Author Topic: Are you in the furry closet? (Read 134961 times)

Foxxhoria · « **Reply #75 on:** November 25, 2006, 11:56:53 am »

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...said "He's a furry" as if it's some sort of classification of society.

Thats what I don't want to happen to me.
Also the fact that I have always kept my inner self secret, and once I came to the conclusion that whenever I told someone, my idea of myself changed, and although that may not happen now, It made me keep it deeper.
When I brought my drawings into school, nearly everyone seemed to like them, but then I stopped bringing them when I found furry. Though I have tried telling one person of it, but it was a bit of a shambles, and I don't know weather he took it in or not. But now I am getting more confident they may see the return of my folder!
But I shan't want to tell my parents.

Nikko · « **Reply #76 on:** November 27, 2006, 01:30:50 pm »

If thats what your trying to avoid then just don't use the lable furry. Say that your into Anthro art and that'll sum it all up. Once you use a big word like Anthropormorphic then they'll ask you what your talking about. Then you tell them the bits that you wanna share and leave out the bad. Then they will not judge you harshly at all. They will wanna know more. At that point if you wanna use the lable go for it. In the end for alot of people Furry=Gay/Yiffy. Regardless of the truth behind the sterotype alot will mark you based on it. It's not worth the headach. Alot of other people won't know what furry is at all so for that it'll be even easyer to explain even if you do drop the word furry.

----=Nikko=----

nido · « **Reply #77 on:** December 03, 2006, 06:26:00 pm »

Just to keep the spirits up; here's a "comming out to the rest of the world" furry story. It's true and happened yesterday. (sidenote; my parents already know my furryness [EDIT: I didn't expect them to make a problem out of it anyway], so it's about the sister's boyfriend's parents)

The parents of my sisters boyfriend came over to dinner today. After dinner; my sisters and the boyfriend in question went out; leaving my with my and his parents at home.
So we all came to a chat and eventually we got to religion; which lead to me getting my "Bhagavad-gita" book i got from a monk a while ago in Amsterdam. I managed to read the first chapter; but it wasn't quite my sort of reading material; so it was coollecting dust for about half a year.

The mother was browsing through it and whadayaknow. next to the 1036 pages of text; she managed to find 4 pictures of furry-ish drawings (just PM me if you want me to put them online; it are half-human/half-animal pictures). Since I already claimed the books to be worthless to me; she really wanted to know why I wanted to keep these pictures. I was more or less cornered in a "furryness confession".

It was rather akward; since my sister is involved; but it was cool altogether. In the end I drew her a picture she now uses as a background on her computer ^_^

So here you go; some normal people accept furries

arocoun · « **Reply #78 on:** December 15, 2006, 06:24:34 pm »

I don't make a big deal of the furry fandom, when it comes to others. I don't have a "furry closet," though my family still doesn't know of my interest in it, BECAUSE I don't make a big deal out of it.

Then, today, THAT episode of CSI came along. My family is now convinced that furries are the craziest people to have walked the earth, and I just want to find something to hide under. THIS kind of crazy stuff is why people have closets, I imagine!

Amazing how much annoyance an old episode of CSI has caused me today. CSI still kicks butt, though; despite how bizarre its episode plots can get.

nido · « **Reply #79 on:** December 15, 2006, 08:20:13 pm »

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...My family is now convinced that furries are the craziest people to have walked the earth, and I just want to find something to hide under....
...CSI still kicks butt, though; despite how bizarre its episode plots can get.

It's a good reason not use CSI as an explanation of what furry is.

Gwyndolium · « **Reply #80 on:** December 16, 2006, 06:22:43 am »

Quote

Quote
...My family is now convinced that furries are the craziest people to have walked the earth, and I just want to find something to hide under....
...CSI still kicks butt, though; despite how bizarre its episode plots can get.
It's a good reason not use CSI as an explanation of what furry is.

Well.. Actually it IS a good way to use CSI. It's the extreme version and I think your parents would believe you sooner than a program that's half fiction. You can tell them it's something like that only WAY less extreme. You don't have to explain all that way and they mostly understand. At least my mom did.

zachhart12 · « **Reply #81 on:** January 11, 2007, 07:20:02 pm »

I came out to a few of my friends, but not my parents

fisher664 · « **Reply #82 on:** January 17, 2007, 10:38:07 pm »

my parents happen to be of the very conservative type as well. First of all, I don't think that they would have the slightest clue about what "furry" is, and after I got done explaining it would end up coming across almost the same as being gay, I mean my parents have already asked me repeatedly if I "like" boys simply because I haven't had any relationships whatsoever *puts ears back in sad look* I really am the sentimental type, and very sympathetic, this also makes my friends think I might be gay, so overall, I think this would just put most people around me over the edge...

on a second note, I tried explaining just what furries kind of were to a co-worker (I probably didn't explain it very well) But he just called us a bunch of wackos...so I really don't know what to do about this right now....

