Author Topic: Outcasted? (Read 8144 times)

kittykatklaws · « **on:** November 15, 2007, 12:49:52 pm »

Well, sometimes I'll hear about people who feel like they are outcasted because they are a furry. I wanted to write a post in order for me, a lifestyler, and others of our kind to give some helpful tips to our friends who feel like others don't want them around.

1.) NEVER care about what others think. If you can overcome caring what others think, you will feel alot more secure.

2.) Why supress your animal instincts? Even non-furry folk are animals no matter what. We just decide not to repress ourselves in public or otherwise. Be yourself.

3.) If you feel uncomfortable doing something in public because it's the way YOU feel about it, you never have to do it if you don't want to.

If anyone else cares to add to the list, I think we all would greatly appreciate it.

'>

Epsy · « **Reply #1 on:** November 15, 2007, 01:46:24 pm »

I wouldn't say never care what others think. You should always care about other peoples feelings.

However, don't let other people get in the way of you expressing yourself

'> If you arent hurting anyone, then they have no reason to hurt you.

Savaaha · « **Reply #2 on:** November 15, 2007, 02:53:36 pm »

I was a social outcast before I was a furry. Now that I am a furry, Im far more social and I have friends to socialize with.

Wulffrith · « **Reply #3 on:** November 15, 2007, 09:38:49 pm »

Learn to love yourself for who you are. You'll never let others really care about you if you don't even like yourself.

'>

TCD · « **Reply #4 on:** November 15, 2007, 11:27:55 pm »

Mini rant:

Why is conformity such a bad thing? I mean, you conform to society's standards of behavior (by following things such as laws or even common politeness) in order to avoid the consequences of aforementioned society.

I'm not saying you should submerge your identity completely, but not to look upon conformity as a terrible horrible bad thing.

/mini rant. Carry on.

Traumerei · « **Reply #5 on:** November 16, 2007, 09:39:28 am »

I have mixed feelings between being an outcast among others or not. However, I can be very sociable at times and this helps remind me that I DO have friends who understand me, and this is enough to convince me that I am less of an outcast then I think...

On another note, I don't care much for what people say in regards to me. Let others think what they want, but do not let them do the same to you.

kittykatklaws · « **Reply #6 on:** November 16, 2007, 11:49:33 pm »

Quote (TCD @ Nov. 15 2007, 11:27 pm)

Mini rant:

Why is conformity such a bad thing? I mean, you conform to society's standards of behavior (by following things such as laws or even common politeness) in order to avoid the consequences of aforementioned society.

I'm not saying you should submerge your identity completely, but not to look upon conformity as a terrible horrible bad thing.

/mini rant. Carry on.

Well, I don't think it's a bad thing, but you should still be yourself as much as you like.

Ark · « **Reply #7 on:** November 17, 2007, 09:22:08 am »

I was pretty much ran our of my last school because of my furryness... But I'm still a lifestyler 100% If anyone wants the full story, contact me ^^

~Ark~

TheNomeKing · « **Reply #8 on:** November 17, 2007, 09:22:18 am »

Many people care too mcuh about what other people think (thats rich coming from me! ':blush:'

) But when i joined the fight for furry, i relised it dosnt matter what other people think of me, only what i think.

If of course im talking rubbish, tell me now and i will go off into a dark corner and put on a emaressed face*intently waits for reply* Â ':shock:'

Serra Belvoule · « **Reply #9 on:** November 17, 2007, 10:22:20 am »

Quote (Wulffrith @ Nov. 15 2007, 7:38 pm)

Learn to love yourself for who you are. You'll never let others really care about you if you don't even like yourself.

'>

I'd just like to underline and stress the importance of this one. I've had so many people whose self esteem was awful.
Please please please love thyself.

Wulffrith · « **Reply #10 on:** November 18, 2007, 01:49:08 am »

Quote (TCD @ Nov. 15 2007, 11:27 pm)

Mini rant:

Why is conformity such a bad thing? I mean, you conform to society's standards of behavior (by following things such as laws or even common politeness) in order to avoid the consequences of aforementioned society.

I'm not saying you should submerge your identity completely, but not to look upon conformity as a terrible horrible bad thing.

/mini rant. Carry on.

That's a good point. My rule of thumb is to simply be myself. If that means I'm like everyone else than great, if that means I'm different then great.

'>

Alysian Bluehoof · « **Reply #11 on:** December 12, 2007, 03:21:10 pm »

in my situation, i could be a lot more popular, but i choose not to associate myself with alot of those people, because i dont want to be sucked back into the politics of high school foolishness. i have furry paraphanalia

'> all over my stuff, and i dont worry about people who think its weird. thats their problem.
although, its not that i ignore or am negative towards the people mentioned earlier , its just that i dont get too deep into that world again. lotsa drugs and alkie, and thats not my thing anymore

'>

Lieutenant AQ McArson · « **Reply #12 on:** December 13, 2007, 12:37:13 pm »

Quote (Savaaha @ Nov. 15 2007, 2:53 pm)

I was a social outcast before I was a furry. Now that I am a furry, Im far more social and I have friends to socialize with.

Agreed.
Strengthening my furry activity has gained me a much better social life. C:

Neon · « **Reply #13 on:** December 14, 2007, 11:47:30 pm »

A lot of social oucasts I've met usually bring it upon themselves. A lot of them are very rude, even when you're trying to be friendly.

I am a total weirdo though. But I don't go around talking about things people don't care to hear. I try to make friends with everybody, but not trust them unless I know they can be trusted.

But yeah, have self esteem and all that jazz and try to be friendly to everyone. show them the same respect you wish to recieve. Don't pick fights.

