Question from a non-furry: Does being attracted to furry characters make you a furry if you don't want to be one yourself?
I had this debate a couple times with people, so I figure I'll ask those who are probably in-the-know.
The debate is the question: Does being attracted to a furry character make a person a furry? Even when that person doesn't want to be any sort of anthropomorphic character themselves?
A major point in the debate is that "furry" is more of a self identity sort of thing, either identifying as or wishing to be a furred being of some sort. And having an attraction to a furred character while wanting to be your normal human self doesn't make you a furry. But the counter point was also said that it's just a different type of furry, that someone is a furry if they're into furry characters, whether they identify as it themselves or not. The people debating this do not personally identify as furries.
Where do you all stand on this idea? Can a person be into furries without wanting to be one themselves and not be considered a furry? Or are they, unwittingly, just another type of furry?
Edit To add context: It came from a discussion with some guys who were talking about attractive fictional characters, such as Lola Bunny, Krystal from Starfox, Gadget, plenty of others. It was very much a "Wait... If I'm into that, does that make me a furry?" Sort of thing, and then my argument was that I think you need to personally identify as a furry, and that just being into furry characters isn't enough, but it's all about your own identity. Others agreed but others said they think that just being attracted to that makes you a furry.