WikiFur - User contributions [en]

SOF

2007-12-19T04:47:50Z

Caswin:

'''SOF''', the '''Save Our Fandom''' movement (early to mid 1990s), an idea born on the post-BBS Internet era, is considered by many to be the earliest incarnation of the [[furry conservatism ideology]]. This particular group, with the help of the early, and rapidly growing, Internet medium, would eventually coalesce into the very first of many similar groups that have continued to engage [[furry fandom]] to this day, on and off its electronic boundaries.

They publicly advocated such ideas as the expulsion of the perceived "fringe elements" within the fandom, especially furry [[lifestylers]] and [[gay]] furries. They also delivered proposals to the heads of early furry [[convention]]s about curbing the nascent, and rapidly growing amount of [[adult furry art]] material quickly dominating such cons' art shows and exhibits. One long-term goal was for the furry fandom itself to return to the "[[Golden Age of Furrydom]]," a time that was often joked about by the group's early detractors.

SOF quietly disappeared around late 1995. Members called themselves '''SOF Furs'''.
Some of the most radical members use to use the moniker "Shove Off, Faggots!" for their group.

[[Category:Anti-furries]]
[[Category:Ideological groups]]

TBOF

2007-12-19T04:44:42Z

Caswin: I'm not sure those are different things, really...

'''TBOF''' ('''Take Back Our [[furry fandom|Fandom]]!''' Movement, also known as '''"Take Back Our Fandom Brigade".''' Mid 1996) was a furry ideological group, mostly rooted in conservative ideals rather than furry hate ones, that came to being as a non-intended consequence of the backlash against [[Richard Chandler]]'s '''"Mass Graves"''' editorial in ''[[Gallery]] #25''.

==The politics behind "''Six Shallow Graves''"==

Initially a personal, public commentary(*) in February of 1995 between [[Yarf!]] art director [[Dave Bryant]], and fellow [[furry artist]] [[Zjonni]], its basic principle continued to germinate through all of 1995 into mid 1996 on the [[alt.fan.furry]] and [[alt.lifestyle.furry]] Usenet groups. It was repeatedly raised as a valid point or quickly dismissed as a joke, until it was picked, reshaped and published as an editorial by Richard Chandler in June 1996 where he applied the principle to broad groups he thought were only tangentially related to the fandom that were bringing it down.

This idea was extensively discussed in the above mentioned newsgroups, generating "Pro" and "Con" camps around the editorial's idea, with the "Pro" side quickly labeled the "Take Back Our Fandom Brigade," a title they took on as their identity. Their ideals were almost a duplicate of the early "furry ideological group" '''"[[SOF]]"''', albeit with an hasher tinge to it. The incidents at [[CF8]], and the supposed tolerance of fandom towards its fringe elements gave them enough rhetoric fuel to last until late 1998, with most of its members moving on, moving out, or joining other fur and anti-fur groups and movements of that time period.

As with "SOF", this group yearned for the second coming of the "[[Golden Age of Furry Fandom|Golden Age of Furrydom]]," even though as with the first group, there was considerable disagreement as to exactly when the "Golden Age" had been.

==References==

(*) The [http://groups.google.com/group/alt.fan.furry/browse_thread/thread/522a257cff6a69e0/0b20e99b90faafa6?lnk=st&q=furry+%22six+shallow+graves%22&rnum=28#0b20e99b90faafa6 actual quote]: "Many [[Fen]] agree that most of fandom's problems could be solved with '''six shallow graves'''. Where people differ is in who should fill those graves." (Dave Bryant, February 1996)

Although this written comment formed the core idea for "''Six Shallow Graves''", and had been similarly espoused ideologically by '''SOF''' and '''TBOF''', neither Dave Bryant or Zjonni approved or supported neither idea or groups. Richard Chandler followed up the editorial in Gallery #26 with "Pedestals", an editorial praising aspects of the fandom, which was largely ignored in the controversy over "Mass Graves".

==See also==

*[http://groups.google.com/group/alt.fan.furry/browse_frm/thread/7f549a08a3039e8b/001a9143f91bbd32?lnk=st&q=six+shallow+graves+richard+chandler&rnum=3&hl=en#001a9143f91bbd32 The first Usenet post regarding Richard Chandler's "Mass Graves" "Gallery" editorial]

[[Category:Anti-furries]]
[[Category:Ideological groups]]

Anti-furries

2007-12-19T04:40:02Z

Caswin:

'''Anti-furries''' are those individuals who find furries and the [[furry fandom]] as a whole to be repulsive, especially any and all aspects having to do with furry sexuality. Some of them also tend to exhibit great interest in the sociology of the [[furry]] community.

Anti-furries are sometimes referred to as "[[mundane]]s", although this term is more commonly used to refer to anyone who is not a member of the fandom.

== Types ==

In some cases, anti-furries may be previous members of the furry fandom who have become disillusioned and/or disgusted with furry. They may consider themselves "anti-furry" while still continuing to produce or consume media relating to [[anthropomorphic]]s, using [[fursona]]s or participating in [[conventions]] or [[MUCK]]s. Conversely, they may not only cease any interest or association with furry fandom, but actively deny any previous involvement.

