If it aint a cult of some kind then it dont sound to bad.
Quote (Seelas @ July 16 2005, 1:45 am) |
As I hung out with this certain individual more and more, I realized that I was a furry as well. I'm out to him, but nobody else, mainly because I don't think they'll receive it too well. They all know how head over heels I am for him - they would probably think I was just copying him for the sake of it. |
Quote (Savaaha @ June 28 2005, 2:27 am) | ||
I gace my dad a printout from the anthrocon site... stiff southern raised baptist who believes if somethings not the same as he thinks it should be.. then its all wrong....
Also helps to have a wellspoken whiteshepherd and his lady love pegasus walk thro the door to prove furs are good people. |
Ok, In your past email to me, you asked "What is a furry?". Hopefully, this email to you should explain everything you want to know. The simplest explanation to start with is "Any person that enjoys, for whatever reason, anthropomorphic animals.". Anthropomorphic meaning, animals that have human-like qualities such as walking on two legs, talking, wearing clothes, etc. Such examples are Bugs Bunny, Mickey Mouse, and so forth. I guess I got the impression you might be a furry because of your username, you mentioned you like animals, and you posted that pic on MW of the bear. Sorry if I got the wrong impression of you.
But anyway, furries (That's what people are called who are into the Furry Fandom.) can also be interested in real animals as well as the anthropomorphic side. The reasons people are interested in anthropomorphic stuff is as varied as the people themselves. Furries come in a wide diversity of cultures and backgrounds. There are furries as young as 12 or as old as 60 (Also known as Graymuzzles.). They can be doctors, computer programmers, military perrsonel, etc. However, the vast majority of furs (Another word used to describe people in the fandom.) are relatively young and in their 20's. The whole furry fandom thing is basically a sub-genre of the Sci-Fi/Fantasy culture and did not go mainsteam until about the 80's/90's. The whole fandom encompasses a wide diversity of interests. There is artwork (IMO, at least 80% of the fandom is dedicated to this.), music, poetry, writing & literature, costuming (Wearing mascot suits, otherwise known as fursuits.), and gaming. As for why people get interested in the furry fandom, the reasons again are as diverse as the people themselves. Some people join simply for the love of the artwork and drawing anthro animals. Others tend to see it as a lifestyle of sorts. And still others tend to believe that they have in some way a spiritual connection with a chosen animal or believe themselves to be a animal trapped in a human body.
So now that I've given a brief explanation of what a furry is and what the fandom is about, you're probably wondering if I myself am a furry? Yes, I am. I joined the fandom back in November of 2003 and have been a fur ever since. As for why I got into the fandom, well, I'm not an artist and don't have any artistic skills but the main thing that caught my eye was the fursuiting aspect (animal costumes). I really can't say for sure why I like this aspect that much except to say that it looks absolutely fun and I would love to entertain adults and children at festivals, conventions, holiday events, etc.
If you want to know more about the furry fandom, here are some sample links to explain more about everything I've described:
The furry fandom tends to have various conventions dedicated to anthropomorphics. The largest and best is:
http://www.anthrocon.org/info.cgi/index (http://"http://www.anthrocon.org/info.cgi/index")
For an example of anthro artwork site, check out:
http://www.creativepaws.org/ (http://"http://www.creativepaws.org/")
Furs are also interested in costuming (fursuits) for conventions, parties, community events, etc. Most of the fursuits are hand built rather than store bought. For an example of fursuit costumes, check here:
http://www.mixedcandy.com/ (http://"http://www.mixedcandy.com/")
For more info. and links to explanations of anything furry, try visiting this link here that I posted on a community forum.
http://cgi.furtopia.org/cgi-bin....t=10820 (http://"http://cgi.furtopia.org/cgi-bin/ib311/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST;f=70;t=10820")
And if your curiosity still is getting the better of you, you can check into the furry community below which I am a member of. It's one of the best and friendliest furry communities ever.
http://www.furtopia.org/ (http://"http://www.furtopia.org/")
Quote |
By the way, what's with a mod bumping a 3 month old topic? |
Quote (-Lance @ Mar. 16 2006, 3:30 am) |
By the way, what's with a mod bumping a 3 month old topic? |
Quote (Kobuk @ Mar. 16 2006, 9:20 am) | ||
This topic may be old, but it is still important enough IMO that ANYONE can post in it and offer whatever helpful advice they can for anyone who is afraid of telling other people they're a furry and so forth. |
Quote (-Lance @ Mar. 15 2006, 10:30 pm) |
Exactly. There is no "furry closet" |
I'm not in the furry closet. I see no need for there to be a furry closet. People worry too much about what should be a simple hobby. If people react negatively, screw them. Yes, show them by example that furry is not really ALL about pornagraphy, but that like many other interestes, there is always pornagraphy involved. Nothing to be ashamed of.YES.
