Becoming YardRat: A Journey Beyond Human Boundaries

So, as you may already noticed in the homepage, I’m currently acting as “YardRat the wolf”, instead of my genuine figure, to create, maintain and update the site. And I’m also confident that you’ve already got to know that I’m actually a furry fandom, with a rough idea about my fursona, exactly “YardRat the wolf”. (If you need a bit of terminology exploration about those italic words, I guess this site might help)

And then, you may wonder, “why do you strike up with this seemingly-silly post just to nag about your fictional figure? “ Well, it is actually due to a new idea which strike me recently, “what if furry fandom is also a form of cyborg? “(And now we’ve got a indeed-silly idea)

You might be thinking, “Wait a minute, aren’t cyborgs supposed to be these half-human, half-machine creations, like something from sci-fi?” Well, yes, in a traditional sense, that’s how cyborgs are often portrayed—mechanical bodies, augmented minds. But what if we flip this definition? What if the “cyborg” isn’t just about mechanical enhancements, but about blurring the boundary between what we think of as human and non-human? Isn’t that something that furry fandom has been doing for a while?

And let’s dive deeper (I guess this is what they call “Socratic method”): since the new definition successfully explains our doubts, we’ve unavoidably come to the stage, where we have to question the very nature of identity itself. What does it mean to “be human” when, through the lens of furry fandom, we can take on the characteristics of a wolf, or any other non-human form? Is the essence of our being solely tied to our biological structure, or can we transcend it by adopting new forms, new identities? The more I reflect on it, the more I realize that the act of creating and embodying “YardRat” is not just an exploration of a character, but a deep philosophical inquiry into who I am and who I can become.

If we are willing to embrace the idea that identity is not confined to our human bodies, then we must also consider that the concept of cyborgs can extend beyond mechanical appendages and into the realm of non-human representations, like those adorable fursonas and fursuits(you should really check out this video on youtube or bilibili). When I step into the persona of “YardRat,” I am not rejecting my humanity, but rather challenging the rigid boundaries that separate human from non-human, self from other. It’s a form of transformation, an augmentation of the self—not with technology in the traditional sense, but with the freedom to embody and express something entirely different.

Hence, we’ve finally come to an entirely post-humanism perspective on this topic: the idea that identity, rather than being anchored strictly in our biological humanity, is a fluid and evolving construct. When I step into the role of “YardRat,” I am not just playing a character, but engaging in a transformation of self—one that challenges the very boundaries between human and non-human, self and other. This transformation is not a rejection of my humanity; rather, it’s a philosophical rethinking of what it means to be “human.”

In this light, “YardRat” becomes more than just an expression of furry fandom; it is a manifestation of a deeper philosophical question—what happens to identity when we cross the boundaries between the human and the non-human? If we are not confined by the physical limitations of our biological forms, if our identity is something we can shape and redefine, then perhaps the notion of being human is no longer tied to our physicality. Instead, it might be rooted in our capacity for transformation, for reimagining ourselves as something beyond what we were born as.

This is where the concept of cyborgs—traditionally understood as hybrids of human and machine—becomes more relevant. If we accept that identity is not limited to human biology, then we can extend the idea of the “cyborg” beyond mechanical enhancements. It becomes about the ablation of boundaries between the human and non-human, between the biological and the imagined. In embracing “YardRat” as my identity, I am engaging in a form of self-augmentation—not through the addition of technology, but through the act of becoming something else. In doing so, I am embodying a post-human form of self-expression that blends the biological with the symbolic.

This process resonates with N. Katherine Hayles’ notion of the “information body,” where the boundaries of our physical bodies are no longer fixed, but are extended into the realm of information and technology. According to Hayles, our identities are increasingly shaped not only by our biological form but also by the digital and informational environments we inhabit. When I take on the persona of “YardRat,” I am not just donning a physical costume but participating in a broader, more symbolic form of self-expression that transcends traditional biological boundaries. Just as Hayles suggests, my identity is no longer bound by flesh and bone but is fluid, adaptable, and augmented by the digital and symbolic layers I embody.

When I embody “YardRat,” I am not simply donning a costume. I am stepping into a new identity, one that transcends the physical form and enters the realm of symbolic transformation. This is where furry fandom, with its emphasis on creating and living through fursonas, intersects with post-humanism: both challenge the idea that human identity is fixed or limited to a biological body. By adopting the characteristics of a wolf, I am not only exploring an animal persona, but also questioning the boundaries of what it means to be human—whether these boundaries are biological, cultural, or psychological.

Rosi Braidotti’s concept of the “nomadic subject” further complements this exploration. Braidotti suggests that identity is not a fixed, static entity but a constantly evolving, fluid process—much like a nomad moving through various territories, never confined to one place or one form. By adopting “YardRat,” I am embracing a “nomadic” form of identity that crosses boundaries, fluidly navigating between human and non-human, biological and symbolic. This aligns with post-humanism, where we no longer have to define ourselves within the rigid confines of our biology or societal expectations. Just as Braidotti argues, I am becoming a subject who is constantly in motion, continually reconfiguring who I am and who I can become.

In this way, “YardRat” is a way of exploring the fluidity of identity in the post-human world, where transformation is no longer limited to the physical, but extends into the symbolic, the digital, and the imagined. If cyborgs can be seen as hybrids of human and machine, then perhaps furry fandom, with its fluid, imaginative personas, offers a glimpse into the future of identity—a future where the boundaries between human and non-human, organic and synthetic, are no longer so clear-cut.

As I continue this philosophical exploration, I realize that the essence of being is not tied to the body, the mind, or any one form of existence. It is in the ability to transcend these forms, to embody something other than what we were born as, and to create ourselves anew in whatever image we choose. In this way, “YardRat” is more than just a fursona—it is a personal experiment in post-human identity, a journey into the possibilities of becoming, and a challenge to the limitations of being human.