In other cases, such individuals may have never had any association with the fandom to begin with, and target its members for harassment for a various reasons only known to themselves (peer pressure, personal hate, etc...).

== Anti-furry groups or communities ==

Many online communities have a strong anti-furry slant, such as [[Something Awful]], [[Portal of Evil]], and the [[Encyclopædia Dramatica]]. [[Crush! Yiff! Destroy!]] is an example of a site primarily catering to a general dislike of current furry fans and fandom. The reasons given for their behavior run the gamut from true harassment to just getting a few people together to laugh at the reaction of certain furries to self or provoked [[drama]].

==See also==

* [http://furry.wikia.com/wiki/List_of_furry_LiveJournal_communities#Anti-Furries '''Anti-furries''' Livejournals (Section 7.1) ]
*[[4chan]]
*[[ASCII]]
*[[AWFR]]
*[[Burned Furs]]
*[[Calumny]]
*[[C.H.A.F.E]]
*[[Christian Parents Against Furries]] (Hoax site, stopped all activities as of 2001)
*[[COTI]]
*[[Eat All Furries]]
*[[FAASA]]
*[[Furs Against Furs]]
*[[Gayfaggotinc]]
*[[God Hates Furries]]
*[[PISOC]]
*[[PVF]]
*[[SOF]]
*[[Suferd]]
*[[TBOF]]
*[[The Antifur Collective]]

[[Category:Anti-furries]]
[[Category:Ideological groups]]

Golden Age of Furry Fandom

2007-12-19T04:37:30Z

Caswin: Painting the groups in question in way too negative a light.

The '''Golden Age of Furry Fandom''' (also known as the '''Golden Age of Furrydom''', the '''Golden Era of Furry Fandom'''. Another variation of the term, '''The Renaissance''', was a [[Burned Furs|burned fur]] term only) is a phrase first seen in [[furry]] [[BBS|BBSes]] around 1993, gaining more common usage in the late '90s, and used to describe a "purer" time in the history of [[furry fandom]], where adult material or fringe groups ([[zoophile]]s, [[bestialists]], [[plushies]], [[lifestylers]], etc) had yet to appear, ending this time period when they finally did so.

Initially used by people that had become disenfranchised with the "problem" of adult [[furry art]] present in the fandom, it was later co-opted by groups such as [[TBOF]], [[SOF]], and the Burned Furs. Other furries would use it has a mocking counter-argument against these laid-out opinions and arguments.

Especially with the turn of the millennium, this term has fallen into disuse in recent years.

== See also ==

* [[Furry Renaissance]]

==External links==

*[http://groups.google.com/group/alt.fan.furry/browse_thread/thread/dd35f27308d54abd/6d3ba891371a19d6?lnk=gst&q=golden+age+of+fur&rnum=46#6d3ba891371a19d6 A Golden Age before the spooge?], one of the earliest recorded arguments against the use of the term

Other [[alt.fan.furry]] threads high-lightning the use of the term (pro/con):

*[http://groups.google.com/group/alt.fan.furry/browse_frm/thread/c17920431e7d1df6?scoring=d&q=furry+golden+age& A belated post, but needed, nonetheless.] (October 31, 2000)
*[http://groups.google.com/group/alt.fan.furry/browse_frm/thread/4060b943c40c1d4d/05d8d3ff6d153a56?lnk=gst&q=furry+golden+era&rnum=22#05d8d3ff6d153a56 Brunching Shuttlecocks on Furry Fandom.] (November 9, 2000)
*[http://groups.google.com/group/alt.fan.furry/browse_frm/thread/6657781adb679007?scoring=d&q=furry+golden+age& The Aussie Media Notices the Fandom.] (November 26, 2003)

[[Category: Culture]]
[[Category: Terms]]

The Antifur Collective

2007-12-19T04:31:09Z

Caswin:

'''The Antifur Collective''' (aka '''Antifur International''') was created on October 2000, with "Antifur" as the webmaster. It was, as labeled by its creators, an "Outsider's psychological study of the [[furry fandom]] by [[anthropomorphic]] fans".

Collective public discussions about the group quickly let to the conclusion, freely admitted by its creators on their site, of the Antifur Collective's being a group of people that came together for the sole purpose of "screw[ing] with the minds of people who call themselves furry". This involved false data and information, and the same general mocking and electronic hazing used on past and current [[Anti-Furry]] groups or movements.

Some of the Collective's most serious members were in talks among themselves to plan some way to return this Culture back to the [[Golden Age of Furry Fandom]], or at least steer its "true ideals" to be associated solely with the "Anthro/Anthropomorphic" label, while the rest of them continued their electronic guerrilla warfare harassment against the fandom with such projects as the fake Christian anti-furry site, ''[[Christian Parents Against Furries]]''.

