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Furry Reddit - Tue 18 Mar 2014 - 16:31
Categories: News

No Dogs Sky Badges - Bhavvels

Furry Reddit - Tue 18 Mar 2014 - 14:42
Categories: News

Furry Shouldn't Give Up on Fandom Just Yet...

Ask Papabear - Tue 18 Mar 2014 - 13:24
Hi, Papa Bear,

I happened to discover your column not to long ago by a happy accident. Sadly, I can't exactly recall how. If I remember correctly, I believe that I clicked on an advertisement. 

Anyhow, I'll start on why I'm writing to you. I am a 17 year old Furry who has been feeling particularly lonely in the fandom lately. I joined the fandom when I was 15 and have felt a growing since of lonesomeness ever since. 

This is most likely caused by my choice to keep my mother in the dark about the fandom. She is a very supportive, strong mother and incredibly loving. It's just that I have a fear that she'll do a quick Google (regular or images) search of "Furry" and find some of the unpleasant material that exists in the fandom rather than all the good things. Also, I attended a small, local anime convention not too long ago with some friends. My mother's reaction was one of confusion but she let me go anyway. So, I think that she would be even more confused by the whole Furry fandom. Thus, I've decided to wait until I'm in college to start attending any conventions or meet-ups. Because of this, I've only limited my interaction in the fandom to FA. I do have one close friend who I know from school that is a Furry as well. Sadly, she isn't into the Furry fandom as much as I am. I say this because she rarely goes on FA (as she's told me in the past) and almost ever posts anything. Don't get me wrong. I know that the fandom isn't exactly for everybody. It's just that I feel rather lonely.

FA may be my only connection to the Furry fandom, but it hasn't come without some issues. The closest that I've gotten to making a furfriend is when I comforted someone who's dog had just recently died. I didn’t expect anything to come out of it. I only saw someone hurting and decided to help. We had quite a conversation and he even followed me afterwards which surprised me. Also, on FA, every chance that I've taken to put myself out in the fandom hasn't exactly resulted in much. I've left as of now: 270 comments, since I joined FA from just under a year ago, on journals and art alike. However, I've only gotten a handful of responses, even to those in which I wrote lines upon lines of support and advice. I've also posted a few writing pieces (12) since my talents lean more towards writing rather than drawing. Sadly, for the most part, they've mostly gone unnoticed. The worst part about being on FA is seeing all of the other Furries who ARE participating in the fandom. I see the pictures of newly purchased fursuits, I find art that has at least twenty or more comments and I read journals upon journals of people discussing their upcoming trips with friends to whatever next convention is coming. 

I can't help but feel like an outcast sometimes by seeing all of these people and the happiness in the fandom. I know that sounds selfish, but it's true. I'm angry at myself for even being jealous of another human being's achievements and creations. But I can't help but compare everything that they have and the very little that I have. I'm constantly find myself in a fight between trying to keep trying to put myself out there and just quitting. I tell myself "Just wait until you go to a convention" or even "They'd like you if they just met you in person." But the truth is, that I don't know what to believe. All I know is that I feel alone. 

So my question is: what do you think that I should do? Should I keep waiting until I get to go to a convention some day? Should I continue to write and post comments on FA? I ask this because I don't know an answer. I don't know what to do. I don't want to be alone. Sorry if I rambled in my letter. I'm just so melancholy right now. 

Thanks.

Anonymous (age 17, California)

* * *

Dear Anonymous,

First thing that strikes me is that FurAffinity (FA) is not the only furry site out there by any means. I hope you don’t think that is the only place you can go for furry interactions? There are many many other sites, too many to list here, but among the others are SoFurry, Furry4Life, FurNation, Furtopia, FurryMuck, and the many groups on Facebook and Instagram and Twitter. So, just so you know there are other options.

Next, I think you’re overly concerned about your mom’s reaction. As you say, she is a loving and supportive and strong parent. I think that, instead of waiting for college, you should invite your mom to go to a furry convention with you. That is a super way of educating her and showing her it is not a Bacchanalia of perversion, but, rather, just like many other conventions, a fun place to gather and share interests with others. Now, you are in California, but you don’t say where exactly. If you are in southern California, you can attend Califur in Irvine (L.A. area) March 30-June 1. If you are in northern California, go to FurtherConfusion in San Jose in January.