Red Reynart · « **Reply #83 on:** January 24, 2007, 04:03:46 am »

easyer said than done. No one in my family actrully knows that I am a fur. Of course they have there suspicions of what I am doing but they have no clue. I know that even if iI told my family tat some will be ok with it but as for some they might not take to well. All I can say is that i care not if I tell my familly I just want to know I am not alone.

Fluffy · « **Reply #84 on:** January 25, 2007, 08:03:48 pm »

Oddly, all my close friends know that I'm a furry although none of them are. But, for some reason I can't tell my parents. I mean, I really want to get a collar and hopefully a tail soon, but my parents would figure something is up if I happen to bring home a collar just randomly.

Its one of those things where you don't know how they will react and whether or not they will accept you for who really are.

Furries have it so hard sometimes

Twizler the skunk · « **Reply #85 on:** January 25, 2007, 08:20:11 pm »

Oddly some of my close freinds are freinds with my mom. Basicly every one work at Mohawk carpet and my aunt is the person over hiring... my dad is over all of enginering... and my mom work spining department for 16 years. So if one person knows... every one knows. I still cach hell for geting pis.. errr bad drunk at Randys once. Sorry kinda venting I cant tell one with out telling all. Its hard to sneak off with out questions geting asked. So im going to stay close to the closet ready to dive in. Im a smart skunk ill figer some thing out.

Baconstrip · « **Reply #86 on:** January 26, 2007, 01:16:20 am »

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my parents happen to be of the very conservative type as well. First of all, I don't think that they would have the slightest clue about what "furry" is, and after I got done explaining it would end up coming across almost the same as being gay, I mean my parents have already asked me repeatedly if I "like" boys simply because I haven't had any relationships whatsoever *puts ears back in sad look* I really am the sentimental type, and very sympathetic, this also makes my friends think I might be gay, so overall, I think this would just put most people around me over the edge...

on a second note, I tried explaining just what furries kind of were to a co-worker (I probably didn't explain it very well) But he just called us a bunch of wackos...so I really don't know what to do about this right now....

Hey.. you aren't alone in that regard. Im 22 and I havent had a relationship since high school

If I told my parents they would probably think the same thing, and some of my friends DO!

Meh.. oh well

Tau Nairebis · « **Reply #87 on:** January 26, 2007, 08:35:35 am »

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my parents happen to be of the very conservative type as well. First of all, I don't think that they would have the slightest clue about what "furry" is, and after I got done explaining it would end up coming across almost the same as being gay, I mean my parents have already asked me repeatedly if I "like" boys simply because I haven't had any relationships whatsoever *puts ears back in sad look* I really am the sentimental type, and very sympathetic, this also makes my friends think I might be gay, so overall, I think this would just put most people around me over the edge...

on a second note, I tried explaining just what furries kind of were to a co-worker (I probably didn't explain it very well) But he just called us a bunch of wackos...so I really don't know what to do about this right now....

Wow, that's the exact same problem I have with my parents....I don't discuss this stuff with them.

So..yeah I'm in the furry closet. The only people that know are..well..other furries.

Kris · « **Reply #88 on:** February 07, 2007, 02:14:22 pm »

I can relate to being in the closet, the only people that know about me are.... yall. My comrades at work wouldn't understand and my family would send me to the looney bin!

Oh well, 2nd life for the win

Landrav · « **Reply #89 on:** February 07, 2007, 08:33:43 pm »

Some people may deny even the existence of The Closet, but it's very true. If I were to act on my furriness, everyone would know within 24 hours and I'd be shut out of my community. Maybe physically, if those painfully-conservative Mennonites have their way. My job would probably be at risk, too, if people knew. Rural town FTL!

Frenotx · « **Reply #90 on:** February 07, 2007, 10:59:41 pm »

:moved from general discussion:

I have recently started a campaign to slowly inform my acquaintances of my furriness. I posted this big long journal entry (see link in sig) on my DA site and have been telling my friends one by one to check out my gallery. I think it is a pretty good way to go about this, but I would like everyone's opinion. Does the journal entry get the point across in an easy-to-understand manner? What are your reactions? I have showed some of my more open minded friends my page, but I am nervous about how my less open minded friends will react. I would also like to tell my parents eventually, but that one is really giving me a hard time. Do you think the journal entry would be appropriate for this situation as well? What do you advise?