The Collective's webmaster was actually an amalgamate of five individuals: Bob O' Riley, Clint Sexton, Chad Wood, Matthew Salinger and Laura Friedeberg. (As with all the "data" surrounding this group, this bit of information may not be ultimately accurate.) All operations concerning the Collective ceased on January 22, 2001.

==External links==

* [http://groups.google.com/group/alt.lifestyle.furry/browse_frm/thread/17cdd1b99044119e/56bde8311d24d3c5?lnk=st&q=antifur+collective&rnum=1&hl=en#56bde8311d24d3c5 Talk about the The Antifur Collective] on [[alt.lifestyle.furry]]
* [http://pressedfur.coolfreepages.com/backlash/ Article about the The Antifur Collective] on the [[Pressed Fur]] web site

[[Category:Anti-furries|Antifur Collective, The]]
[[Category:Ideological groups|Antifur Collective, The]]
[[Category:2000 births|Antifur Collective, The]]
[[Category:2001 deaths|Antifur Collective, The]]

Fursecution

2007-12-10T01:06:18Z

Caswin:

'''Fursecution''' is a word coined in the late 1990s that has come to mean either the perceived persecution of [[furries]] from elements outside the fandom, or as a derisive term to any fur's reaction (or overreaction) to an attack by said outside elements.

==Fursecution's meaning==
A greatly debated subject, with some claiming it to be a legitimate form of discrimination, while others find it a severe overreaction, this term may have originated from the mockery generated by sites like [[Something Awful]], which is often targeted at the [[furry fandom]]. The primary reason for these disagreements is the fact that the term is applied to situations both serious and trivial, predominantly the latter.

It has been suggested<ref>[http://xydexx.livejournal.com/583464.html?thread=4333352#t4333352 Xydexx's suggestion about the origin of the word]</ref> that this word was conceived by members of [[Crush Yiff Destroy]], but use of the term was documented in [[Usenet]] posts as far back as 1998<ref>[http://groups.google.com/group/rec.music.dylan/browse_frm/thread/5569b2c96e682e0/11bffd743b8334d1?lnk=st&q=&rnum=15&hl=en#11bffd743b8334d1 Earliest known use of the word in a Usenet post dated Oct 26, 1998]</ref>.

==Term "validity"==
It can be argued that a large amount of the perceived "fursecution" could be due to certain people's oversensitivity to criticism about the furry fandom (such as claims that many furries are homosexual or bisexual, or furs are in just for the sexual aspects of the culture.) [[Encyclopædia Dramatica]], which pokes fun at various internet phenomena, especially furries, says, "Furries suffer from an acute victim complex. This makes them very easy to torment."

In other words, while any group that is at least relatively well-known will inevitably draw criticism or mockery, the (oversensitive) reaction (or overreaction) by some individuals to such attacks is what they would claim qualifies as being "Fursecuted."

==Anti-furry "fursecution"==

By 2005, anti-furry groups or people had added alternative meanings to the word:

* Either as it being one signifying an actual "attack" by anti-furry elements on a furry person, group or site for the sole purpose to, hopefully, generate furry [[drama]].

* Or, as a mocking term towards a furry person, group or site when a situation or event is unfavorable or detrimental towards them<ref>[http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wikipedia%3ADeletion_review%2FLog%2F2007_June_5&diff=136209598&oldid=136209578 A call to delete a furry category on [[Wikipedia]] is mocked by a Encyclopedia Dramatica editor ("Fursecution!!!111")]</ref>

==References==
<references/>

==See also==
*[[Stereotype]]
*[[Schadenfreude]]

== External links ==
* [http://www.livejournal.com/community/fursecution/ the Fursecution community], an [[anti-furry]] [[LiveJournal]].

[[Category: Terms]]

Talk:Otherkin

2007-12-10T01:03:18Z

Caswin: Description

{{Featured}}

== Wikipedia discussing merging Otherkin and Therianthropy ==

FYI, some wikipedian(s) are consider merging [[wikipedia:Otherkin]] with [[wikipedia:Therianthropy]]. Discussion is at [[wikipedia:Talk:Therianthropy#Proposal to merge from Otherkin]] and the "Keep them seperate!" thread on the same Talk page. --[[User:EarthFurst|EarthFurst]] 21:27, 29 December 2006 (UTC)

== Community history section ==

It was suggested that some otherkin community history I researched for Wikipedia might be more welcome here than it proved to be there. I've added it to the article; hopefully you'll be able to use it. :) [[User:Vashti|Vashti]] 22:08, 26 July 2007 (UTC)

== Description ==

Is it me, or does this article seem a bit overly general in its descriptions? I'll admit I don't have a lot of experience here, but look at the opening line:
"Otherkin are those who believe that their physical forms do not define or fully encompass their mental states, personality, psychology, or spiritual nature."
Whatever Otherkin is, exactly, I don't think you can safely call that a description of it - not so much because it doesn't accurately describe Otherkin, but because it covers too many bases. I certainly wouldn't say my body "fully encompasses" my psychology or personality, but I'm reasonably sure I'm not a subscriber to Otherkin. Much of the article sounds like it's trying to avoid dwelling on the "weirder" aspects of the culture, but I think the results are just plain misleading. [[User:Caswin|Caswin]] 01:03, 10 December 2007 (UTC)

Otherkin

2007-12-09T16:56:06Z

Caswin: /* Controversy within furry fandom */

[[Image:Elven Star Rainbow.jpg|right|thumb|The Elven Star, a symbol of otherkin. [http://www.our-elysium.com/otherkin.htm Source]]]'''Otherkin''' are those who believe that their physical forms do not define or fully encompass their mental states, personality, psychology, or [[spirituality|spiritual]] nature.

