry community has ruffled some feathers (Fur isn’t a necessity to be a furry - fish, reptile, and even bird furries exist) Because readers have asked us about furries, we wanted to take a moment to look at the furry community and talk a little about the sexual aspects of the furry world.
We want to be clear that what we discuss here doesn’t represent all members of the furry community. Just like any community, individual interests and activities vary widely. That said this is our attempt to educate the general public about furries.
Origins of Furry Fandom
Furries will tell you to just look around to see examples of furry artwork and characters. From Bugs Bunny to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, a furry is simply an animal with humanlike characteristics. At the same time, “furry” often refers to someone who is a fan of furry characters. It’s no surprise that the roots of the furry community are closely tied to comic book fans and conventions, with some of the first furry conventions splintering out of large ComicCons.
Much of the furry community centers around an appreciation of furry artwork, but for some folks, there is a much deeper connection. Some members of the furry community have “fursonas,” animal-identities that they connect with. Fursonas may be lived out online in chat rooms or online game communities (such as Secondlife), or in real life through conventions or other gatherings. Some individuals may not actually live out a different fursona but feel a deep spiritual association with animals (or a specific animal).
Let’s Talk About Yiff
At the same time, some members of the furry community do infuse sexuality and erotica into furry fandom. “Yiff,” a furry term (said to be the sound of two foxes mating) to mean sex or sexual interest, is frequently used to refer to anything furry and sexual. Sometimes called “yiff art,” erotic artwork focusing on anthro animals is common online. Many furry conventions have specific exhibits for this artwork. In yiff artwork, anthro animals engage in human-like sexual activities by themselves or with other animals.
Fursuit Facts
Despite what the media suggests, the sexual world of furries doesn’t necessarily mean wearing a fursuit or engaging in sex if a fursuit is worn. In the online forums or through the yiff art, furries can engage sexually (with or without another furry) without ever leaving home, or putting on a costume. Also, fursuits are usually worn at conventions, parades, fundraisers or other social gatherings that are not sexual in nature.
Fursuits are generally quite expensive. Although the new vogue in fursuit sex that has been brought about by the media attention has sparked a few cheaper versions, the furry community seems to look down upon these knock-offs. For the furry community, wearing a fursuit is serious business, and - not unlike Disneyworld - you have to act the part and take it seriously. At furry conventions, acting classes for fursuit wearers help them “be” a furry, a role that may or may not include sexual activity.
Plushies
Although only sort of related, we should also mention the “plushie” community. There may also be some folks who consider themselves “plushies,” though this community does not have to overlap with the furry community. Plushies generally refers to individuals who enjoy collecting small stuffed animals, but some plushies (or plushophiles) may describe their relationship with their stuffed animal as romantic or spiritual. Of course, some individuals may also be sexually intimate with their plush animal. Some plushies may sexually stimulate themselves with their plush toy. For some plushies, this may mean simply rubbing against the animal for arousal, whereas others may create a strategically modified appendage or hole (SMA or SMH).
The Furry Lifestyle
Although furries can be anyone, estimates suggest that around 85% of furries at conventions are male (though more females may participate in online games & communities). Additionally, gay and bisexual men comprise a larger segment of the furry community than in the general public. Some furries describe themselves as more outgoing when they are in their fursona as opposed to real life. The furry lifestyle may allow more freedom to be oneself via the fursona and the ability to live out the traits we may wish we have.
There is a notion that furry fans must be sick or perverted people. Not so! Furries can’t be picked out of a crowd, and they aren’t all gazing longingly at Donald Duck. They do share in common an appreciation for and devotion to animals that have human-like characteristics. So before judging the furry community, educate yourself and see what the fur is all about!
Check us out next week as we explore whether three is really a crowd!
Sex 411: Furry Lifestyle
WikiFur http://furry.wikia.com
Midwest FurFest 2008 (in Chicago) http://www.furfest.org
Send Kim and Ross your questions and ideas to buzzdoinitwell@yahoo.com. Or check out past columns at http://www.doinitwell.blog.com/!
