Human
From WikiFur, the furry encyclopedia.
Human beings are one of the members of the family Hominidae, which also includes chimpanzees, orangutans, and gorillas. They are the only existent member of the genus Homo.
Numbering somewhat more than six billion, they are a ubiquitous species on the planet Earth. They are distinct from other primates in that they are bipedal, possess syntactic language, and make use of technology to modify the world around them.
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[edit] Humans and furry
[edit] In furry worlds
Human beings are fairly common in stories (art, literature, film, etc) depicting anthropomorphic characters (furry media). In many, perhaps particularly in children's movies, they cohabit with anthropomorphic characters and may or may not be aware of their presence or their intelligence. Indeed, recognition of this--and subsequent relationship between humans and furry elements--may be a plot point. In others, it is scarcely addressed.
Where the two are present concurrently and aware of the other, the relationship between them may be friendly or antagonistic. In some cases, there seems to be little inherent problem; the universe of Gene Roddenberry's "Star Trek" acting as a prime illustration. In others, for example Larry Niven's Ringworld, conflicts exist but are not bred from anything in the 'difference' between man and 'the other.'
In others, however, the existence of this difference itself is a key motivation for antagonism. In some instances this is presented as an analogue of the Civil Rights movement, generally with the furry characters acting out the role of the oppressed minority. Personal relationships across species lines can be depicted as stigmatized, recalling beliefs about miscegenation.
In some instances, the very existence of anthropomorphic characters is credited to human beings, as in Clifford Simak's City or a number of less well-known pieces of literature. Here, this very fact may enter into the details of the dynamic between the two, recalling to some degree the fascination of science fiction with robotics and artificial intelligence.
Of course, a number of stories lack humans entirely. Occasionally an explanation is presented for this that acknowledges the once or current existence of human beings, though more frequently the rules of the universe simply replace them outright with furry counterparts. This, as well, is a comparatively common setup in anthropomorphic literature and artwork; perhaps the dominant archetype.
[edit] In real life
While all members of the furry fandom simultaneously belong to the species Homo sapiens, this fact in and of itself seems to be occasionally a source of conflict: outside observers may notice a current of misanthropy running through some of the fandom, manifesting itself in ways subtle and otherwise. Additionally, a small but not necessarily insignificant percentage of furries appear to repudiate their ties to the human race entirely.
Furthermore, and somewhat intriguingly, the separation between furry and non-furry mentioned in the previous section--if not truly antagonistic--may not confine itself entirely to the world of art and the imagination. Online role-playing program Second Life supports a furry community that, according to an article in the Austin 360, practices a degree of self-imposed segregation between itself and 'human' role-players. [1]
[edit] References
1. Stafford, Joe. "Exploring the World of 'Second Life'" Austin 360. 23 January 2005. Available online
