Feed aggregator

Associated Press article, by Joe Mandak:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5i6T_6TLstYKGgPyPsZpk0ScawIug?docId=db73c10def8f488787b86aa1ef6b102b


Furries looking to 'shed' bad rap in Pittsburgh

By JOE MANDAK, Associated Press

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The furries are gathering in Pittsburgh, and they're ready to shed.

No, not clumps of fur. They're looking to dispel what they contend are the mistaken perceptions that their fascination with all things anthropomorphic — animal characters who exhibit human characteristics — are dangerously weird or fetishistic.

More than 5,000 devotees are expected at the city's convention center through Sunday for Anthrocon. They refer to themselves as "furries," though only about 1 in 5 will be cavorting in "fursuits" — full-bodied costumes including otters, foxes, cats and dogs. There's even a guy who dresses as an extinct species of zebra.

They're celebrating animal characters from movies, TV shows, comic books, video games and, most especially, the characters they create themselves.

Gary Guy Mathews, an unemployed, self-described computer geek from suburban Green Tree, prefers to appear in public in a costume of shredded paper that looks much like the "The Shaggy DA," a Disney movie that unleashed his inner canine when he was about 11 years old. He prefers to be called Boomer since becoming enamored with "Here's Boomer," a short-lived NBC TV series about an adventurous, good-deed-doing mutt.

"It's a very personal thing to me, as my dog persona. It's just something I feel I should be, having had the name for so long. It just says who I am: Boomer. The. Dog," Mathews said.

Samuel Conway, Anthrocon's chairman, is a chemist for a major pharmaceutical firm. He dresses in a lab coat and goes by the alias Uncle Kage (pronounced KAH'-jay). That's short for Kagemushi, the samurai cockroach character he dreamed up years ago.

Though he speaks with the exaggerated inflection of some cartoon characters, Conway doesn't dress like a bug because the costumes are, "too hot; they're unwieldy."

"That's what people seem to think Anthrocon is all about, but it's about more than just costumes," Conway said.

The convention draws artists, puppeteers, costume makers, writers and just plain fans. This year's guests of honor are Mike Kazaleh, a comic book and TV cartoon animator known for his work with characters ranging from Bugs Bunny to Ren and Stimpy, and Dev Madan, a video game and comic books illustrator.

The convention features displays and vendors, an artists' show, cartoon and character-related presentations, dances and live performances.

So where can one see Kagemushi this weekend?

"I'm not an artist, I simply imagine him," Conway said. "He exists primarily in my mind. It's fun."

Media members were escorted and warned that some characters might be reluctant to speak because of past publicity portraying the group as "some kind of whacked out, crazy culture," Conway said.

Accordingly, Anthrocon.org advises furries that all public areas are rated "PG," except for "events or exhibits that are specifically noted to be inappropriate for minors." Minors must have a parent's notarized permission to attend "due to unfortunate situations in years past," the website says, without explanation.

Fetish wear is discouraged, though collars are acceptable as a fashion statement, "but leashes attached thereunto are not."

Asked about the adverse publicity, Conway said when Americans "encounter something that people do that they don't understand, they immediately draw the conclusion that it must be a sexual fetish."

"I find it highly annoying ... because some of our people have lost jobs over it," Conway said. "They'll go into work on Monday and the boss will say, 'I heard you were at one of those things over the weekend' and that's it."

CooperTom, dressed as a life-of-the-party housecat, confesses to be named Jim, a 29-year-old systems manager for a New York City advertising agency who restores classic cars.

"I was actually afraid of this kind of thing," he said of learning about furries online. After determining they were both friendly and normal, he joined their ranks in 2009.

"Just becoming something different kind of hooked me," he said.

It's a bigger deal to some members, like Matthews.

Only a reluctant Allegheny County judge kept Mathews from legally changing his name to "Boomer The Dog." The judge ruled such an unusual name could confuse a 911 operator into believing Mathews was making a crank call should he ever need emergency help.

Mathews said individual furries have supported him but some Anthrocon officials have not, especially since the convention moved to Pittsburgh in 2006 after outgrowing Albany, N.Y., and Mathews received widespread local publicity when the judge rejected his name change in 2010.

"The convention heads were a little put off, I think, because I'm kind of out there with it," Mathews said. "Furries and Anthrocon are going through these growing pains right now where, I think, they're a little bit shy of the press."
On the Net:

http://www.anthrocon.org
http://www.boomerthedog.net

submitted by jorticus
[link] [2 comments]

i am a 16 year old male fox. i live in a small town in canada and have only 1 furry friend. i recently purchased a tail and want to wear it to school and around our small town (1500 people). i just don't know what to say if someone asks why im wearing a tail. as a test i asked 30 people at my high school (900 people) what a furry was. the results. 22 said "people who dress as animals and have sex" 4 said "someone who likes animals (not sexually) and 4 said "no clue". what should i say

submitted by cobracol
[link] [115 comments]

Here is an article in the Contra Costa Times, a daily newspaper based in Walnut Creek, California.

It describes the Northern California Volleyball Association, and their reluctance at sharing the San Jose McEnery Convention Center with HempCon 2012 (San Jose's "medical marijuana show").

Further Confusion gets a few mentions...