The term predates its use on the Internet, and is believed to have been coined in the late 1980's by those who felt an affinity or connection to the ''fae folk'' and/or ''[[Wikipedia:elf|elves]]'' of traditional mythological culture and folklore. First appearing in use on the Internet in the mid-1990s, the word was intended to imply some form of kinship with an 'other' element outside of a person's biological nature, physical mind and experiences, and [[human]] life.

==Otherkin beliefs==

Otherkin feel they have a sympathetic connection, affinity, or some other form of relation with another animal or being. Traditionally these have been mythological in nature, beginning with fairy and fey folk, elves, and a few other European mythological archetypes. Later, associations with other creatures became common, including [[unicorn]]s, [[gryphon]]s, [[dragon]]s, angelics, and [[demon]]s; as well as "non-living" types such as golems and other inorganics. In time, some people also began to describe concepts for beings which were derived from mythological archetypes, though having unique qualities; fully undefinable or one-of-a-kind kin types appeared as well.

With the unusual nature of the basic otherkin premises, there has been skepticism directed at it along with the proposal that many people adopt the otherkin identity to justify social difficulties - the outcast syndrome - or because they have a delusion and are in denial about their biological humanity. The idea that otherkin believe they are physically non-human in a spectacular way - such as actually being biological dragons - is seen as a pervasive misunderstanding by otherkin themselves, who point out the spiritual and psychological focus of the concept. Some community members believe this confusion arises from those unfamiliar with the concept or having only a sketchy or distorted awareness; comparing it to psychiatric cases such as [[lycanthropy]] and dissociative identity disorder, and concluding that in order for someone to state that they identify as an elf or gryphon, they must be experiencing a form of hallucination or delusion.

Contrary to [[stereotype]]s which have been perpetuated, most who identify as otherkin are fully aware of their biology and human existence. Many otherkin do have particular spiritual and metaphysical beliefs, and as part of those beliefs have discussed elements of a proposed spiritual reality which is not to be confused with the material world. Even if a given person believes, for instance, that on a spiritual plane they may have wings, it is uncommon that they are making a claim about such things that is scientific in nature, or that they exist in what most people might consider the real world.

Despite these points, some dislike the otherkin concept on the grounds that they feel it is abused by individuals who wish to present themselves as special and unique without merit, and that making unverifiable spiritual claims is one way to achieve this. Over time, otherkin has proven to be appealing to a number of people for this reason, and those within the community can be rigorous about screening out 'me too' and 'fluffbunny' adopters of the otherkin moniker. Some otherkin themselves do not consider the Internet Kin community to have much or any validity, saying that it is easy and tempting for a person to claim almost anything within the realm of online anonymity.

Within the loosely defined otherkin community, online or off, there is no consensus as to just what makes a person otherkin. A variety of phenomena have been observed and theorized about which many feel create some sort of affinity between a person and something else. In this light, some see otherkin as related to concepts such as [[Wikipedia:Totemism|Totemism]], which have appeared in human culture since ancient times. There has also been some debate over how potential factors such as [[Wikipedia:Clinical lycanthropy|clinical lycanthropy]] may account for a percentage of the experiences otherkin believe they have had. While many, and some conjecture most, otherkin follow a paradigm of spiritual reincarnation in some form to help explain their state of being, not all otherkin share this, and may view themselves in other spiritual, philosophical, or psychological frameworks. Even among those who believe in reincarnation, there are a wide variety of interpretations.

Another viewpoint is that the term otherkin largely denotes a social network and should not, or can not, be used as a description for individual spiritual beliefs or to describe an particular theory or explanation for phenomenon. Many people use the otherkin community to find discussion for a variety of subjects and to compare subjective experiences without considering themselves to be otherkin in a descriptive sense.

