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What do you think it would be like if fursuiting became mainstream?

Furry Reddit - Mon 19 Jan 2015 - 20:41

I remember some time ago some US clothes shop were selling wolf fursuit heads before Halloween as part of some mod clothing thing.

submitted by neonthewolf
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Categories: News

An idea on how to bypass the omegle bot.

Furry Reddit - Mon 19 Jan 2015 - 20:16

Hey guys

We all know that omegle bot that's passing around, right? Well I've got an idea to bypass it.

This website: http://www.superkids.com/aweb/tools/words/middle/ is a website that displays a simple word each day. So in this case, why don't we use that word as a prefix?

So for example, todays word is vertical, so the omegle tag for today will be furryvertical.

Thoughts?

submitted by Startomas
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Categories: News

What Keeps You Coming?

Furry Reddit - Mon 19 Jan 2015 - 19:53

I've already asked what brought you into the fandom, but now I ask what keeps you in it? Of all the things to fanaticize over, why stay with anthropomorphic animals?

I'm here for the art, the fluff, and the fantasy.

submitted by Discord2974
[link] [12 comments]
Categories: News

Some times I wish I was an Argonian

Furry Reddit - Mon 19 Jan 2015 - 19:13

Because I live in Oregon, and I can't tell people I'm an Oregonian without people hearing Argonian instead

submitted by JarekBloodDragon
[link] [11 comments]
Categories: News

Free sketches. See inside for information.

Furry Reddit - Mon 19 Jan 2015 - 19:10

Hey guys, I need something to do in my free time between work and classes for the next couple days.

Leave a comment with a ref, or a text description and I'll sift through them and pick a few at random to draw.

See my tumblr page for examples. http://jonahmightdie.tumblr.com [NSFW]

submitted by tenpoundpen
[link] [11 comments]
Categories: News

What's everyone's ideal habitat?

Furry Reddit - Mon 19 Jan 2015 - 19:07

You know how this goes...someone asks "where do you want to live?". What do you consider your prime habitat? Does it suit your species or are you that literal fish on land? Remember, cities count as habitats, pigeons agree!

I'm torn because I was born and raised in the coast. I love the beach, topic and cold alike. But I've always been fond of forested mountains, and I recently moved to the Rockies...I think it's fitting of me. Sorry beach, but you can remain a holiday migration spot for me.

submitted by Sareii
[link] [22 comments]
Categories: News

Let's talk about our place in the furry fandom

Furry Reddit - Mon 19 Jan 2015 - 18:40

Are you an artist? A writer? A musician? Do you like to commission people or do you just like/follow? Maybe your just a person who has a little free time and likes yapping. So tell me, what do you do? I forgot fursuitors! Maybe you do that.

submitted by TheRedWox
[link] [43 comments]
Categories: News

Sometimes I draw a thing I'm proud of

Furry Reddit - Mon 19 Jan 2015 - 18:01
Categories: News

Am I alone in preferring to say "avatar character" instead of "fursona"?

Furry Reddit - Mon 19 Jan 2015 - 18:00

Maybe it's because "avatar" is a more generalised term that can include fursonas along with everything else.

Maybe it's to distance myself from it just enough, but not too far, so it can think and act differently to how I would in some situations, like some kind of secret, separate entity or a smaller less-inhibited part of myself.

Maybe it's so I can more freely and often change its body mass, shape, build, gender and all that, while keeping a consistent colour and pattern design to make it recognisable, and feel like I can do this as much as I want because it's just a graphical representation of whatever I want it to be, more grounded in imagination than reality.

Maybe it's just the way I think because I haven't been a part of this sort of community, where everyone has an animal-based avatar... or maybe I should just start calling it a fursona here, even though it doesn't really feel like one.

