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species stereotypes?

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1Report
Tyco at 8 Mar 2008: 03:04

I have a question for everyone:

I am of the understanding that some species in the fandom have automatic stereotypes often associated with them, for example ferret=hyper.
Of course, being STEREOTYPES, they're not always right, so don't get into a flame war over stereotypes being used as the only opinion.

What I'd like to know is, what other species have stereotypes associated with them, if any? For that matter, if i'm wrong about ferrets, correct me, please.

Specifically, since I'm a skunk, I'd like to know if there are any stereotypes associated with skunks.

Thanks in advance,
-Tyco

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at 8 Mar 2008: 03:18

Skunks sterotype: Smelly.
Pigs: Muddy/Likes being dirty.
Dogs/Canines: Loyal.
Cheetahs: Good runners.
Equines: Large-shafted (without considering hypertrophic scenarios).
Dragons: Possessive/collectors.
Foxes: Slutty.

Probably lots more..

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Tyco at 8 Mar 2008: 03:33

:( do skunks really only have a reputation for being smelly?

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Sen at 8 Mar 2008: 03:44

I've really found it amazing how many people can pair up with an anthropomorphic skunk. I figured the smell would be overwhelming.

That's what I usually remember them for. Remarkably fresh-scent or something.

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Tyco at 8 Mar 2008: 03:50

not to spam my own topic, but you actually reminded me: I actually don't really find skunk smell that offensive unless it's REALLY strong. At low concentrations, it's almost pleasant. Guess I'm just weird like that.

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at 8 Mar 2008: 06:49

>>5
You've actually smelled a skunk? O_o

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Morgan at 8 Mar 2008: 08:57

I don't know what you mean by 'stereotypes' .. If you mean animals, then its pretty obvious.. But I've noticed a funny trend of certain kinds of people picking certain species.  Here are my takes:

Striped skunks:  Nice, friendly, laid-back as all hell.. The skunks I've met all strangely have varying degrees of foot fetishes.  They're also quite vengeful or resentful if they're betrayed, and can hold grudges.

Felines:  Nice to talk to, but are kind of flighty.  I've seen them hop between social groups and never really tend to stick around, IMO.

Wolves:  Friendly, the ones I've met tend to be rough around the edges and tend to have a life outside of the furry lifestyle.  IMO I think they're also sluttier, or at least more 'dirty-minded' than foxes.  =)

Foxes:  Sensual, giggly and flirty.  The few I've met tend to share effeminate demeanors, and they wear it well. 

Lions:  A lot of them seem to like to cuddle a lot.  Aside from that, they're as friendly as most of the fandom.

Rabbit:  Haven't met enough, but the few I met are flirty, sensual (even publicly), friendly and sociable but oddly selective all at the same time.  Not ALL of them are bouncy.  The few I've known, you catch at the right moment and they can be pretty emo'ish.

Bats:  They can be pretty shy but still approachable.  They're reluctant and cautious to strangers and some even tend to be a touch caustic, jaded.. The lot of them (Including myself) have a love for the actual animal (bats, fruit bats) itself and have at least spread bat-awareness.  Being a fruit bat in the fandom, I've met a very small handful of bats.  I hate to admit that albiet a bare majority of them, they can be drama-whores and are weary about meeting with one another.  I don't blame them, as I've heard ugly stories against "famous" gothy-type furs like kurtzbatz while others prefer social "solitude" and can be hard to spot.  Approaching and saying hello shouldn't be TOO much of an issue.  Not ALL of them are gothy, and can be geeky.  IMO, its the most least unified set of species I've run into, and I tried to be a unifying force a number of times with no success.  I myself try to be friendly and sociable, but these are my experiences, and has taught me to sort of avoid the "famous" type and those who tend to brown-nose to get into their favour.

Dragons:  It ranges between dominant, outgoing, leaders of a group (the majority I've met) to submissive and reserved (the minority).  This is also the group I've encountered with varying degrees of "eccentricities" which either have made them interesting-- Or the downright crazy and poorly mal-adjusted, the source of horrid drama.

Mouse:  Shy, and reserved but prefer to be approached than to approach.  Usually that gets them talking.

