I feel like we're getting our wires crossed here. I'm not challenging the meaning of furry lifestyler in its entirety. 99% of what is described on Wikifur makes perfect sense. I just don't like the couple of sentences I quoted earlier, which conflate core identity (what you are) with the expression of that core identity (how you choose to behave / the lifestyle).
And you're absolutely right that I'm not a furry lifestyler. In fact, I explicitly said as such. I call myself a core furry, which simply means that I hold furry to be a core identity. The problem is that what defines me as a core furry is listed on Wikifur under "furry lifestyler". So when I say, "Furry is an inseparable part of myself.", other people will say, "That sounds exactly like the definition of furry lifestyler on Wikifur, so you must be a furry lifestyler".
All I want is for the distinction between core identity and lifestyle recognised by furry fandom, and I don't think that would do any damage to the furry lifestyler community. I'm not asking for anyone to give up anything, only for a clarification of what it means to be furry.
I feel like we're getting our wires crossed here. I'm not challenging the meaning of furry lifestyler in its entirety. 99% of what is described on Wikifur makes perfect sense. I just don't like the couple of sentences I quoted earlier, which conflate core identity (what you are) with the expression of that core identity (how you choose to behave / the lifestyle).
And you're absolutely right that I'm not a furry lifestyler. In fact, I explicitly said as such. I call myself a core furry, which simply means that I hold furry to be a core identity. The problem is that what defines me as a core furry is listed on Wikifur under "furry lifestyler". So when I say, "Furry is an inseparable part of myself.", other people will say, "That sounds exactly like the definition of furry lifestyler on Wikifur, so you must be a furry lifestyler".
All I want is for the distinction between core identity and lifestyle recognised by furry fandom, and I don't think that would do any damage to the furry lifestyler community. I'm not asking for anyone to give up anything, only for a clarification of what it means to be furry.