Post by: Darkness Falls on June 23, 2005, 02:20:53 pm
D.F.</font>
Staff Note: Due to "technical difficulties" that Furtopia experienced several months ago, this post here is not the official starting post of this thread. Please scroll down slightly till you come to my post with all the furry links in it and start there. Thanks. :)
Kobuk
Post by: on June 23, 2005, 04:38:48 am
i just told my pal straight
she's cool with it and so is everyone else at school who knows
Post by: Kobuk on June 22, 2005, 10:58:55 pm
http://www.xydexx.com/anthrofurry/
http://www.visi.com/~phantos/furrysoc.html
http://www.mywiseowl.com/articles/Furries
http://www.tigerden.com/~infopage/furry/
http://www.humantruth.info/furry.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Furry_fandom
http://www.anthrocon.org/about-furry
And of course, don't forget the best and friendliest place around.........Furtopia!
Why the need to come out as a furry? Read here:
http://forums.furtopia.org/general-furry-discussion/why-the-need-to-tell-about-furry/
Post by: Kobuk on June 23, 2005, 10:27:36 pm
I thought this might help somewhat for any of the younger furs and new members here on Furtopia. I've remembered quite a few topics in the past few weeks and months where furs were struggling with what to say to friends and relatives. I hope my links help. If anyone else has some positive links and resources to share, post them here.
Post by: Far_Raptor on June 28, 2005, 01:55:20 am
Best,
~FaR~
Post by: Savaaha on June 28, 2005, 02:27:58 am
Quote
If it aint a cult of some kind then it dont sound to bad.
Also helps to have a wellspoken whiteshepherd and his lady love pegasus walk thro the door to prove furs are good people.
Post by: EMPTY on June 28, 2005, 03:54:47 am
Post by: Lost_Tiger on July 06, 2005, 02:12:03 pm
Post by: Lost_Tiger on July 11, 2005, 04:27:39 pm
Post by: Seelas on July 16, 2005, 01:45:46 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. I mean, it seems like kind of an odd situation - they're my friends for God's sake, they should be pretty accepting of this! - and who knows, maybe they will. But for the time being, I'm pretty uncomfortable with it.
Post by: Arbutus on July 16, 2005, 02:28:40 am
| 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. |
Hmm... well, from your post, it seems like your whole group has been friends with each other for quite a while, right? If this guy had fallen into your company one day all of a sudden, and he was like "Hey guys, I'm furry!", and a little while later you were suddenly like "Guess what, guys, I'm furry too!"... then yeah, I guess that'd probably be copying him. But it doesn't seem like that's the case. I mean, you've been friends with him for years, so you could have just gacked his idea any time if you'd had the desire to-- but you didn't. Instead, you underwent a gradual process of realization and arrived at the conclusion that you were a fur too.
Did that make any sense? I'm tired, I don't know if I'm babbling or not. I guess to sum up, I think the very fact that it wasn't a sudden but a gradual transition to furriness, should be enough to show them that this isn't a passing whimsy to get you closer to him. I wouldn't worry too much.
Bed.
Post by: Lost_Tiger on July 16, 2005, 12:05:31 pm
Post by: Mikael GRizzly on July 16, 2005, 04:06:01 pm
Maybe it's because we're simply different. Different from The Public-at-Large (hi, Simo
), which is plain, "normal", boring. But they are legion. In democracy (The worst system ever conceived, yet there is nothing better than it - Churchrill), those who are legion, are heard.This, coupled with a very hy00man ability to be quick to pass judgements, expecially about things they do not understand/not want to understand (eg. our own furdom), is what causes hate.
Prejudice and no understanding.
Throughout our human history, the lack of understanding and prejudice were always at the core of tragedies in history.
The Crusades
The fall of Aztec empire.
The spanish inquisition
Pogroms of people, due to their race/religion/belief
World War II (erupted because of Nazi prejudice and selfloathing)
Another factor, especially nowadays, is the mass media's greed for quick, shalllow news, to satisfy average people apetite (the so-called mr and ms Smith/Kowalski) and meet the 5 minute attention limit.
Lastly, our culure is becoming more and more devoid of empathy, feelings and open-mindedness. Slowly, it becomes a barren wasteland, purged of all feelings, where
"[...] we live according to race, colour or creed
[...] we rule by blind madness and pure greed
Our lives dictated by tradition, superstition, false religion"
In such world, a fully fuzzy furry, a warm, kind hearted open person with an open mind, is seen as a potential threat. As are all people whose beliefs are different than the PAL's and the People In Control (PIC). That's why we are forced to the said cupboard. Untrustfullness, isolationism and lack of tolerance are slowly grasping control.
I hope they'll fail in their attempt. That what we believe in will survive and win through.
Meanwhile, let's not go slightly mad.
Mika
[DISCLAIMER: If anything was said before, stated or what I wrote sounds too vague to understand, that's because I find it hard to phrase my thoughts]
Post by: Kobuk on July 16, 2005, 04:43:35 pm
Post by: EMPTY on July 17, 2005, 03:29:44 pm
Post by: Fen-Fen on July 17, 2005, 06:15:47 pm
| 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. |
Exactly how my mom is, Savaaha.
Post by: Lost_Tiger on July 23, 2005, 09:02:54 pm
Post by: Arbutus on July 23, 2005, 10:27:48 pm
I do have something else to recommend, though-- the essay that first got me thinking seriously about the furry lifestyle and whether I might be a part of it. Here's Rabbiting On, written by Loganberry, who was a good friend of mine and who, I believe, used to hang around the forums until a few months ago.
Post by: Kobuk on July 23, 2005, 10:52:33 pm
Post by: Kobuk on August 17, 2005, 07:19:04 pm
http://cgi.furtopia.org/cgi-bin....t=12123 (http://"http://cgi.furtopia.org/cgi-bin/ib311/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST;f=12;t=12123")
On page 2 of that thread, I posted a email I sent to a person by the name of GrizzlyBear explaining to him what the fandom was about. Sporty Fox then suggested I post that email here as an example to other furs on how to possibly explain to other non-furry people what the fandom is about and so forth. You can use my email message as an example on how to write your own letter/email. I hope it helps.
Quote
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/")
Post by: Inangus on August 23, 2005, 03:36:26 pm
I've never really experienced any real hostility at school for showing my "furry" side occasionally. Which you wouldn't expect seeing that I live in a very conservative area. The worst I ever get is someone telling me to stop drawing those "dumb animals" and draw something good, to which I respond with a smile and a clear and concise "[expletive] you. I'll draw what I wish, thank you very much."
Really, I don't see much hostility from "bad press" around here. People know that I'm easy to get along with and respectful as long as you do not cross the line of pissing me off.
Post by: GunSlinger on August 26, 2005, 08:17:57 am
- gs
Post by: Nokomis on August 26, 2005, 09:41:31 am
I'm not in the furry closet, but I'm not out of it either 'cause no one understands or cares about what I'm trying to explain.
Post by: Kobuk on December 05, 2005, 09:43:28 pm
http://cgi.furtopia.org/cgi-bin....t=10305 (http://"http://cgi.furtopia.org/cgi-bin/ib311/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST;f=12;t=10305")
......which made me think about how furs are afraid to come out of the closet and why sometimes we are afraid to be furs, and so forth. I just thought that maybe I should put a link to it in this thread for furs to read. I found it quite informative and inspirational.
Post by: Karizma on December 05, 2005, 10:16:11 pm
Post by: Lost_Cause on December 06, 2005, 06:18:37 pm
I have trouble telling people what flavour of ice cream I like!
Somehow, I think I'm likely to stay isolated for a long long time.
I’ll keep the links handy just in case :P
Here’s hoping tomorrow is less scary than today.
Post by: inzomniac on December 06, 2005, 06:40:20 pm
Post by: Alex on December 08, 2005, 01:33:26 am
Post by: Kada-Ru on March 15, 2006, 11:49:13 am
Post by: Karizma on March 15, 2006, 01:41:51 pm
For example, I spent the night at my friend's place and left my collar there. He's completely ignoring the fact that I left my collar and he seems to be avoiding returning it, as he finds furriness wierd.
I have gone over a week without my collar and I'm going nuts >.@
Next, I'm getting teased and classified by my friends. I was riding in the car with one of my friends and a friend of his, and we were talking about road kill for a minute. They don't see a problem with it and I joked saying, "But they're so cute!" and my friend just says, "He's a furry" as if it's some sort of classification of society.
I don't know but I'm getting rather annoyed >\
Post by: Kuros on March 15, 2006, 02:40:47 pm
Post by: Obsydian on March 15, 2006, 03:58:05 pm
But I usually just keep it to myself unless somebody asks, no biggie to me.
These links sure help for those who don't know furry, or for those who are misguided, thanks! Could have helped alot when I was talking to my good friend who didn't know what it was. I sent him the I'm Furry rap song. *laughs*
Post by: Mange on March 15, 2006, 04:34:28 pm
Post by: Drake Blackpaw on March 15, 2006, 04:51:51 pm
My wallpaper on my computer at work is my fursona playing a guitar and I occasionally where shirts with furry art on them out in public at non-furry events. If I get a reaction at all to these things, there usually positive. I never had any really negative comments. The majority of people just ignore it.
I don't talk much about my furry activities or the fandom with co-workers and friends not because I want to hide it, but because they are not interested. If someone shows an interest in any of my furry stuff I'm quick to talk about as it is something I enjoy.
Post by: Mr. FroFox on March 15, 2006, 11:05:23 pm
In fact there was one occasion where a friend of a friend was blatantly showing of his new fox-hair jacket, during which he specifically dictated the process by which he trapped, killed, and skinned the fox. Needless to say, my verbal assault upon the kid got some strange looks from friends.
Yea, I think if I told anyone I was a furry, it wouldn't cause much surprise, and still.....not yet.
Post by: Silent Antagonist on March 16, 2006, 12:12:27 am
"Lion obsession?"
Yes, we stock that here.
I won't run it into other people's faces and up their noses, but I'll answer questions.
Or, in some cases, a series of questions...
Most, however, don't even know what furry is.
"Everyone, I have to confess. I'm a furry."
"So shave."
"..."
Post by: -Lance on March 16, 2006, 03:30:04 am
By the way, what's with a mod bumping a 3 month old topic?
Post by: Kobuk on March 16, 2006, 09:20:03 am
| Quote |
| By the way, what's with a mod bumping a 3 month old topic? |
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.
Post by: Party Pony on March 16, 2006, 11:01:04 am
| Quote (-Lance @ Mar. 16 2006, 3:30 am) |
| By the way, what's with a mod bumping a 3 month old topic? |
I don't think it was so much a bump, as perhaps a desire to say something.
There is a constant debate amongst topians about opening new topics when older ones exist. The site does offer a search function (button at the top) that allows one to search for topics no longer being discussed. Many are still interesting.
For example, there is currently a topic discussing the NARNIA dvd coming out. Should that have been created, or simply be put as part of the original topic on the NARNIA movie discussed last year? Actually, considering how many furs were bashing the film prior to it being released, that topic might be embarrassing to some.
Post by: Drake Blackpaw on March 16, 2006, 11:01:20 am
| 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. |
Perhaps you should see about having it made into a sticky topic?
Post by: on March 16, 2006, 09:28:43 pm
| Quote (-Lance @ Mar. 15 2006, 10:30 pm) |
| Exactly. There is no "furry closet" |
Post by: Zadorn on March 17, 2006, 12:50:36 am
Not because they wont understand, but because we are not on the best terms. We talk, and usually enjoy each others company, but there are sometings i dont want them to know.
Post by: Sporty Fox on March 20, 2006, 04:48:57 pm
Post by: Mange on March 20, 2006, 07:03:58 pm
If I ever told them I was a fur? Disowned. Not like I really ever talk to them anymore but still...
Post by: Gwyndolium on June 05, 2006, 07:07:55 am
Post by: skufer on June 05, 2006, 01:04:48 pm
but those links give some good descriptions, well found
Post by: Rooster on June 12, 2006, 10:15:39 am
And if your friends don't understand, then realise that they probably weren't your friends to begin with.
And if your family don't like it, tell them how old you are and that it's your life.
And if some randomer on the street gives you grief for wearing a tail or whatver, just tell them to go make love to themselves and walk on.
Don't listen to what others say. Tis your life, not theirs.
Post by: Cobalt on June 28, 2006, 05:10:03 pm
At the moment, I'm so far in the closet that I think I havve a hanger with my name written on it.
Post by: on July 01, 2006, 12:32:46 am
Post by: Tristan Thilorn on July 02, 2006, 01:03:34 pm
Don know how she'd take it.
Post by: Gwyndolium on July 02, 2006, 03:29:01 pm
More and more I'm telling on forums and acting more like it.. I wonder if my mother has seen the CSI episode.. She is kinda fond of the show so I don't know. But she doesn't care about my ears and plushes so it's ok.. I gues ^_^
Post by: Tristan Thilorn on July 02, 2006, 05:26:14 pm
) I came out to him about it, but I think that made it a bit easier to do, seeing as he at least was aware of it, and it didn't seem as if I was saying something out of the blue.
Post by: Gwyndolium on July 02, 2006, 05:58:23 pm
Post by: Tristan Thilorn on July 02, 2006, 06:01:44 pm
Why I'm so paranoid about coming out about to it to my mum, I don't know. Just me worrying needlessly, I suppose.
Post by: Wyntrë on July 05, 2006, 08:03:37 am
Post by: Lone_Wulf on August 03, 2006, 02:41:23 pm
I need to talk about it at least, especially with other furries. I'm so grateful for this site it's not even funny.
Post by: Nikolai on August 07, 2006, 09:05:04 am
Post by: lucky_white on August 11, 2006, 09:04:49 pm
I have nightmares about people finding out. I'm somewhat ashamed of my appeal towards furriness, even though I accept it.
...hey... what the heck is this "CSI episode" I keep reading about? For that matter, what is CSI? Sounds like bad media.
It's likely nobody I know has seen it... lucky me.
Post by: Kobuk on August 11, 2006, 09:11:16 pm
CSI, The Final Thread:
http://cgi.furtopia.org/cgi-bin....+thread (http://"http://cgi.furtopia.org/cgi-bin/ib311/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST;f=12;t=15073;hl=csi+the+final+thread")
Post by: lucky_white on August 11, 2006, 09:35:48 pm
You know what's strange, though? First off, anyone have a Macintosh? Well the new ones, 10.4 and up, have widgets which are tiny programs that are quickly and easilly accessable by the push of a button, each coming in handy. Anyways, one of them is a Dictionary/Thesaurus; a modern one that includes all the slang you can think of, including the informal words for homosexual and "Fire Truck" (yes, it's in the dictionary now.) But there AREN'T any slang terms for furries. The words furry, yiff, scritch, fursuit, etc. don't show up in the modern dictionary. Not as much media is portrayed on furries as there is on gay people. Again, this is good on my part.
Post by: Tristan Thilorn on August 24, 2006, 07:27:47 pm
Post by: Obsydian on August 24, 2006, 07:40:26 pm
My whole family is on second life. That includes my parents, yes.
