Were

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Were is a general term used as a prefix to indicate a type of shapeshifter, in relation to the mainstream concept of therianthropy (e.g. werewolves, werecats, etc).

Were and furry[edit]

In the furry fandom, "were" is a colloquial term to describe both fans of wereanimals and therians.[citation needed] Were interest overlaps both the furry and transformation fandoms, combining aspects of both; people who call themselves weres may[clarify] also be fans of these other genres.

Unlike furry characters, "wereanimals" are generally more bestial and feral in behavior, usually controlled more by animal instinct and impulses rather than intellect, often to violent results.[clarify][citation needed]

History[edit]

In the late 1990s, were fans originally gathered in the Usenet's newsgroup, alt.horror.werewolves, to discuss their interest in werewolves and other shapeshifting or humanoid animals from horror and mythology.[citation needed]

As time passed, three distinctive groups formed:[clarify][citation needed]

  • Fans of horror werewolves and other wereanimals.
  • People who liked roleplaying werewolves and wereanimals.
  • People who felt a personal, spiritual connection with werewolves or wereanimals. Eventually this faction became their own group.[clarify][citation needed]

Views and community[edit]

Though originally a horror sub-fandom,[clarify] not all[who?] weres are horror fans. Some[who?] prefer to see werewolves (and other wereanimals) as more natural creatures,[clarify][citation needed] which aren't inherently violent or horrific, so that any violent actions they take are a return to a wild state of being.[clarify][citation needed] Were-fandom has a significant environmentalist streak because of this.[citation needed]

They enjoy the company of other like-minded weres, and sometimes meet at howls to commune with nature.[citation needed]

Art[edit]

Weres are generally interested less in anthropomorphic styled art than semi-human animals;[clarify] much of were art is either based on wildlife painting styles, or roleplaying game styles.[citation needed] Were-art has become a term and style in and of itself in the furry fandom.[citation needed]

See also[edit]

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