There is no one single definition of what a furry is. Even within the furry fandom, people cannot always agree on just what makes a person a furry or not.
Some would argue that to be a furry, you must think and talk like one (i.e. use furry specific words and phrases). Even if you go to conventions, wear a fursuit, draw the art, writes the stories etc but don't talk using furry lingo, you're not a furry. Basically, someone that may walk the walk but doesn’t talk the talk.
Others would argue that even liking anthropomorphic creatures makes you a furry. You may have no idea the furry fandom exists or have ever heard of a furry convention, let alone any of the websites; simply liking 'anthro' critters makes you a furry.
The way I see it, if or if you don’t consider yourself a furry is a matter of personal opinion.
As with any hobby, most furries are normal people just like anyone you'll meet at work/school or going to/from work/school or anywhere. Then there is the small percent that are hard core fans and have taken what for most is a hobby and perverted it (sometimes in an all to literal sense).
As is with so many other things in life, the few that take it too far tend to be the loudest. The silent majority are often forced into silence by the loud minority for fear that people will label them as being in the same class as the minority that have perverted it.
One unfortunate side effect of the internet and the relative anonymity that some sites grant their users is people are able to engage in activities (even if only on a virtual level) that they would never even consider doing in real life. An example of this is trolls of message boards that say things to people they’d never say to them in person. I think a lot of the stereotypes associated with furries are because of this.
In conclusion, as with any hobby, there are some furries that have taken it too far and/or perverted what for many is a fun harmless hobby.
TL;DR
It saddens me, really. There's only a minority of people who show off this disgraceful stereotype of "furry" by loud methods which makes everyone think that's what "all furries" are. If only the silent majority weren't so silent, people would realise that there's more to furries than perversion.
stereotype-furry:
Derogatory generalization of how many 'furry-haters' see the noun form of 'furries' as, usually portrayed as pitiful homosexual men who dress up as the animal they like or 'want to ****' the most, and have sex with their animals. This is in fact not what 99% of 'furries' are like, however, being the most widely publicized, it is also the most widely criticized.
furry-hater:
One who takes it upon themselves to be prejudice against the noun form of 'furries', usually assuming that all 'furries' are 'stereotypical furries', needlessly persuing some sort of apparent need to let everyone know that they hate 'furries'
99% of all furries:
Some draw, some write, some read, some listen to stories, most keep to themselves because of 'furry-haters'
Just like everyone else, some are male, some are female, and just like everyone else, some are gay, some are straight, and just like everyone else, most go to school or have a job.
I'm a furry, I have an
online persona of myself. I am male, I'm straight, I don't draw a lot of furry art because I'm not that good at it, I don't write furry-related stories for the same reason. I do read other peoples' stories and look at their art, I have no sexual interest in actual animals (see zoophiles and bestiality, folks) I went to college, I'm working on a job, I'm not fat either.
I'm just a furry.