Pretty much everyone I know knows I'm a furry. I don't make a huge deal out of it. In fact, I often make fun of the furry fandom. Thus people know that it's not something terrible and perverted, just a simple hobby.
Ugh, just needed to let that out. CALM DOWN PEOPLE. IT'S JUST CARTOON ANIMALS.
EXACTLY.QuoteI'm not in the furry closet. I see no need for there to be a furry closet. People worry too much about what should be a simple hobby. If people react negatively, screw them. Yes, show them by example that furry is not really ALL about pornagraphy, but that like many other interestes, there is always pornagraphy involved. Nothing to be ashamed of.YES.
Pretty much everyone I know knows I'm a furry. I don't make a huge deal out of it. In fact, I often make fun of the furry fandom. Thus people know that it's not something terrible and perverted, just a simple hobby.
Ugh, just needed to let that out. CALM DOWN PEOPLE. IT'S JUST CARTOON ANIMALS.
Like I mentioned on another thread, you don't see, for example, anime fans worry about what their friend's and family would think or say 'I came out and told everyone I was an otaku today!'.
"omg!! MY PARENTS FOUND OUT I LIKED ANIME!! WHAT DO I DO!?!?1111"
"Don't worry! Just print out these web pages and show them anime isn't all tentacles and underwear vending machines!"
:D Come on, you can't help but lawl at that.
I'm an avid anime fan, and I just don't see the same kind of behavior I see in the furry fandom. And there's SO MUCH FREAKIN' PORN in the anime fandom, but I don't see anyone really getting into a huff about it or worry about their family and friends REJECTING THEM FOR A HOBBY OMG.The problem doesn't stem from the hobby, I beleive, but the fact that furry isn't "out there".
I already knew it is the fandom's obscurity and lack of exposure for anything other than the more questionable material is what helped it gain its reputation and created the furry closet (I do agree with you, so please don't think I'm trying to sound snarky or anything).QuoteI'm an avid anime fan, and I just don't see the same kind of behavior I see in the furry fandom. And there's SO MUCH FREAKIN' PORN in the anime fandom, but I don't see anyone really getting into a huff about it or worry about their family and friends REJECTING THEM FOR A HOBBY OMG.The problem doesn't stem from the hobby, I beleive, but the fact that furry isn't "out there".
How many parents know of anime, in one form or another? I mean, if they saw pokémon/digimon/beyblade/whathaveyou, they have something to relate to. They have an "idea" of what anime is. It's something that's widely known in society in general.
I don't know for the US in general, but here, in Québec, we've been exposed to japanese animation in the early 80s, even late 70s with many, many shows (most of them considered classics nowadays). So, for most of us, our parents saw us grow with anime...
But when it comes to furry, what is it that parents might have seen or heard of? Most likely, the Sex2K show, or the CSI episode or the Vanity Fair article.
Those hardly represent furry in it's entirety (mostly the more extreme fringes), but they are what most people see as "the norm" as far as furry is concerned. This is what they are exposed to.
This might be the reason behind said "furry closet", much like the "gay closet", exists for various frivolous reasons. Lack of exposure to the "fandom" proper instead of only the fringes of the subculture.
But, as furry gets more "out there", this might change. People will most likely start to see what the fandom mostly is, with the side fringes and core groups, and eventually will end up just like the star trek or star wars fandoms: just another bunch of geeks enjoying something.
^_^
I never really thought of furry as something to be in the closet about. It's an interest I have, just like music, sci-fi/fantasy, anime and motorcycles. Furry doesn't define me. It is a part of who I am, but it's only a part.I was going to say the exact same thing.
...said "He's a furry" as if it's some sort of classification of society.
...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....It's a good reason not use CSI as an explanation of what furry is.