« **Reply #14 on:** December 15, 2007, 01:00:07 am »

You should definitely have self esteem. i can't really be a furry in public, because others will think there is something wrong. Trust me, you will get blank looks lol. It's fun, and it's fine to act your furry personality out in public, but don't overdo it! I have had people make fun of me because of the way I act. I don't overdo it in public, but am more socially active at school, so I do it more. I have slowed down a bit tho. (and no, I don't cause havoc, or climb walls, or anything that extreme). I just like to pretend to scratch people after they make a somewhat unpleasant comment, or if I feel like it.I also hiss and growl at school, but who cares?

Ormspryde · « **Reply #15 on:** December 15, 2007, 03:35:55 pm »

I was socially outcast LONG before the whole furry thing happened to me. (or the otherkin thing, to be honest) I think it's actually been useful. I know better what I value - WHO I value - than if I were *everyone's* friend. (it takes a lot for me to call someone a friend) It is also useful in the sense that it makes me easier to reject societal customs that I find to be unhelpful.

Tevnon · « **Reply #16 on:** December 16, 2007, 02:01:48 pm »

Social acceptance is really more a matter of how well you sell your self than it is a matter of conformity. You can be perfectly normal and do nothing out of the ordinary and if you are rude, obnoxious, or act like you would rather be left alone you will be rejected despite conformity. On the other hand you can be accepted as a fur even amungst non-furs if you present yourself and your furry interests in a way that clicks with people.
Being furry is a little harder to sell than being a conformist, but most people can still be persuaded to accept you if you work at it.

Alysian Bluehoof · « **Reply #17 on:** December 16, 2007, 02:40:30 pm »

Quote (Tevnon @ Dec. 16 2007, 2:01 pm)

Being furry is a little harder to sell than being a conformist, but most people can still be persuaded to accept you if you work at it.

agreed- i never tried too much to conform to others, but the furry aspect of my personality has been totally accepted by my (small number of) RL friends.

Izydore · « **Reply #18 on:** December 16, 2007, 03:25:50 pm »

before I was a furry I was alot more timid,shy but when I became a furry a whole diffrent side of me just came out, a bit more confident and charismatic, and I have to admit a little more perverted >_>

Keryth · « **Reply #19 on:** December 18, 2007, 10:39:44 pm »

Being a social outcast has been my past, and is my present. Being a furry gave me confidence and more will to continue living, yes, but at the cost of me losing my pursuit of gaining friends. Besides, they way i am drives folk away from my presence, not to say i behave like an absurd moron or an idiot. Being the abstract furry i am drives me only further from the social norm. Mostly because the ideals and creative images of the way i interperit people and the way life works that developed from my presence in this subculture. I dont care either what people think of the way i act or think. ITs who I have come to be.

Although the one thing the fandom didnt spark in me was displaying animal instinct. I have come to terms with the fact that in my present state of being I am genually human, at least physically. So in my stature of human-being, i dont fancy displaying the traits of beast. As in running around acting like an actual dog, that would be far beyond our standards for "sanity".

WildbillTX · « **Reply #20 on:** December 20, 2007, 06:01:14 am »

Quote (Savaaha @ Nov. 15 2007, 1:53 pm)

I was a social outcast before I was a furry. Now that I am a furry, I'm far more social and I have friends to socialize with.

Ditto for me. Since kindergarten I was one of those kids who was picked on by most kids and never accepted. I was called retarded, dork and much worse, great for a kid's self-esteem. I didn't have many freinds to play with. I watched cartoons on TV, read a lot of funny animal comic books and played records or listened to the radio.

When I was in Jr and high school I got the same treatment. I got into fights and spent a few days expelled or in detention. I never ever ran around with the "Cool" kids, just had a few freinds who weren't popular either. So I never had the wanting to become cool or popular in anything.

It seems like Furry is a real haven for us outcasts. It's amazing the fandom is growing so quickly. Thanks to the internet Furs from all over the world have banded together for the love of anthropomorphics. When I went to my first furry con, I thought "I fit in here somehow."

I still get a weird feeling when go to furry cons and get recognized!

Siabus · « **Reply #21 on:** December 21, 2007, 03:44:06 pm »

I was a social outcast long before I was a furry. I don't know exactly when people started to like me

'>

It's horrible that anyone is outcasted. thats what makes all of the murders and the like ':cry:'

I agree with teh bear, furry fandom is like a real haven for outcasts, as in general, everyone is accepted.

Sly as a Fox · « **Reply #22 on:** December 22, 2007, 02:07:00 pm »

i know a lotta people who feel exactly like what you guys are sayin, like they feel under pressure to conform to what other people think, and i say revolt! hehe.

i think one of the things that i've learned growing up as a teenager and as a furry is that everybody, furry or not, fears discomfort and feeling awkward. if you can embrace your own insecurities and be secure in them, lol, it's kind of a paradox but you realize that in situations where you are uncomfortable, you're never alone. i dunno.

'>

oniyaneko · « **Reply #23 on:** December 22, 2007, 11:29:07 pm »

I've never had a problem being a furry in public. I don't hide who I am. Then again I don't exactly flaunt it unless I am in a group of other furs. (ie. wear a tail) But I won't lie if someone asks, and I will tell them if they ask. If people don't like who I am, who cares? Furry is a part of me. ^^ And if they don't like a part of me, then who needs em?

pocomouse · « **Reply #24 on:** December 23, 2007, 04:52:45 am »

I don't flaunt my furriness, but I don't hide it either. If it comes up I'm proud to say I'm a fur. As for the whole conformity/non-conformity thing: don't disrespect other people and try to justify it as 'being yourself', but otherwise you shouldn't have to change what you are.