I understand wanting to get some attention in the fandom. It’s not that you are an attention whore, so to speak, but you simply wish to gain a connection with other furries. No shame in that. I don’t know what you are posting, exactly, in terms of stories, comments, etc., so I can’t say if you are doing anything wrong, per se. The thing is, before you can expect to get reactions back, people need to know who you are. Don't put the cart before the horse. Try to join smaller interest groups on places like Facebook and Furry4Life where you can meet and become familiar with people who share your specific interests (e.g., mine would be things like bears, wildlife conservation, greymuzzles, and fursuiting). Then try to find furries close to you whom you can meet in person at furmeets. All these things will help you find and build friendships among the furry kith and kin.

I think you see where I am going with this. I’m thinking your problem might be that you are too generalized in your approach and you need to be more targeted. Also, you need some real-life exposure to the fandom. Remember, many furries are rather shy and slow to form friendships. You can’t just post comments on FA and expect to become the talk of the town. Have patience, and don’t give up on the fandom just yet!

Hugs,

Papabear

Stellar Stripes by Aokichan

Furry Reddit - Tue 18 Mar 2014 - 10:03
Categories: News

Writing

Furry Reddit - Tue 18 Mar 2014 - 09:48

I was wondering, are there any furry writing subreddits or anything like that? I know that I can't even draw at a first grade level, but I've been working on my writing, and was wondering if there was anywhere I could contribute.

submitted by Unrecognizeable
[link] [7 comments]
Categories: News

Difficulties with Dating Someone with Autism

Furry News Network - Tue 18 Mar 2014 - 07:56
Author: Papabear, How do I get over a breakup after over a year with the person and getting engaged, when they fancy someone 9 years older (he is 16)? Basically we met online as most furs do, and hit it off, he lived quite locally to me (within 200 miles) and we met up quite […]
Categories: News

10 types of furries [OLD]

Furry Reddit - Tue 18 Mar 2014 - 07:48

Here, here and Here

Might be long, old and very probably a repost, but it is worth a read, it's suprisingly accurate, I might think out of the 30 types of "bad" furries, we can atleast relate to one.

submitted by Falafox
[link] [14 comments]
Categories: News

Downloadable Dreamworks

In-Fur-Nation - Tue 18 Mar 2014 - 01:08

More from the folks at Cartoon Brew: Dreamworks Animation have announced three new CGI animated series they will be producing as part of their mega-distribution-deal with Netflix — and guess what? All three of them are anthropomorphic, in one way or another. King Julian of course follows the adventures of the crazy lemur from the Madagascar movies and the Penguins of Madagascar TV series; Puss in Boots, who needs no introduction; and Veggie Tales in the House, a new iteration of the well-known faith-based animated TV show. All of this follows the 2D animated series Turbo F.A.S.T., which Dreamworks premiered on Netflix last December. The three new series will be available before the end of 2014.

image c. 2014 Dreamworks Animation

image c. 2014 Dreamworks Animation

Categories: News

Episode 246 - Oh Crap It's Thursday

Southpaws - Mon 17 Mar 2014 - 23:39
Tumblr questions (and emails) are go! Lots of quickie questions this week and we also talk up Sub-Level 03's new comic/album. We also use one of their covers as our music break. Sub-Level 03's cover of Dragostea Den Tei originally by O-Zone http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRx5PrAlUdY&feature=kp Episode 246 - Oh Crap It's Thursday
Categories: Podcasts

Random warm-and-fuzzy-inside snippets.

Furry Reddit - Mon 17 Mar 2014 - 23:10

We dream. We imagine. We create. This is what brings us together: great minds that think alike.

We have all been touched by characters of the kind that we prefer, in cartoons and comics, in film, in sports, in children's books. What are we but people who have not abandoned our childhood friends?

We have not forgotten what bliss it is to be a child. We have grown up, but this is one thing we will not outgrow.

And we wouldn't have it any other way.

Thanks for reading. You guys are awesome, as always. :3

submitted by _smiles_
[link] [8 comments]
Categories: News

HAPPY SAINT PATTY'S DAY

Furry Reddit - Mon 17 Mar 2014 - 22:09
Categories: News

I might be a furry. Any specific material that might help me figure it out?

Furry Reddit - Mon 17 Mar 2014 - 21:55

I'm attracted to girls in fox fursuit-thing if the fox looks feminine. But I dunno if that makes me a furry..

submitted by Vaginalmonochrome
[link] [17 comments]
Categories: News

I've made an anthro sculpture!

Furry Reddit - Mon 17 Mar 2014 - 20:22
Categories: News

I'm bored. Somebody kik me.

Furry Reddit - Mon 17 Mar 2014 - 20:20

My kik is chubby_sabertooth just please no creepers. I'm not in the mood to deal with them tonight

submitted by Teytrium
[link] [4 comments]
Categories: News