...CSI still kicks butt, though; despite how bizarre its episode plots can get.
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. :DQuote...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....It's a good reason not use CSI as an explanation of what furry is.
...CSI still kicks butt, though; despite how bizarre its episode plots can get.
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...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!
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....
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...Wow, that's the exact same problem I have with my parents....I don't discuss this stuff with them.
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....
:moved from general discussion:Frenotx,
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?
Well, Morbidcorvid, I have found times when it's best to stay in the closet somewhat. This past weekend, My brother saw my background of me in a suit and his response was "I'm sorry". Though I think it was a more sarcastic attempt at humor than shunning it and doubt he knows about the fandom. The next day, I accidently left my laptop open with my fur pics screensaver on. I only use safe pics, but my mom happened to walk by and notice it. 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. 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".Quote*nods* I would have to agree with that. As now I consider myself "out of the closet" I don't jump around showing it. I tend to keep it hidden mostly unless some one asks. Then if i feel they are mature enough to handle something different, I'll tell them. ^^
PS: Why are some people really bad at hiding their secrets? I have locked boxes, passwords, filters, erased history, hidden files... and I keep my mouth shut. Really, it's not that hard if you try.Some of us have parents that are good with computers.
My case isn't as regular as other furries', I don't believe. First of all, I don't really consider myself to be a furry, since furries are the people who enjoy conventions, fursuits, plushies, and the like; the fandom part, if you will. You can imagine how hard it is to relate myself to a fandom I'm only slightly part of. Now imagine how hard it would be to explain my "peculiarity" without having much of anything to relate to, besides a fandom I'm hardly involved with. My logic: If I can't explain it, I don't expect anyone else to understand it.
I'l keep it too myself for now I think tho if someone askes about it I think I would just tell, but I'm not gonna waste time shuving it in the face of ppl that really don't wanna know.
I'l keep it too myself for now I think tho if someone askes about it I think I would just tell, but I'm not gonna waste time shuving it in the face of ppl that really don't wanna know.
QuoteYes, the last thing you would want is someone falsely assuming something much different than the truth... I'm not quite sure what, but assumption without consent is never a good thing.QuoteI'l keep it too myself for now I think tho if someone askes about it I think I would just tell, but I'm not gonna waste time shuving it in the face of ppl that really don't wanna know.I have to agree here. I think I've already confused some people by dropping too many hints with not enough explanation (especially when some of them don't have the constitution for this kind of thing...).
despite the simplistic link, its actually kinda hard to find... but these here are free.Heh, they usually are the simplest links. Thanks, and I'll have to check these out.
http://furrymusic.org/ (http://"http://furrymusic.org/")
.... some are better thn others. you'll see what i mean :P
Well said, Kivva.
Well said, Kivva.
I agree. And to add on a little bit to your bit about sexuality;
I used to be a huge naysayer and tell people that your sexuality is your business alone and there really is no reason to tell your family that at all. That it isn't important enough to warrant that, and will cause nothing but trouble to you and your family by telling them that.
Well, I was wrong. Wrong, wrong, wrong.
The want, no, need to tell someone, and be accepted, especially by a family member is HUGE. And the feelings after you have, and they have been accepting, is so wonderful, so incredibly fulfilling. It feels like a gigantic burden has been lifted from your shoulders, and that you couldn't possibly breathe before that, but now you can. It is important, but only should be done if you feel the risk is necessary.
(fetishes are a whole other issue though)
Just my two cents.
Like many others have stated, I don't believe in being in the 'closet'
Being furry is not like a sexuality; it's not like being straight or homosexual.
I went ahead and told my friends... and they had no idea what a Furry was. And they didn't really care that I was one, so they're cool with it (except me wearing a tail, they drew a line with that :-[_
So, yeah, I'm in the closet. It's almost harder these days to admit to furry-dom than it is to tell the parental units that I like
girls and boys...
Not freaked out here. I'm not antigun, I like guns, and swords and knives and furry's and don't really care if someone is Bi (Sexual or polar) and Firmly belive that there are a few emotional problems that for some people can only be fixed through medication.