==History of the community==

Although there are spiritual parallels with shamanism and totemism, the modern otherkin subculture appears to trace its roots back to the counterculture of the 1960s. [[Wikipedia:Hippie|Hippies]] and [[Wikipedia:Flower child|flower children]], in particular, were heavily influenced by the fantasy works of [[Wikipedia:J.R.R. Tolkien|J.R.R. Tolkien]].<ref>[http://lists.econ.utah.edu/pipermail/marxism/2004-April/006893.html Tolkien and radical ecology in the sixties] - Mailing list marxism@lists.econ.utah.edu (accessed April 21 2004).</ref>

One example of this influence was the rock band [[Wikipedia:Tyrannosaurus Rex|Tyrannosaurus Rex]], whose drummer took the name [[Wikipedia:Steve Peregrin Took|Steve Peregrin Took]], after a [[Wikipedia:hobbit|hobbit]] character from ''[[Wikipedia:The Lord of the Rings|The Lord of the Rings]]''. The short-lived magazine ''[[Wikipedia:Gandalf's Garden|Gandalf's Garden]]'', named after another Tolkien character, described the group's singer-songwriter [[Wikipedia:Marc Bolan|Marc Bolan]] as "of elfin descent".<ref>[http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Studio/4730/gandalf.htm Tyrannosaurus Rex] - ''Gandalf's Garden'' (July 1968)</ref> Bolan was also frequently referred to as "the Bopping Elf".<ref>[http://www.marc-bolan.com/public/biography2.htm "From Darling Of The Underground To Dandy In The Underworld" - A Brief Bolan Biography], The Official Marc Bolan Fan Club (accessed May 8 2005)</ref>

Another musician of the time who used similar fantasy imagery was Donovan. In the cover notes to his 1966 LP [[Wikipedia:Sunshine Superman|"Sunshine Superman"]], he wrote "starring mr. plod in action with a daughter of the evil land of mordor."<ref>[http://www.sabotage.demon.co.uk/donovan/writings.htm#part_one Sunshine Superman] - Donovan's Non-Poetic Writings (1966)</ref> In the cover notes to his 1967 LP [[Wikipedia:A Gift from a Flower to a Garden|"A Gift from a Flower to a Garden"]], he wrote "We shall fill their days with fairies and elves and pussys and paints, with laughter and song and the gentle influence of Mother Nature."<ref>[http://www.sabotage.demon.co.uk/donovan/writings.htm#Oh,_what_a_Dawn_Youth_is_Rising_to A Gift from a Flower to a Garden] - Donovan's Non-Poetic Writings (1967)</ref>

And in the underground publication ''[[Wikipedia:International Times|International Times]]'', better known as IT, John Peel advised readers to "go to the children's playground in Kensington Gardens and stare at the elves on the trees there".<ref>[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2004/10/27/db2701.xml Obituary: John Peel] - Daily Telegraph (27 October 2004)</ref>

The 1970s saw a group calling themselves the Elf Queen's Daughters base themselves in the South Bay area of San Francisco, California.<ref>Silver Elves (2001). The Gainesville Letters. In ''The Magical Elven Love Letters, vol. 1'', pp. 9. Silver Elves Publications; no ISBN.</ref> They were also linked with [[Wikipedia:Seattle, Washington|Seattle, Washington]].<ref>[http://www.student.carleton.edu/orgs/druids/ARDA/ARDA-07.pdf The Druid Miscellany, pp. 2] - A reformed Druid anthology (August 1 1996)</ref> They published a newsletter and focused on "bringing together female elves in celebration of ritual and magic and understanding of Fae", according to the Faeid website.<ref>[http://www.faeid.com/elfqueens.html The Elf Queen's Daughters] - Are you a faeid? (accessed May 4 2005)</ref> In actuality the Elf Queen's Daughters were composed of both male and female elves, although they were Goddess oriented and they referred to all their members as sister.<ref>Comment by the Silver Elves.</ref> One quote from an anonymous founder of the group indicates similar ecologically-based pagan beliefs to those common in the modern otherkin movement — "the image of the Earth being a woman with trees for her hair, rivers for her veins flowing through. That was one of the first to use the image of earth as a physical Goddess."<ref>[http://groups.google.co.uk/group/alt.religion.all-worlds/msg/89f26a9ce27ab423?dmode=source&hl=en Aeona Silversong Interview] - The Electronic Foghorn (June 15 1993)</ref>

According to the Silver Elves, the Elf Queen's Daughters had ''"given up the path to elfin"'' around 1977. However, in 2004 they wrote that they had recently encountered one of them, Loriel Lyndoreyn.<ref>[http://www.renaissancefestival.com/community/discussion/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=875 magic connects us] - magical elven love letters (accessed May 21 2004).</ref> Another former member, Aeona Silversong, became a priestess in the Church of All Worlds in 1993, while continuing to identify as an elf.<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20040407120835/http://www.caw.org/clergy/index.html CAW Clergy] - CAWeb (accessed February 23 2004).</ref><ref>[http://groups.google.co.uk/group/alt.religion.all-worlds/msg/89f26a9ce27ab423?dmode=source&hl=en Aeona Silversong Interview] - The Electronic Foghorn (June 15 1993)</ref> Furthermore, Circle Network News published an article on the seven-pointed elven star citing the group as late as 1986. The Silver Elves suggest that the Elf Queen's Daughters were adept with magic and the use of the Ouija board.<ref>[http://www.sonic.net/~elves/necromancer.html The Way of the Necromancer] - The Elven Tree of Life (May 4 2002).</ref>

The Silver Elves are one of the more prominent groups in the modern subculture, mainly because of the Magical Elven Love Letters which they have regularly published for over twenty years. In their published compilation of these letters, they write that at the time they began to write them in 1979, ''"it had been nearly two years since the Elf Queen's Daughters had forsaken the dharma of the magic letters"''. This would indicate that the letters of the Silver Elves are a direct descendant of the newsletters released by the Elf Queen's Daughters; furthermore, the Silver Elves themselves profess to have been awakened as elves by that group.

