What's a furry? Here's my (limited) impression(s)

This is in reply to the reply left on my last post: "I take it that the MFF is not a furriers convention?" That may have been meant as a joke, but since I had almost no knowledge of what a Furry was until recently, I'll just answer assuming not.

I found this definition on a blog and it basically encompasses what I've seen/heard about it (this was cut & pasted, any misspelling is left as posted): "Furry - This can refer to members of Furry fandom or a Furry life-styler. Furry fandom refers to folks who deeply enjoy anthropomorphic mamalian characters and sometimes make puppets ("plushies") or dress up in similarly themed-costumes for conventions, just for fun. Different from Furry fans are the Furry life-stylers, who are not nearly as numerous and are sometimes called "furverts" by Furry fans. Furry life-stylers deeply associate their identity with an anthropomorphic mamalian character they've created (a "fursona") and also focus on adult relations being expressed through that alter ego. Some Furry life-stylers do not consider themselves truly human, believing that the animal alter ego is their true nature."

I think to have a picture of a furry convention probably requires going to at least one sci-fi con of any flavor. Then replace all the occasional costumed congoers with people wearing head to toe fursuits (imagine any animal sports mascot suit, minus the team regalia) and for the most part refusing to speak and communicating only via gesture. These are apparently very tiring to wear (being very heavy and not very breathable.) These people were treated like royalty at MFF. They got to go to the front of elevator lines, for one. Also got treated as if they had minor celebrity status. Although like celebrities, that meant that they had some folks up in arms for any perceived unfairness to the fursuiters whether said folks were suited or not, and some folks who thought that if you want to wear the getup that's your choice but don't try to make it my problem.

All in all, it was a fun event and I'd totally work security again this year if I was in the area. If I can afford to fly back I'll do so. I've heard lots of other things about Furries and their cons, many not very favorable, but I personally didn't notice anything that you won't find anytime you get a whole bunch (read several thousand) of idealistically passionate people who kind of know each other packed into a hotel for 5 days.