I'm all over the place. But then I'm also a wiccan who loves nature and the oil companies and the fires of industry.... So As you can see I'm a coin, I have two sides. (:
I don't think there IS a furry closet. If there's nothing that bad about furry, then why do you have to hide that you are one? I don't hide it from my friends, nor do I advertise it. If it comes up in conversation, then yes, I will mention I am one. If not, then I don't. I use a furry picture as a Desktop Background. I have a picture of my Fursona hanging in my room. If someone puts the pieces together, good for them, I don't care. If someone has been my friend for 10 years and it still hasn't come up in conversation, or there hasn't been a reason for me to mention it, I won't. It's as simple as that.
That sounds right, it is something you enjoy and is part of your life like a hobby, no reason to make it sound like a dark secret, most people would most likely think you enjoy human animal characters and related subject matter or you just like the design, like anything else you may enjoy, most have no idea what furry even is or that it "is".
What it boils down to is this: is it neccessary for others to know, and if so, is it for attention or acceptance?
Just my $.02.
I'm going to try to bring up the subject of furries with one of my friends today, as well as the fact that I am a furry.
Hes big into anime so that should help, he also watches bleach and one of the characters in that is a furry. he'll probably be the easiest to tell.
wish me luck.
What?! What character!? I don't recall a furry in Bleach! Of course, I'm only on about episode 50. Are you talking about Yoruichi?
What?! What character!? I don't recall a furry in Bleach! Of course, I'm only on about episode 50. Are you talking about Yoruichi?
one of the captains
7th division
http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w123/renders-mehiel/KomamuraSajin.png
IF your on 50 and haven't seen him he's wearing a helmet and will soon be taking it off.
P.S. Im watching the japanese version(much much better by the way) and I'm on episode 194.
What?! What character!? I don't recall a furry in Bleach! Of course, I'm only on about episode 50. Are you talking about Yoruichi?
one of the captains
7th division
http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w123/renders-mehiel/KomamuraSajin.png
IF your on 50 and haven't seen him he's wearing a helmet and will soon be taking it off.
P.S. Im watching the japanese version(much much better by the way) and I'm on episode 194.
OH MY GOD! That spoiler was totally worth the increased reverence that I now have for Bleach! (Plus, since he was gonna remove it soon anyway . . .)
I'm in the closet , and fine with that (it's comfy) ,i'm sure mom and dad would understand , i've always been weird, but i just don't think it's the right time for it, might tell it to my friends in the near future...anyone got tips on how to tell friends about the fandom and NOT shock them? :P
thanks , using that link (and some tips from others) i now know exactly how i'm gonna deal with this :D
Ah, I direct you here: http://forums.furtopia.org/index.php/topic,34097.0.html for some advice concerning that very issue.
I think he thinks furry is a bad because before I got into the fandom we'd always make cruel jokes about it and such, haha, big mistake for me there, but yeah, everyone's cool with it, or at least the people that matter are fine with it ;)
As far as I can tell, I'm the only furry in Perth. One or 2 of my friends might be Furry but I am not too sure...If they don't understand and don't like you when you tell them, they were never really friends to begin with IMO.
When I get a collar, I plan to wear it when we go somewhere though. Even if they guess, I have 2 friends that already know. I hope they understand though.
Sort of.... That was quick :-P
I recently came to terms with myself.
... That was quick :-PIn what way?
... That was quick :-PIn what way?
Are you in the furry closet?
People know I like anthro art, or at least that I have it as my desktop and have some on my iPod, but no one I know is really Internet-savvy enough to have heard about furries, and I'd like to keep it that way so-QuoteAre you in the furry closet?
Yes.
It's like a furmeet!People know I like anthro art, or at least that I have it as my desktop and have some on my iPod, but no one I know is really Internet-savvy enough to have heard about furries, and I'd like to keep it that way so-QuoteAre you in the furry closet?
Yes.
Welcome to the closet. It's crowded in here. ^.^;
ClosetCon '09! :DWelcome to the closet. It's crowded in here. ^.^;It's like a furmeet!
heck yea i brought the soda lets party in this closet. its a walk inClosetCon '09! :DWelcome to the closet. It's crowded in here. ^.^;It's like a furmeet!
*gets shoved back into closet by mom*
Hey guys!
