 |
Yiff is a term popularised by the furry multi-user Internet gaming MU* community (in particular,
FurryMUCK), originally intended as an onomatopoeic transliteration of a sound humorously attributed to the mating of foxes
and, naturally, those who play anthropomorphic fox characters. However, while the original meaning still remains, the term
quickly developed into a synonym for "sex," "sexy," "aroused," and so on, and nowadays this meaning is the most prevalent.
Examples of the word's present usage include "a yiffy fur," meaning a furry who is sexually aroused or active, "yiffy artwork,"
meaning sexually explicit furry artwork, "to yiff," meaning to have sex, etc.
However, there is also a comparatively-small
movement of those horrified by the word's sexual connotations that exists to alter the popular usage of what is arguably furry
fandom's commonest piece of jargon into something more generally acceptable. This movement's agenda is to advertise furry
fandom as a friendly, tolerant, and, most importantly, clean community; most furries, though, feel that doing so takes away
an important part of what it means to be furry, arguing that, even though furry fandom encompasses much more than just sex,
the sexual side of furry fandom cannot and should not be denied.
Furries generally tend to ignore these controversies, but occasionally, the matter surfaces again;
for example, at the 1997 Anthrocon in Albany, New York, three different groups (the proponents of the sexual connotation of
the word, the opponents thereof, and a faction tired of the entire controversy as a whole) all took to writing "I'M YIFFY!"
on their name-badges; the confusion and ill karma this generated in the extremists provided great amusement to the convention
attendees.
Cybersex is the act of two persons (sometimes more) sitting at distant computer terminals sending
sexually explicit messages back and forth to one another.
Cybersex is sometimes colloquially called "cybering." It is
also called "TinySex" or "TS," a phrase which stems from a MUD software program called TinyMUD. Within the furry community,
it is sometimes referred to as "yiffing", though yiffing can also mean physical sexual acts. Channels used to initiate cybersex
are not necessarily exclusively devoted to that subjects, and participants in any Internet chat may suddenly receive a message
with the text "Wanna cyber?".
Characteristics
Cybersex is most commonly performed in Internet chat rooms (such as IRC
or web chats) and on instant messaging systems. The act of exchanging sexually explicit email may also be considered cybersex.
It is often used for the purpose of enhancing masturbation or as an introduction to arranging a meeting for sexual intercourse.
While these activities are common, it is difficult to make precise statistical claims, and the prevalence of cybersex of course
depends highly on the availability of Internet access.
Cybersex is the logical continuation of phone sex on modern computer
networks. It is often seen as a simulation of "real" sex, and participants usually try to make the experience as close to
real life as possible. It can be considered a form of role playing that allows a couple to experience sexual sensations without
actually physically being in each other's company. Cybersex is often ridiculed because the partners frequently have no knowledge
whatsoever about each other -- the person at the other end could be male or female. Since the primary point of cybersex is
the realistic simulation of sexual activity, this knowledge is not always desired or necessary.
Ethics
Debate continues among moralists on whether cybersex is a form of infidelity. While
it does not involve physical contact, critics claim that the powerful emotions involved can cause marital stress, especially
when cybersex culiminates in an Internet romance. There is also the separate risk factor of Internet addiction, which is perceived
to be the cause of social isolation and loss of work productivity.
Cybersex and pedophilia
Pedophiles and ephebophiles have been known to engage in cybersex
with underage users. In the course of such conversations, they sometimes try to send child pornography across the network,
or to arrange meetings. In the United States, police pose as underage boys or girls in chat rooms in order to bait pedophiles
(see, e.g., "Who's 14, 'Kewl' and Flirty Online?; A 39-Year-Old Detective, and He Knows His Bra Size", The New York Times,
April 7, 2003). On one occasion, an elderly man from Georgia flew into Hartsfield International Airport in Atlanta to meet
what he thought was an underage girl he had met online to have sex with, but he met with sheriff's deputies instead. Another
time, a teacher from Minnesota was arrested by FBI agents in Yuma, Arizona's airport, after he had arranged online to meet
and have sex with what he thought were two eight year old Mexican girls.
This practice of baiting has also become popular
among some regular users, who try to troll pedophiles and others and put the log files of such conversations online.
|