...and...they both have Furry Avatars!
And like them. I win.
Post by: A416 on August 24, 2006, 09:50:23 pm
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.
Post by: Vaide on August 24, 2006, 10:16:24 pm
Quote
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.
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
Post by: A416 on August 24, 2006, 10:48:01 pm
Quote
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.
[EDIT] - and LAWL AHAHAHA at your last statement. Oh god, I would laugh so hard if someone actually did that.
Post by: Firebreath on August 25, 2006, 03:06:13 am
Quote
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".
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.
^_^
Post by: A416 on August 25, 2006, 05:34:34 pm
Quote
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.
^_^
What I am saying though is that furries who make a huge deal of "coming out" about being into the fandom should learn something from anime fans. Yea, sometimes I see whackos who have somewhat of the same persecution complex that some idiotic furries have. And there are some people out there that think anime is EVIL for god's sake. That all it is pornographic, extremely violent, and satanic (I know that Satanism is not what most people think it is, just going by those people's definition of it). But yet anime fans still go on with their lives, not giving a crap what those people in opposition say.
And then there's the 'fursecution complex'. All I'm saying is that people shouldn't worry about the CSI episode, and the article in Vanity Fair, and the documentary or whatever that was on MTV. Seriously people, complaining about those three things is getting REALLY OLD. Nobody cares about those anymore. Furries need to stop whining and start trying to put the fandom in SOME kind of positive light.
Post by: Fen-Fen on August 25, 2006, 06:05:21 pm
Alot of furries now are concerned with their peers picking on them and stuff. I had to go through it but people get over it and move on with their daily lives. I was only made fun of for a week or so and the comments weren't all that horrible. xD
And there really shouldn't be a "closet" because closets are for clothes. D< But some people won't accept you but no need to get offended and pull the "fursecution" card on them. Not everybody accepts different kinds of lifestyles. Like how religious people don't accept the homosexual lifestyle.
Post by: Sora-kun on August 26, 2006, 04:28:56 pm
But if anyone asks (I do own a shirt with me fursona on it and on the back it says "Caution: Fur in the premises", don't wear it outside much since me mom objects >.>) I will say "Indeed, I'm a fur AND pirate and proud of it!"
Post by: ShadowKitsune on September 28, 2006, 08:10:04 am
What are some of the responses you get?
Post by: Jean-Claude on October 11, 2006, 11:26:11 pm
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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.
This is part of the reason I don't use the word "furry" to describe a person. It just propogates the belief that those who follow furry cannot separate themselves from it.
Then again, my view of it is probably different than that of most people. I see furry as more of a fetish than anything else, as the majority of popular content making up the community is sexual in nature. But I could be wrong. :X
Post by: Narei Mooncatt on October 17, 2006, 12:48:13 am
I've told my former mate about it, and a few other freinds, who are all cool with it. I doubt I'd ever tell my parents though. They are pretty traditional, and I think it might be to disturbing for them, even with no preconcieved notions about the fandom. For them, it's not that I'm affraid about loosing their love, I just want to spare them shock (for lack of a better term).
Post by: Omegadogstar on October 23, 2006, 11:42:29 pm
Post by: Nagrom on October 24, 2006, 02:17:00 pm
I have the feeling she will be cool about it, I mean she coloured her haid pright purple let me do pyrotecknics and i've met some of her friends (some are really really strange) so i think she's far from normal and would be cool with it
Post by: Gwyndolium on November 06, 2006, 09:25:46 am
It doesn't feel like coming out of a closet at all, just kinda shameful to say you like furry stuff
But it's cool, she liked the pictures I made of some furries in fursuit last weekend as well ^^
Post by: Foxxhoria 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.
Post by: Nikko on November 27, 2006, 01:30:50 pm
----=Nikko=----
Post by: nido on December 03, 2006, 06:26:00 pm
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 :D
Post by: arocoun on December 15, 2006, 06:24:34 pm
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.
Post by: nido 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....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.
Post by: Gwyndolium on December 16, 2006, 06:22:43 am
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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.
Post by: zachhart12 on January 11, 2007, 07:20:02 pm
Post by: fisher664 on January 17, 2007, 10:38:07 pm
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....
Post by: Red Reynart on January 24, 2007, 04:03:46 am
Post by: Fluffy on January 25, 2007, 08:03:48 pm
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 :(
Post by: Twizler the skunk on January 25, 2007, 08:20:11 pm
Post by: Baconstrip 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...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....
Meh.. oh well :)
Post by: Tau Nairebis on January 26, 2007, 08:35:35 am
Quote
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....
So..yeah I'm in the furry closet. The only people that know are..well..other furries.
Post by: Kris on February 07, 2007, 02:14:22 pm
Oh well, 2nd life for the win :)
Post by: Landrav on February 07, 2007, 08:33:43 pm
Post by: Frenotx on February 07, 2007, 10:59:41 pm
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?
Post by: Fenrir on February 08, 2007, 05:12:48 pm
Post by: Kris on February 08, 2007, 05:18:43 pm
Man you're a geek', of course he has a lot of room to talk since he's addicted to World of Warcraft. I guess I'm in good company as far as he's concerned. 
I'm like the rest of you closet fur fans, not afraid of being judged, there's just no motivation to tell anyone
Post by: Baconstrip on February 08, 2007, 06:14:51 pm
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: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?
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 :)
Post by: Frenotx on February 08, 2007, 10:42:35 pm
Post by: Frenotx on February 12, 2007, 11:57:07 pm
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."
Post by: T-Fox on February 13, 2007, 05:09:50 pm
myspace.com/travisnosto
and one for Joimbob
myspace.com/travisfursona
Post by: Vulpin on May 04, 2007, 07:55:25 pm
So yes, I'm in the figurative closet.
Post by: MorbidCorvid on May 29, 2007, 03:25:50 am
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.
Post by: Narei Mooncatt on May 29, 2007, 05:03:03 pm
Post by: Tav Nymblewynd on May 30, 2007, 01:35:39 am
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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. ^^
Post by: Kiboe Motegi on May 30, 2007, 11:38:53 am
Post by: lucky_white on June 07, 2007, 03:44:55 pm
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.
The other reason makes more sense, though it's almost ironic. My family would never throw me out, make fun of me, or be embarrassed because of a personal difference. However, they won't ignore it either. I'm sure they would try their best to understand, though I doubt if they ever fully will. I don't tell my family because I think it would be too hard on them verses on myself. It would kind of ruin things for them if they are reminded of my bizarre trait every time they see cartoon animals on TV.
As for my friends, I'm sure they would be cool with it. Especially if I explain clearly my situation and opinions, so that they know I'm not into what they (and myself, for the most part) would consider crappy. No offense, though; it's just that not everything in the fandom is... well, you know how some of it is. I don't tell my friends because there's the whole reminder part again; every time an animal appears on TV they remember my difference. No way I'm messing up their lives like that.
I've read a lot about people wanting to come out of the closet or help their parents to understand. It's always a conflict of acceptance with the victim's reputation at stake. Well, what about the friends and family of the victim? Don't they have something to lose? Isn't it hard on them if the victim isn't who they seemed? I say victim because we don't always choose to be; it comes to us. Or, at least in my case... minus the furry part, since I'm just part furry...
Dang it, what am I? Or is it who? Blah! I ask you not; I talk to myself!
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.
Post by: Epsy on June 08, 2007, 11:44:09 pm
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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.
Post by: Acton on June 14, 2007, 01:57:14 am
With this in my being fury in public is nothing.
Like Fury Fandom, there an adult component. Some people has accused, associated me with having a balloon fetish. This fetish is an offshoot of latex fetish community. Like yiffy part of anthropomorphic fandom, I wish to have nothing to do adult fury or fetish communities.
In a way learning how to deal with and avoid the fetish community has help me to accept my own furriness in that both I do not need to partake of the sexual and pornographic sides of both.
Post by: Loo Rou on June 14, 2007, 09:59:57 am
Post by: Volpeculus on August 13, 2007, 11:24:24 pm
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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.
You know, this is the situation I find myself in too :) . I love reading, writing, and viewing art about anthropomorphic animals, and yet I have no desire at all to attend a furry con or formally define myself as "FURRY" (anthropomorphic enthusiast?). Most of my close friends and family know there's something odd about me in that way, but if I put on a tail and collar, they wouldn't get it (and I'd feel like an arse :p). It took some time, but eventually I accepted most of it as just another aspect of my personal weirdness... I think o.0 .
Post by: Dex01 on August 21, 2007, 12:30:25 pm
my mum reaction:
"oh well you'll find that most people associate themselves with animals so you're not really that different from most"
The friends I have told so far:
"I don't understand yoru point of view but I respect it"
"A furry? REALLY? wow of all the people I'd never of expected you! "
"Yeah don't go near 4chan"
I will tell others If I am asked. but there are a couple of people who know nothing about and won't understand the significance of it so I won't bother telling them.
and even if they did find out I couldn't care less what they think about me. I 've always been a bit of an outsider so it won't really make much difference to me.
Post by: Drasune on August 23, 2007, 12:27:23 am
I wouldn't be surprised if they did know and I just haven't noticed, I'm horribly unobservant that way
Post by: Fangz on August 23, 2007, 02:21:40 am
Tho I tell some I would not wanna tell everyone and my parents and stuff. If they give it a good tought they should already know tho, and I bet most ppl thats abit know I'm not totaly normal but none asks alot and my parents never asked about any wierd behavior. 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.
Post by: Volpeculus on August 23, 2007, 01:48:29 pm
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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 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...).
Post by: Traumerei on August 24, 2007, 08:44:50 pm
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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 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...).
Yes, 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.
Post by: Volpeculus on August 25, 2007, 07:16:58 pm
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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...).
Hehe... some people may not have this problem, but most people I know would be rather intimidated by associating me with furry, and I can be shy and reserved if I'm not standing on absolutely solid ground :S . Thus, no tails, collars, etc. Sorry!
Post by: Fangz on August 30, 2007, 08:31:09 am
haha okey not saying exactly that but ya get the point. However I have goten a question a few times since I do like too wear collars ^^ and I do answer em too
Post by: Synap on September 09, 2007, 12:55:16 pm
Post by: Alysian Bluehoof on November 20, 2007, 11:32:13 pm
Post by: Alysian Bluehoof on December 17, 2007, 11:15:44 pm
Post by: Calufa on December 18, 2007, 02:42:02 am
Oh, and where can I find furry music? I wasn't aware it existed, any links?
Post by: Alysian Bluehoof on December 18, 2007, 10:47:22 am
http://furrymusic.org/
.... some are better thn others. you'll see what i mean
Post by: Morg on December 21, 2007, 01:01:07 am
Post by: Calufa on December 21, 2007, 01:39:20 am
Quote
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
Post by: Shakar Otter on March 07, 2008, 06:36:55 pm
Sweet: Fox On The Run
Metallica: Of Wolf And Man.
Post by: Ferrous_Oxide on March 08, 2008, 02:55:38 am
Post by: Neon on March 08, 2008, 01:45:26 pm
Nobody else knows though. And I plan to keep it that way. Even though it's hanging up all over my deviantart. o_o
Post by: Epsy on March 08, 2008, 03:27:47 pm
Post by: Traumerei on March 08, 2008, 05:29:20 pm
Post by: Kivva on March 08, 2008, 06:50:50 pm
I am who I am, and I behave how and wear what I please. I am courteous, polite, and I never try to impress my beliefs upon others(but I would like to explain why I feel how I do this subject). If I decide to do or say something that would send up a flag that I'm furry, that's fine with me. As long as I'm not hurting anyone, other could really give a care about what else I do or like.
My family and friends all know me as an animal lover, and the fact that I am furry does not mean I have to make sure everyone I know understands the entire scope of the fandom. My family understands that I attend fur cons, but outside that it involves animals and art, they don't know much about them, and they honestly don't seem to care about it.
The thing I think young furs get caught up in is that they want their families to understand them- as we all do! We want to be understood, accepted by our families- that's what families are for!
But making 'coming out' of the furry 'closet' a big thing sends the wrong messege to those we love.
The act of setting up and important meeting to discuss a subject seriously conveys (whether you mean to or not) that something is up, and that sets your family on the alert and probably puts negative thoughts in their minds ("OH NO! What's wrong?!"). Obviously, there are many behaviours that some[/u] not all, furs participate in that many families would object to and possibly be shocked by.
Whether or not you indulge in those behaviours (or plan to) is NOT their business. And you have to remember, these behaviours are not all strictly unique to the furry fandom. They occur in ALL fandoms, and outside of fandoms as well. If you would perform and 'objectionable' behaviour as a fur, most likely you would perform an 'objectionable' behaviour no matter what.
Furry or not, sexual fetishes (and this is usually the region which most furs are concerned about with their families) are viewed as taboo, and most people are quick to jump the gun if animals are involved in any way.
Your family loves you, and if they know they can trust you to be safe in 'normal' situations, they already know they can trust you in a 'furry' situation. As far a sexual fetishes are concerned, if you don't plan on bringing your family into your bed, why do they need to know what you plan to do in it?
My belief is that as long as you do no harm to yourself or another, do as you please. I don't need to know about it, and neither does your family.
In other situations: where as your sexuality is the main topic, obviously your family needs to know, that being gay, bi or lesbian will mean you may select a mate (or life partner/wife/husband/or multiples of these) that they will not expect. Obviously this sort of thing will have some kind of impact on your family.
So ask yourself, will this really affect your family?
Just my thoughts. I know this won't apply to everyone, but I do think that before one 'comes out' about being a fur, there needs to be a lot of soul searching. WHY? Why do you feel the need to share this?
Post by: Arbutus on March 08, 2008, 09:55:35 pm
Post by: Epsy on March 08, 2008, 10:01:29 pm
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.
Post by: Kivva on March 08, 2008, 11:55:56 pm
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.
Arbutus, Naomi: Thank you (and big hugs, it's nice to be back in the forums <3 Missed you both!)
I agree with you Naomi. Sexuality tends to be a more 'public' topic... we need to go into public to find a mate. Of course, part of that is introducing 'furry' to a person we might be considering to be a mate or lifelong partner.
In that case, I think it's best to talk about it right away... breaking the ice about it isn't too bad. Being an artist, I can just ask someone what their favourite animal is and do them up a little doodle of themselves as that animal. The person's reaction to that tells me how well they could respond to that sort of thing.
Other options exist, though- you can always ask people if they animals in small talk. If you know someone pretty well, you can ask about something you think or know they like: "Hey, you remember the old Ninja turtles cartoon? Who was your favourite character?", etc.
Pets are awesome topic too, you can get an impression of how someone might feel about furry by how they talk about their pets.
Once you know someone really well, you should be able to understand how they might feel, and how open minded they are.
When I first started talking with my current mate, he didn't know much about furries. He knew 'of' them, but didn't look into them much. He did like having a feline "Kerra" character on Everquest (that let me know he was open to something like that). He was kind of skeptical about it... so I took him to FurFright.
He had a blast (face it, furcons are tons of fun) and began thinking of characters he would like to suit as. It blossomed from there.