8Report
David at 8 Mar 2008: 13:06

>>7

Blammo, really close for Felines and Lions
Yet I have the feeling there are two different groups of Felines
Those that are rather 'cute' and, to put it bluntly, Subby.
Others are over Dominating. For example, the only one I know IRL here seems to have the urge to boss everyone around and stand tall. Yet I can't base my judgements on 'one' single person.

Personally I agree on Foxes being giggly and flirty,
Yet I have my questions about Bats and all that being uber-gothic and all that, like you said, most of them aren't.

To bad I can hardly say for the rest, furries are pretty much extinct here -.-;

---
And yeah this is pretty much a sheeeteeey post.

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at 8 Mar 2008: 15:37

These are some of the stereotypes I've noticed that are actually generated by the people they refer to:

Wolves: strong willed, often even if they're subbies. Volatile, usually noticeably damaged, and due to that, prone to drama. There seems to be two major classes of wolves: the loners and the clingers. The loners rarely associate with other wolves, though can often be quite sociable and have lots of friends. The clingers meet other wolves and try to get close to them immediately, and be part of "packs." Despite this, I find they're still usually pretty open to non-wolves, though some of the more dominant ones tend to be lupocentric.

Most felines: Fickle, but often friendly. They can be hard to keep hold of in lasting friendships and relationships, but they're generally nice enough.

Cougars: Dominant, aloof. Sometimes difficult to communicate with.

Skunks: Friendly and reliable. I've actually never met a skunk I disliked, which is quite odd considering how many I've encountered. They tend to be nice to everyone who doesn't go out of their way to piss them off, and are generally great people to have as friends. (No, I'm not a skunk, I'm a wolf. :P)


Dragons: Varied, almost always dracocentric. (IE, they gravitate towards other dragons) Most of them seem arrogant and very damaged (more so than wolves) and are the most common sources of teh drama in furry. Despite this, a minority among them are some of the kindest people I've ever met, if you forgive them the dracocentricty. I guess they're a very extreme species. :P

Scalies: Quiet, insular. Tend to only associate with other scalies mostly.

Snakes/Nagas: Callous, cold, dominant. A lot of people who RP as snakes/nagas seem to like perpetuating the unfortunate Western stereotypes about them. I've met... one who isn't like that, and he's great. His idea of a snake-hug is _not_ meant to asphyxiate you.

Bunnies: Honestly, I haven't noticed any real stereotypes about them, except perhaps their extremeness. They're extremely varied, but they usually tend to be "very ___" and rarely in the middle. I've met a lot of bunnies who were very kind or very energetic, and some who were the most tremendous assholes I've ever met.

Bats: I dunno, can't think of any stereotypes, I just think they're adorable. <3

10Report (sage)
at 8 Mar 2008: 19:22

Skunks: Tend to claim they like skunk spray, even though they never smelled a skunk and not even actual skunks can't stand the stench. And it's meant to be like that, otherwise skunks would be pretty much fucked up out there. They just need something to confirm their 'difference' every furry wants to point out somehow.

11Report
PW at 8 Mar 2008: 22:33

I'd just like to say that you almost got that one right. I'm a skunk, and I originally became one because I THOUGHT it was original. Boy was I wrong. I kept it, though, for many reasons, one of which that it is still a very 'different' species. I do like skunk spray, but I HAVE smelled a skunk and they reek, god-awful like. I hate the smell, love the idea. I'm sure real skunks are the same way... >.> 'Course, I may be your exception.

Other stereotypes:

Bunnies are actually frisky, red pandas have white hair, dragons have a superiority complex, giraffes are tall.

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Tyco at 9 Mar 2008: 07:06

Sounds like my opinion of being skunk-like sounds about right then; most of those stereotypes fit me pretty well. :D

Thank you all for the info and the insight into all the species. This thread is very educational. And please, by all means, continue to add to it. I, however, have the information I was looking for. Again, thanks!

