AWKWARD ZOMBIE

Japanese tend to be(es)

I know several people who say the same thing. I think it's mainly because they like the human qualities found in the upstanding members of society in question and not the animal ones.

Question - when it comes to fantasy races with animal characteristics, are those considered upstanding member of society? Or does the upstanding member of society label mainly encompass personas with animal traits and/or standard anthropomorphic humans?

That's what the upstanding members of society in my stories are, so I'd say fantasy races with animal traits do count.

That's not how it works.

I know, I just thought that might make someone chuckle.

I just use the word anthropomorph if I'm uncertain.

If anybody looks like they might get upset by the use of that word, I raise the back of my hand in a flinch-enducing manner, lest any furfaggotry ensue.

If fantasy creatures with animal characteristics were considered upstanding member of society, whole mythology would be full of it.
Minotaurs? upstanding member of society
Sphinx? upstanding member of society
Manticore? upstanding member of society

So my answer is obvious, in my opinion no. Even when you refer to own, self imagined characters... but hey, my definition of upstanding member of society is pretty, uhm, different (and sometimes even contradicts with me, I admit it), so I probably shouldn't talk here.

I'd prefer to call my creations 'chimeras', but people can call them what they want, I'm not overly fussed.

Tell me you aren't working on any Ultimate Chimeras. D:

Not.

I say 'chimeras' because my creations embody a fusion of between three and five distinct sources...

Most anthropomorphs embody a fusion of a human and just one animal (only two sources).

Okaygood.

'cos I would be very scared if you were.

The word 'upstanding member of society' has a negative cling for me, can't tell why. I might get hit by a few people now, but for me the upstanding member of society fandom is more about the sexual stuff then simply humans with animal characteristics, or even a certain type of drawing style.
I admit it's hard to explain for me, for these few lines you are reading I already needed several minutes. I don't want to start a discussion about this again, everyone has a different viewpoint on where upstanding member of society starts and where not (and now I wonder what the actual point of my post is).
I just

I don't know.

Honestly, I agree with you. There doesn't seem to be a lot of evidence to the contrary. Or at least not any convincing evidence.