...if I see one more person say they're a furry because they think it's "cute"....I will b forced to tear off my plushies head. I hate people who ruin the fandom with the kind of thing. Do us ALL a favor and research it before you EVER call yourself a furry.
P.S. I don't mean to be a dick, but some things are rather personal...would you tell people you're gay because you thought that one dude was cute?
Honestly, no one can "ruin" the furry fandom! There are so many differences between every member. The only thing we have in common at the bare minimum is an affinity for anthropomorphic animals. People get into the interest by seeing artwork they think is visually appealing, and cute is appealing. Maybe it starts with Disney characters or Neopets.
"Furry" is not a lifestyle, it is nothing compared to an alternative lifestyle. It is a hobby. No matter how strongly someone is into the furry fandom, or their fursona, or fursuiting, or yiffing, or roleplay, it is not a lifestyle. Most of us feel this way, anyway. The furries you see who "come out" to their family for liking human animals take it way too seriously. If you ask a random person on the street what they think of furries, they won't know what you are talking about.
I've been a part of the furry fandom, and many of the sub-aspects of it for over 5 years. As you spend time and see all the different types of people who call themselves furry, you realize that two furries might have only one thing in common, the very root and definition of what the furry fandom means. It doesn't matter how they became interested or who showed them or what parts of the fandom they like most, anyone with an interest in anthropomorphic animals can be considered a furry.
The average furry does not have a fursuit, has never been to a con, and might not have artwork of their fursona. There are a lot of younger, teenage furries. They tend to think you have to wear a collar to be a furry, and that there is a checklist you must complete. They are the ones who take the fandom much too seriously.
It is akin to liking Batman comics. If your whole life revolves around Batman, I still could not consider that a lifestyle, only a hobby. Just remember that furries are a fantasy, have fun with it