Now, replies to above posts:
>>9 I also agree that bats are awesome, and immensely unique and amazing creatures. Skunks can be really cute too though. :D
>>7 foxes do wear effeminate demeanors well, the few that I've met.
>>7 I'm afraid I don't break that mold either ;)
>>6 Only smelled them when they are nearby (I do live in skunk country), never actually been that close to one. Probably would be WAY too overpowering if sprayed, or immediately next to one. But the smell, when it's just hanging mildly in the air, I find to be genuinely pleasant. I grew up in an obscenely wet forested climate, where something colloquially called "skunk cabbage" grew everywhere. Guess I got used to it, and it reminds me of home, or something.

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at 9 Mar 2008: 12:49

I remember a thread like this a long while back on lulz.

Being lulz, the conversation was focused on what kind of dysfunctional a given furry's going to be, based on what species they use as their 'fursona,' and what fetishes they're likely to have. The only sources we used were people's experiences on SL and Taps.

If I remember correctly, it was generally agreed that Dragons have the largest, most fragile egos and are the most likely to have illusions of grandeur. Not that otherkin-type spirituality is a bad thing, but if taken too literally and focused on TOO MUCH it's likely to be a dragon. Even without the otherkin weirdness, they're likely to be cocky enough that they will have a bit of a superiority complex over non-dragon fursonas.

Rabbits oddly enough are often into dom BDSM, but otherwise seem to have it together.

Foxes tend to be unoriginal and uncreative, and they often take the sluttiness stereotype to heart and let it define most of their in-game behavior.

Wolves tend to be relatively normal as long as they don't get into the "Wolf at Spirit" thing too obsessively. When they do, they can be worse than dragons about it.

Horses often tend to be zoophiles.

Same with Huskies. And huskies are also seemingly the most likely to be gay. I mean, not just gay, but *gay*. Flamingly gay. Pathologically gay. "My gayness is what defines me" type gay.

Cetaceans (dolphins and orcas) seem to often have a superiority complex as strong as the dragons do, but they're usually more quiet about it and so you could say it is more just plain cockiness than a real complex... They also seem to have a large percentage of them interested in fetishes around urinating and hermaphroditism, group sex, and exhibitionism. It was suggested that this could mean they're rather inhibited individuals in real life and use their fursonas to let the inhibitions fall away, more so than other furries do.

Big-cat furries such as lions and tigers are often bearers of inflated egos. Usually this isn't too bad because they often seem to be somewhat aware of it, and can take razzing as well as most other people. In RP they become a bit more annoying, and less likely to concede any type of dominance to any other character in any situation.

The interesting thing about big-cat fursona users is that, the more stable and well-adjusted they are, the more they enjoy being light-heartedly dominated; i.e. shown to be a 'big ol'pussycat' rather than a fierce predator. An appreciation for irony may be common to these people.

Bird-type fursonas seem to be relatively normal, usually, although they can remain aloof and might have some of the same complexes as dragons, but generally if they do they identify themselves as 'phoenixes,' 

Oddly enough gryphons seem to be more similar to the cetacean fursona users.

Normal bird-type fursonas are likely to be relatively normal; even moreso when they make noises like crows and other humble avian creatures- "Awk!" for example. Or "Wark!"


Dinosaur furries seem to generally be the most stable, but they often seem to have large fixations on macro/stomp fetishes, and some of them have disturbing fixations on violence. The "Guro" fetishists are often dinosaurs with sharp teeth and claws.

Mice and rat users also seem to be fairly well adjusted, but a small fraction of them may be fixated on trying to be 'cute'. This is, however, uncommon. It is likely I think that they may be consciously acknowledging their own shyness in real life and letting it help them decide which fursona is 'fitting' to their personality.

The same thing goes to small lizards and snakes, to an extent. However several of them seem to be more deviant, and it seems that a large amount of them are somewhat socially maladjusted.

***

It was generally agreed that the more humble a fursona creature is, the more likely it is that the user has no issues. Mice and rats, for example, small lizards, and common birdies. The more exotic, powerful, cunning, (i.e. foxes, coyotes) or mystifying a species is taken to be the more likely its user will have some kind of problem in real life and is, perhaps, compensating by identifying with an animal that the think has the qualities that they desire for themselves.

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Hearty Luckwish! at 9 Mar 2008: 12:57

What species is most likely to have a Nazi uniform fetish?