Until the Internet became accessible, the letters were sent out by post and further distributed by their recipients, as well as being printed in various newsletters and magazines. Contact details for the Silver Elves were also listed in pagan books, such as [[Wikipedia:Margot Adler|Margot Adler]]'s ''[[Wikipedia:Drawing Down the Moon (book)|"Drawing Down The Moon"]]'' in 1979 and [[Wikipedia:Laurie Cabot|Laurie Cabot]]'s ''"Power of the Witch"'' in 1989.<ref>Adler, Margot, ''Drawing Down The Moon: Druids, Goddess-worshippers and other pagans in America today'', ISBN 0670283428, Viking Press (1979)</ref><ref>Cabot, Laurie, ''Power of the Witch'', ISBN 0385297866, Delacorte Press (1989).</ref>

In 1990, R'ykandar Korra'ti founded the Elfinkind Digest, an e-mail-based mailing list for "elves and interested observers".[http://groups.google.co.uk/group/rec.games.frp/msg/834976939ac48fcc?dmode=source&hl=en] At the time, her signature on Usenet was "Elfinkind Unite!" The next year, in 1991, she posted a subdued announcement to several newsgroups publicizing the Digest for the first time.<ref>[http://groups.google.co.uk/group/rec.games.frp/msg/834976939ac48fcc?dmode=source&hl=en Small mail-based digest] - Usenet (September 26 1991).</ref> As of 2003, more than 2000 digests had been posted, and this otherkin mailing list is generally acknowledged as the first one.[http://www.murkworks.net/~elflist/]

While Korra'ti had expected to find only other elves through her mailing list, she in fact discovered people with ''"a large number of self-identifications."''<ref>[http://www.rialian.com/elfinkin.htm Elfinkind Digest] - Elven Realities (December 23 1996).</ref> This was one of the first indications that there were other [[species]] identifications out there besides those of elves, and this dichotomy persists to this day in the name of one of the more popular otherkin mailing lists, elven-realities.

On 6 February 1995, the [http://groups.google.co.uk/group/alt.magick/msg/e5adba21569abd19?dmode=source&hl=en Elven Nation Manifesto] was posted to Usenet.<ref>[http://groups.google.co.uk/group/alt.magick/msg/e5adba21569abd19?dmode=source&hl=en The Elven Nation Manifesto.....everyone must read this!] - Usenet (February 6 1995).</ref> This document was interesting in several ways: firstly, although it included a real name and a postal address, as well as a partial email address, it was posted through the anonymous remailer at anon.penet.fi. Secondly, several of the common themes in the modern otherkin movement are visible in it, such as the concept that elves have something significant to contribute to the world, and mention of the "Veil to the Otherworld", or the invisible boundary between the real world and the magical world of faerie.

Since it was posted to eleven newsgroups, it also violated Usenet's crossposting etiquette, which was far more strictly observed at the time than it is today. On Usenet itself, the document was universally panned and considered to be either a troll or an attempt to frame an innocent party. However, enough people contacted the original author of the Elven Nation post in good faith for a [http://www.rialian.com/elvsnatn.htm mailing list] to spin off from it.<ref>[http://www.rialian.com/elvsnatn.htm Excerpts from the Elven Nation mailing list] - Elven Realities (accessed May 4 2005).</ref> At least one person considered it to have played a part in their awakening.<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/19991009032307/www.absinthia.com/otherkin/awakening/willow.html Willow] - Awakenings (October 9 1999).</ref>

The community first hit the headlines in 2001 when the Village Voice published an article on it. Entitled "Elven Like Me", it drew gentle comparisons with the antiglobalisation movement, and suggested that otherkin were antimodernist.<ref>[http://www.villagevoice.com/news/0107,mamatas,22273,8.html Elven Like Me] - Village Voice (14 February 2001)</ref>

==Otherkin in the media==

The otherkin phenomenon has experienced less exposure in general media than subculture venues such as furry fandom, although it has been noted with increasing frequency in [[Wikipedia:Neo-Paganism|Neo-Pagan]] culture due to crossover of shamanistic and spiritual elements that has brought otherkin to the attention of contemporary pagans.

To date, there has been little formal study or publication of culture and theory relating to otherkin. One of the first reference volumes to deal with the otherkin culture specifically, ''A Field Guide to Otherkin'', by Lupa, was released in April 2007. The book contains the results of surveys distributed throughout the otherkin and therianthropy communities by the author and volunteers.

