Anthros in the Uncanny Valley?

[Eagle Kammback]

I am kind of a furry, I have no interest in wearing ears/tail, or fursuiting

though I think I would kind of like to have a fursona, problem is, I can't draw

I am on a local forum for furries, and attend a monthly bowling event, which, the best way to describe it is "Strangely fun"

I had no idea what furries (the group of people, not anthropomorphic characters) even were until I met a girl who was one, she was working at a gas station and noticed some comics I had just purchased when she was pumping my gas. Albedo Anthropomorphics, I found a bunch at the local farmer's market, and thought they were neat, so I bought them, being a sci fi, comic book geek. Well, long story short, when we finally met and she wasn't working, she was wearing a tail, and then she explained what a furry was.

And now I enjoy the whole concept, although I wouldn't do it myself

[Dublinthefox]

I am 100% a furry. I'm not really into the whole fursuit thing but I will wear a tail and ears at conventions. Even though Iv'e never been to one. I came up with a fursona for myself named Dublin Reinhart, but I have't had the time to create his physical appearence. Maybe that can be my next independant art project.

The first time I ever heard of furries was 3 years ago when one of my friends came to school wearing a wolf tail. I asked him why and he said he was going to a local fur-meet after school. Later on he told me what furries were and I thought it was pure awesomeness.

 

[Vy'drach]

I am 100% a furry. I'm not really into the whole fursuit thing but I will wear a tail and ears at conventions. Even though Iv'e never been to one.

^This is the same for me, as well.

[Sabre]

That the theory of the Uncanny Valley and furries have been going on for centuries? Please...

Furries have, just not in the current sence. Hw many myths have talking animals (even the bible has them) and civs (Ejyptain god of death for example)

[Matt Macdowel]

That the theory of the Uncanny Valley and furries have been going on for centuries? Please...

i ment something different like the hate. Just never mind.

[Asper Sarnoff]

Furries have, just not in the current sence. Hw many myths have talking animals (even the bible has them) and civs (Ejyptain god of death for example)

And cavemen have been dressing up in the pelts of beasts and dancing around for ages. I meant both of the concept of the Uncanny Valley, and furries together, which is what this topic is all about.

[Sabre]

And cavemen have been dressing up in the pelts of beasts and dancing around for ages. I meant both of the concept of the Uncanny Valley, and furries together, which is what this topic is all about.

Ah. In that case the idea of furries and the uncanny valley doesn't work, since no one is confusing humans for talking dog men.

[Fira-Astrali]

Ah. In that case the idea of furries and the uncanny valley doesn't work, since no one is confusing humans for talking dog men.

No one is confusing humans and human-like robots, either, but some still find it deeply disturbing. It not about confusion as much as it is the mind recognizing that something is either wrong with it's perceptions, or that something is doing something that it "shouldnt be doing"

And, for the record, lets not discount the theory based simply on who's name is attached to it, Freud might have originally thought of some version of this, but alot of the research has been done by a modern roboticist, at least in the field that i was working with it in. I did prove that it worked with robots via an experiment in my computers class, the question is if you think the same thing can be applied to extremely detailed, almost life-like anrthos.

I remember veiwing a picture of a very life-like anthro in a very, very lightly suggestive pose (her sweater was open or something equally as silly) which wouldnt have bothered anyone if it was a true human, but the comments were full of how sick and creepy it was. And i know some of my friends have commented on how creepy it was for me to depict and anthro male wolf sitting on a bench with an arm around his human girlfriend. I asked them why they thought it was creepy, and they didnt say anything about how furry = yiffy or anything like that, it was more answers like 'animals shouldnt act like that' or 'i dunno, its just creepy' that leads me down this line of questioning.

[Vy'drach]

No one is confusing humans and human-like robots, either, but some still find it deeply disturbing. It not about confusion as much as it is the mind recognizing that something is either wrong with it's perceptions, or that something is doing something that it "shouldnt be doing"

And, for the record, lets not discount the theory based simply on who's name is attached to it, Freud might have originally thought of some version of this, but alot of the research has been done by a modern roboticist, at least in the field that i was working with it in. I did prove that it worked with robots via an experiment in my computers class, the question is if you think the same thing can be applied to extremely detailed, almost life-like anrthos.

I remember veiwing a picture of a very life-like anthro in a very, very lightly suggestive pose (her sweater was open or something equally as silly) which wouldnt have bothered anyone if it was a true human, but the comments were full of how sick and creepy it was. And i know some of my friends have commented on how creepy it was for me to depict and anthro male wolf sitting on a bench with an arm around his human girlfriend. I asked them why they thought it was creepy, and they didnt say anything about how furry = yiffy or anything like that, it was more answers like 'animals shouldnt act like that' or 'i dunno, its just creepy' that leads me down this line of questioning.

To me, that's just because they don't understand it. Why do some people enjoy that stuff, while others don't. I have seen things that have bothered me greatly, (In fact, I thought furries were strange when I was younger since I thought furry = yiffy), but once I understood who, what, where, and why, they stopped being creepy.

Humans just fear the unknown. That's how it works, once people understand something, they may not necessarily understand it, just will most likely be neutral to it.