I was more open about it...until last weekend. When I mentioned planning to attend FWA, my mom asks "what is it?""We'll talk about it later" doesn't mean "you're not going", it means "we'll talk about it later". Take this as your cue to give your mom all sorts of reasons why you like the fandom and why you think it's a positive thing. As far as rebuttals for common stereotypes, you want to have them ready, but don't use them unless asked about them. That is, don't say "Furries are [stuff] and I like the fandom because [more stuff] and I'm not a pervert". Leave off the last part. Focus on the positive aspects, and only rebut the negative ones if asked about them.
Me: oh...uh...a big convention, in Atlanta. Nothing different than I've been to before...
Her: What's it called?
Me: uh...furry weekend...
Her: ...your dad says those people have problems.
Me: But...
Her: We'll talk about it later.
Yup. End of conversation. No chance for rebuttal, even. Hmmm...may just go anyway...no need for ask permission if I am away at college, right? Yeah, well...may or may not...
So...as far as family goes...
*gets shoved back into closet by mom*
Hey guys!
I'm not sure if I'm in the closet. I never try to hide anything, yet I don't go running around my house yelling out "I'M A FURRY"!You sound like me, and as I said already I'm nowhere near this closet. I was even browsing this site yesterday waiting for class to start (I'm in college, on my own computer) If anyone looks and sees, so what?
My best friend and his girlfriend knows, and I think his girlfriend is a furry. I don't ever clear my browsing history or close out of anything if someone comes in to the room. My parents and friends always sees furtopia when I leave it up on the computer.
What do you guys think, am I? The only reason I ask is because I still feel like I am, but when I think about it I'm not sure.
Funny story about leaving the furry closet *Waves goodbye to the people in the closet*.Best reaction you could possibly hope for. How did you respond?
I decided it was time to tell my parents that i am a furry. I was rather nervous since all the people i know really on know the Yiff part and understand that to be all of furrry fandom. ( I like to correct and educate those people). Anyways i go through all the trouble of making a semi-speech about it, and what it is. Then i go up to my parents and i say,"Mom,...Dad i'm a furry". After that my parents kinda hush up. At that point i was like," Awww geez what have i done." Then they turn to me and say," What's a Furry?"...And then i realized that all that fear and prep time was all for not. Oh well...I guess life can be funny like that sometimes. :)
well i guess i took another big step out of said closet i told my mom. dont think it was the smartest thing i have done/ said to her in a while, but she kinda compared being furry to being into anime. so i said sure lets role with that answer. lol but she doesn't really care. so its all good. lol
LOL. That response about a furry being like anime is exatcly what my parents thought too after i told them.Actually, I think that's a really good comparison to make. It's a huge group of a lot of diverse people who are into different things, and the only thing uniting them all is a shared appreciation for a style of art. Sounds quite a bit like furry.
I would say I keep it low key for the most part. Oppdelta your right, I would NEVER go to school with a suit on. To be frank, the only way i'd be at a con is in a suit, especially AC, know too many people around here to walk around in just a tail and some ears ;).
I'd love to walk around college in a fur suit. It's such an open college. Rarly any bulling. But if I walked into my class they would instantly tell it was me, cuz i'm the tallest in the class. Damn! I just got shivers... just thought of what would happen.You know, that'd be so much fun, I think. Everyone would know it was me, though... all of my classes have 30 or fewer students, and most of them require discussion. So it just wouldn't be practical.
*Curls up into ball holds tail and shakes*
Well i guess, them not caring is alot better than hating.Oh, it's definitely better. :)
(Don't know if this sounds correct) :S
(http://i39.tinypic.com/nq5w1e.jpg)Dude... if Gandalf were a fur, I don't think any of us would be afraid of telling others. ^_^
hmmm after a lot of thinking i don't know if i am a furry or not. i mean what makes you a furry. i love the art. and the costumes. but what really makes some one a furry. i need some help with this. and still the yiff part is the biggest turn off for me. some one help.
Actually I told my mom straight up the other day that I was a furry. She wasn't surprised and she wasn't upset. She's seen the CSI episode but is smart enough to know not to believe everything she sees on TV.
She knows I think of myself as a bear and she knows how important my teddy bears are to me.
I want everyone to know that I a a furry, its just difficult to come out when no one knows what it is. So I am going to join a Facebook Furry group and anounce my Furrieness on FB.
thanks man well let me think i fit most of those. but i just don't think i am ready to become a full time fur just to much going on right nowhmmm after a lot of thinking i don't know if i am a furry or not. i mean what makes you a furry. i love the art. and the costumes. but what really makes some one a furry. i need some help with this. and still the yiff part is the biggest turn off for me. some one help.
