What does being a furry mean to you?

Hi!

I've been interested in actually understanding the furry community, and I noticed that its definition is kind of ambiguous — unique to each person.

There are people who wear their fursuits as a form of escapism and comfort, as a form of expressing their inner selves (maybe repressed strengths and talents that only their fursona can bring to the surface), as an instrument of fetish or just for the fun of characterizing themselves.

I'm curious to know what being a furry means to you, for what reason your fursona exists and what do you think should or shouldn't be accepted in the community.

I'm now considering myself a furry and embracing this side of me, I'd say for all the reasons I said above, but I'm still trying to understand all of u.

Thanks!