If you can convince a freind or potential mate to come to local furcon with you, you know that they're open enough to your being furry. And even if they don't enjoy it as much as my mate does, they'll at least get the jist of what you do at fur cons, and will more than likely won't mind you're going to cons and accept your being furry even if they really aren't into it.
My point here is that, many people are open minded to most of the aspects of being furry- the point of being a fur in my belief is simple: Fun! Now who doesn't like to have fun?
Post by: wolfnevets on March 09, 2008, 11:51:03 am
What closet, where closet, who closet? :o
Post by: Sabrejack on March 26, 2008, 12:24:58 am
So I am TOTALLY in with the coats...and I don't mean on the bed at Christmas...my mate does not even know, goddess forbid anyone at work. (geeesh, oh Hell no!"
I'm really getting into the roll play aspect however. I've had some totally outrageous encounters with other furs online ,who are totally into it, and its quite addictive.
I'm talking veeeery ADULT. So yes, I'm a noob, and I'm sure the shine will fade soon...but I hope not, this is after all my midlife crisis solution. (Hey, its cheaper than a BMW, and I don't have to insure it.)
So I will endure the self imposed exile for a while longer...
One Love, Sabrejack
Post by: Alysian Bluehoof on March 28, 2008, 12:13:38 am
i got explaining it to my family out of the way a while ago too... i do some furry art in my spare time and pinned it up in my room (completely clean of course). now on gift-giving occasions my gifts are often associated with the fandom in one way or another, specificly with my fursona.
Post by: Relaxing Dragon on April 02, 2008, 12:35:49 am
I'm definitely still in the closet (If anyone were to ask me, Further Confusion 2008 was a video game convention), but I am taking steps on coming out. My family (re: parents. I've got a slightly younger brother who may or may not know, and may or may not care) don't know, and I've really got no intention of letting them know. Just don't really want to deal with that. Apart from that, while I actively broadcast it on whatever web forum I'm on, my close friends don't know. I do wear my Furry shirts from time to time (my Furry Pride one and my FC 2008 one), and get the occasional question at school, but for the most part my mates still don't know (partly because most of them have no idea what a Furry is, and have never heard of it. It's beginning to creep into my Facebook page, though, so it's only a matter of time before they know more). Two people I know at school know, but that's it (and they don't really care).
I'm going off to college next year, and once there I figure (since I'll be in a new surrounding with new people) I'll be much more open about it there. Probably wear my tail once I get it.
Post by: Silicon_Wolf on April 09, 2008, 11:24:46 pm
Post by: Relaxing Dragon on April 10, 2008, 01:09:01 am
Post by: Apollo on April 18, 2008, 01:22:35 am
The cool thing about working at a Petsmart is no one really cares/notices if you do some animal-like stuff. I joked once about the weird look my dog gave me when I had his collar on, the person raised an eyebrow but shrugged it off. Than I showed one of the girls in aquatics the PROPER way dogs kick up dirt, she just got a laugh out of it. So I can get away with it, don't know how they'd respond to the idea of an out 'furry' though. We do photo stuff a couple times a year (next week we have one for the Petsmart birthday bash) and I pondered what people would think of if a fur showed up to have pics with their dogs. I dont have a suit, though, so its impossible anyway. I wonder what the other associates would have thought of me supplying my own suit, heh.
Post by: Kyvr on May 20, 2008, 08:53:03 pm
The ones who I care about know what they need to know, but I don't feel the need to broadcast my inner identity to everyone I meet. When a person gets to know me, and likes who they met, that's when I "let them in", and if they're still around, then I know I've made a good friend.
Post by: RavenWolf on July 03, 2008, 11:27:33 pm
Post by: Feathertail on July 03, 2008, 11:40:27 pm
Post by: Irina on July 04, 2008, 02:48:11 pm
Being furry is not like a sexuality; it's not like being straight or homosexual.
Anyways, to get to the point, I am not 'in the closet' I told my family and friends
a while ago, and I wear my tail in public. I love being able to express my furriness.
Post by: Emma on July 11, 2008, 02:21:28 pm
I suppose things may get a little strange when I make my ears and tail and start wearing those, but I'll deal with that when that comes.
Post by: Feathertail on July 11, 2008, 07:22:03 pm
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.
It is, however, something that people might deliberately hide from people around them in order to avoid possible negative reactions and prejudice, or even just awkward conversations.
If you have trouble sympathizing, perhaps you should count yourself fortunate.
Post by: Wolvenspirit on July 12, 2008, 07:36:18 am
Being furry is an interest and a passion for me. I'm not weirded out by my own affinity for anthrokind, either, so I don't really have a problem discussing it openly if anyone asks... but at the same time I don't wear it on my sleeve (or my head, or my behind). I don't feel the need to tell anyone about it or try to conceal it any more than the fact that I enjoy bird watching. There are many who do not understand it (and why expect them to?) or misunderstand it completely and think it's utterly silly, but I don't make that my problem. No fur should expect many people to take cartoon animals seriously, and that's why in spite of what we believe to be our true nature most of us have to act relatively 'normal' in our careers, certain social situations, etc.
Also, it is my opinion that some people are too publicly open about their personal lives these days... some things I'd rather just not know about complete strangers, like people posting away in their myspace for the world to see about the great sex they had last night. I think that's the way many feel about furries. In this sex-obsessed culture, those who aren't familiar with it see the fur, the collars, the leashes, the man-sized beasts, and are often probably quick to assume it all has to do with some kinky fetishes they'd rather not hear about. Doesn't matter if it's all 'G' or 'PG,' people are going to react in all different ways because it's different.
More furries need to realize it's a pretty natural reaction to something unusual and shouldn't be so quick to assume they're just a big bullseye for the world to toss verbal darts at. Most of the public only see the surface of it, and armed with only limited knowledge one tends to make assumptions and rely on the imagination or what rubbish the media has filled up their heads with. It's up to us to educate and inform rather than hide in fear or defensively bristle our manes and whimper about such ridiculous ideas as "fursecution."
Post by: Koryak on July 13, 2008, 04:41:35 pm
Post by: Duffman! on July 13, 2008, 05:14:18 pm
Post by: Kano on July 24, 2008, 01:16:22 pm
Post by: Kobuk on July 30, 2008, 10:53:04 pm
Post by: Traumerei on July 31, 2008, 07:35:54 am
Post by: Relaxing Dragon on August 03, 2008, 03:27:47 am
Post by: Traumerei on August 03, 2008, 08:22:36 am
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 :-[_
Most of my friends are the same way. You should have seen how one of them reacted when I suggested wearing a collar! :D
Post by: Relaxing Dragon on August 03, 2008, 02:15:26 pm
Post by: Mimmey_Maroui on August 03, 2008, 02:40:58 pm
me: what?
are you going to take that thing off? 0-o lol
I make occasional references to my furry side, but I only think one has caught on. My friends kind of joke about it in general ><
So yeah I'm pretty much in the closet, eagerly peeking out >>
Post by: Kay Alett on August 12, 2008, 11:38:37 am
Post by: Zoopedia on August 13, 2008, 01:15:28 am
Post by: PenguinGirlIyoko on August 13, 2008, 07:22:53 pm
soooo much in the Illustration industry without having to explain everything. Nekomimi girls pay for my dinners, most nights!
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...heh, heh.... Good thing my mom's not able to hear about it where she's at. She's probably spinning so fast
in her grave that they could generate electricity (ma and I didn't get along so well, but she was alright, goddess bless her soul).
Sooo...at least I'm not the only one in the closet. Anyone need any furry art, lol? (nekomimi nekomimi)
Post by: Traumerei on August 14, 2008, 06:34:06 am
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...
I can agree with you there. Even a few of my friends take more offense to "that whole furry thing" than me being bisexual. :P It's a really strange society we live in, eh?
Post by: PenguinGirlIyoko on August 14, 2008, 07:40:01 pm
I'm just glad the family (except for my father) can barely turn on a PC, let alone go trolling forums. My father likes what I do and likes
anime and comics, so he's pretty cool with whatever I do. It's just too bad I live with my stepdad right now, and he doesn't get
ANYTHING I do at all. It's bad enough that cash flow issues and the lack of jobs where I live have me living this way; that I live with people that don't give a damn about me makes it even worse.
Heck; my stepdad thinks that bipolar and depression aren't real, and that it's just a conspiracy from the New World Order to keep
people drugged up and antigun...he has, BTW, like, 16 guns. (Yeah, I'm bipolar, too. Sorry if that freaks ppl out.) ***sigh*** :o
Post by: Kay Alett on August 14, 2008, 09:43:50 pm
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. (:
Post by: PenguinGirlIyoko on August 18, 2008, 08:52:42 pm
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. (:
Oh, I'm not anti-gun, I just worry about all these guns in the house...just call me paranoid, heh heh-- my whole life follows Murphy's Law, you know?
"If it CAN go wrong, it WILL go wrong."
I'm not just a 'glass-half-empty' girl, I'm a 'completely wrong drink' girl, lol....
Post by: Kay Alett on August 19, 2008, 12:26:49 am
Or maybe I can like this?:)
Post by: PenguinGirlIyoko on August 19, 2008, 09:11:00 pm
You're really, really funny...can you pm me on here?
Ii-chan
Post by: T-Fox on August 21, 2008, 06:37:31 pm
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.
Post by: Rakzorg on August 22, 2008, 10:49:15 pm
Post by: Konnor on August 22, 2008, 11:28:59 pm
Quote
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".
Post by: Feathertail on August 23, 2008, 12:40:22 am
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".
Oh, but it's significant to you. And for that reason it's awkward to talk about, until you get used to doing so.
Post by: PenguinGirlIyoko on August 25, 2008, 02:36:48 pm
A person may feel the need to be in the furry closet if their furry leanings are inexoribly linked to sexual yearnings that can only be released in the context of fur-suiting, fur fiction, fur LARP, or fur art, and in that case, I feel that the fur closet is a safety mechanism keeping those who are sensitive safe from the members of society who are 'close-minded' at best and bigoted at worst.
Another reason that the furry closet may be needed is to protect those who feel 'other than human' from humans who cannot comprehend that there is such a thing as feeling 'other than human'. When I was a child, all of you would have said I was in the furry closet, as when I was 10, I *knew* I was a Velociraptor, and that all I needed was a magic necklace to change me. Then, at 12, it was a mermaid. Then, it was a dragon. Then, after all that, I realized that the Goddess was calling me, and that the dragon I was feeling was my spiritual guide, and so were the other creatures. Regardless of my experience, I do feel that some people have animal soul 'walk-ins' and are just in thinking that they aren't fully human. For those people, coming out of the furry closet is a deeply personal choice, and thouroughly unneccessary to personal happiness-- you wouldn't feel any more human if others knew.
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.
Post by: Timberwuff on August 25, 2008, 04:28:42 pm
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.
hahaha... $0.02.... Anyway,
I do agree with that, a bit and disagree with it also. I am still fairly deep in the closet apparently, since others are walking around your friends wearing a tail and still considering yourself in the closet. But I had an urge, something for some reason to tell my two friends who know, that I'm a furry. And I'm so much happier than I was since, they really helped show me that there's no reason to hide it. To me, it seems necessary to tell certain people, it's like asking what do you do for fun? You could just completely blind-sight them one day and be walking around in a full fursuit. Or you could casually drop a line if it comes up.
Being a furry is odd, and it's something that's still a small (not really?) but growing society to the point that there's a good deal of people who don't even know what a furry is. And at any time you stray from the mainstream society into a smaller sect, you over react and expect everyone to be against you and judge you. It's not the same as getting a tattoo, or a piercing. Which is just a small minor change which may cause an occasional glance or even a stare. People can't help but notice something like a tail, or ears, or an entire fursuit which pokes out like a guy wearing orange at an emo-fest (no disrespect to emos out there). And that much attention can be overwhelming, especially when you just try to imagine it. I think it's worse for guys also, since stereotypical girls enjoy cuddly and cute furry animals. So when a guy wears a tail, it's usually responds with "Woah?!" since stereotypical guys are "ment" to be all burley and love sports and what ever. I know a couple of guys who fairly well fit that stereotype (and they are cool to hang out with) but the idea of wearing a tail to their party could cause some very odd moments. I suppose there will always be times, like with everything, that it's appropriate to bring things out and about, and times that aren't. And it's up to the individual to decide that.
I agree to the question that "Is it necessary for others to know?" because that's a good question to really consider. You don't need to tell everyone your life story, so why tell you're a furry? But I'd like to think there's more options that just saying "Is it for attention or acceptance?" I really hope people don't choose to be a furry for attention, instead that they find it really fits their interests, personality, and life. But simply put, there will always be a period of awkward moments when you revile something personal to anyone. And that if you feel you need to tell them, then tell. You never know where it may lead you.
I believe the total now is $0.04
Post by: PenguinGirlIyoko on August 25, 2008, 06:12:22 pm
I do agree with what you say, too, Lawrence, just so you know...but, I only have one hand, and that hand hurts from typing too much, so just know that I also agree with your point of view, even if it contradicts mine. Believe me, I know that sounds weird, but I do.
And we're up to $.06. Another couple o' replies, and we can get a stick of gum. :)
Post by: Timberwuff on August 25, 2008, 07:54:01 pm
$0.08 <- Count it (btw, I dislike gum x_x , now mints on the other hand ;) )
Post by: PenguinGirlIyoko on August 25, 2008, 09:34:03 pm
'your ideas intrigue me and I'd like to subscribe to your newsletter'
Have a great nite!-- Ii-chan
Post by: Timberwuff on September 05, 2008, 11:34:32 pm
Post by: Feathertail on September 06, 2008, 12:01:01 am
Post by: Timberwuff on September 06, 2008, 01:46:05 am
Me: "Hey, I made this tail with my friends during an "art's and crafts session" (A joke to keep it light ;) )"
Him: "Oh cool, so how did you make it?"
Me: "Uh, just hand sewing it, one stitch at a time. It's actually really fun to wear, would you like one?"
Him: "No thanks."
Me: "Ah, well I'm actually going to a giant party (the con) where people like to wear costumes with some friends later on. And it should be fun!"
Him: "Alright. Heh, it looks like a log (yes, he means poo (My tail is a dark brown), we're big on bathroom humor still, what can I say? It's funny!)"
Me: "Hahaha, yeah..."
Him: "Well, I'm going to bed." (As if it were nothing at all.)
Well, that's that I suppose...
Then my older brother came down
Him: "What's "Furtopia" I always see you on it, is it about fur?" (The literal fur, not furries, as in he doesn't know anything of the fandom)
Me: "Uh, sure..."
Him: *Walks back upstairs as if nothing.*
Heh, I knew I was making too big a deal of it, but honestly... ah well. I'm much more relieved. I actually feel kind of embarrassed for making such a big deal of it all to myself. :-[
Post by: TCD on September 11, 2008, 12:20:27 pm
Post by: Tristan Thilorn on September 18, 2008, 12:42:29 am
My mum came downstairs to say 'goodnight' (we're moving north, and have to have everything up there by this Friday, so she's sleeping early a lot), and I mentioned furry to her again (using my current BG of chibi-Tails as an example), and explained in layman's fashion a couple of other aspects of fandom (yiff, furcons [using GenCon as a comparison], etc).