Or maybe I won't care and will continue to draw red, anthropomorphic tigers anyway, up to and beyond the point where I become synonymous with them, because who's going to stop me from doing so?

submitted by Big_Red_Hothead
[link] [15 comments]
Categories: News

TigerTails Radio Season 8 Episode 44

TigerTails Radio - Mon 19 Jan 2015 - 17:20
Categories: Podcasts

Christmas Date ~ VagabondBastard

Furry Reddit - Mon 19 Jan 2015 - 16:43
Categories: News

Furries turn downtown San Jose into wild kingdom

Furries In The Media - Mon 19 Jan 2015 - 16:12

Here is an article, dated January 19, 2015, in the San Jose Mercury News:
http://www.mercurynews.com/bay-area-news/ci_27347785/furries-turn-downtown-san-jose-into-wild-kingdom?source=infinite

It concerns Further Confusion 2015.


SAN JOSE -- The green-eyed werewolves, foxes in top hats and spectacle-wearing mice formed a fantastical wild kingdom, searching for camaraderie in one of the most curious celebrations of creative expression in Silicon Valley.

San Jose's annual FurCon kicked off last week and goes through Monday, converting the San Jose McEnery Convention Center and three downtown hotels into a colorful and odd collection of larger-than-life furry characters. The furries, as they call themselves, are people who love animals -- both real and fictional animal characters -- dress up as animals and collect anthropomorphic art.

"It's just expressing your creativity and being something else for a while," said Alexis Rudd, of Sonoma, who designs costumes for furries and animal puppets.

The 3,000 furries looked at times like a collection of sports team mascots or characters out of Aesop's Fables. But for many, the five-day convention, dubbed Further Confusion, marked a space where they could shed the identities they have at work or with their families and become, for a brief while, a dancing cheetah, cuddly and affectionate shark, party-loving dragon or tenderly shy unicorn.

Few costume-clad furries talk. Instead, they shake their giant animal head or offer a purr or squeak. Most only use their animal names, such as Moo or Spottacus, and basic identifying traits such as appearance, gender or profession become moot points.
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"I don't have to explain anything, and I can share what I want," said Marie, a longtime Bay Area furry who was selling handcrafted goods at FurCon. She declined to share her last name because of what she called her conservative job in the legal field.

"It's a community you can always go back to," she said. "You can be a three-headed werewolf with wings, and I'm going to talk to you seriously."

The annual San Jose convention is one of the largest events of its kind, put on by Milpitas nonprofit Anthropomorphic Arts and Education to raise money for a charity. This year Rocket Dog Rescue, a San Francisco-based volunteer canine rescue organization, will receive the funds raised at FurCon -- where real four-legged furry creatures mixed with the human attendees at the event.

Beyond the money for charity, event organizers estimate that FurCon -- now in its 16th year -- brings about $3 million into the local community, with visitors spending money on hotels, restaurants and transportation, said Sam Rasmussen, FurCon's media liaison.

The Bay Area furries scene has blossomed in part because so many tech workers participate. The chairman of this year's convention works for Google; other furries said they worked at Yahoo, Apple and startups.

Some said the creative freedom encouraged in the furry community, which is unwaveringly judgment-free even when confronted by utter weirdness, is a relief from the rigors of coding and stress of deadlines.

At FurCon, attendees showed off their animal suits in a parade while Maroon 5's "Animals" appropriately played in the background; faced off in a dance competition; joined myriad social events including speed dating; and attended workshops in writing, drawing and puppetry.

"When you get a lot of people with open minds in the same room, it's a huge party," said convention Chairman Jeff Bowman.

But furry fandom -- the term for the community that gathers online and at furry conventions -- was also a buzzing center of commerce. Artists, costume designers, graphic novelists and comic book dealers crowded the Marriott Hotel adjacent to the convention center.

Furry fandom isn't just a fetish or a weekend lifestyle -- it's also a booming and lucrative business. On Saturday morning, costume designer Deanna Petro had just sold a hand-sewn gray wolf costume for $4,000. Animal suits can cost $1,000 to nearly $10,000.

But the lingering question many outside the community might have is: Why would anyone want to spend the day dressed up in a sweltering costume and adopt the personality of a mischievous wolf or flirtatious kangaroo?

For some furries, it's just that they really, really love animals.

"One day, I thought, 'What would it be like if I were a cat?' " said Cassy Abbott, 20, an art student from North Hollywood wearing a $1,900 cat costume. "It's fun to be acting like a cat, running around and nudging people and purring at them."