Well, let's see... you're interested in anthro animals, right?
Congratulations, you just passed the one and only test you need to be a furry! ;)
Beyond that, the only criterion is "if you say you're a furry, then that's what you are." The fandom can be whatever you want it to be. No one ever said you have to look at yiff if you don't want to. Like I said in another thread, you don't have to do anything or conform to anyone else in order to be a furry-- all you need is a desire to be part of the community. So if you want to consider yourself part of the furry community, then congratulations, you're furry.
Mostly because, when my mom was trying to figure out what exactly he meant, he said "he wants to have sex with a raccoon."WAT.
WAT.
/uberdoublefacepalmheadkeyboarddeskcry
Wow... where did he ever come to THAT conclusion!? O_o
//edit - hope you have good luck on enlightening him... :P
Just came out of it literally 15 minutes ago in the car. Told my mom that I was furry along with being Atheist. She took it much better than expected, I mean it was like a non-issue to her and we ended up talking about something else after like 5 minutes :D. I personally don't even feel different, I mean it wasn't a huge burden, but at least there wont be any awkwardness when I tell her i'm taking off work to go to AC and she needs to sign the waiver ;).
I guess I came out of the 'pet carrier' when I was about 17 and I found out there was a furry fandom for people just like me. Then again I never WAS in the closet, I just didn't figure it out for myself that I was furry until the time came that I walked into the fandom. ^^
I don't get too many problems from people about being furry. I don't really vocalize it unless someone asks me about it. In my personal experience, people on the internet tend to freak out more about hearing the word 'furry' than people I meet in the outside world.
I haven't read this entire thread, but from what I've seen I guess my reaction is about the same as Arbutus': What's the big deal?
I'm not in any kind of closet, cage or carrier, but I've never felt I have anything to hide. Of course, "furriness" seems to run on a sliding scale, so maybe I'm not very furry. Is a straight guy who likes animation, prefers "funny animals" over human characters, and is limited to thinking human-from-the-neck-down characters like Captain Amelia and Minerva Mink are hot even furry? If so, I've never hidden it, and it's never caused anyone I've actually known to so much as raise an eyebrow.
The only place I've ever been attacked for it is on Newgrounds, when I put stuff like this (http://www.newgrounds.com/portal/view/528843) up, and in that case I didn't get attacked too badly. Only one guy even said it made him uneasy, and he still liked it. I can't say I mind being attacked on Newgrounds, either. I mean, consider the source. That place is infested with morons. If I could find a better Flash portal—one not so eaten up with stupid fans of violent games—I'd use it instead.
Arbutus is right: even asking the "closet" question makes being part of the fandom a bigger deal than it is. We're not talking about bestiality here, are we? We're talking about people who like cartoons with talking animals.
I guarantee you: back in the 'sixties, people who liked Bugs Bunny and Pogo weren't ashamed of it.
I'm maybe half-in and half-out of the closet. A lot of people I've mentioned this to have either laughed or asked me if I wanted to have sex with animals...
One of my closest friends hasn't talked me to in a week or so. But then again, he's a very conservative christian and thought I was a very quite, modest, conservative christian. Telling him that I'm a kitty cat and want to make a fursuit and go to these cons and stuff probably scared him off.
But yeah, I stopped telling people after that. Now I just keep my fandom to the internet.
I've never gotten that.
Fenny, no offense, but your dad doesn't sound old enough to have a kid. :o
Totally in the closet.
Don't think I'll be coming out for a while either.
The problem is that my friends already have a terrible image of furries in their mind due to 4chan.
No doubt they'd never let me live it down.
:(
Aw... that's worse than your friends not knowing what a furry is. *pats on back*Yeah, but I'm trying to make new friends with the people in the furry club at school~
Yet another reason I choose not to go on 4chan.
Yeah, but I'm trying to make new friends with the people in the furry club at school~
Dude your school has a furry club? I wanna join!Yeah. They're not an official school club, but they do have their own keychains and shirts, and they gather in the courtyard for their "meetings."
I've been stalking them, but I'm not sure what I could say to them that wouldn't come off as awkward.
