1. What is your name? What is your age? Where are you from? What is your fursona? What aspects of your identity would you relate to being a Furry, specifically that animal?
I am 21 and from Norway. My fursona is the one you can see to the left; Puncia the Twilight Leopard. It is a snow leopard that I've modified and added elements to, like the red panda ears and longer fangs. In real life I am a typical cat person. I don't enjoy the company of dogs but adore cats for their intelligence, etc. (you know the deal). I've always been told, even by random strangers and completely out of context, that I remind them of a cat. The way I show excitement, how I enjoy physical attention, the way I smile, focus or stretch... though honestly, I don't try to act like one. In my perspective I act like a normal young adult person and I act the exact same way at work as I do with friends. I do however understand the similarities and adding that to how I love feline creatures, the choice is quite obvious. Puncia is a snow leopard, and I share a few physical traits with them as well as aspects of my behaviour. I also love snow and winter more than any other season, and playing in the snow is bliss.
Here (http://i40.tinypic.com/ofrfh1.png) is a link to a detailed description.
2. Do you feel that you take on a separate identity as a Furry, or is it simply an extension of your everyday identity?
To me, being a furry is like any other hobby. I have an interest in the furry fandom in the same way I have an interest in say, Star Trek, RPG's or comics. I don't feel like I am part animal or that Puncia is my soul incarnate. Puncia is my mask, my persona that I use within the fandom. Puncia is me and I am my real life self while being active in the fandom.
3. Who are you outside of being a Furry? (ie job, lifestyle, family...)
See #2.
4. How do you feel about how the public sees you? How do you feel when in public as a Furry? What experiences have you had with the public? (stories?)
I am mildly annoyed that there is so much prejudice towards the fandom and that the fandom itself (mostly thanks to its members, I say) is so hyped up for no reason. Since I am the same inside and outside the furry fandom, I do not act differently as a furry and thus have no reason to be afraid of what people will think in public. I repeat: it's just a hobby to me.
I tend to only have close/good friends that are intelligent, mature and open people. I don't mean they're all stoners or bisexuals or have unique styles, but they would let someone educated on the subject speak before assuming anything. The reason is simply that those are the kind of people I share interests with and enjoy being with.
Only one of my friends have ever spoken negatively of the furdom, and he simply asked in a bi-sentence "Isn't that sorta like a fetish thing?" and I explained it in 2 sentences and that was the end of the conversation.
5. How much of your time is devoted to this other identity? (ie time spent costume-making, conventions, forums, etc)
I spend anything between 30 minutes to a few hours every day being active at FA (furry equivalent to dA) and this forum.
6. Are you a part of a larger community? Do you feel like this is a united community? Are there subgroups that the public may not see? Do the same prejudices and stereotypes that exist in the larger public community (ie race, gender) affect the community you identify with?
No, I am not a part of any community per sé, if you don't count the furdom itself as a whole. I would say that the furdom is rather united and there is a lot of "fur pride" and such going around. I suppose different fetishes or geographical groups could count as communities as well, but extremely loosely. The furdom is generally a very open minded collection of people, and I've never seen any racism, homophobia or anything else at all.
7. What are your opinions and feelings about the connotations associated with the word “Furry”? Do you feel they are positive, negative, or both, and how does this influence your identity with this community? If you are confronted with these stereotypes in everyday life, how do you deal with them?
Inside the community? Positive. Naturally. In public? Could be better, though it's getting better by the day. It won't be long before most people are cool with the whole thing, as long as furries themselves manage to keep it cool as well and not make a big thing out of it. I usually deal with ignorance in the same way I wrote earlier in the spoiler.
8. How do friends and family feel about this identity? Do they know or is this an aspect of your lifestyle that is private? Do both sides of your identity converge at any point, or are they separate? (ie friends, hobbies)????
Friends and family do not know that I am a furry. Why? Because I have no reason to tell them. I'm not hiding it, but I don't walk around exclaiming to everyone that "Mom, Dad; I have something I need to tell you - I like Star Trek.". It's unnecessary and only hypes the furdom up more than it needs to. Some friends know I am a furry, but only because I've shown them artworks I've commissioned or mentioned in a conversation that I'm a mod in a furry forum. I only bring it up when it actually fits. There's no reason to make it a big deal.
On a side note, I'd love to see the finished result, should you ever actually come back to read the replies you get. Most people outside the fandom that ask these questions, do not.