"It sounds like you are arguing semantics and taking that description way too literal. I have no doubt there are plenty of furries (otherkin) who feel a spiritual connection to an animal but don't actually incorporate those traits in to their life beyond just a feeling."
Otherkin is a completely different context because the term simply describes a person's psychology and therefore people can identify as otherkin to varying degrees. But "lifestyle" does not describe a psychology, it describes a behaviour, and the majority of furry fandom now take it as standard that "furry lifestyler" refers to people who engage in animalistic behaviours. Hence the term does not represent me.
"And where in my original post did I mention mental illness?"
It was in reference to Boomer, although I admit that I assumed you were connecting it to him wanting to be a dog. I don't know if Boomer has unrelated mental issues, I just know that I've seen Kage and others insinuate that Boomer is mentally ill for wanting to be a dog, and I found that offensive.
"My stance is just that if you can't regard or talk about furry to other people in the same manner you would with any other usual hobby (sports, motorcycle riding, music, etc.), then you are taking the fandom much. too far."
Again, you keep insisting that because furry is just a hobby to you, that it must universally be just a hobby to everyone. I was half-joking when I came up with the word, "hobbyist-normativity" but it looks like this is seriously going to be a thing when talking about furry fandom from now on.
I am not taking a hobby too far, I am expressing my core identity to the extent that I am comfortable.
"It sounds like you are arguing semantics and taking that description way too literal. I have no doubt there are plenty of furries (otherkin) who feel a spiritual connection to an animal but don't actually incorporate those traits in to their life beyond just a feeling."
Otherkin is a completely different context because the term simply describes a person's psychology and therefore people can identify as otherkin to varying degrees. But "lifestyle" does not describe a psychology, it describes a behaviour, and the majority of furry fandom now take it as standard that "furry lifestyler" refers to people who engage in animalistic behaviours. Hence the term does not represent me.
"And where in my original post did I mention mental illness?"
It was in reference to Boomer, although I admit that I assumed you were connecting it to him wanting to be a dog. I don't know if Boomer has unrelated mental issues, I just know that I've seen Kage and others insinuate that Boomer is mentally ill for wanting to be a dog, and I found that offensive.
"My stance is just that if you can't regard or talk about furry to other people in the same manner you would with any other usual hobby (sports, motorcycle riding, music, etc.), then you are taking the fandom much. too far."
Again, you keep insisting that because furry is just a hobby to you, that it must universally be just a hobby to everyone. I was half-joking when I came up with the word, "hobbyist-normativity" but it looks like this is seriously going to be a thing when talking about furry fandom from now on.
I am not taking a hobby too far, I am expressing my core identity to the extent that I am comfortable.