[Sabre]

No one is confusing humans and human-like robots, either, but some still find it deeply disturbing. It not about confusion as much as it is the mind recognizing that something is either wrong with it's perceptions, or that something is doing something that it "shouldnt be doing"

And, for the record, lets not discount the theory based simply on who's name is attached to it, Freud might have originally thought of some version of this, but alot of the research has been done by a modern roboticist, at least in the field that i was working with it in. I did prove that it worked with robots via an experiment in my computers class, the question is if you think the same thing can be applied to extremely detailed, almost life-like anrthos.

I remember veiwing a picture of a very life-like anthro in a very, very lightly suggestive pose (her sweater was open or something equally as silly) which wouldnt have bothered anyone if it was a true human, but the comments were full of how sick and creepy it was. And i know some of my friends have commented on how creepy it was for me to depict and anthro male wolf sitting on a bench with an arm around his human girlfriend. I asked them why they thought it was creepy, and they didnt say anything about how furry = yiffy or anything like that, it was more answers like 'animals shouldnt act like that' or 'i dunno, its just creepy' that leads me down this line of questioning.

Well in that case, there's nothing left for me to input here. The Uncanny valley, as I said before, is a case of poor exicution imo. If it is not realistic enough to confuse, it's not the uncanny valley.

[Kursed]

No one is confusing humans and human-like robots, either, but some still find it deeply disturbing. It not about confusion as much as it is the mind recognizing that something is either wrong with it's perceptions, or that something is doing something that it "shouldnt be doing"

And, for the record, lets not discount the theory based simply on who's name is attached to it, Freud might have originally thought of some version of this, but alot of the research has been done by a modern roboticist, at least in the field that i was working with it in. I did prove that it worked with robots via an experiment in my computers class, the question is if you think the same thing can be applied to extremely detailed, almost life-like anrthos.

I remember veiwing a picture of a very life-like anthro in a very, very lightly suggestive pose (her sweater was open or something equally as silly) which wouldnt have bothered anyone if it was a true human, but the comments were full of how sick and creepy it was. And i know some of my friends have commented on how creepy it was for me to depict and anthro male wolf sitting on a bench with an arm around his human girlfriend. I asked them why they thought it was creepy, and they didnt say anything about how furry = yiffy or anything like that, it was more answers like 'animals shouldnt act like that' or 'i dunno, its just creepy' that leads me down this line of questioning.

well that's the  thing what is a anthro? a human changed into a anthro or a animal changed into a anthro? or is a anthro a space alien or demon?

[Scott7]

well that's the  thing what is a anthro? a human changed into a anthro or a animal changed into a anthro? or is a anthro a space alien or demon?

It basicly means human quality, i don't think it has anything to do with changing from one form to another.

[Ris Grestar]

well that's the  thing what is a anthro? a human changed into a anthro or a animal changed into a anthro? or is a anthro a space alien or demon?

Yeah, 'anthro' is just short for 'anthropomorph', or 'anthropomorphism'.  Anthropomorphism, like OneWingedAngel92302 said, is just the attribution of human qualities and/or characteristics to non-human creatures.

[Mr. Foxer]

No, the only reason everyone hates furries is because of the annoying shit they do. You can't compare the two, furries and machines. Some may be more uncomfortable with the idea of a non-living object that moves because it is unnatural. Never once have I seen someone say they hated furries because of the way they looked. The reason is obvious (because of the annoying shit they do).

[Asper Sarnoff]

No, the only reason everyone hates furries is because of the annoying shit they do. You can't compare the two, furries and machines. Some may be more uncomfortable with the idea of a non-living object that moves because it is unnatural. Never once have I seen someone say they hated furries because of the way they looked. The reason is obvious (because of the annoying shit they do).

But how do you then explain it when people who have never even heard of furries, are repulsed by anthros? Believe me, I've experienced that.

[Matt Macdowel]

No, the only reason everyone hates furries is because of the annoying shit they do. You can't compare the two, furries and machines. Some may be more uncomfortable with the idea of a non-living object that moves because it is unnatural. Never once have I seen someone say they hated furries because of the way they looked. The reason is obvious (because of the annoying shit they do).

you have a point there.

[Mr. Foxer]

But how do you then explain it when people who have never even heard of furries, are repulsed by anthros? Believe me, I've experienced that.

I don't know anyone like that, normally people who don't know about the furry fandom would think either it's silly or cute/funny/interesting.

Anyway, people in that case would be completely new to the whole idea of anthromorphic animals, as in never even seen one in a cartoon before sort of new. I would understand in that case that it might seem strange and unnatural because they're new to such an idea. But normally, most people have seen cartoons starring human like animals so they're okay with this whole idea. Millions of people have seen cartoons like Mickey Mouse and Scooby Doo so obviously, as I said, the reason for hatred most likely isn't because of the idea of anthromorphic animals, in some cases it might be the reason but in most cases, it would not be.

[Fira-Astrali]

Well, the thing about cartoon anthros is that they are just that, cartoony. The theory is that the more human-like they get, the more disturbing it is. Therefore, Scooby-Do and Mickey-Mouse would not be disturbing because they are too cartoony to elicit the valley response, while more accurately portrayed ones would bother some people, like the guy in my class that I talked about above.