15Report
at 9 Mar 2008: 13:51

That would be hard to say. I think most of the pictures I've seen have featured dogs, wolves, and foxes, so I guess canids.

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lost souls at 9 Mar 2008: 18:13

>>1
I also kind of like the skunk smell at the right dose. Personally, I intially picked a fox fursona, because I'm unoriginal and uncreative (I understand and accept that).

After thinking about my personality-- non-approaching, shy, introverted slacker/junkie type with a severe obbessive/compulsive streak (Think Joey Ramone)-- I realize that a fox fursona doesn't fit at all. I feel more like some kind of pet rodent: specifically, a hamster.

What stereotypes, if any, exist about them?

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at 9 Mar 2008: 18:59

I don't think that they were ever mentioned. And, of course, I haven't had enough experience with them to make any kind of generalization.

Also I might add that there may indeed be several fox fursona users who are quite creative and do not readily adhere to the slutty stereotype. We *are* talking stereotypes, so it follows that having such-and-such fursona doesn't necessarily mean you have such-and-such personality traits/quirks/problems.

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at 9 Mar 2008: 19:01

>>13
That's a pretty good breakdown =p

If I had a penny for every fragile ego "my way or... I'll go cry" dragon I've seen, hardly "big powerful lizard".

I usually identify with Lynx... so I guess that makes me a sort of "little big cat", read into that what you will xD

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at 9 Mar 2008: 21:16

>>18

Hmm. Well, perhaps you see yourself as having a rather unassuming demeanor that belies the fact that you're capable of, you know, clawing and biting. As it were.

Sort of the opposite of the big-cat stereotype, maybe? You appear to be more of a pussycat, but can actually be a fierce predator. Just take care that that doesn't go to your head.  ;)

20Report
AnonIhmus at 11 Mar 2008: 02:07

Anyone still reading this?
I'm a dog. Albino German Shepherd... Got a breakdown for that?

21Report (sage)
miw at 11 Mar 2008: 05:45

>>20
dogs cant use a computer.
you are not a dog.

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Jono at 11 Mar 2008: 16:09

>>20
You're trying to break away from the mundane-ness of being a fairly common dog by pairing it with an unusual condition, in this case albinism.

Oh well, I suffer from the same sort of thing: I'm a bluewuff. ^^

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lost souls at 11 Mar 2008: 20:09

What stereotypes exist for hamsters/gerbils?

I'd like to break away from the mundane-ness of foxhood (as much as I find the 'bi and hyperyiffy' stereotype appealing).

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at 12 Mar 2008: 01:10

Raccoons: Usually depicted as theives due to the face mask.

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at 12 Mar 2008: 04:19

in my experience:
 Dragons are paranoid, and slow to trust.
 Mythicals tend towards more extreme versions of the traits of the
common animal(s) they resemble.
 Squirrels are Dichotomous, at times, nearly bipolar.
 Skunks, tend towards Self-esteem issues.
 Catgirls are almost universally Ditzy.

and there is simon and garfunkel's perspective:
monkeys stand for honesty,
Giraffes are insincere.
the elephants are kindly, but they're dumb.
orangutans are skeptical of changes in their cages,
and the zookeeper is very fond of rum.
Zebras are reactionaries,
Antelopes are missionaries
Pidgeons plot in secrecy
and Hamsters turn on frequently

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at 12 Mar 2008: 11:39

This discussion is ratter silly. I think people just pick one animal they like (either how it looks or behaves) and that's it. It doesn't involve some deep psychological reason for choosing this and not that. I must say I'm getting bored whit this pseudo-profiling which seems to be popular in everything these days. 

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at 12 Mar 2008: 16:11

Perhaps there is some subconcious bias towards creatures that relate to our real selves in some manner. Certainly, there is room for both schools of thought on the issue. and of course, Some people play up the stereotypes just for shits and giggles.

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at 12 Mar 2008: 17:03

I'd say that, for the more deviant furries, they choose the species based on the qualities they WANT, not necessarily already have. The insecure are simply more likely to choose to be a dragon or bengal tiger or some other equally majestic animal because they think it'll make people be in awe of them, and respect them, and let them be the center of attention.

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