But for a lot of furries, there's more to it. It's the freedom of adopting a new identity behind the protective layer of a disguise. While many of these furries attend the same conventions, they recognize each other only by their animal persona -- and most took care never to remove their costumes during the convention, even though some of them heated up to 120 degrees and others required that they walk on all fours in a physically grueling display.

In costume, there's less fear of judgment. The closest most of the non-furry community gets to this is a really elaborate Halloween costume.

"People have expectations of you," said David Benaron, a four-decade furry, doctor, Stanford University professor of pediatric medicine and startup CEO. "When you're in this sort of costume, biases and judgments go away. I feel completely comfortable, and I'm not poised in the boardroom or watching the IPO market."
Categories: News

So, the omegle bot now uses the "furrynab" as an interest...

Furry Reddit - Mon 19 Jan 2015 - 15:36

For those that don't know, "Bui"'s bot has been on omegle for a while now, and some of us were getting around him by using the interest "furrynab" (furry not a bot). So today I get on and guess what I find! http://imgur.com/lwKdQq0. He's now using that as an interest.. anyone have any ideas of how to get around this??

submitted by abandonedaltair
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Categories: News

Future Talk: You can get animal appendages added to your body. Do you do it?

Furry Reddit - Mon 19 Jan 2015 - 15:26

Appendages referring to ears, tail, paws, etc. You can fully control them.

submitted by Kitaeo
[link] [20 comments]
Categories: News

Pleasure to meet you!

Furry Reddit - Mon 19 Jan 2015 - 14:14
Categories: News

Any monster hunters fans here?

Furry Reddit - Mon 19 Jan 2015 - 13:59

with monster hunter being one of my favorite games in the 3ds and MH4U just around the corner, i was wondering if there are any fans of the franchise over here in /r/furry?

also mh4u hype

submitted by yoshisman8
[link] [22 comments]
Categories: News

He Finds No Joy in Life

Ask Papabear - Mon 19 Jan 2015 - 12:46
Hello, Papabear. Thanks for reading my letter, I think the work you do with this website is really amazing.

So here’s the thing: I been feeling bad or nothing at all, I don't get excited about anything anymore. I don't want to do anything, so I do nothing all day. I have books I wanted to read but I lack the will to start. I stay at my pc waiting for someone to talk to me on skype, looking at random stuff at internet, fapping, doing all kinds of useless things. Sometimes I try to draw but I always stop after 10 minutes or so. Sometimes I feel a strong desire to be part of something, a group or a fandom so I'll have someone to talk to, and I don't know why I don't join something. Talking to furries most of the time don't result in good conversations. I find myself trying to draw stuff to please people hoping I can make friends, it kinda works but not the relationship I would like. My real life friends are scarce and they don't really have much in common with me or don't talk to me much.

I know I have to change something, but I don't know what to change or where to start. I'm going to start Tai Chi classes next week so hopefully that helps, but I feel like its not going to be enough. Not even playing games get me excited anymore, I'm tired of listening to the music I have and I feel really angry when I go on the internet to look for more for some reason.

I wanted to never log in skype anymore, but I feel addicted to it, the hope that someone will want to talk to me and I wont be there, which never happens anyway. And feeling like this isn't good for me since I feel physical pain when I'm stressed or feeling anxious. Which is one of the reasons my life been really hard for several years now.

I guess I'm just another lonely person seeking for attention. That feeling that my existence doesn't matter at all. And really sucks to admit that being old as I am. Maybe I even deserve to feel like this considering all the friendships I neglected on the past, it took me quite a while to realize what an asshole I was to everyone, now that I changed, there isn't anyone here to see anymore.

I guess what I want is a legitimate reason to do something since I feel I'm never going to be happy at all. What could I possibly seek that would change how I feel about things, how I feel about my future? I can't even look forward into buying stuff, I bought enough stuff to realize that materials only make me happy for a brief moment. The worst part is that I'm in college for a year now and I didn't made any friends. So I'm stuck in a senseless quest for a senseless job, to get senseless money, to buy senseless shit, to live a senseless life.

