"Are you a furry?"

[RecoveringKinkoid]

Someone please explain catgirls and the wearing of cat ears to me.

I see it all the time, so it must be a "thing." Also, I like Kino's Journey and they did a little sight gag involving cat ears in it. So I'm curious.

[Imogene]

And since you all seem so knowledgeable, where does a chained, banished angel belong in the world of social subsets? (I want her to quit bugging me about it! )

Sounds very much like an Otherkin to me. But... I dunno... I've never heard of an angel in a human body... I've heard of demons, I've heard of elves, I am a shapeshifter, so, angels? Yeah, you'd fit right in.

Kinkoid:
Cat ears in anime are far more open to interpretation, due to the randomness of the animators. It's possible the character is partially feline, or maybe the character's just being devious, or maybe she just likes cat ears...? Who knows, without seeing the series I couldn't give you a good reason.

[Geek King]

Someone please explain catgirls and the wearing of cat ears to me.

I see it all the time, so it must be a "thing." Also, I like Kino's Journey and they did a little sight gag involving cat ears in it. So I'm curious.

It's an anime thing. Sometimes the character is an actual catperson, with all the mannerisms that the Japanese consider to be cat-like. Occasionally, you'll see a human character take on some cat features, usually ears or the mouth. This usually means that character is thinking, or doing, something very mischievous.

Then again, sometimes they just wear the ears to look cute. See DiGi Charat for the prime example of the "cute" thing.

Also, sometimes in anime the characters having ears are representing animal spirits from traditional Japanese myth. You see a lot of dog spirits and fox spirits in recent shows like Inukami and Spice & Wolf. Rat spirits and cat spirits also show up quite a bit. Often these characters will be able to transform into the animal form from human or near-human form.

It really depends on what was going on in the scene as to how to take it. I've watched too much anime, so I don't even bat an eye at it anymore.

[Imogene]

It really depends on what was going on in the scene as to how to take it. I've watched too much anime, so I don't even bat an eye at it anymore.

*looks around* Wow, there appears to be an echo that expands upon my ideas in here... You do seem to do that to my posts a lot, Geek King.
Of course, a lot of this thread appears to be 'expanding upon my posts'
*hugs* No worries, then.

[DarkProwler]

I used to hang out on a Furry chat room, years ago. Mainly because I like to draw cartoony animals, and it fit in well there (I still have some of it online if anyone wants to see it :P ) That place must have been heavy in the extremism, though, as the chat room seemed to attract those of the more "sex-enthused" variety. But, hey, that's probably because it was a chat room

Nowadays, I've traded fandoms. While I didn't have anything to tie me to furry fandom in the past, I've got a ton of Transformers wear now

[FenigDurak]

As he left we noted we'd probably see him at Starfest this weekend (My girlfriend and I are working staff).

I'll see y'all there! Saturday Night at the Costume Contest, look for The Barber and the Baker.

I was the one who put the Spaceballs group together last year, just to give you an idea. Would love to meet you both!

[Nekojin]

Freud was a sick weirdo. Just because he wanted to have sex with his parents and cut his own penis off, doesn't mean everyone wants to.

I've done research for classes, and that's the first time I've ever heard either of those claims.

[Aethian]

Kino's Journey[/I] and they did a little sight gag involving cat ears in it. So I'm curious.

The episode you are talking about was covering a town that wanted it's own tradition and was letting the travellers decide the tradition. The one with cat ears was they were saying that the "Cat Paw" party was the one who ousted their evil king. So now to celebrate they wear cat ears in honor of their freedom givers.

It was nothing about cat people or anyone being a neko.

[RecoveringKinkoid]

That's right. It's been a long time since I've seen that. Didn't remember the details, only that a bunch of townspeople were wearing cat ears and that it was amusing. But that's the one.

[Trayol]

I have a friend here at college is a furry, it has never bothered me. I actually think it's really interesting, though I probably wouldn't dress up myself. (I don't even like my own body hair, I doubt I could stand being in fur and I don't look good in a tail.)

A funny thing he told me. On his floor 2 years ago in the school dorms in the Science & Engineering wing, there was a Furry vs. Drunks mini-war going on. Oddly the floor we were on together last year was crazier than that.

[Cyphr]

furry vs drunks would be awesome.

for furries you have: Spirits, cuteness, People who are half animal and have superior fight skill

for drunks you have: stumbling, raging, retarded

somehow this seems like something i would buy a ticket for...

[unholypet]

It refers to a subculture that draws and in some cases dresses up as anthropomorphic animals. The drawing can range from tame (SFW) to disturbing (As all drawn porn does) and the costumes in some cases are used for fur parties, where they may act like they have sex in them. Where in the spectrum the individual lies of course depends on the individual, and as with anything, the more extreme stuff is more well known (the sexual fur parties have actually been used on CSI Miami I believe).

That's only one part of the culture.

There are some who believe they are the animals, whether in spirit or reincarnation. That's where the Phantom Limb Syndrome comes from.

Some are as listed above, and not generally regarded as "real furs." Such sub-cultures of Furrydom include men who love catgirls.

There are a ridiculous amount of ways to interpret it per person.

Its not as cut and dry as a sex thing, as CSI made it look.

And just like Goths, its rather often played off as something freaky =p

(Note: goth-ish, and fox/tiger here)

[Skrae]

I'll see y'all there! Saturday Night at the Costume Contest, look for The Barber and the Baker.

I was the one who put the Spaceballs group together last year, just to give you an idea. Would love to meet you both!

I've actually not been to Starfest before. I actually got sort of roped into staffing this year since I'm staff for Nan Desu Kan in September. One of the head honchos for NDK is the head of security for Starfest (from my understanding) and sent out a memo to NDK staffers that they're somewhat understaffed for security and I decided what the hell? Doesn't mean I'll enjoy it any less. I'll likely be doing line control and the like.

That's only one part of the culture.

I did not mean to portray Furrydom as sexual deviants if that's how it came across. I know that there are many more levels as with any subculture. I merely was touching on the stuff you hear about most. If hopping into a live volcano feels right do it! (Read: If it makes you happy do it)

[Andara Bledin]

If anyone cares, my main furry persona can be seen here.

What she is, exactly, is incredibly complicated. But if anyone is intersted, I'm always happy to share.

^-.-^

[Geek King]

*looks around* Wow, there appears to be an echo that expands upon my ideas in here... You do seem to do that to my posts a lot, Geek King.

If you'll look at the post times, I was typing my reply (and doing tech support) when you posted yours. No echo meant, just warped great minds thinking alike.