Fenrir · « **Reply #91 on:** February 08, 2007, 05:12:48 pm »

My parents would be cool with it though they'd think it's a bit odd, my brothers would be less yeilding I think, but I do not predict any real problems so I'm in a pretty good position. The difference is that I see no reason to tell them, it's not that I am apprehensive about it, I just have no desire to do so. How ironic.

'>

Kris · « **Reply #92 on:** February 08, 2007, 05:18:43 pm »

Haha, told my (little) bro last night, only thing I got out of him was ' ':shock:'

Man you're a geek', of course he has a lot of room to talk since he's addicted to World of Warcraft. Â I guess I'm in good company as far as he's concerned. Â Â

'>

I'm like the rest of you closet fur fans, not afraid of being judged, there's just no motivation to tell anyone

'>

Baconstrip · « **Reply #93 on:** February 08, 2007, 06:14:51 pm »

Quote

:moved from general discussion:

I have recently started a campaign to slowly inform my acquaintances of my furriness. I posted this big long journal entry (see link in sig) on my DA site and have been telling my friends one by one to check out my gallery. I think it is a pretty good way to go about this, but I would like everyone's opinion. Does the journal entry get the point across in an easy-to-understand manner? What are your reactions? I have showed some of my more open minded friends my page, but I am nervous about how my less open minded friends will react. I would also like to tell my parents eventually, but that one is really giving me a hard time. Do you think the journal entry would be appropriate for this situation as well? What do you advise?

Frenotx,

While your essay is very well written, you certainly do come off as "human hating" or "human bashing". This is coming from a fur... just think of how a non-fur would see it. While the problems in the world are majorly man made, and our physical inadequecies are certainly there (requireing us to use tools to survive and explore), human beings are the epitomy of evolution on this planet.

If any animal, anthropomorphic or not, had the thought capacity that we have, the emotional abilities that we have, and the free-will that we have, do you really think things would be that different?

I definitely understand where you are coming from. Believe me, the world, humans, and their actions piss me off as well. But frankly, calling humans a joke is slightly ridiculous, and I think most people would shake their head at your essay because of parts like that. That is like calling dolphins a joke because they can't walk on land! If you truely were an animal, you wouldn't even have the capacity to appreciate the things you DO appreciate about animals.

I dunno, I'm not bashing you, or your ideas. I DO indeed respect your thoughts, but I am just being honest about what I felt when I read it. I think all too often people jump on a human bashing bandwagon in an effort to justify their interest in animals and furry, which all too often seems to "abandon" any effort and hope of making this world a better place to live in, for humans and animals alike.

That said, I firmly believe that mother nature will let us know what we've done to the planet, and the planet will live on with or without us after she does her thang

Frenotx · « **Reply #94 on:** February 08, 2007, 10:42:35 pm »

I thank you for your thoughts, Baconstrip. It is true that I was in a rather foul mood the day that I wrote this rant and was a little unfair to my species. It had just been one of those days in which nothing seems to go right and everyone seems especially annoying. I should probably write another essay on a day that I am a little more level-headed. As stated in my writing I am not, and don't want to appear to be a misanthrope.

Frenotx · « **Reply #95 on:** February 12, 2007, 11:57:07 pm »

(sorry for the double post, but whatever)

Well, here is my revised essay. I would love to hear some input before I post this:

"My previous journal was a little harsh (things happen when you write while in a bad mood), So I decided to take another crack at this.

Surprise! I am a furry! I am sure a couple people might have inferred this already, but as far as I know, most of my acquaintances are in the dark. In fact, I am sure a lot of you are a little confused already. "What the heck is a furry?" Well, this question is actually pretty complicated: ask a hundred people, and you will likely get a hundred different answers.

Let me start by saying what a furry isn't. Unfortunately, the media has taken a very negative attitude toward the furry subculture. A couple of you may be thinking of a certain CSI episode, or perhaps a show they saw on MTV. These broadcasts focus on the absolute darkest section of the fandom. The unfortunate reality is that the most obnoxious members of any group, no matter how small their representation, are the ones that are heard and remembered. This is especially the case if the group is already considered "outside the norm".

The truth is that the furry fandom is really a very diverse group. The level of extremity and direction of focus varies hugely from fur to fur, which is part of the reason why the term "furry" is so hard to define. In fact, the only real common connection is an appreciation of anthropomorphic animals, be it through art, literature, or other media. This is the only trait that really allows the entire fandom to be considered one group. And besides this, a person is only a furry if they consider themselves to be one, complicating the definition even further.