Nah, it's not really something you "come out" about. Being a furry is like being a trekkie, you don't go up to your parents and say, "Mom, Dad, I'm a trekkie" either. Really if it just somehow comes up in conversation be casual about it. Eventually they'll notice your furry behavior (such as making fursuits and such) and they'll ask what it's all about. Just say that you're in the furry fandom and then to the best of your ability describe to them what it is. No need to make a big deal out of it. :)
Nah, it's not really something you "come out" about. Being a furry is like being a trekkie, you don't go up to your parents and say, "Mom, Dad, I'm a trekkie" either. Really if it just somehow comes up in conversation be casual about it. Eventually they'll notice your furry behavior (such as making fursuits and such) and they'll ask what it's all about. Just say that you're in the furry fandom and then to the best of your ability describe to them what it is. No need to make a big deal out of it. :)Yeah, good advice. It still feels weird, having something I'm so involved in that they don't know a thing about. It almost feels like lying even though nobody asked me yet.
what should I even say? "Mom, Dad, I'm a furry"? Should I be flat-out and say it,
In short, I am going to be open but not loud about it out of the house, but subtle about it at home.
Here is my closet coming out story:Heh, my parents are totally the opposite. No matter how small the comment I make on anything, they always manage to make an entire conversation out of it. And even after I've explained something they never leave it alone...
Me:"Hey mom!" Mom:"Yea". Me:"I love foxes that look human" Mom:"Cool, dinners ready" Me:"Ok thanks"
Here is my closet coming out story:Heh, my parents are totally the opposite. No matter how small the comment I make on anything, they always manage to make an entire conversation out of it. And even after I've explained something they never leave it alone...
Me:"Hey mom!" Mom:"Yea". Me:"I love foxes that look human" Mom:"Cool, dinners ready" Me:"Ok thanks"
Besides I have something else to come out about. :(That reminds me so much of foreshadowing, one of my English teacher's favourite words. :P However, if somebody wants to come out with something, just do it. Sooner or later it will come to that point, anyway. So putting it off is just wasting time.
I was thinking... if narnia is inside the closet (wardrobe, whatever), and there's animals in there... furry animals... would Narnia be a fancy name for the land of hidden furries?
I'm in the "closet", but the door is open.
I'm in the "closet", but the door is open.
This. I don't tell anyone because it's not important. I draw stuff on scrap paper that is obviously furry and forget to take it home with me and leave it all over the counters. I don't hide it at all, but no one knows. I make tails, plushies and ears out in the open and no one really knows. Except for a couple Floridian friends. And that came to pass when we both wore our collars to class on the same day. It was also the same day we realized we had 4/5 of our classes together.
Another thing I have been thinking about is facebook. Is there anyone who is open about there furriness on there facebook account? Or maybe I should say how many people are not open about there furriness on facebook? The reason why I ask is because I have never been on it and since I am transferring and a movie representative is getting a new job as well, I will most likely not see her again. she wanted me to look her up on facebook. So I thought about if I did get a facebook account what I would be open about. I mean what is the point of a facebook page or any page for that matter if you have to lie or hide who you are? then I think about the possibility of a future job looking me up and wanting to fire me cause they think I am weird. The person who wants me to look them up already thinks I am weird anyways...actually a lot of people I know already think i am weird...so maybe i should just be open about who I am. What do you guys think! lol (because I am asking what others think after saying that I hide who I am from people lol)
Yeah, I'm in the furry closet. My parents would be fine with it, its just a 'How in God's name would I tell them' sort of deal. Dilemmas, dilemmas.
I went from a "No way, not going to tell anyone in real life, ever!" attitude to actually telling my best friend.
and that was my cousin
To put it bluntly, yes, we are very much in the furry closet. One could say we are so far in that we found Narnia back here. :D
The worst part is that we even tried telling our parent about the whole furry fandom and everything, but she refused to believe or even listen to our explanation. Since then, we have kept it to ourselves. It would be nice to come out, but, as we have mentioned in other posts, people where we live don't like different things like that. We would probably end up on the news or something for being part of a cult, it's that bad. So we keep ourselves to ourselves, and things stay pretty much the same.
<font color='#EEEEEE'>My dad's cool with it, but I haven't told my mum yet <!--emo&:shock:--><img src="http://cgi.furtopia.org/ib311/non-cgi/emoticons/shock.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':shock:'><!--endemo--> Don know how she'd take it.</font>
*kicks everybody out of the closet*But it's so comfy in here! :-)
GET OUT!