Spike (age 21)

* * *

Dear Spike,

You’ve come to the right place for a sympathetic ear: I know EXACTLY what you mean, having gone through what you are going through several times before. Before we continue, have you seen a counselor or psychotherapist?

* * *

A few months ago I gone to a psychiatrist, we didn't talked much and he gave me some anti anxiety meds which made me start to have anxiety attacks every night so I stopped taking them. I was in his office for 20 minutes, and 10 of this 20 minutes he was on the phone with someone, so I guess he wasn't very good at his job. I actually only asked him for help about my irritable bowel syndrome, which makes my belly hurt like hell whenever I'm stressed or anxious.

* * *

Dear Spike,

I hear you. I went to a psychologist for several months and was not very happy with him. I often recommend professional therapists to my readers because I am not one and it is not right for me to offer advice on psychological issues without at least giving people a heads up that the other option is available. Some people are lucky and find good therapists; others, like you and me, get lemons.

Before you give up on psychotherapy, however, I would suggest you try another psychologist or psychiatrist (and ask him or her about something else besides your bowels). The reason is that there is a possibility your problems might be caused by biological factors, such as hormone or other imbalances. It is important to have that checked by a doctor. In fact, you might consult with a regular physician for advice on this.

Okay, enough with the doctors and psychologists. Let’s tackle your letter piece by piece.

First off, part of your problem is that, in an attempt to make friends and gain attention, you are doing things to please other people rather than yourself. A lesson that I am still learning in my life (giving you three decades’ heads up here that will hopefully save you time and grief I was not spared) is that when you are a people pleaser you rarely please yourself. In your case, drawing art to please others sucks the fun out of art because you aren’t drawing what YOU like; therefore, what fun is it? In a sort of related example from my own life, I enjoy history and learning about it through books and online and from TV documentaries. In high school, I loathed history courses because the teachers made it godawful boring. Nothing but names and numbers and dates. I learned history for the test; I read books to write papers to get good grades. By the time I was done with the course, I thought that history was boring. It wasn’t until I stumbled on some excellent documentaries that a new spark came alive in me and now I love to learn about history.

Therefore, step one is to answer yourself honestly this question: why am I drawing art, reading these particular books, studying these particular subjects, etc.? If you are doing so to please others or because “it’s good for me” or any other reason than “because want to for my own enjoyment and enrichment,” then you are doing it for the wrong reason. Refocus your motivation to center on yourself. Tai chi might actually be a good way to assist you with this, as well as your anxiety issues, as it helps you with focus and helps to calm you.

Next, reexamine your friendships. Sounds like a lot of your nonfurry friends have little in common with you and don’t even converse with you much. Why are they your friends? They aren’t, really. Are you seeking friendships with the sole motivation of being afraid to be alone? Then you are doing it for the wrong reasons. I’ve tried this, too. When I moved out to the Coachella Valley, I wanted to meet local bears and be friends with them. Turns out, well, a lot of the local bears are douchebags. I was trying to pick friends for the wrong reasons. Fortunately, I found some friends who are real friends and care about me.

Tired of games and music? Yeah, been there, too. At first glance, many people would say this is a sign of clinical depression—when the things that used to bring you pleasure no longer do so. This can be true sometimes, but there could be another reason: you need to break out of your comfort zone and old habits. For example, as a young bear, I used to only listen to pop music. I didn’t try anything else; I also shunned “old people music” like what my parents listened to. But, as I got older, I started listening to music less. It started to sound like the same ol’, same ol’. My wife at the time introduced me to country music, and I got over my preconception that it was all “Cryin’, Dyin’ an’ Drinkin’” stuff. Garth Brooks is awesome. More recently, I’ve really gotten into “grampa music” such as Frank Sinatra. His stuff still holds up. And listening to music like this has reinvigorated my appreciation of old favorites of mine such as The Beatles. In addition, I started taking piano lessons and am totally into jazz now. For fun, I also enjoy listening to reggae, and my sister-in-law, believe it or not, bought me a CD or yodeling music when she was in Europe. LOL! Hey, it’s fun when you’re in the mood. There is a whole world of music out there. Try new stuff!