As far as why I consider myself to be a furry, well, there are a couple reasons. First of all, I have always enjoyed anthropomorphic animals. The Redwall series was/is one of my favorite sets of books. Before that, it was the Animorphs. Even The Busy World Of Richard Scary. Looking back, a lot of my favorite media involved animals with human characteristics.

Additionally, I have always held a very high level of respect for the animal kingdom, and even a certain amount of envy. From a physical standpoint, Homo sapiens are pretty lame when compared with other creations of Mother Nature. I love watching otters swimming around. They swim with such great speed and agility; complex maneuvers seem so easy for them. I would love to be able to swim as well as they can. And then there are foxes. They are simply awesome. They are so sleek and graceful. Not to mention the enhanced senses: night vision, great hearing, olfactory capacity, etc.

While the human body can seem rather... inadequate at times, I still have a huge amount of respect for the human mind. It is true that (as far as we know) we are surpassed by none in our reasoning, communication, and emotional capacity. Because of this, I wouldn't want to simply be one of the animals which I envy. I love my mind and could never wish anything upon myself which would strip me of it.

It is the combination of these two feelings which led me to develop my ideal self in my mind. I can see myself as an anthropomorphic otter with fox ears and a fox tail. I am not entirely sure how I came to decide on this particular configuration, but it just seems the most fitting. I can really feel a parallel between myself and these two animals. I like to think of myself as reasonably clever, the signature trait of the fox. Also, I can be relatively stealthy when necessary (hooray for lazer tag!

'>. I am also a very light-hearted person and am in a happy mood most of the time. I try to see the bright side of life, and quickly push problems out of my mind. Otters seem to have a similar mindset. Also, I really love sushi

'>. There are other similarities, but I think the point has been made.

So by now, you may be asking yourself, "Ok.. so what is it that you do as a furry?" Well, one fun activity is wearing my tail. I like to wear it whenever I have an excuse to, and sometimes when I don't. Halloween was one of these times. Robotics functions are included in this list, as well. FIRST is a very accepting and open minded group. I also enjoy participating in furry forums. Furrys tend to be a very fun and friendly group to talk with. I have tried to draw my "fursona", as it is called, a couple of times but my drawing sills are rather lackluster and I have yet to produce an acceptable representation of myself. Finally, I enjoy reading some furry comics. One of my favorites is Lackadaisy series by tracyjb, right here on deviant art.

I realize that this may seem like a lot of information all of the sudden, but I felt the need to make this aspect of me public knowledge. I am sure that I have left you with some questions, so if you have em' just ask em'. After all, the whole point of this was to answer questions.

In closing, I would like to say that this does not change me in any way. I am still the same, old me, only now I am slightly better explained. I hope that my readers will be accepting and open to my interesting mindset."

T-Fox · « **Reply #96 on:** February 13, 2007, 05:09:50 pm »

I have two myspaces. One for myself...
myspace.com/travisnosto

and one for Joimbob

'>
myspace.com/travisfursona

Vulpin · « **Reply #97 on:** May 04, 2007, 07:55:25 pm »

I've only been a fur for maybe 7 months now, and no one really knows. I keep a lot to myself, and this is just perfect for that.

So yes, I'm in the figurative closet.

MorbidCorvid · « **Reply #98 on:** May 29, 2007, 03:25:50 am »

I'm going to be really nosey and just ask.

What in the world is there to hide?

Most people are unawear of all the eugh assosiation to furry. Most people have never heard of it. So i'm actually baffled. When you tell somone, what exacly do you tell?

I think it's kinda obvious when you put rubber gloves on your feet and made paper beaks and wings as a kid. ':shock:'

Narei Mooncatt · « **Reply #99 on:** May 29, 2007, 05:03:03 pm »

Well, Morbidcorvid, I have found times when it's best to stay in the closet somewhat. Â This past weekend, My brother saw my background of me in a suit and his response was "I'm sorry". Â Though I think it was a more sarcastic attempt at humor than shunning it and doubt he knows about the fandom. Â The next day, I accidently left my laptop open with my fur pics screensaver on. Â I only use safe pics, but my mom happened to walk by and notice it. Â I couldn't see just which pics were up, but I watched her out of the corner of my eye and she just had this major confused look on her face. Â So while I'm not afraid to show it to those that want to know, sometimes you can just tell when and who not to show it to for their own "protection".