Now she not only understands furry fandom, but seems 'fine with it' also. :D With any luck, I'll be able to go to a furry convention sometime next year (I'd go to MFF this year, but that's probably not worth trying for due to some financial issues at the moment). =^_^=
Post by: Timberwuff on September 18, 2008, 12:46:40 am
Post by: Hayaikawa on November 17, 2008, 04:21:24 pm
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.
Post by: Relaxing Dragon on November 17, 2008, 05:09:19 pm
Post by: Dark on November 17, 2008, 05:29:05 pm
Post by: Hayaikawa on November 17, 2008, 05:35:02 pm
Post by: Ratchet on November 17, 2008, 06:11:42 pm
I don't intend on telling them any time soon though unless something comes up as i don't think I'd gain anything by doing so.
I might tell my younger brother at some point as i think he will be OK about it, i do occasionally make references to furrys in conversations with him anyway, usually if we're talking about science fiction or anime and its in context or I'll bring up something from one of the webcomics i read etc, nothing to obviously furry.
I think it goes over his head though, but he did stumble across the wikipedia page on "the furry fandom" a while back, he didn't seem bothered by it though, just said whats that ? oh funny animals (i hate that phrase BTW) though when he saw the pic of the fursuiters he said weirdos, i think that was more aimed at the fursuiters rather than the fandom (he has seen THAT episode of csi so that might have had something to do with it, but he didn't mention the connection).
Funnily enough when my brother was a kid always used to be drawing anthro pictures, usually depicting our dog + neighbors and friends dogs as soldiers, don't think that makes him a furry though but interesting all the same.
Post by: Wolvenblaze on November 17, 2008, 06:56:46 pm
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?
And Ratchet, you should rag on your brother for drawing those pictures! There's still a chance he could be a furry, as it's a blurry line between fur and non-fur. It would be so awesome to have a furry litter-mate; MY brother is a little leery of the whole fandom, despite whatever explanations I offer.
Post by: Hayaikawa on November 17, 2008, 08:07:35 pm
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.
Edited by Savaaha. No promoting piracy of videos/movies.
Post by: Wolvenblaze on November 17, 2008, 08:25:04 pm
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 . . .)
Post by: Hayaikawa on November 17, 2008, 08:55:25 pm
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 . . .)
your welcome.. just wait till you see him fight. :D
to keep this on topic. My friends over now, but my brother wont give a second alone with him (man that sounded weird) I don't want my brother knowing for various reasons.
edit: It went over fine. I told him all I knew about the fandom. He didn't seen to care much at all that I was a furry :).
P.S. the mask comes off on episode 52 if you didn't know wolvenblaze.
Post by: Kinshi on November 22, 2008, 01:59:43 pm
Post by: Wolvenblaze on November 22, 2008, 02:34:07 pm
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
Ah, I direct you here: http://forums.furtopia.org/index.php/topic,34097.0.html for some advice concerning that very issue.
Post by: Kinshi on November 22, 2008, 04:23:29 pm
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.
EDIT: showed him the furry song by kurrel the raven, he thought it was cool, didn't tell him i was furry though, but it's a good first step, i think. :D
Post by: Medianoche on November 28, 2008, 04:48:07 pm
Post by: AzureVixen on December 09, 2008, 08:33:25 pm
Post by: Wolvenblaze on December 14, 2008, 07:50:54 pm
Post by: Esau on December 14, 2008, 11:17:54 pm
But then again i go around in a collar quite a bit, so its not like im trying to hide it.
Post by: Feathertail on December 14, 2008, 11:26:26 pm
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 ;)
Cruel jokes are always a mistake! You never know when you'll end up being eaten by the people you used to laugh with. ^.^;
Is the "furry closet" where you keep all your furries?
Post by: Kinshi on December 16, 2008, 03:07:49 pm
Post by: Mr. Myotis on January 10, 2009, 06:20:56 pm
Post by: Kaiyoki on January 10, 2009, 08:42:38 pm
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.
Post by: Sancer on January 10, 2009, 09:32:43 pm
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.
Post by: Murkrow on January 11, 2009, 12:31:06 am
i was watchin a random vid bout furries cuz i needed ref for the Pankay suit, & my mom came in like "what are you watchin? ouo" i told her that it was a furry convention i might be goin to. & shes like "so thats why you made the mask!...your not goin." so i said "yes i am. a furry isnt what you think it is."
at that second i knew she saw us furries as "sexual" cuz of the CSI show she saw with the furry in it. but then i was like "well, its not like that. theres more than that side to it. fun, games, playfulness. all that stuff." so i showed her a fun vid of some dancin furry or somethin.
then shes like "...well when you get a job & have the money, you can go. otherwise...thats just crazy."
...its crazy to her, normal for me! D:<
so therefore i am a furry in the closet! *shoves self into closet*
Post by: Corvus Corone on March 10, 2009, 01:58:53 am
I recently came to terms with myself.
My fiancee knows, but no one else does yet. My family probably wouldn't care (as long as it wasn't something sexual, which it isn't).
Some of my friends may be less understanding, but I think some others wouldn't be bothered by it.
But this is what it's all about, right? Spreading the good word.
Fighting the good fight. We must be recognized as a serious subculture, even though that means taking some knocks along the way.
Post by: Rick Woods on March 10, 2009, 07:14:35 am
Sort of.... That was quick :-P
I recently came to terms with myself.
Seriously though, have fun: That's what we're here for!
Post by: Corvus Corone on March 10, 2009, 05:02:52 pm
... That was quick :-PIn what way?
Post by: Hayaikawa on March 10, 2009, 05:15:58 pm
... That was quick :-PIn what way?
you just joined saying you wer'nt a furry rather strongly, and now you are. it's fast by comparison to others that felt the same way.
Post by: Corvus Corone on March 10, 2009, 05:40:46 pm
It was not so expedient of a process to me.
Actually, this board probably helped me along, because I've met so many people on here that I like so much and can relate to better.
Post by: Dragore on March 12, 2009, 08:54:43 am
Post by: Fiver on March 12, 2009, 09:23:56 pm
Quote
Are you in the furry closet?
Yes.
Post by: Feathertail on March 14, 2009, 02:10:04 am
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. ^.^;
Post by: Wild_Wolf on March 14, 2009, 01:48:48 pm
Post by: Kinshi on March 14, 2009, 03:12:30 pm
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. ^.^;
Post by: Arbutus on March 14, 2009, 06:44:29 pm
ClosetCon '09! :DWelcome to the closet. It's crowded in here. ^.^;It's like a furmeet!
Post by: Dragore on March 15, 2009, 12:20:11 am
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!
Post by: D_Bunny on March 18, 2009, 04:54:31 pm
I'd like to think I'd be open about it someday though.
Post by: Fenny the Fox on March 19, 2009, 09:36:01 pm
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!
Post by: Fiver on March 20, 2009, 04:08:02 am
*gets shoved back into closet by mom*
Hey guys!
Welcome back.
Post by: Relaxing Dragon on March 20, 2009, 05:05:20 pm
One of these days I'll come clean. Probably around the time I start flying to conventions. I really don't think they'll mind, they're fairly open-minded people (and they'd probably be glad I'm getting out and meeting people and pursuing my interests), I'm just not really sure I know how to properly explain everything.
Post by: Rick Woods on March 20, 2009, 06:35:23 pm
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!
Chances are you will be asked about them if she thinks "those people have problems", but don't rebut an opinion you don't know she has.
Post by: Fenny the Fox on March 20, 2009, 07:01:33 pm
Yeah. But, trust me, after living for 18 years with my parents, I know how to form a good rebuttal. I never give anything rebutting what I don't know to rebut against. (...that is a horrid sentence... x_x)
Just...well, my mom could care less. As long as I don't get arrested or killed or something, she really is fine with pretty much anything I do. The dad is another story. It was a "your dad says" answer, so, in other words (at least as far as my experiences go) it means she has no clue about it except that my dad has mentioned it.
And...y'know? I won't spam up this thread with my "parent issues"--of which I have more than enough to go around.
Post by: prettylilpup on March 21, 2009, 09:07:02 pm
I go by the name "Puppy" and wear a pink collar. Yeah...no closet for me. (:
Post by: Wild_Wolf on March 21, 2009, 09:09:45 pm
Post by: weese on March 21, 2009, 10:36:36 pm
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.
Post by: khurynn on March 22, 2009, 12:30:05 am
conversation that took place during a meeting at work recently:
guy #1: I heard that so-and-so dressed up as an elf for Christmas. Full get-up. Can you picture that?
guy #2: Yeah, that's pretty wild. Gotta do when you enjoy though - whatever makes you happy, you know.
I just smiled to myself and thought, "if only you knew..." heh heh. Makes you wonder what other people are hiding sometimes.
Post by: Aurora on March 22, 2009, 04:49:31 am
Post by: Leon the Coyote on March 24, 2009, 09:17:42 am
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. :)
Post by: prettylilpup on March 24, 2009, 11:41:44 am
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.
I just don't see the need to shout it, but say "I'm a furry" subtly. (collar, etc)
Post by: Rick Woods on March 25, 2009, 06:16:40 pm
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. :)
Post by: Skazwolf on March 25, 2009, 06:53:03 pm
Post by: Leon the Coyote on March 25, 2009, 10:53:02 pm
Anyways, I sat down with the parents Told them exactly what it means to be a Furry in Tons of detail, I showed them pics of Furry art, Showed my favorite pics of AnthroCon (One day i'll get to go), and several FurSuits. I pretty much had the advantage of telling people who have no idea of what being a furry is VS People who think furry fandom is all about the Yiff.
After i told them they said,"That's Wierd" and my response was,"When have i ever been normal." ;)
About an hour later they came back and asked,"So this is why you signed up to be the Easter Bunny for your work.huh?"
My response to that was :D
Post by: Aleya Lunara on March 31, 2009, 01:01:47 am
Post by: Batty vampire on April 07, 2009, 09:18:35 pm
Post by: Wild_Wolf on April 07, 2009, 11:58:26 pm
Post by: Leon the Coyote on April 08, 2009, 12:54:12 am
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. But i had to correct them so they know what it really is. It made them feel a little odd and there was some awkward silence and a few awkward conversations. (They asked about yiff :-[ and i told them what it was but that i wasnt into it). Tehy seem used to it although i still catch flak for my collar...overall not too bad of a reaction though
Post by: Arbutus on April 08, 2009, 01:19:01 am
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.
Post by: Wild_Wolf on April 08, 2009, 01:23:46 pm
Post by: Wolflette on May 08, 2009, 02:05:18 am
im almost out, all my friends know, my father has passed so i dotn need to worry about him [although he would have fliped his lid and turned about 50 shades of red and purple] im working on telling my mom, i had my computer hooked up to the main tv in the living room and was browseing throughh FA luckly she looked up on a clean picture and said that it was pretty and complimented the artist, and iv shown her some of my art work, my whole family on her side is artists. i think shell be ok when i tell her, but i cant see a reason to tell her yet, if it comes up i will, but after that i have to explain what it is and when i say something like 'just being interested in anthromorphic animals, wishing i was a wolf' and show her some furcon vids shell use something like 'oh so now you want to have sex with weirdo's on animal costum's?' and ill end up sputtering and trying to think of an anwser. me and my mom have a very open relationship, i never had 'the talk' i knew about sex and such my whole life to me it was normal, but while im not interested in yiff, well much, she will decide that there is sex involved and thats the only reason i like it. all in all im working on my defence against her, i think by christmas ill be ready to leave the closet, since while its very nice in here its gettin alot croweded =p *hands out chips and soda*
Post by: oppdelta on May 09, 2009, 11:22:58 am
Post by: Motor Mouth on May 09, 2009, 01:35:52 pm
Post by: oppdelta on May 09, 2009, 01:39:55 pm
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.
*Curls up into ball holds tail and shakes*
Post by: Alexandre on May 09, 2009, 09:34:17 pm
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*
Oh, and is there still room in the closet? There are very few people that know about my furriness, but the ones that do know generally don't care either way.
Post by: oppdelta on May 11, 2009, 03:14:07 am
(Don't know if this sounds correct) :S
Post by: Alexandre on May 11, 2009, 09:57:52 am
Well i guess, them not caring is alot better than hating.Oh, it's definitely better. :)
(Don't know if this sounds correct) :S
Actually, some of them keep asking if I'm gonna get a fursuit. If I ever do, I'll show it off to them. :D
Post by: oppdelta on May 11, 2009, 12:07:02 pm
if got a fur suit... the first thing would to get on a bus and go shopping xD
Mainly for a shirt and maybe a collar. (A plain one)
Post by: NeoFur on May 11, 2009, 12:16:22 pm
Post by: oppdelta on May 11, 2009, 12:20:32 pm
Post by: Alexandre on May 11, 2009, 10:27:23 pm
(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. ^_^
Post by: Dragore on May 12, 2009, 09:24:54 am
Post by: oppdelta on May 12, 2009, 09:38:50 am
Post by: Arbutus on May 12, 2009, 10:41:16 am
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.
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.
Post by: Mr. Mog on June 09, 2009, 02:52:51 pm
That said, I am somewhat in the furry closet. It isn't necessarily that I'm ashamed to let other know that I'm a fur, but it's a really important thing in my life. And if people know that I'm a fur, it's a lot of personal information about me, right there. I generally don't like to let people get that close. But I finally said, "Eh, why not?" and joined a public group on Steam. I'm sure my friends will see it.
So I don't know. I don't really go out of my way to tell anyone that I'm a furry. I mean, why should I? But I don't take excessive steps against it either. <shrug>
Post by: nortrix on June 10, 2009, 03:46:27 am
Post by: Ziel on June 27, 2009, 08:07:01 pm
Being new to this whole thing (literally only became intrigued by it all a few days before joining here), I would still be in said large, furry closet. I doubt that my friends would care (we all accepted when our other friend came out that he was gay, why should it be different for being furry?). My sister would probably understand as well. At least, she would probably agree that the artwork was cute and all. And that's my big draw to the community. The art is fantastic. Also, just the general acceptance and understanding by everybody. Something I don't feel so much from RL.
My parents on the other hand might be harder to convince (very strong Christian family, not that it should matter but somehow it seems to). They'll immediately jump to the CSI/common media yiffy interpretation of it all. Not sure that I'd be able to get any words in before they started freaking out. My mom has actually told me that nothing would change if I were gay (which I'm not, but my lack of social activity could lead one to be suspicious). But they also make down-putting comments any time there's any gay subject matter in the news or in TV shows.
If/when they ever learn about it, I'll have to have a very calm and planned approach. Actually, the 'not much different than being into anime' approach might be best for them. Then again, this coming year is my last year of college, and I should be off on my own after graduation, so it won't be an issue except for here this summer.
On another note: Why does the media decide that furries should be so looked down upon? There's just as much adult/creepy stuff in some anime, but people don't seem to care about that, now do they? Or at least that isn't the common mindset about anime.
