This thread is intended to help each other gain insight into themes and conventions that are opaque, for whatever reason, to individual understanding. No judgments, no derision, and only the most carefully crafted humor should be employed, as the purpose here is increasing understanding.

So; my first thing is furries. I found out about it from the derision that people were heaping on it, kind of a cousin to LARP derision, it seemed to me. I joined in derision after a while, but then realized that just isn't who I *am*. I'm not a person that really wants to have that kind of relationship to subcultures (that don't involve stuff I'm ethically opposed to on some level).

Is there bestiality involved, for reals? What's the overlap with yiffin'? If my friend is a furry, is he automatically a yiffer?

Understand: I don't get out the way I used to and even if I did, the aura of insular affirmation and general anonymity of the practice seems to be such that I'd probably not discover much, anyway (because I'm not really willing to participate - it's NOT a judgment thing, it's a seriously married thing (and our little catalog of kinks is full (she outraces me, it seems, these days in the weirdo department (I end up having to do a lot of confusing work and creative improv (why am I telling you this? (probably to demonstrate my willingness to be open as possible, here)))))).

There are obviously several subcultures within the subculture;

• I note that there are the .... what to call them? - "mascot" style furries, that like the big eyes, the cartooned proportions, the stylized/hyperfetishized 'art' style, if you will.

• I note that there are *insanely* detailed and hyperrealistic animal outfits.

• I note that there is at least some crossover between these two groups - is there any animosity or friction?

• I note that there a strong crossover of furry / slavery cultures; long story, but that's kind of what led to this willingness on my part to openly admit: "this confuses me". "Goreans" (feel free to ask me; this I know a bit about) seem to have incorporated a certain amount of furry / Neko / animal-based-identity into the dom/sub lifestyle.


?: What can you tell me about all this?

?: Is there a unified community for the "whole scene" - is there a unified community for the subcultures?

?: the bee thing: please, someone help me understand the bee thing. Long story short: it would help me feel more comfortable about life in general if someone could help me sound out the boundaries of the bee thing without actually having to get involved, or risk offending someone by asking questions that might inadvertently come off as judgmental or derisive. That is not my intent. I'm direct, and honest, and sometimes that leads people to believe I'm being flippant or humorous (esp. online). The bee thing really causes a question mark to appear over my head.

?: Are there species-defined subcultures? Do cryptozoological furries mix easily with "real world" furries?

Let's get this all out in the open. I hate all this secrecy.