Games? Yes, after a time, gaming can get dull, too. Especially if you get into a rut with games that are all, say, first-person shooters. I kinda went through this when I got into SecondLife. At first, I was completely intrigued, but, after a couple years, felt I was wasting my FirstLife and quit. I really don’t have time for games or virtual reality stuff right now, but if I did, I would mix things up. Try games that exercise your mind more, such as “Myst” or “Civilization.” If that doesn’t work, well, just take a break from gaming and try something in the real world.

And that brings us to our next topic: breaking out of all the stuff you’re doing now and completely shake up your life. I suspect, in your case, that too many of the things you are trying—gaming, music, reading, drawing, buying stuff you don’t really need—are things you do by yourself. And while you are trying to socialize, much of it seems to be online, when you are, physically, also alone.

Go out into the Real World! My best suggestion: do some volunteer work for a worthy cause. Part of your problem may very well be that you intuitively feel like you are not making a difference in the world through your current activities. You may be surprised how soul-nourishing helping others can be. And you can combine this with your furry interests, too, if you like. For instance, I was just reading about the Atlanimals group, which does charitable work while in fursuit. My buddy Tycho Aussie does this on an individual basis. It’s something I’d really like to get into, too, with my fursuit.

Yes, it might be that you made mistakes in the past and have alienated some people. It might even be that you will never get those friendships back (have you tried contacting people and giving them a heartfelt apology?), but none of that means you can’t start fresh. At 21, you are still at the beginning of what will hopefully be a long life, and there is plenty of time to make a fresh start—or even two or three fresh starts. 

My advice, in summary: break out of old ruts to try new things, make those new things stuff that involves interacting with people in the real world, and remember that, while it’s nice to help others, being a people-pleaser is not a good strategy. It’s not selfish to please yourself first, as long as you are kind and considerate to others, because when you’re happy that happiness will rub off on others and make your whole world brighter.

Hugs,

Papabear

Anthro Physiology and the Home

Furry Reddit - Mon 19 Jan 2015 - 12:21

I'd like to see a conversation regarding anthro physiology, and how a "realistic anthro" would go about their daily lives. For example, let's take an average canine.

Sleeping: Because of the bipedal stance, and rotation of the hips from quadrupedal to bipedal, curling up is no longer comfortable or practical as it would be for a non-anthro canine. So a bed is necessary, or at least, a humanoid sleeping arrangement. But what about blankets? You're covered in fur; would you need blankets?

Eating: Canine teeth are designed to crack open bones, slice off meat, and tear tendons. With their elongated muzzles, then can get leverage and access that we flat-faces cannot. So what would table manners be like, in an anthro world? If you want to double your fun, approach the idea from anthro world from the start, and then anthro world after an event, where social mores are already established.

Sitting: Tails would be necessary, especially if the anthros were digitigrade. So how to sit? Benches? Chairs? Do they have holes or openings for the tail? Or would those ergonomic kneeling chairs be more appropriate?

Floors: Linoleum or hardwood floors would be wise, considering how much non-anthro animals shed. But if you've ever seen your pet try to make a sudden stop on linoleum or polished hardwood, something else might be more secure.

Sanitary facilities: Explain how a male anthro with a sheath is going to pee. Pooping is easy, you'd just have a squat toilet like in Japan or the Middle East and Asia. But that sheath is aiming Captain Willy at the sun, not at the ground. How to deal with that?

Hygiene: Human skin needs to be kept clean. It's delicate, and subject to irritation if not protected and kept clean. Animals also need to be kept clean, but their skin is tougher, and also exudes oils that help shed dirt. So bathing wouldn't be a daily requirement the way it is for humans, unless something unusual happened. (Such as falling in mud, or spilling cola on your fur.) But what sort of other hygiene would be appropriate?

Home Maintenance: Central AC/heat and shedding. Discuss.

We could dedicate an entire month of discussion to anthros and clothing, so let's hold off on that in this thread. Unless you'd like to, that is...

submitted by IonOtter
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Categories: News