What do we need, a group of fursuiters to run the Olympic torch? Or some furries to run into a burning building to save people? Good press is so much harder to come by than bad press...
Post by: AlexTheSane on July 06, 2009, 10:19:21 pm
Everyone else will hear about it eventually. Him to, actually, I can't exactly tell my other friends without him finding out. Maybe he'll mellow on the subject.
Post by: Ziel on July 06, 2009, 10:30:47 pm
Now, only you can know when the right time is to say something, or if it's right to do so at all. Clearly, we can't all know exactly what you situation is. I just wanted you to hear my little story, in hopes that it helps you out. Heck, I have yet to listen to my own advice, but I'm slowly getting to the point where I think I'm ready to tell somebody.
Post by: Murkrow on July 07, 2009, 08:57:02 pm
all of my friends have different views on how things should be done, & we accept eachother for who we are. almost all of my friends have diff religions, interests, loves, hates. it would make no difference if they found out im a furry (maybe cuz they dont have comps or just dont use them :D) or anything like that. they would crack a few jokes, but it would never hurt.
im this close to coming out of the closet. but im not ready. ill wait till they find out unless this really gets on me nerves. D:
Post by: Feathertail on July 09, 2009, 12:18:49 am
AlexTheSane: Ask him sometime if a furry, like, killed his grandma or something. Don't get defensive, just ask him what's eating him so much about them. Maybe try to find it funny if you can. At least that might be what I'd try. >.> Before telling him anything.
Post by: Ziel on July 09, 2009, 12:34:16 am
Planning to tell another friend soon, just so I have a couple outside people who know. Probably will just let the others figure it out on their own. But if they ask me, I'll tell them.
Post by: DreamerHusky on July 22, 2009, 10:22:35 am
Post by: Sanguine Foxxe on July 27, 2009, 02:13:23 am
However, all of my close friends do know. Most simply accept it, and other think it's cute(?), so I've had positive experiences with telling people.
Post by: Patchworkbear on July 27, 2009, 08:28:43 pm
Post by: AlexTheSane on August 01, 2009, 08:07:11 pm
I'm thinking his problem is mostly that he thinks furries are a bit weird, and likes to she-dog and moan. I'm going to try slowly introducing him to "furry" stuff that I know he'll like despite the talking animals (hopefully), and see how he takes it. Then decide if/when I'll come out.
Edit: that was an interesting censor. I think I'll leave it, it makes me laugh.
Post by: Patchworkbear on August 01, 2009, 08:27:30 pm
She knows I think of myself as a bear and she knows how important my teddy bears are to me.
Post by: Ziel on August 01, 2009, 10:24:41 pm
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.
Good for you. My mom has also seen just the media portrayal of furries, and I don't think she'd be able to see it any other way. I don't feel like she has to know, though I do wish I didn't have to feel like I was hiding it, either. But I play the conversation over and over in my head, and have decided that it's just something I'd rather not deal with right now. I'll be back at college in a month anyhow...
Post by: Tyla on August 06, 2009, 05:41:46 pm
Post by: DreamerHusky on August 09, 2009, 07:55:59 pm
Post by: Arbutus on August 10, 2009, 08:13:10 pm
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.
Best of luck to you if you go through with that. But, just a tip: The less you make a big deal out of it, the better it usually goes. If you make a big to-do out of it, people will be suspicious about what's so wrong with furry that you haven't felt able to tell them about it before. But if you just treat it casually and be like "Oh, by the way, I'm interested in this new thing," then everyone else will tend to treat it casually as well. :)
Post by: DreamerHusky on August 11, 2009, 06:00:37 pm
Post by: Dragore on August 14, 2009, 09:25:21 pm
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.
Post by: Avan on August 20, 2009, 07:45:13 pm
I've been rather open about it. For example, I go around toting a binder or two decorated with my art, I often draw stuff in public (I don't like people starting from behind, but that's a sepparate issue: I do that whenever I'm working, whatever it may be on). I have more of my art on my computer desktops (including my laptops which I do use in public). Sometimes I go out of my way to make it subliminally obvious. At any rate, I don't think I've ever really been harassed at all for anything furry related in RL.
I've raised more than my fair share of eyebrows, but those who know me and are actually surprised, I usually comment "what, you didn't realize it?" with some mild humor and surprise.
The internet hasn't been bad either: most communities I've been active in don't care in the least (with some even having groups of openly furry furs [aside from places that are actually devoted to furryness, like here, but I mean like, gaming forums and whatnot]).
I once contributed to causing a forum war through a grammar error, which caused someone to misinterpret my sentence. It was resolved in a couple days, though it was surprising how many other furries there were on the board who had risen to my defense (we actually outnumbered our opposition! X3)... That guy and I are now friends, especially considering that entire fiasco was a result of our combined errors - in the long run no harm was done and we all had a laugh about that afterwards...
Family-wise I got popular for my artistic skills (mainly with my aunts who seem to find my wolves cute. :3 Just as they should be ^^), my father wasn't to happy about my obsessive compulsion to be furry (mostly out of fear I'd turn into his parents, who triggered his obsession-phobia with their extreme religiousness: he worries about any sort of obsessive tenancies in anyone now...), and my mother only worried about how it might impact me financially (*cough*merchandise/fursuiting*cough* - even though I'm a total bargain hunter. She's the same way about my electronics compulsion... [even more worried for that matter...]). And I turned my sister into a furry (she's WAY more casual about it than I am though... X3), and one of my cousins is an animal lover to begin with.
Moral of all that? Don't stress about it. Just be open about who you are. There might be a few wacko bigots, but they are very few and far between, at least as far as I've seen.
Don't make a total scene though (as in, going out of your way to shove the obvious in people's face, since they don't like that: going around with a bunch of furry stuff is one thing, but standing on a corner picketing "OMG WURLD! I'M A FURRY! LOOK @ M3!" is annoying. You know why door-to-door advertisers that actually ring your doorbell and those telephone advertisers get a lot of flak? That's why. ("OMG WURLD! I'M S3LLING S7UFF!") yeah - we know that, and we don't appreciate being distracted in the middle of dinner to have to deal with something we could care less about...).
On the other hand, if you try to hide and make a big deal of it, people will think you're trying to hide something from them, and you know how people's imaginations can get and where they can wander off to.
Personally, I'd still say I got off easy. A friend of mine who is pretty much equally open as well was having severe troubles with his mother (who was against him for religious reasons [he's an atheist and she's a devout christian]), though she then began bashing him for being a furry too, even though it wasn't for any real reason (she bashes on him for every difference, claiming its a reason for his atheism). Another friend is very much in the furry closet out of fear of his mother... [What's so weird is the similarity of their family set-ups: both have very strict and devout mothers, lenient but now deceased fathers...]
Post by: Ziel on August 21, 2009, 12:08:11 am
But I like the approach of just leaving it in the open. I'll try to make myself do that at school. I did make it obvious on another non-furry forum that I was furry. Kinda hoped I might connect with another one there, but nothing thus far. On the other hand, nobody has said a word about it at all. Even during debates that sometimes turn into personal attacks... not that I get involved in those that often.
Post by: Avan on August 21, 2009, 12:27:13 am
Post by: Fenny the Fox on September 09, 2009, 09:38:24 pm
...And I didn't answer quite as I would have liked. I got kinda defensive. Mostly because, when my mom was trying to figure out what exactly he meant, he said "he wants to have sex with a raccoon." So, can ya blame me for getting a bit defensive? I mean, calling furries "yiffies" and then saying that? What does he expect me to do, just say "yeah, I do" or something? :o
Oh well, I think he really noticed it and started paying attention to it a while back...and I think he wouldn't have said anything, except he noticed and watched a bit of the Funday Pawpet Show I saved on the comp a long while back and never took off.
So, a little more out of the closet, but also a little more defensive... :-[
Post by: Avan on September 09, 2009, 09:42:23 pm
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.
/uberdoublefacepalmheadkeyboarddeskcry
Wow... where did he ever come to THAT conclusion!? O_o
//edit - hope you have good luck on enlightening him... :P
Post by: Fenny the Fox on September 10, 2009, 09:58:00 am
WAT.
/uberdoublefacepalmheadkeyboarddeskcry
Wow... where did he ever come to THAT conclusion!? O_o
//edit - hope you have good luck on enlightening him... :P
Well, I think it was about as sarcastic as it was serious. My family teds to be very very sarcastic in general, so...I just wasn't sure as to what extent it was sarcastic and to what extent it was serious. x_x
But, it would be hard to convince him other wise. He is the stubborn type.
I will say this, while he may not get it entirely, and he may be rather stereotypical in his knowledge, he didn't so much seem to care. Which I was happy about. He even really seemed to want to know what animal I "fantasize" about being (well, may not be quite phrased in understanding, but at least he is curious about my life in some aspect, right?).
Even went so far as to say, if he were a furry, would be a big cat of some sort (cheetah or lion, specifically). And asked if other things, like reptiles, can be furries.
So, I guess he might not care so much at all, afterall. Possibly. But I'll keep on the down low anyway, just to be safe, y'know? Giving him reason to get on my back about anything would be a drag.
Thank God my family is able to joke about stuff and not always over react, though.
Post by: Slylin on September 10, 2009, 08:32:18 pm
Post by: Patchworkbear on September 11, 2009, 07:43:30 pm
Post by: moonraiser on September 11, 2009, 07:59:31 pm
Post by: Motor Mouth on September 13, 2009, 02:53:46 am
Post by: furtopia02 on September 14, 2009, 11:23:31 pm
(http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/6237/sealofapproval.jpg)
That'd be a big fuzzy "NO". No more furry closet. 8)
Post by: Motor Mouth on October 05, 2009, 05:42:51 pm
Post by: Arbutus on October 05, 2009, 07:11:53 pm
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 ;).
Congratulations! I'm glad it went so well for you. (:
So wait, what did you do the last time you went to AC? Did you just slip out without telling her? :D
Post by: cheesepuff on November 18, 2009, 05:57:47 pm
Post by: Rushnerd on December 09, 2009, 01:46:10 pm
Post by: Konu on December 09, 2009, 03:12:52 pm
Post by: Nicholai on December 23, 2009, 12:49:02 am
I've never been secretive about my furry-ness, and so far it hasn't caused me any problems. I don't go around shouting it to the world, but if someone asks, I tell them. It mostly pops up in conversation when people ask about the dog collar, or inquire as to why I have such an obsession with big cats. :P
Post by: gaz on January 16, 2010, 12:23:56 am
Post by: Kohitsu Mori on February 16, 2010, 11:29:35 am
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.
Post by: Konu on February 16, 2010, 12:04:07 pm
I am not really in the "cage" anymore. Decided a week or two back to tell my mom about it (my dad doesnt know, nor will he really....but thats a long story as to why). She took it really well, understands it all for what it is and what it isnt - however, she seems to think its just a phase im going through. My best friend and I kind of know that we both are without really saying anything...its tricky to explain, but i know he is and he knows I am; we just havent said the "formal words" yet ;). I used to think that everyone I knew should know otherwise it was hiding it, but they really dont. The ones you want to tell, if any, will become apparent when the timing is right; dont worry about it at all :D
Post by: Kodakk on March 24, 2010, 01:57:26 am
now my familly on the other hand, they dont know anything about me. they dont know im bi or that im a furry and id like to keep it that way. ever since i moved out, i have been pretty distant with them. i still talk to everybody, but they really dont need to know everything...
Post by: Shim on March 24, 2010, 10:24:59 am
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'm in the same boat, though, I discovered the fandom when I was 13, and am only now involved 2 years later.
That, and, I wear a collar to school, I pretty much set the closet/cage on fire
Post by: Kishi on March 24, 2010, 05:28:25 pm
Post by: J. March OHare on March 29, 2010, 11:15:41 am
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.
Post by: Nashee on March 29, 2010, 11:48:57 am
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.
Post by: TCD on March 29, 2010, 01:26:32 pm
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.
Have my children. Arbutus, you too. <3 My feelings exactly.
Post by: J. March OHare on March 29, 2010, 09:17:05 pm
Heh-heh. Could we just... rehearse? You know, all that stuff right up to the point of actually missing a... erm. Practice makes perfect! :D
Post by: TCD on March 31, 2010, 04:07:44 pm
Indeed.
Post by: KitsuNinja on March 31, 2010, 07:19:02 pm
Post by: Kodakk on April 03, 2010, 01:37:50 pm
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 get so offended when people say that, i get it all the time too. i hate ignorance! whenever i get that i exclaim "DID I SAY I WAS A ZOOPHILE!?!"
Post by: Avan on April 03, 2010, 02:34:09 pm
Post by: Kodakk on April 03, 2010, 02:41:55 pm
I've never gotten that.
you are lucky, i get it constantly. this is how the convo usually goes
"hahaha, whats with the bear ears?"
"i am a furry"
"EWWWW! so youre into the whole sex with animals thing?"
shortly following ths comment is uncontrollable rage and EPIC facepaw.
Post by: Fenny the Fox on April 03, 2010, 04:49:36 pm
dad is talking about me being a furry (granted, he refers to it as a "yiffy" but let's jsut leave that there)
mom: what are y'all talking about
dad: he's likes yiffies?
mom: what in the world are you talking about?
dad: it means he wants to ____ a raccoon.
both of them look at me, and I just want to die right there...
Post by: Cimarron on April 03, 2010, 04:58:18 pm
Post by: J. March OHare on April 03, 2010, 04:59:39 pm
Post by: Fenny the Fox on April 05, 2010, 10:10:54 am
Fenny, no offense, but your dad doesn't sound old enough to have a kid. :o
Oh~ He is just a bit of a goof ball; it was in fun when he said that. He just likes to screw with people. And, believe it or not, I may have died then, but it hilarious to me now. :D
He's, what? 45 this yr? Yeah. 45. Wow. And I ain't the oldest. (:
Post by: CanzetYote on May 14, 2010, 03:57:26 pm
Post by: Valexi on May 14, 2010, 08:37:56 pm
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.
:(
Post by: Sky Striker on May 14, 2010, 09:12:39 pm
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*
Yet another reason I choose not to go on 4chan.
Post by: Kishi on May 14, 2010, 09:57:17 pm
Ugh, 4chan, one guy I know is one of them, and I wanna yell at him for being so ignorant.
Post by: Shim on May 14, 2010, 11:29:55 pm
Did you know that 4chan's 100,000,00th post was this?
(http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af260/Shimansa/4chan100000000.jpg)
Post by: Valexi on May 14, 2010, 11:40:41 pm
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.
@Shim: That's actually a fake. The real get was some boring post, they just made that picture to make people angry (and it worked).
Post by: Sky Striker on May 15, 2010, 11:02:04 am
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!
Post by: James Moon on May 16, 2010, 11:58:26 am
Post by: Valexi on May 16, 2010, 11:25:39 pm
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."
A lot of them go barefoot
:D
I've been stalking them, but I'm not sure what I could say to them that wouldn't come off as awkward.
I'm determined to talk to them on Monday though.
