Furries Against Nonhumanity
1. IN SHORT
2. SPECIES DYSPHORIA, EUPHORIA, AND THE ISSUE WITH THESE TERMS AS THEY ARE
3. THE IRREPARABLE DISSONANCE BETWEEN “NON-HUMANS” AND FURRIES
4. ADRESSING MISINFORMATION
5. WHAT CAN WE DO? / CONCLUSION
In Short
“Furries Against Nonhumanity” is, to put it simply, the beginning of a “movement” striving for positive change within furry spaces.As our title may suggest, most* of all this is in opposition of “non-human”/“therianthrope” -identifying individuals and their overwhelming presence inside furry communities. This, alongside the erasure of furry-adjacent experiences with the intention of them falling under the “therianthrope” umbrella is an exponentially growing issue in the fandom.*It should be made very clear that this ”movement” takes a very explicit, and very strong stance of anti-homophobia, anti-transphobia, anti-racism, anti-conservatism, and anti-bigotry in general, especially in regard to the furry fandom.
SPECIES DYSPHORIA, EUPHORIA, AND THE ISSUE WITH THESE TERMS AS THEY ARE
”Species Dysphoria”
For those unfamiliar, species dysphoria is a phenomenon easily described as a strong discomfort/distress with one’s species, typically in varying levels of intensity.It is quite available information that, for most furries, the interest runs deeper than a slight hobby. Species dysphoria of at least some degree is, in fact, recorded in a high number of furries*.It is typically viewed as adjacent, if not part of concepts including “alterhumanity”, “non-humanity”, and “therianthropy”, though this could not be further from the truth. As it turns out, this is a frighteningly common furry experience. The experience has previously been tied strongly to “alterhumanity”, but there is nothing supporting the idea that it is actually adjacent to that beyond pre-established notions. Acting like such a thing is true is plainly harmful and incorrect.
*Reciepts. The image below was posted to reddit recently, and had very overwhelming collective interaction/agreement from several hundreds of furries, proving that species dysphoria of some amount is common within furries.
”Species Euphoria”
“Species euphoria” is precisely what it sounds like. The opposite of species dysphoria, a comfort/sense of happiness regarding one’s “species”.Once again, this is an even more common furry experience. There isn’t much else to say here other than that this term faces the same issues as “species dysphoria”. It is not at all adjacent to “being an animal” in any way.
The issue with these terms as they are
There is a clear, already-established problem here. These terms are loaded with years of misdirection, and as a result, are borderline dangerous in how many regular individuals have by now been coaxed and misinformed into identifying as “non-human” due to their feelings.One goal is to separate these terms from “alterhuman” spaces — it’s just as relevant to them as it is to us. there isn’t enough meaningful correlation with these experiences to warrant it being seen as an “alterhuman” experience at all.
THE IRREPARABLE DISSONANCE BETWEEN “NONHUMANS” AND FURRIES
It should be clear by now that there is a very uncomfortable and un-acknowledged split between furries and non-human identifying individuals. Even still, there are further issues between us.• Something you may notice is the way furries talk about their fursonas, and anthropomorphic characters in general. The popular desire to become that thing, one way or another. A lot of these discussions are just — inappropriate for non-human identifying individuals to participate in or be around.• A lot of furries would probably call someone who’s able to “feel like an animal” or “perceive themselves as an animal” lucky. They are, quite plainly, better off than us, especially when you consider that a lot of us suffer with “their” struggles already. Their (very forced) inclusion in furry spaces is harshly insulting.• The whole “I am an animal” talk does not fit in well with “I wish i was an animal” talk. As well as that, the “you can be an animal” idea that is pushed around is, again, harmful.• Part of furry is, undeniably, “being an animal” on some level non-physically. The more “non-human” individuals that invade upon the space, the more constant reminders of our humanity there are around us. as in, “you humans need to accept us “animals”!” and that genuinely dampens a lot of the enjoyment to be had out of the community. Because we’re not really animals, and they want to make that very clear.None of this is to say that “non-humans” can’t have an interest in anthropomorphic animals. of course they can. but they can’t properly interact with the greater community and honestly consider themselves a part of it.
ADRESSING MISINFORMATION
Misinformation is rampant around these spaces, especially due to a lot of things previously mentioned. Anyways, this should be reiterated:• Being comfortable/happy as an animal is a part of furry, not “therianthropy”, and it is almost exclusively a sign/adjacent of the former.• Species dysphoria is a part of furry, not “therianthropy”, and it is almost exclusively a sign/adjacent of the former. Normal people suffer from it just as often, mainly furries
• Therianthropes >DO NOT< actively want to be animals. They identify as animals, whether that be spiritually, psychologically, or physically. They consider themselves to be animals in some way, and their “desire” to be an animal (bodily) is much less intense and much shallower than what may be exhibited in a furry most of the time.• So-called “signs” of being a therianthrope/non-human identifying individual include experiences such as being unable to help seeing yourself as a non-human creature internally, perceiving yourself as such, and so on. Again, species dysphoria/euphoria is not relevant here.• The furry community was built from the ground up by queer people. Not non-human identifying individuals. It is a safe space for people from all walks of life, but yet again, it’s not for them. That is not bigotry, but the statement of a fact.
WHAT CAN WE DO? / CONCLUSION
This is not an easy fix, not at all. This is a problem that runs deep within the community, and it’s not going to disappear overnight (maybe not ever). but we can still try. Be vocal, let yourself be known, and let them know that we will not tolerate it.In an ideal world, there aren’t any “non-humans” around these spaces at all, and we dont have to persistently argue to get others to know that “species dysphoria” is more a sign of being human than it is anything else. In the meantime, we can work together, and if we persist, one day we’ll get close enough.Thank you for taking your time to read through this. I hope that you are able to contribute in some way.
This is still partly a work in progress. Things may be added, and things may change