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Profile: Furries

An Outsider’s Look into Furnation

by BigOldFlyinShip Feb. 29 2011

Furnation is a place like no other.  In fact, it’s not even a place.  Furnation is a way of life.  Furries hail from all corners of the globe, not only in Second Life, but in real life, and other parts of the web as well.  

Many furries dwell within the realm of Second Life, where creativity is nearly limitless.  As I explored the sims of Furnation, I saw many interesting things and met many interesting individuals.  As I interacted with a number of them, it was difficult to choose my words correctly, as I had no clue what could be perceived as offensive.  I was literally clueless.  But everyone I chatted with was extremely friendly, and willing to answer any questions I had.  I quickly came to the conclusion that Furnation was a very amiable society.

Furnation is a fun-loving place whose citizens live off the beaten path.  Cave Drawer, who I ran into as I explored, put the appeal of being a furry very simply.

“Very creative.”

“Each one has a unique different personality.”

“friendly too.”

Every furry I talked to had the same opinion.  They enjoy each others’ openness and creativity, and the friendliness they show each other. The normalcy most people (and avatars) find comfortable is simply not enough for those who live a “furry” lifestyle.  These individuals seek something outside of what’s normal.  As far as fun goes, fur is their outlet.

Sometimes, however, friendliness and uniqueness can have its downfalls, as Furnation knows all too well.  Furnation has long been the target of ridicule from Goons, a band of characters whose users stemmed from the humor site, Something Awful.

Furnation is still going strong though, and furries seem to be enjoying themselves within Second Life as much as ever.  To outsiders like me, the first thing that came to mind before I actually learned the ins and outs of the culture, was that all these characters did was dress up in animal suits and run around having sex with each other.  While this is certainly not the case, as I found out quickly, there is a strong culture of sex within Furnation.  When asked about the appeal of sex as furries, Cave Drawer told me,

“It’s more colorful.”

The sexual aspect, like most other aspects of Furnation, are just that: more colorful.  But while many people think first of sex when the topic of furries comes into discussion, Furnation is not a purely sexual culture.  Corsi Mousehold, the top of the hierarchy in the sims I visited, made it clear that sex is not the prime attraction of Furnation.  When I asked about the sexual nature of furries, Corsi surprised me with the response that,

“There really isn't one. We frown on open sex in the sims.”

Corsi continued to inform me about the places where furries are allowed to pursue sexual encounters and engage in what suits their interests.  However, users have raised concern about furries and non furries engaging in sexual activity.  This form of interaction could be interpreted as a form of bestiality, and, according to the book, Sex Lives in Second Life by Robert Alan Brookey andKristopher L. Cannon, 

“Linden Lab, which reserves the right to restrict ‘‘broadly offensive’’ behavior in SL,

should begin cracking down on the sexual activity of Furries.”

One important thing that some people may not think about is that behind the fur-covered avatar is a user that is very much human.  These users have human interests as well as their furry virtual intuitions.  One of these interests is making money.  As a more creative group, furries create material and sell it just like human avatars.  EpicGordon Broome, explained to me that he earns relatively large sums of real-life money with his creations within Second Life.  But he made it clear early into our conversation that it was the design aspect he was initially pursuing.

“I got into it as a hobbyist in 3D, as it offered some simple and fun tools for easy 3D-sketchup.”

Then the money just came. 

Modestly, he told me,

“I’m pretty mediocre at what I do.”

But with the sums of money he rakes in, he can’t be that mediocre.  EpicGordon Broome’s success within Second Life demonstrates the platform of creativity on which furries and human avatars alike use to thrive.

Economics are a big part of Furnation, and in the past, Furnation was struggling with is finances.  When I asked Corsi Mousehold about the state of finances in Furnation.

“Was,” Corsi said when I asked if it was a problem.

What changed it, surprisingly, has nothing to do directly with furries as a culture.

“Guns”

Furries love combat sims within second life and buy guns created within the sims of Furnation.  Corsi even told me that human avatars enter the sims to buy guns too, and sales are booming.  On that note, Corsi made sure that the entire Second Life population be informed on the state of furnation,

“It’s not closing anytime soon.”