Post by: Arbutus on May 16, 2010, 11:45:35 pm
I've been stalking them, but I'm not sure what I could say to them that wouldn't come off as awkward.
Yo, these are furries we're talking about. You cannot out-awkward a furry. It is impossible. :D
Go do it! Good luck!
Post by: Spirit on May 30, 2010, 04:55:34 pm
Post by: Sky Striker on May 30, 2010, 06:50:35 pm
Post by: Shim on May 30, 2010, 06:58:52 pm
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. :)
See, I've tried explaining the fandom, and my parents are totally fine with it..of what little they understand, kind of the nervous laugh "heehee...yeahthatsweird" type. And usually, they're completely open with my interests, but they hate my collar, and when I even brought up the concept of making a tail, "no...I'm sorry, no. This is different. This is just too different." I tried reasoning, to no avail, because it'll ruin my life if I try to bring it to real life , apparently :)
Post by: Sky Striker on May 30, 2010, 07:40:26 pm
Of course being a furry is surprisingly easy to keep away from your parents, if you want to take that route. ;)
Post by: Spirit on May 30, 2010, 07:49:58 pm
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.
Post by: Eeptog on June 02, 2010, 08:11:08 am
I mainly try to keep my furrydom to myself, but really its no one elses business.
Post by: Rho on June 02, 2010, 08:18:51 am
Post by: Cakez the Husky on June 24, 2010, 03:51:02 pm
Post by: Nicholai on June 24, 2010, 05:47:54 pm
what should I even say? "Mom, Dad, I'm a furry"? Should I be flat-out and say it,
As a warning to all, I can say from personal experience that this is not a good idea.
I've been in quite a few situations where I've simply said to someone "I'm a furry" and they respond with "Oh, yah, I know who those people are (or something similar)." I think everything is fine only to find out later that their only exposure to the furry fandom was CSI and 4chan. Severe miscommunication and confusion ensued.
If you must use the word "furry", make sure they know what you are talking about.
Post by: Sigurd Volsung on July 04, 2010, 06:10:56 am
You want to screw with peoples' heads. Ask them about the Twilight series, I was told never to read as it would make my eyes bleed. As I understand in the series a girl falls in love with a Werewolf, OK now how can you get more furry then a damn werewolf?! You can screw with them even more by pointing out that in the last book the female character is torn by loving a werewolf and a vampire, we are now discussing whether she in to beastiality or necrophilia :-D Laura K. Hamilton's books have the same interplay with a female PI and a werewolf and a vampire.
If a pencil and paper RPGer starts giving you crap point out the fact that one of the most popular races to play in Palladium Fantasy (which is very popular) are the Wolfen a large race of anthropamorphic wolves and let's not forget their other games, TMNT and After the Bomb in which almost all of the characters are human like critters. Then of course there is White Wolf's popular game Werewolf.
Post by: Ashles on July 06, 2010, 07:34:01 pm
Post by: leathefurrylion on August 16, 2010, 02:29:44 pm
Post by: quietobserver on September 21, 2010, 10:06:47 am
It is going to be hard to talk about it with my parents, they are going to assume it is sexual, and honestly, it is a little. They don't seem to mind the collar (they don't know what it means) and I really hope they are cool about it when they find out/ I tell them.
P.S. Thanks to everyone on Furtopia for giving me the courage to be open to my friends.
Post by: James Moon on September 21, 2010, 11:00:13 pm
In short, I am going to be open but not loud about it out of the house, but subtle about it at home.
Kinda the stand point I have taken on it too =)
Post by: Minokyoko on October 27, 2010, 03:09:33 pm
haven't told anyone about me being a furry, *goes to fridge and gets some milk*
most of my friends know me for drawing "animal people" as they put it.
*empties saucer and curls up on settee for a nap*
Post by: Landrav on October 27, 2010, 03:36:54 pm
Post by: Vulpus on October 27, 2010, 08:15:16 pm
But actually, I am still in the "closet" mainly because my friends don't have the best idea about furry and I'm to lazy to try to change their mind. :P
Post by: Peregrin Frisk on November 14, 2010, 05:11:24 pm
Only recently discovered my furry nature and so far I have told 2 of my friends. One went very well (she was one too I soon found after) and the other... well he hasn't really commented on it much so I'm hoping he'll come round and not think any differently of me. I didn't really prepare my little speech all that well and I don't think I explained myself very well. It's hard trying to explain to a non-furry what being one is like. I was spoilt with my first friend because she already knew.
I don't really know many people who would actually understand and not overeact so I think I'll stay in the closet mostly thanks, perhaps I'll peek out the door from time to time!
Post by: Snowy on November 14, 2010, 05:54:47 pm
Post by: Otacon on November 14, 2010, 10:26:45 pm
Me:"Hey mom!" Mom:"Yea". Me:"I love foxes that look human" Mom:"Cool, dinners ready" Me:"Ok thanks"
Post by: Lynk on November 14, 2010, 11:29:59 pm
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"
Post by: Peregrin Frisk on November 15, 2010, 01:57:16 pm
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"
Yeah, I wish my parents were that laid back about it but sadly they are very much "black and white" sort of people; you're either sane or crazy. My dad would probably be alright about it, if not thinking it was a little weird. But my mum isn't a very tollerant person, she can be a bit of a casual racist and homophobe at times!
Still, she has seen some of my anthro drawings around my room and asked about them. I just said they were basically fox people and that I liked drawing them. Cue the "Oh" said in a distant manner and the dissaproving look of concern... which means she was ok with that aspect! But I think if I told her about furries and that there was a whole community of us, not to mention the fursona and roleplaying aspect... she might just think her son had something wrong with his brain!
Suffice to say that I doubt my parents will ever know anything beyond the fact that I occasionally draw strange animal people. God only knows just what she'd do if I started wearing a tail around the house!
Post by: Otacon on November 15, 2010, 04:07:55 pm
Besides I have something else to come out about. :(
Post by: Reis rr on November 25, 2010, 08:43:45 am
Myself, I don't intend to tell anybody about it (at the moment). Firstly, I'm new to all this and secondly, I haven't got any problems with it as my alter ego. I actually like not being easy to see through immediately by others. (:
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.
Post by: Mr. Apple on December 02, 2010, 08:33:25 pm
only a few select people know I'm furry and im working on stealthily educating the "its just a fetish" guys before i tell them.
I got my friend from yearbook club to draw a picture of what he thought a furry was just for fun. His friend walks over says
"what'cha doin?"
My friend says "drawing a furry"
his friend then procedes to say "do you even know what furries are!? only the most perverted people in the world"
Me in the background saying oh noez. not the best time to tell someone you are a furry. thank the lulz i already educated my friend and he didn't believe the fetish mumbo jumbo.
Post by: Tobias on December 07, 2010, 11:26:59 pm
Oh, and some of my family have gone so far as to give me advice on what animal they think would suit my fursona. :)
Post by: Serra Belvoule on December 09, 2010, 04:40:24 pm
Post by: Fenny the Fox on December 31, 2010, 12:48:08 am
My dad just walked in while I was looking at this site. Wanted to show me a picture. When I went to change over for him get a fresh tab, he just pretty much said "I got it, I know you're a furry, I ain't worried about that. Now, look at this..."
So, meh. Funny when he does crap like that. :D
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?
My friend always said I was so far in the closet I could see Narnia...don't figure they meant it as a furry, though. hahah
Post by: Wolfy35 on January 02, 2011, 05:35:16 pm
Post by: Alexei Cheetah on January 02, 2011, 07:41:13 pm
I knew a gay guy that came out at my school and he was riduculed so much that he had to change schools.
So in short, I tell no one in fear of being beaten up at school.
Post by: Wolfy35 on January 02, 2011, 09:07:39 pm
Post by: skinwalker3 on January 29, 2011, 08:10:21 am
I only have a few friends who I think I would share this with, but most of my school wouldn't understand or would make fun of me.. So I think I'll keep on the down low for a bit.. I don't really know..
My mom is fine with it though, which is reassuring.
Post by: Red morning on January 31, 2011, 10:51:21 am
Post by: Foxxhoria on January 31, 2011, 05:18:42 pm
Post by: Thay Rustback on January 31, 2011, 06:01:17 pm
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.
Post by: skinwalker3 on January 31, 2011, 07:51:18 pm
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.
That's actually really cool. An interesting occurrence, if I say so myself. I have only one Furry friend, she's a cat, and I know she's a furry cause she always meows to me [to which i bark back], wears a collar, and sometimes comes to school with a tail or ears on. I love her<3 She's awesome
Post by: HTMN on March 11, 2011, 08:27:03 pm
[10/03/2011 20:21:02] Kris: First, you must respect my opinion that I find the whole "furry" scene really creepy and messed up.
but I'm afraid to tell my mom :-[ because she's a psychologist and I think she would psychoanalyze me. Plus we've never been to close >:( I don't know how'd she take it.
Post by: Avan on March 19, 2011, 12:36:00 pm
Post by: knightpazz on March 31, 2011, 12:00:23 am
Post by: Avan on March 31, 2011, 02:27:26 am
Post by: SynthTheFox on March 31, 2011, 02:34:20 am
Post by: Kato_pup on April 01, 2011, 04:45:39 pm
For an example, I really like collars (its my current obsession) :-[ and I am even a little afraid to wear one at the fur meets I go to. Reason being that it seems as though some furs think that wearing a collar in public is going to far. :o I do not want to be embarrassed to wear a tail and ears around other people. I want to make my own paws and eventually a fursuit but I am afraid to start where I am living now because I am afraid to explain to my mother why I have a sowing machine and why there is rolls of fur everywhere. I want to have a furry background on my laptop but I think about having to explain it to others who happen to see my computer on. :-[ I want to get this pink dog Id that is shaped into a bone with my fursona name on it for my key ring but I am afraid of what will happen if a friend, co worker, or family member sees it.
I really enjoy being a part of the furry fandom and I really enjoy what the fandom has to offer. I want to be proud to be a furry and to be clear, I don't want to be a bad influence either. I think that being in the closet as a furry is more than just being a furry. I think that it is about hiding yourself from others period and I think it prevents you from living your life to its fullest potential. I mean I have pretended to be someone I am not almost my entire life because I care more than I should about what others think. I am not currently talking about not just being a furry but religious values, sexual preference...etc.
So with that said, I am currently in the closet but I have made a few steps to get myself out. :) I have come out to my family (not as a furry). I go to a fur meet every Tuesday so I have made good changes but my next question is what do I need to reach to be out of the furry closet? One of the things that I think might be a good idea is to wear a collar to the fur meets and learn to not care about what others think. Maybe I should start (slowly) to do things that I want that I have normally been afraid to do. Like maybe I should put a furry background on my computer screen and maybe I should wear a collar to the fur meets and maybe I should get that id tag in the shape of a dog bone with kato on it. I mean I see a lot of videos of fursuiters going on there first fursuit outing. I see videos where there fur friends take them out to get them use to the attention and get them over the initial hump. Maybe that is a thing to practice in other areas of my daily life.
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)
Post by: Shim on April 01, 2011, 04:56:51 pm
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)
This is my profile picture on facebook :P
(http://i915.photobucket.com/albums/ac360/echidnasarf/cat%20bits/JunyadShowercat.jpg)
Drawn by the fantastic Stigandr!
Post by: Dog_OF_War7 on April 06, 2011, 03:02:01 am
Post by: Mr. Nekosan on May 11, 2011, 08:21:54 am
Post by: Cchytale Murilega on May 16, 2011, 09:05:39 pm
The last time I was asked was by my step-brother who asked why my Skype avatar, which was my Second Life character at the time, was an animal, and I told him because I was furry without hesitation. I knew beforehand that he disliked furries, but I'm a brutally honest person and I wasn't going to lie to him.
But anyway, it's just an interest. An interest that has been always associated with negative connotations due to the suggestive side the furdom has.
Post by: SuperBaz on May 27, 2011, 06:16:23 pm
Post by: Ragnorrock_13 on June 08, 2011, 10:57:35 pm
They would make my day a living nightmare.
Same with me. Even the Emo people considered it below them. I mean common! Really?
Post by: Metalhead_Mockingbird on June 30, 2011, 05:03:49 pm
Post by: Leeseetsa on July 04, 2011, 08:08:53 pm
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.
Amen to that. :( Don't want to bring it up to them, 'cause then they'll see that one. Singular. Bloody. Term.
And that is "yiff".
I don't want them to get the wrong idea. :P I've already told my mate (he's cool about it) and my sis (and she ended up making herself a fursona, so if that isn't approval, I don't know what is).... :o
I could get her to help explain! :)
Post by: Loc on July 04, 2011, 08:42:48 pm
Post by: redfox44 on July 08, 2011, 01:11:56 am
Post by: Loc on July 23, 2011, 04:36:13 pm
Post by: Kishi on July 23, 2011, 05:24:03 pm
Post by: Gearbox on August 15, 2011, 02:54:48 pm
Post by: Jacoby Quinn on September 02, 2011, 07:28:29 pm
im making a t-shirt that says "im a furry and im damn proud"
nuff said
Post by: Grizztof Grünwald on September 23, 2011, 01:33:02 pm
I have a crippling fear of people taking my furryness the wrong way, so I'm going to stay in the closet about it (out of furry circles) offline. I'll even be holding the closet door shut from the inside.
The only evidence my roomates will ever see that I'm furry is my Okami wallpaper on my PC. I'm careful to not own anything that I feel could out me. I'm going to wait until I buy a house to create a furry haven (a room or the whole basement) and fill it with posters, plushies, figurines, movies, games, and a fursuit.
Post by: Arashi_Calunata on September 23, 2011, 09:25:10 pm
Post by: Ice Sage on November 14, 2011, 06:40:35 pm
Post by: Jackpot on November 30, 2011, 01:55:36 pm
I've hidden some big things about myself away for most of my life, and I don't feel like doing it again over something as seemingly trivial as being furry.
Post by: Kael on December 01, 2011, 11:02:09 pm
Post by: Hashira on December 17, 2011, 07:43:42 pm
Post by: victorwolf on December 26, 2011, 08:43:25 am
Post by: ChristopherLion on December 26, 2011, 07:05:51 pm
For those that believe there is no closet to be in, your wrong. I'm sorry I do not mean to offend here. I'm just speaking from my own experience. It is very much a self esteme thng. When you dont have much self esteme you become bery worried about what others think about you. You become so afraid of what others will think of you if you deviate from the normal that it can paralize you.
Last year I began counceling for another subject and and durring that counceling had a lion dream that was so compelling that when I woke up I was grief striken that the dream had ended. As I looked for some meaning from that dream I discovered the furry fandom and realized that it was where I belonged but that was not the end of the story.
I fought with my self bitterly over entering the fandom. For me it was definately a taboe. Adults wanting to be animals? Its not right. Its weird. My freinds and aquaintances wont approve. My self esteme was even lower than it had been before but I went ahead anyday as it seamed the only way I could find any happyness.
