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Are You Crazy If You Fantasize about Being an Anthro IRL?

2/17/2014

4 Comments

 
Papabear,

Am I just messed up in the head? Are furries like me messed up? I wish I was an anthro a lot. Does this make me screwed up? I already have lots of mental problems like schizoaffective disorder and it would suck if this meant that I'm even more messed up.

Anonymous

* * *

Hello, Fellow Furry,

Good question, and one you usually get from mundanes, not furries—to wit: Do you have to be crazy to be a furry? Does having the urge to be a really anthropomorphic animal make you insane? I suppose, if it does, yours truly is certifiable. I think I would feel a lot more comfortable in my own skin if I looked like this IRL (art by Kleinbar). I mean, yum, hehe.

Part of this, a big part, I must admit, is my general dislike for the human race as a whole (although, not on an individual basis). This has sometimes been labeled “speciesism.” Psychologist Richard Ryder coined this term in 1970. What he was talking about, though, was human beings’ attitudes toward other animals on our planet being “only animals,” and, therefore, it was okay to kill them, ruin their habitat, and hunt them even to the point of extinction.

But, in furries, it is almost the opposite, where you get people who have a low opinion of Homo sapiens (hence, the origin of calling non-furries “mundanes”). Sometimes, this is a way for furries with low self-esteem to feel better about themselves because they are not ordinary humans. Sometimes, it is just a generalized misanthropic urge.

Then there is the fact that many furries simply find anthropomorphized characters very very attractive (hence the emergence of furporn). I, personally, have always thought a muzzle was more attractive than a flat face, that a nice, dense pelt of rich fur was beautiful, and that poofy tails are gorgeous. As a kid, heavily influenced by Disney films, of course, I wished I could jump through the screen at the movie theater and be a talking bear or wolf.

I believe, too, that many furries retreat into such fantasies because their real lives are very difficult and fantasy is a good escape that relieves tension.

Any or all of these might be true with you, take your pick, but none of them make you crazy. You know what crazy is? Crazy is the inability to perceive reality as it actually is and to make illogical choices in one’s life based on that skewed viewpoint. For example, someone believing he is the reincarnation of Napoleon Bonaparte, dressing up as a French general from the early 19th century, and then believing he is on a horse directing troops at Waterloo is crazy. Crazy is thinking that there is a demon from Hell talking in your head telling you to murder people. Crazy is Don Quixote trying to kill a windmill with his lance because he believes he is a knight fighting giants.

If you have a firm grasp on reality, if you know who you are, recognize the people and the world around you for what they are, then no, you are not crazy.

Now, you mention you have schizoaffective disorder, although you don’t explain if it is the depressive or bipolar type—no matter. There is a reason I and the professional community say “you have schizoaffective disorder” and not “you are crazy.” Because you are not crazy. You are suffering from an imbalance that causes serious mood swings, but you are not crazy.

There are many many many people out in the world leading productive, happy lives who are furries. There is nothing wrong with them; they are just into something that they get a lot of fun and pleasure out of. You should feel free to do the same.

Hope that answers your question.

Hugs,

Papabear
4 Comments
Diamond Man
2/26/2014 10:16:46 am

I am against "speciesism", but I would really like to point this out:

"speciesism" is a claim that "humans are superiors to other animals" or "Another animal being Superior to a human-animal", etc.
Hating your own race and personally wanting to be in another it's self has nothing to do with "superior" thoughts, it's nothing but a personal interest/disinterest and possibly choice.

It's kind of like (A little similar) not wanting to live in a city surrounded by other people, and then wanting to live in a more quiet (less city), and peaceful place. Know what I mean?
I am clearly (Sort of) like those kinds of people.

______

Anyway yeah, wanting to be in another form, possibly living in another world, and believing it is a really interesting thing. Believing in this (Like a reincarnated belief, or other) doesn't make anyone crazy, nor is it based on a man-made term "disorder", etc, etc...
(Not sure how one believes it on here, but do whatever makes you happy. :))
People seem to label people as "crazy" or other things just because they may have a different view on reality (I do based on strange spirit theories or something.)
And plus, according to the Law of Attraction, or other spiritual beliefs I think, people have rights to belief in anything they like no-matter why.

Reply
Papabear
2/26/2014 10:44:28 am

Hi, Diamond Man,

Actually, there was a psychologist who tried to explain furry as a form of speciesism. She explained that furries might want to be other species because they had a poor view of Homo sapiens and felt animals like wolves and lions and such were superior. Yes, this is different from the tradition use of the term, but it is one that has been used. Thanks!

Reply
Diamond Man
2/28/2014 03:49:04 am

"She explained that furries might want to be other species because they had a poor view of Homo sapiens and felt animals like wolves and lions and such were superior."

I think that person is just a furry hater, and focuses on the wrong thing because it is in a way true that "Humans/Homo sapiens" (Not all) did cause a lot of suffer and unfair torcher to other animals, etc.

I think the "traditional use" should be considered the correct one. Wanting to be in another species based on a personal belief about humans, or for basic interest of different looks it's self shouldn't be considered the same thing. (Or if it somehow was for some, it would be very harmless, since it's just avoidance.)

She also could be referring to people who believes there is something special about them, from spiritual theories, etc. But I don't think that's the same thing as a "moral" thought of "superior" as reasons to hurt humans, etc. AKA, there is a difference between abilities that are there than a "using that as reason to claim they are "better"". May be hard to explain.

Anyway, you probably won't agree but she shouldn't be comparing these kinds of things with "Speciesism", and a real issue the world had (Humans over other animals) since there has been a lot of cruel based on that and maybe other kinds of things.

Phobia Rat link
3/8/2014 07:57:34 am

Speciesism is a belief that one species is better then the other. Be it human or non human. " involves the assignment of different values, rights, or special consideration to individuals solely on the basis of their species membership."

Example: Person 1: Lions are better then all other animals, period!
Person 2: No Wolves are the best animal on the planet get out of here you moron!
Person 3: You people are just Anthropocentrics.. speciesist's trying to glorify an animal, you might want to stop before every one gets a tail in a twist.

That's my two cents ;).

Reply



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