It's getting too crowded in here. It's too stuffy. :P
*kicks everybody out of the closet*But it's so comfy in here! :-)
GET OUT!
It's getting too crowded in here. It's too stuffy. :P
Yeah, I told my family I was a furry the same time that I told them I was bi, and they more or less disowned me. But now that I think back on it, I'm glad that I told them. It helped me realize that just because you happened to be born to people doesn't mean that you always need to listen to them. Now that they know, I'm happier than I've ever been, even if my family doesn't talk to me. I don't know what the big deal about telling the people you know, but it's a great feeling to not have to hide who you are. All of my friends know, and many of them have offered to come to cons with me and what not.i've also notices that once i joined the fandom i became happier then ive ever been. so much so that i have adopted a new policy. " i dont care if i die, i just care if up to that point i have been happy". and i EXPECT i will die young, and i accept it. i have ben happy and as long as i am happy then, i feel fine about death. i think this fandom has had the same effect as a religion that someone truly believes in, not pushed on them by family would have. i have never been religious, and probably never will. but if what i feel is the same that religious people feel, i can se the appeal in it.
It's much nicer outside./me frolics through the open meadows of non-closetedness.
I've actually felt so much different ever since I embraced the furry fandom. Much like the two of you, I've just been happier, like I found what was missing, it's been nothing but good for me. I still follow Christianity to this day but I swear I heard God tell me "It's alright." After that night I told my mom and she thinks it's actually pretty cool, sure my dad didn't say much when he found out but he never says much to begin with. Even when my brother found out and wanted to rip my head off for it, furry is part of who I am now and it's something no one's gonna tear away from me.Yeah, I told my family I was a furry the same time that I told them I was bi, and they more or less disowned me. But now that I think back on it, I'm glad that I told them. It helped me realize that just because you happened to be born to people doesn't mean that you always need to listen to them. Now that they know, I'm happier than I've ever been, even if my family doesn't talk to me. I don't know what the big deal about telling the people you know, but it's a great feeling to not have to hide who you are. All of my friends know, and many of them have offered to come to cons with me and what not.i've also notices that once i joined the fandom i became happier then ive ever been. so much so that i have adopted a new policy. " i dont care if i die, i just care if up to that point i have been happy". and i EXPECT i will die young, and i accept it. i have ben happy and as long as i am happy then, i feel fine about death. i think this fandom has had the same effect as a religion that someone truly believes in, not pushed on them by family would have. i have never been religious, and probably never will. but if what i feel is the same that religious people feel, i can se the appeal in it.
I do believe in furries, I do I do I do!
There is a door?
Outside of that, though, I'm very much in the closet, and I hide my drawings from my Dad even if he demands to see them. I'm notorious for concealing my art (which is pretty much all anthro/furry) whether at home or outside. I guess I'm too afraid that they wouldn't take it well, wouldn't understand, and/or would try to stop it. Though I guess that's a given, what with being in the closet and all.Same here. I really like your background and your Avatar. The background makes me feel happy inside. Not like happy, in a good mood, but happy like real genuine plain happiness. It's been a while. Too long.
Put me online, though, and I'm a lot more open.
Maybe the closet door is only closed when family and friends approach.
I was never really in the closet in the first place. I even explained it to my parents when I told them I wanted to go to a furry convention (which also would be the first time going away for a while without any family around). They kept forgetting, so I just stopped mentioning the fandom after the third time explaining. The only other problem I had was that a member of the church I attend was worried I would want to physically become partly animal (without wearing a fursuit).
So he worried that you would spontanously mutate and become part human part animal? Uhm uh... Ok...
So he worried that you would spontanously mutate and become part human part animal? Uhm uh... Ok...
Not exactly. What she was worried about was that I would want that to happen, similar to how a transgender might want to become of the opposite sex. The point was that I shouldn't accept a desire to unnecesarily change my body.
(I don't want to generalise trans folk here, not every trans wants to change their sex.)
Why would you ever care though? You should do what makes you happy as long as you're not harming anyone. Isn't their something on christian beliefs along the lines of "don't judge if you don't want to be judged?"
The police know... as they stopped me at 2am walking in the park as a huge dog...but they were cool with it.