==Otherkin and therianthropy==

Otherkin bears no small resemblance to [[therianthropy]], and some people consider them the same thing and use them interchangeably. Of these, some might feel there is insufficient difference between the concepts to present them separately, while others might be outsiders who are not familiar with the nuances or history of the ideas and communities surrounding them. However, in tradition to date, otherkin has come to be associated with people who experience an affinity with an animal, creature, or being which might ordinarily be considered mythological, or sometimes entirely unique/alien. In contrast, therianthropy is heavily connected to the affinity for ''existing'', real-world animals which have been observed to live today in nature or to have lived in the past. Typically, someone who identifies with fairies, elves, dragons, gryphons, unicorns, or even angelic or demonic beings might be seen as otherkin. While one who identifies with [[wolves]], [[foxes]], [[bear]]s, [[cat]]s big and small, or [[otter]]s might be seen as a therianthrope.

In some cases, a specific person might consider themselves - if they use a formal term or subculture association at all - a member of either community in spite of their species/entity connection. For example, someone who feels they are a part of the general otherkin community socially might use the term therianthropy to describe the mechanics of their own nature.

==Otherkin and furry fandom==

[[Furry fan]]s appear to be generally aware of otherkin and therianthropy. The practices and viewpoints of many [[furry lifestyle]]rs have some similarity to these ideas; because of this, some lifestylers associate with one or both terms. Likewise, while [[furry fandom]] in general might not have been formed to explore spiritual connections with animals and other creatures, many otherkin and therianthropes find the content and subject matter of furry appealing because of their own interests. In the opposite direction, many [[furry fan]]s discover the otherkin community through the fandom and begin to take part in it as well.

A noticeable number of people within the otherkin community are also furry fans in some capacity and frequently attend events such as furry [[convention]]s in addition to otherkin-specific social events. The philosophy and spirituality tracks at some conventions have hosted otherkin and therian speakers. Panels and discussions on mythology have also attracted otherkin to participate. Otherkin who are artists have used furry conventions to display their work, and those with an interest in make-up and costuming have attended for masquerade contests and dances.

Some otherkin feel that the furry fandom is a more relaxed atmosphere in which to explore ideas of animal and human relations and hybrids, seeing the fandom's lack of core spiritual doctrines as neutral ground. Due to this, some people decide to leave the general otherkin and therian communities in favor of furry. Furry events are sometimes popular as a meeting place with otherkin who are geographically isolated from kin-specific events.

===Controversy within furry fandom===

Opinions vary as to whether or not their association with the fandom is positive, negative, or irrelevant. Some people find the association of furry with things beyond its base definition of the appreciation of [[anthropomorphic]] animals in art and fiction to be inappropriate, ridiculous, or uncomfortable. Because of this, otherkin and therian connections or intermingling with the fandom have taken on a pejorative tint for such people. Much as furry lifestylers are sometimes disliked, otherkin might be made to feel unwelcome or derided by some furry fans.

A large degree of fandom awareness has been spread not only by contact with otherkin within the fandom, but by the adoption of otherkin as another topic with which to portray elements of Furry in humorous or negative light by websites such as [[Something Awful]] and [[Crush! Yiff! Destroy!]]. Due to such framing, otherkin has for some people become a generic term to identify furries who feel there is something more to their animal avatar than [[role-playing]]. Some also point out that a good deal of otherkin awareness has been spread by sardonic humor, which often singles out individuals with the most outrageous behavior or controversial opinions. As a result there appear to be inaccuracies in the knowledge of many furry fans and nonfurs relating to more moderate members of the otherkin community.

In response, others have said in spite of this confusion, there are those who identify as otherkin while putting forth dubious claims and questionable behavior. Because of the effect of visibility from the crowd, it is often the most over-the-top examples that are seen by outsiders, and thus tend to be associated with the entire fandom, not unlike many of the other problems with publicity that furry fandom has endured over time.

==Outside otherkin==

Otherkin is a label to describe personal beliefs, experiences, and traits that occur in a variety of combinations depending on the individual. As there is no consensus on what qualifies as otherkin, not everyone who shares similar beliefs feels the term is appropriate or useful for themselves.

Some who might otherwise describe themselves as otherkin downplay or conceal the affiliation. Citing outbreaks of controversy, individuals have confessed reluctance to reveal the extent of their beliefs for fear of losing status or being ostracized by a particular community, to avoid employment difficulties, or relieve pressure from friends and family.

== See also ==

* [[Wikipedia:Otherkin|Otherkin]] on Wikipedia
* [[Theri There]], a webcomic about otherkin

== References ==

<references/>

== External links ==

*[http://www.otherkin.net Otherkin.net]
*[http://www.otherkinwiki.net/ OtherkinWiki]
*[http://z3.invisionfree.com/Otherkin/ An Otherkin Message Board]
*[http://www.thegreenwolf.com/afgto.html A Field Guide to Otherkin] at [http://www.immanion-press.com Immanion Press]

[[Category:Culture]]
[[Category:Terms]]

{{featured article}}

Furry

2007-12-01T02:26:01Z

Caswin: /* Sexuality */

The word '''furry''' has several meanings, dependent on the context in which it is used. Predominantly, it pertains to an interest in [[Anthropomorphic|anthropomorphic animals]] and/or mythological or imaginary creatures which possess [[human]] or superhuman capabilities. The plural form of furry in all its contexts is ''furs'' or ''furries''; the subjects of furry interest are also known as [[furries]].