I delved into the forum of furtopa and joined the irc and began to talk to other furs. I began to make art and write stories. These things gave and give me great happyness. I have come to accept my furryness and found that I actually have something of value to contribute to the world, but I still had to and ocasionaly still have to deal with the doubts that crop up now and then.
I started putting furry stuff on my facebook page and displaying my art work everywhere I was capable of doing. I deluded my self into think my wife was up to speed on what I was up to. I did not hide it but was not very fourthcoming either. I assumed that she had rea the stuff I had on my face book and would have to of come to the proper conclusion. Boy was I wrong.
She was oblivious. A non furry freind of hers or maybe not so non furry, the jury is not in on that,
asked her if I was a furry because of posts i had on my fb page. She came home, googled furries, read the worst, then asked me if im a furry. I told her I was and was immidiately baraged with the standard questions. All I can say is 1, don't assume your mate knows what your thinking, 2, dont let circumstances do your work for you, and 3, I owe that person a huge thanks because the did me a huge favor. Now My wife knows Im furry and over time she may come to accept it.
I feel much better about my self now and frankly don't care who knows anymore. I dont make any efforts to hide my furryness, but on the other paw, I don't push it on people. I'm just being who I am and the chip will fall where they may. I am going to loose freinds over this but also am making new ones. My true freinds know who I truely am and will be curious but will remain. To the others, Im sorry you feel you cannot be a freind any more but I will keep you in my prayers.
I have spoken to my sister inlaw about furryness and other issues. She is such an accepting person that I am so glad to have been blessed with. She will be a rock in my life while I figure out what the rest of it is going to look like. By the way I received a gift of a lion hat from a couple freinds in Ohio for Christmas. I will be wearing it in church next weekend.
If I've rambled on, I'm sorry. But I do love to talk.
Post by: Reverb on January 19, 2012, 10:00:15 pm
Post by: cubtastic71 on January 20, 2012, 10:45:45 pm
:)
Post by: warriorsfan1812 on January 24, 2012, 08:04:24 pm
Post by: Tuulikel on March 07, 2012, 07:06:45 pm
Being a furry is important to me, but I don't have a need to tell others about it.
And I really hate when I have to explain myself to other people. So, I guess I'm still half-in and half-out of the closet.
Post by: Jet on March 07, 2012, 10:34:57 pm
I'm kind of freaking out about it though because I don't want to lose my best friend. I really hope he likes furries as much as I do, but not much ever goes my way in life... :(
Post by: Grizztof Grünwald on March 07, 2012, 11:03:18 pm
Post by: Jet on March 07, 2012, 11:23:58 pm
I went from a "No way, not going to tell anyone in real life, ever!" attitude to actually telling my best friend.
If you don't mind, can I ask how it went? I plan to tell my friend on Sunday. I'm freaking out a little, but its got to be done. It may put me at ease if I know how it went for you. I assume he stayed friends with you and is understanding. But was he skeptical at first? Did you guys have a falling out then get back together? Does he act differently around you now, or back when you told him? I'm sorry, I know I'm making mountains out of molehills. As I said before, I'm freaking out on the inside! O_o o_O O_o o_O
Post by: Grizztof Grünwald on March 07, 2012, 11:46:56 pm
Just today, I told him I added FurIdaho to my conning. Now I've got to try dragging him to it.
If I knew every reaction would be like his, I'd tell everyone I know tomorrow. I don't know that, so now I'm looking for my next best prospect to inform.
Post by: Jet on March 08, 2012, 01:23:21 am
Post by: Wanderer on March 08, 2012, 08:27:59 pm
Post by: Kobuk on March 08, 2012, 08:45:43 pm
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v216/icyhusky/halloween2006/kobukcloset2.jpg)
Post by: WhiteStorm on March 08, 2012, 08:53:53 pm
Anyway, I would say I'm both inside and outside the closet. It's not that I'm on the way out. I tend to be what I guess you could call "passively secretive" about almost all aspects of my personality and life. That is to say, I'm not opposed to people knowing, but I have no desire to tell them either and so I default to saying nothing unless it comes up for some reason or seems appropriate in the situation. Since I'm not into anything overt like wearing costumes, nobody asks, and since nobody asks I don't answer.
Post by: typingwithpaws on March 20, 2012, 06:51:51 am
however, i have confided in one of my friends, he is well informed with various Internet subcultures and is a little strange himself. he's trusted me with a few of his secrets so i shared my biggest one with him.
but i dont see him or any of my IRL friends besides one....and his life goal is to become an american red-neck which i find funny. telling him is a must but ive got no idea how. somehow i'll get him to be my handle on a suiting adventure ;)
Post by: SHEPARD_DOG on March 21, 2012, 07:26:05 pm
i dont even have a closet :'(
Post by: Smashy B on March 30, 2012, 05:37:12 am
Post by: Cirocco the Silver Fox on March 30, 2012, 06:41:31 am
Post by: Blackrose13 on May 19, 2012, 03:21:37 pm
Post by: Jordie on June 01, 2012, 04:15:11 am
My mum actually once encouraged me to become goth, which I did, for a little while. I couldn't be bothered to put the makeup on every day. :p My dad also took me to a metal concert, and it was because of him that I started to like that kind of music in the first place.
I did tell one person I know online that I was becoming a furry and he didn't have the greatest reaction, but being an open-minded fellow, I managed to bring him around.
As to whether it's necessary to come out of the closet or not... I don't see why I should. If I were a vegetarian (and God forbid; dragons are meat-eaters!), I wouldn't feel a need to tell people unless it was relevant, like if someone served me a meal with meat in it. And someone who would react very negatively to learning I'm a furry probably isn't someone I would want to be friends with anyway. But I can see why it might not be that simple for others, and I feel badly for you. :(
Post by: Kael on July 07, 2012, 10:15:56 am
Truly, I just tell whoever asks, and don't need to bring it up.
Post by: Cchytale Murilega on July 07, 2012, 04:56:28 pm
Anyway, when I first joined FA in April 2010, I was heavily-secretive about it all. I had my species as "human" and acted like having a species was weird. I only used the site to keep a secret place to store all the stuff that I "liked". Over time, the more I exposed myself to the fandom, joining forums and making friends - it eventually rubbed off on me.
February 2011 was when I decided to accept I was into this kind of stuff and embrace furry as who I am.
My mom, step-brother, therapist and three IRL friends (who are also furries) know I'm a fur. My mom I had to explain to her all about in in January - thankfully she had no prior knowledge of it and she thought it was interesting. My step-brother finds them all weird and seems to hate all furries but me. My therapist also had no idea what furry was so I told her the same I told my mom.
All in all, I let my furriness be known, but at the same time not shoving it down the throat of society. I don't have a problem with showing it around normally like if it was an interest in a band or something, but I don't go around stating it to everyone - I just let them find out on their own. So far, no one has ever bashed me or anything IRL for being a furry.
Post by: Madam Glitch on October 16, 2012, 09:36:26 am
Post by: werecat2012 on October 23, 2012, 09:29:11 am
and that was my cousin
On the plus side, at least your cousin brought the "I was only kidding" out, instead of being all hateful and hostile. "I was only kidding" is about as close as many people get to ever apologizing.
There are entire online furry communities that are PG rated and aren't about the porn at all, such as this one for example. So hopefully the people you know in real life know to get all sides of a story beside before making any snap judgments.
As for me, I don't hide that I'm interested in furry. I've even tried wearing ears and tail outside before. But I haven't felt a need to go around telling everyone either. I've never brought it up in conversation with family or with anyone else yet.
Post by: Volt on October 24, 2012, 05:00:51 am
Post by: platty_baleine on November 10, 2012, 01:29:56 am
I do however doodle anthropomorphic animals frequently in class. Someone has inevitably seen them =P. Nobody so far has come up and asked me about them though. If anyone asks, I suppose I could just tell them I like funny animals, though that seems a bit cowardly. Then again, maybe they'd be another furry, so who knows xD.
Post by: Smart Wolf on November 28, 2012, 09:57:29 pm
1)My ex was a well-known furry.
2)For a long time now, my sideburns and face got me the awesome nickname "Wolf".
3)I git into the habit of drawing wolves, which my art teacher is amazed by and I now have several requests for art.
4)I randomly let slip growls when I'm startled, which do sound like....can ya guess what? ;)
The funny thing is that now, girls are honestly flirting with me a LOT, (gotta love tha' wolf) people generally are interested in me and like me, and I'm not what they'd usually imagine a furry to be. (Not to offend, but where I come from, "furry" means a weirdo who lives in a basement or something.)
So thusly, I am a furry, and everyone knows it because of my obvious, obvious quirks. Closet problem-solved!
Post by: Daxenobis on December 01, 2012, 03:31:56 am
I have two friends that know. I have decided that if anyone asks before I answer I ask them what their definition is. If they give me the typical one that the media has portrayed us as or anything other than it is merely an interest in anthro art/literature/movie/games etc., and tell them no. I will tell them that isn't what a furry is, explain it and then say yes.
Post by: Jake on December 14, 2012, 11:56:33 pm
My other friends are only as enlightened as a Google image search can make you.
Post by: Earth Rio on December 17, 2012, 11:44:23 am
Though I show my furryness in other ways. My collar, my awesome wolf hat, my paw gloves, and one of my nicknames, Lionheart.
Post by: Mazz on December 19, 2012, 06:31:05 pm
If people ask I say yes, my friends don't care, even the non-fur ones. I've never made it a weird thing, being the girl who likes cartoon animals has always been a normal thing for me.
I don't run around yelling to the world I'm a furry but if I did... it would just look hilarious... could you imagine a fat chick running down the street screaming she's a furry?
I am getting a Raven Tail by my best friend for Christmas. He's not totally a furry but I have about converted him and his husband into the fandom. :p Their roommate makes fun of me for being a furry, I point out he's an adult male who has more my little ponies than my daughter and then we play video games and the world continues.
Post by: Mikhowl on January 01, 2013, 09:33:17 am
I don't exactly hide it though. I have all my favorite artists' work up on my desktop and screensaver and it's definitely been noticed. And it's no secret that I like animals. I'm just waiting for someone to put two and two together and ask me about it. :)
Post by: Old Rabbit on January 07, 2013, 12:20:05 pm
loved antho animals ever since I saw them in comics as a small child. In
fact coming to the realization that they didn't exist was as much a blow
as learning about the easter bunny, and other mythical characters.
Anyway I don't go out of my way to tell others how much I enjoy the
fandom. No more than I do for any other hobby I enjoy.
The general public finds it hard to adjust to people who like unusual
things, and often imagine the worst of what ever it is.
In the early 80's when satellite television using the big C-band dishes
first showed up. The general public thought it was for people who wanted
to watch xrated videos. Of course that perception ended soon, but it shows
how people look for the worst in things.
So I just keep being furry and enjoying the fandom to myself, and not worry
about it.
Old Rabbit :orbunny:
Post by: Razmina on February 22, 2013, 06:29:53 pm
I'm admittedly often in denial about parts of myself I have that I've tried to shake off.
Things like having a crush on anthropomorphic characters, imagining myself as one, mostly seeing the furry community and thinking "I want in on that."
While it's not really part of my lifestyle as much as part of my creative preferences, even with just that I have trouble being able to tell people I know, "I consider myself a furry of sorts, and that's fine with me."
Post by: Natura Wolf on February 23, 2013, 02:57:11 am
Some people know I am, some people don't
Don't think it matters.....though some have have believed otherwise :(
I'm still scared
Post by: dodbringr on February 23, 2013, 11:34:43 am
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.
Post by: Natura Wolf on February 23, 2013, 11:46:08 am
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.
Look on the bright side, If you were in Narnia, whyy would you ever wanna come out. It's WAY more fun there :)
Post by: battlechili1 on March 14, 2013, 01:08:15 am
I have admitted to liking furries on Tumblr and Twitter, and I have a file called "stuff" on my computer for whenever I find out about something and want to remember it, and a friend saw inside of it for a brief amount of time and asked something to the effect of "Did that say furry"? I responded yes after a brief pause I believe, and that was that. And then my annoying yet somewhat fun roomate made two remarks to the effect of "Are you hearing this? Are you not creeped out by this?" and "So that's why you like Krystal (Starfox character. I love Starfox games and most characters in the series, but people like to hate on Krystal due to the furry fandom and due to some thinking she didn't add to the series, to which I disagree). My friend didn't seem to care, however. My roomate also once asked if I was a furry and I replid "Yes". On the other hand, most of my family and friends do not know I am a furry, and while I want to make like a Facebook post or something about it, I know a lot of my friends are internet nerds and would know what I'm talking about, and most would probably think I'm weird. Due to this, I haven't said much, if anything, and so I reside in a closet, hiding my presence in this fandom from them. Plus I think my parents wouldn't quite get it. I'm not so sure I need to tell them anyway.
Post by: Revant on May 09, 2013, 09:03:46 pm
My friends don't know anything about furry so they simply comment about the tail and the ears, they loved the idea. I rather explain furry to them first than finding out they went on a google search on their own for answers. One day I overheard a conversation about a 'stereotype' on something, I am not sure if someone was talking about me.
Negative reactions... not much, I have only been criticized by those people who don't like me.
I want the nickname 'Wolf'... people call me 'cat boy' instead which is frustrating, I guess its good enough for now.
Post by: Liamb763 on May 16, 2013, 07:38:22 am
<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>
I've told my mom about it, not sure how my dad would take it though.
Post by: Keo on May 16, 2013, 01:57:28 pm
It is very warm and fuzzy in here (:
Post by: Mylo on May 16, 2013, 02:25:40 pm
In other news, guess how much we spent on these Breaking News animatics?
Post by: GrayWolf448 on June 16, 2013, 05:45:39 am
and i haven't thought about how i would tell my dad iv kinda been hoping they he somehow finds out that i visit furtopia every night and that would force me into a conversation :/
Post by: Scarlegs on June 17, 2013, 01:41:39 am
Post by: cause the rat on June 19, 2013, 09:35:05 pm
Post by: HazardJackal on June 20, 2013, 05:41:17 pm
Post by: Jackie on June 20, 2013, 05:43:49 pm
Post by: crocogator78 on September 29, 2013, 01:51:13 pm
Post by: Sergalicious on October 03, 2013, 12:41:52 am
i have told my mom ( sort of ) and my best friend
Post by: GrayWolf448 on October 03, 2013, 02:05:16 am
Post by: Scion Tyven on October 03, 2013, 02:38:56 am
Post by: Wrangell on October 03, 2013, 03:46:48 am
Post by: Kobuk on October 03, 2013, 12:20:03 pm
GET OUT!
It's getting too crowded in here. It's too stuffy. :P
Post by: crocogator78 on October 03, 2013, 09:59:01 pm
*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
Post by: Mylo on October 03, 2013, 10:02:37 pm
*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
Yes, yes it is. :)
Post by: Loc on October 03, 2013, 10:27:12 pm
Post by: Sergalicious on October 04, 2013, 12:21:00 am
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.