== What it means to ''be'' furry ==
Someone who says they are furry is generally expressing an interest in anthropomorphic animals and/or creatures.

Unfavorable attention from the media has created a negative stereotype of a furry. Contrary to how a Furry is portrayed in pop culture and mass media, how deep or meaningful an interest in Furry is varies greatly from person to person. Also, the breadth of a person's interest in the fandom, and what ultimately makes them furry, is specific to each individual. Below is a list of common interests with which a fur is likely to identify. A furry may be interested in any or all of them, to any degree.

Someone claiming to be furry would also be part of the [[furry fandom]].

== Furry's gamut of interests ==
==== Cartoons and games ====
Interest in anthropomorphic animals and/or creatures can be as simple as the many popular furry cartoon characters, known as [[funny animal]]s. These may include [[Bugs Bunny]], [[Tony the Tiger]], [[Sly Cooper]], [[Star Fox]], etc. However, someone who merely happens to like these characters is not necessarily a furry; the degree and nature of one's interest is relevant here.

==== Spirituality ====
Some furs believe they have a spiritual connection to a particular animal which is typically their [[fursona]], but also may be a [[totem]]. Strong spiritual believers may often say that they are "an animal in a human body" (and in fact may identify themselves as [[Otherkin]], [[Were]]s and/or [[Therian]]s). [[Lifestyler|Furry lifestylers]] often fall into this category.

==== Art and creativity ====
Some furs may be interested only in the creative aspects of the furry fandom. Furry content, both online and off, is easy to obtain, and available in vast amounts, and furs produce new works regularly. Furry artwork is also done by many nonfurries as well in targeting the fandom. Others may disassociate themselves from the fandom and refer to themselves as funny animal artists. Furries may also enjoy [[role-playing]] a particular furry character or fursona, sometimes writing about this character or recording their online interactions for posterity.

==== Fursuiting ====
A relatively ''un''common practice among furries is to dress up in a costume that is typically designed after a fursona.<ref>[[News:UC_Davis_posts_furry_survey_results|UC Davis Posts Furry Survey Results]]</ref> These "[[fursuits]]" are usually worn at [[conventions]], and a few are even designed to accommodate sexual situations.

==== Sexuality ====
To some furs, the sexual [[Xenophilia|attraction]] to anthropomorphic animals is a part of what makes them furry. This is a topic of much controversy, as it has been the subject of early media attention (such as that from [[Wired|Wired Magazine]] and [[Vanity Fair]]), leading to its becoming a common conception of furry community at large. This has spawned a few groups in response (such as the [[Burned Furs]]) with a desire to discourage this angle, or create a clear distinction between these furries and the rest of the community.

== Other contexts of Furry ==
From within the fandom, anything classified as an anthropomorphic animal and/or creature could be called a furry. That could be anything from [[Scooby Doo]] to various sports [[mascot]]s to [[Omaha the Cat Dancer]]. Since mainstream characters are generally not created with furries in mind, the furry context is presumed by most outsiders to not be present despite subcultural interest.

Any art showcasing anthropomorphic animals is generally considered furry artwork. Artwork that contains furries in sexual situations may be called [[yiff]] or [[spooge]] art.

==== Non-furry furries ====
Anthropomorphic creatures that are also considered to be furry (even with the lack of pelt or fur) include (but are not limited to): [[dragon]]s and [[lizard]]s (also known as [[scalies]] and [[herp]]s, respectively,) [[bird]]s and [[gryphon]]s (also known as [[featheries]] or '''[[avian]]s''',) and [[taur]]s ([[centaur]]s being the prime example.)

== See also ==
*[[Furries]]
*[[Furry fan]]
*[[Furry fandom]]
*[[Fursuit|Fursuiter]]
*[[Furry (IRC)|#furry]]
*[[Furvert]]
*[[Lifestyler]]
*[[wikipedia:Furry|Furry]] on [[Wikipedia]]
*[http://www.slhistory.org/index.php/Anthro Furry] on the SL History Wiki
*[http://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Furry Furry] (Фу́рри) on the Russian Wikipedia

== External links ==

* [http://www.tigerden.com/infopage/furry/intro.html PeterCat's Furry InfoPage]
* [http://www.tigerden.com/infopage/furry/furfaq.txt FAQ] for [[alt.fan.furry]]
* [http://www.loganberry.furtopia.org/essays/rabbitingon.html Rabbiting On - a personal view of furry]

[[Category:Terms]]
[[Category:Culture]]

[[cs:Furry]]
[[de:Furry]]
[[fr:Furry]]
[[fi:Turri]]

== Notes ==
<references/>