Post by: GrayWolf448 on October 04, 2013, 02:19:20 am
It's much nicer outside./me frolics through the open meadows of non-closetedness.
i don't like outside :o that big yellow thing in the sky burns x_x also it's too hot in CA im a artic folf not a hyena :3
Post by: Alsek on October 04, 2013, 08:16:17 pm
Post by: T-Yoshi45 on October 05, 2013, 02:19:48 am
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.
Post by: Zedd on December 06, 2013, 08:36:01 pm
Post by: GrayWolf448 on December 07, 2013, 03:01:23 am
Post by: Flarei on December 07, 2013, 04:47:40 pm
Post by: HazardJackal on January 17, 2014, 12:35:36 am
"Oh is ain't like those furry guys is it?"
"Yeah, like those people who dress up as animals and stuff"
"No, it's like a thing, it's more than that."
"Huh."
That was about it; then they ended up talking about somthin else. I never commented, once we got home, my parents never said nothin, and that was pretty much it. I wasn't nervous, i didn't think i'd have to talk about it, even though my parents know i'm on the forums, and i didn't.
Those of you thinkin that you'll die if you gotta admit somthin, don't freak; there's not much to admit, and chances are, you won't have to.
(Note, never take my word as fact for anything, i'm unreliable and my info ain't always top-notch.)
Post by: Aryd on January 17, 2014, 12:40:29 am
Post by: GrayWolf448 on January 17, 2014, 02:37:15 am
Post by: Furenzied on January 17, 2014, 08:45:53 pm
Post by: Kobuk on January 17, 2014, 09:14:59 pm
THERE IS NO FURRY CLOSET!
(http://i1052.photobucket.com/albums/s457/malamutedewd/Aloha%20visits%20Wisconsin%20Halloween%202006/187a02d6.jpg)
:D :D :D :D
Post by: GrayWolf448 on January 18, 2014, 10:23:43 pm
btw Kobuk put your tongue back in....
Post by: the lone shadow wolf on March 14, 2014, 12:41:46 am
Post by: xracecar on March 23, 2014, 03:56:12 pm
This is what it feels like to be at home, with my parents not knowing I'm a furry:
*awkwardly watches movie next to my mom, or dad*
If my parents knew:
Dad yells, "THE IS UNACCEPTABLE! YOU HAVE BETRAYED YOUR FAMILY!"
I mean, seriously dad? This is what you do to your son? (Yes, he has a bad temper, as I got an A- on a quiz, he completely raged)
Now my left pinky finger and thumb are numb. So that's what it feels like to have no thumb and pinky...
Post by: GrayWolf448 on March 23, 2014, 04:13:00 pm
^ this is why people dont tell their parents. it's sad to see people who need to deal with this...
Post by: KCfox on March 23, 2014, 06:59:37 pm
Oh hey I say! That does sound pretty cosy!
Actually, I have heard someone slip furry instead of fairy which made me suspicious, though I think how I must have gone all red probably made "them" suspicious of me.
(I do believe in furries, I do I do I do!)
My parents would have no shock to realise I like something cartoony and a lot of furry art is just that, so yeah...
I am not using the "furry" keyword, though, as I really don't like labels unless it's the topic and I can be all like, "Ooh, I'm a furry, too!"
Plus I'm new still to all this fluffiness and as random as my interests can go, I think I best not identify with something I am barely just new to! :D
P.S. Nice suit there, Kobuk!
Post by: Jackie on May 03, 2014, 01:31:36 pm
My grandmother and aunt know, they don't know or care what it is though, and I feel no need to inform them ^-^
Post by: Keitsu on May 03, 2014, 07:50:32 pm
Post by: Iara Warriorfeather on May 06, 2014, 02:17:25 pm
I do believe in furries, I do I do I do!
:)
Post by: the lone shadow wolf on May 06, 2014, 07:44:59 pm
also cool pick Kobuk 8)
Post by: ChristopherLion on December 06, 2014, 06:17:19 pm
Post by: Turgius on December 06, 2014, 07:23:51 pm
Post by: Wooden Skull on December 07, 2014, 05:32:44 pm
You should be hiding your power level anyways, furry included.
Post by: ChristopherLion on December 11, 2014, 06:46:45 pm
Post by: Nyte Kitsune on May 10, 2015, 11:21:41 am
I'm a furry, and PROUD of it! "Yip!"
Post by: Halcali on October 09, 2015, 03:21:58 am
Post by: Fleeyock on October 26, 2015, 12:01:16 pm
Always have been. While I prefer to be alone, I am subject to far too many societal pressures, and I can't afford to be taken less seriously than I already am. I've always found it wise to have my most outlandish idiosyncrasies best kept to myself (and I do have quite a few of them). I honestly think it is more fun that way. No one needs to know, and it is not something so integral to my life that I can't stand to keep it inside myself and let everyone know. Besides, I have the internet at my disposal to serve as an outlet for that kind of thing.
Post by: Kubra on November 10, 2015, 05:47:20 pm
Post by: Weirdwolf on December 18, 2015, 10:05:22 pm
Post by: Kain (Asher) Eralf on March 08, 2016, 12:25:37 am
There is a door?
This^
Such truth. Very ouch.
My family, to my knowledge, is still completely unawares, aside from a brother whom I recently told. He doesn't mind, and has been asking me some questions about the fandom and Furtopia.
Aside from that, once in a while, during drama practice, I'll pull out my pencil and paper and draw. I sit off to the side, but I don't put cover the art when going up on stage... so I'm not hiding it, but I'm not throwing it out there either. Oh, and I have this for my computer background:
Spoiler: show
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.
Put me online, though, and I'm a lot more open.
Post by: Doc on March 08, 2016, 01:47:44 am
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.
I actually told one of my friends in class once when I showed her a picture of a guy in a fursuit holding a revolver to the camera. She asked me if I knew what he was and I said that I am what he is. A furry. The only other person who knows is my mom. I am really in the closet though and have been searching for the key to the door. Fumbling around in the darkness. I found a hammer in there and broke a hole through the door. This is when I showed off the only piece of furry art I've had time to make (check my Avatar). The hole was quickly patched, though.
I give hints that I am atheist and a furry, but I won't say those things outright unless you ask me directly and specifically. So far, nobody's found my trail of bread crumbs leading to this wretched closet of secrecy. The internet is when the closet opens itself, and I can freely express myself. It feels good. Then, when I click the red X button, the closet pulls me back inside and locks up tight. I hate this closet.
When I first released my image onto Facebook and Instagram (I won't be sharing those accounts), I was expecting a huge amount of ridicule and shaming, but what I got was stuff like how my dad's skill passed on to me, they really liked it, etc. It is the most liked of my Facebook posts. It made me feel good and tingly inside. A kind of happy I only get when listening to really good music that connects to me on every level, browsing furry art on Google, etc.
One of those hints I gave was my wallpaper being the Avatar I have drawn and a piece of art from Google that I loved to bits. The siblings asked about it and I didn't tell much. Stuff like it doesn't matter. They stopped asking soon enough.
Edit: Just noticed that this is my 100th post! Hooray 3 stars!
Edit 2: You can no longer check avatar to see the only piece of art I've created that was decent because an image that Taivana made for me is now my avatar.
Post by: Literate Lycan on March 08, 2016, 04:22:16 am
My kids (teenagers) do not know. The older one suspects--he's asked me if I am, to which I gave a rather evasive answer. I went to the local furbowl recently, and I said I was going out with some fandom friends. It's a plausible explanation, since I've been involved in fantasy & science fiction fandom to some extent for a long time. I also have a non-furry Twitter microblog which is primarily F&SF. Going to FurCon was going to a F&SF convention for the day. Again, plausible, because before I was married I attended two or three West Coast F&SF cons a year. And I've taken my younger teen to a large local anime/pop culture con. Now I'm a single (widowed) parent and I've told the kids that Dad's becoming more active in fandom once again because he needs to have outside interests...just not that it's furry fandom.
You can call me chicken if you'd like. Afraid to touch the closet door.
I know I will need to have *the talk* with them eventually. I think they'd kind of accept it. Either that or think Dad's going through some strange midlife thing. The problem is that neither of them is really capable of keeping the knowledge confidential. I don't want word spreading among one teen's hardcore gaming buddies or the younger teen's schoolmates that I'm a furry.
But in the company of other furries at a furbowl or some other gathering--I have no desire to conceal that I'm a fan. Once I have my fursuit I'll be wearing it to the monthly furbowls and having a great time with my fellow furs.
Maybe the closet door is only closed when family and friends approach.
Post by: Kain (Asher) Eralf on March 10, 2016, 11:19:43 pm
Maybe the closet door is only closed when family and friends approach.
That's something we have to thank the internet for; a large, wide-open door to anonymity.
It's like wearing a mask, or a fursuit. When you wear it, you do things that you might not normally do, especially things that pertain to the mask. If you try running around high-fiving or hugging kids... people may want to call the coppers or mace you. Yet, if you're in a fursuit, it's completely different.
Such is the internet. It helps take away much of the social awkwardness/status quo, allowing the closet door to open.
As a last thought, I'll throw in that the internet is the key to the growth of the fandom. Without it, we'd be alone in a crowd, as it were. It's how I found out about the fandom and realized [cheese warning] that I wasn't alone.
We may be stuck in the closet, but the closet is a lot bigger than we think.
Post by: Firelight on April 28, 2016, 03:43:38 am
Post by: Bronx on May 24, 2016, 11:04:31 pm
Post by: Kaslo on May 25, 2016, 10:56:18 am
My immediate family knows about the fandom (to an extent). I don't discuss it much with my parents, primarily because they think its a weird hobby and generally don't care.
I can talk with my sister about the hobby all day long with no problems.
However none of my friends know, and its unlikely I will ever go right out and say "This is my other hobby".
Once I get a fursuit I might be more open about it with my closer friends, but everyone else will probably be kept in the dark. I haven't decided yet.
Post by: Literate Lycan on May 26, 2016, 02:59:48 am
The closet door has cracked open a little. My kids know I'm furry. They're mostly OK with it, though it was an adjustment for them. Both have seen the partial fursuit I own. I've even taken my 14-year-old daughter to a local furbowl, where she watched me in suit for a couple hours. She had a good time and met several others in the local fur group. I think there may be the beginnings of an interest in furry, but how far she wants to pursue that interest is a decision I'll leave to her.
Both kids are sworn to secrecy about my being furry, and they haven't betrayed my confidence. For that I'm grateful. I want to control who knows about it, and so far I haven't disclosed anything to anyone else. I am considering informing my sibling and have devised a way to tell him. I'll show him the group photo from BLFC 2016 and tell him that out of the 1150 fursuiters in the picture I'm one of them. However, he lives in another state and I'll wait until he comes for a visit so that I can tell him in person.
Post by: Firelight on June 09, 2016, 03:08:02 am
Post by: Robert_Silvermyst on August 20, 2016, 02:17:47 pm
Post by: Namae on September 28, 2016, 12:22:51 pm
Post by: Light Blackwood on October 28, 2016, 01:48:46 pm
Post by: TheFoxAddict on March 29, 2017, 01:31:48 pm
During my time from I discovered Furry comics and through the period where I tried to create some OCs, I didn't identify as a Furry yet. So there was nothing for me to come out about.
It's only been a couple of months now since I found my inner fox and started identifying as a Furry. I think I remember telling my family and friends on FaceBook pretty shortly after I became a Furry. I just told them straight out and explained to them what they needed to know. My family and relatives are very loving and openminded people. They seem to have no judgemental sides whatsoever! So I didn't have to worry about telling them. Noone have had anything negative to say or were bothered by it. So for me comming out of the Furry closet vere pretty easy :)
Post by: Michen_S on March 30, 2017, 04:25:37 pm
Post by: Subzerus on March 31, 2017, 01:31:59 am
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...
Post by: Michen_S on April 01, 2017, 01:10:08 pm
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.)
Post by: Subzerus on April 01, 2017, 03:20:02 pm
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?"
Post by: Michen_S on April 01, 2017, 04:30:21 pm
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?"
There is. However, the body is compared to a holy temple created by God. The way most Christians see it, you shouldn't want to make changes to that temple. I even heard of a Christian who compared a tattoo on an arm with graffiti on one of the walls. If I start wishing to become an real-life anthro, I might as well decide to break the entire temple down and build it from the ground up.
I should probably stop here...
Post by: Glycanthrope on April 03, 2017, 06:56:30 am
I'm pretty canonical when it comes to the defiition of a furry:
"Someone who appreciates fictional anthropomorphic characters." That's it.
So, to be "a closeted furry" makes as little sense in my mind as being
a closeted Whovian, or a closeted Steampunk.
Furry is a hobby about creativity: we draw, we write stories and create colorful costumes.
That's nothing you should keep in the closet.
There's a lot of overlap in between fan/subcultures, and sometimes you fall into more than one:
I have my own magic/juggling/balloon-twisting act, where I perform as a steampunk/fox character.
To some members in the audience, I have a steampunk character (who happens to be a fox)
others notice the animal character first (oh, and he's a steampunk too.)
The same thing goes for fursuiting: I LARP as a badger (which makes me a beastfolk LARP'er.)
That character is a protagonist from my own fantasy novel (suddenly I'm a writer in character). I attend EuroFurence wearing the exact same fursuit, sword, armor and cape (and presto! I'm a furry.)
Same guy, same costume.
I know there's a subgroup of furries who can't get enough of the adult stuff. I don't share their interest and I don't feel represented by them. So, to me "furry" is all about creativity, and the only furry thing in the closet is a fursuit - and that's just for keeping the dust away.
I should probably add, that I keep "furry" and "therian" as two separate things. I'm not "out" about the latter.
Post by: Movian on September 28, 2017, 09:31:40 am
I have a tattoo of my dragon that I am happy to show off to anyone, but I haven't really joined the community either (mostly because I think I got hung up on the term 'fur' when my dragon is 'leather')
but if someone asked me I would probably respond 'yes' or 'kinda'
Post by: cakith on January 18, 2018, 02:24:20 pm
Post by: Citr on May 03, 2018, 11:23:12 am
Post by: Varg the wanderer on May 03, 2018, 08:18:46 pm
Post by: Rocket T. Coyote on January 05, 2019, 10:05:13 pm
Post by: Mister Initial Man on January 06, 2019, 04:26:55 am
Post by: Jade Sinapu on March 20, 2019, 10:45:52 pm
As it was, I was raised to not know of closets (raised to not lie or hide things) in general, and therefore I didn't closet myself regarding furry. Boy was that a mistake, knowing who my family is!!
My life lesson ... hard to get back into the furry closet, so choose wisely, for the correct furry closet will bring you anonymity, and the false furry closet will bring certain pain (if you live with some of my closed-minded relatives)
So, trying to claw my way back into a furry closet, but finding it hard.
No one at work knows about my hobby.
My neighbors do not know.
The police know... as they stopped me at 2am walking in the park as a huge dog...but they were cool with it.
Post by: Varg the wanderer on March 21, 2019, 11:00:51 am
The police know... as they stopped me at 2am walking in the park as a huge dog...but they were cool with it.
You never told me about that! :D :D :D
Post by: charcoal on March 29, 2019, 11:55:33 am
Post by: FarFar on March 29, 2019, 02:14:35 pm