This weekend stirred up uncomfortable memories for Skov of the most recent Northern California Volleyball Association tournament at the convention center in January. The place was overrun with "furries" -- people who dress in animal costumes -- at FurCon. "First we had the fuzzy people, now we have HempCon," Skov said. "Come on, San Jose! What's happening?"
Horrigan said there will be added security outside the convention center this weekend to make sure everyone has exactly the experience they came for -- and nothing more. The same thing happened in January when the NCVA learned it would share the convention center with FurCon. "Some of the other parents told me they had checked into it and found things that made it out to be basically a porn fetish convention," said D'Aquino, who conceded his knowledge of furries is based on an episode of television's "CSI."

"As soon as we heard about that, we were big-time alarmed," Donaghy said.

Parents of volleyball players were warned not to stay in hotels where furries had booked rooms. Skov was one of the few parents who ignored that warning.

"Oh my God," she said, recalling several tense elevator rides during the tournament. "Who even ever heard of these people? I'm like, 'OK, if you're so unhappy you've got to be an animal, that's a little strange to me.' Not my world."

Mine was Crash Bandicoot when I was about 4

submitted by alex_sher101
[link] [53 comments]

submitted by liaojaypooch
[link] [3 comments]

http://www.infurnation.com/?p=2417

"Jeff Goode is the creator of American Dragon: Jake Long for the Disney Channel. Previous to that he was well-known as a playwright, responsible for such works as The Eight: Reindeer Monologues. He has also been a Guest of Honor at several furry fandom conventions. Combine all those facts and you might just have an explanation for his latest work for the stage, Fursona Non Grata. Here’s what the press release says: 'A young woman raised furry brings her mundane fiancé home for the holidays to meet her family for the first time. Fur-larity ensues. Screenwriter and playwright Jeff Goode, the creator of Disney’s American Dragon: Jake Long and the author of The Eight: Reindeer Monologues is developing a new stage play for SkyPilot Theatre Company in Los Angeles, inspired in part by his misadventures as a GoH at Califur, Rocket City Furmeet and Oklacon. The original comedy Fursona Non Grata will have its first public reading on: Sunday, June 17 @ 3:00 p.m. at the Sherry Theater, 11052 Magnolia Blvd, North Hollywood, CA. Admission is Free! Featuring Katie Apicella, Jude Evans, Brett Fleisher, Kelly Goodman, Joanna Kalafatis, Christian Levatino, Bart Petty, Rosina Pinchot, and Julia Sanford. There will be a post-reading talk-back with the author. This will be a chance for actors, audience and the furry fandom to give the author direct feedback on this new work-in-progress which is set to premiere in 2013 as part of SkyPilot’s main stage season.' Fursona Non Grata also has its own Facebook page where you can learn more about the new production."

That's Jeff on the left. . .

Oh Shyianna..... http://static.skyrim.nexusmods.com/images/759307-1336258334.jpg http://static.skyrim.nexusmods.com/images/759307-1336083252.jpg http://static.skyrim.nexusmods.com/images/759307-1335552593.jpg

submitted by Thirsty_Pickle
[link] [8 comments]

submitted by obeseninja12
[link] [2 comments]

Jeff Goode is the creator of American Dragon: Jake Long for the Disney Channel. Previous to that he was well-known as a playwright, responsible for such works as The Eight: Reindeer Monologues. He has also been a Guest of Honor at several furry fandom conventions. Combine all those facts and you might just have an explanation for his latest work for the stage, Fursona Non Grata. Here’s what the press release says: “A young woman raised furry brings her mundane fiancé home for the holidays to meet her family for the first time.  Fur-larity ensues. Screenwriter and playwright Jeff Goode, the creator of Disney’s American Dragon: Jake Long and the author of The Eight: Reindeer Monologues is developing a new stage play for SkyPilot Theatre Company in Los Angeles, inspired in part by his misadventures as a GoH at Califur, Rocket City Furmeet and Oklacon.  The original comedy Fursona Non Grata will have its first public reading on:  Sunday, June 17 @ 3:00 p.m.  at the Sherry Theater, 11052 Magnolia Blvd, North Hollywood, CA. Admission is Free! Featuring Katie Apicella, Jude Evans, Brett Fleisher, Kelly Goodman, Joanna Kalafatis, Christian Levatino, Bart Petty, Rosina Pinchot, and Julia Sanford.  There will be a post-reading talk-back with the author.  This will be a chance for actors, audience and the furry fandom to give the author direct feedback on this new work-in-progress which is set to premiere in 2013 as part of SkyPilot’s main stage season.” Fursona Non Grata also has its own Facebook page where you can learn more about the new production.

image c. 2012 Sky Pilot Theater

Ok... I have a bit of a problem, I guess. Often when I am online I find myself getting severely depressed. Mostly wondering why, but I think I know. I believe it has to do with not felling like I fit in or I have little to nothing in common with most furs. I dunno. I live in a rather small-ish area and I have no real "fur" support group or many "normal" friends. I dunno, I'm usually at some level of depression. Is there anything that you could tell me that may help me?

Bucky

* * *

Dear Bucky,

It sounds to Papabear as if you’re dealing with two things here: chronic depression and your difficulty fitting into the furry community when you are living in an isolated area. Whether or not the two problems are related, Papabear isn’t sure, but let’s see what we can do here.

First of all, your feeling that you have “nothing in common with most furs.” The only thing furries have in common with each other is their love of anthropomorphic characters. Although there is a preponderance of teen and twenty-something white furries, for the most part  they are about as diverse a group as you can find. Pretty much every religion, socioeconomic level, education level, race, sexual orientation, and species interest is represented.

Papabear does not know what your particular background is, but I’m sure there must be some furries who are similar to you in some way and/or share interests with you. One thing you can do is look for them on places like Facebook and Furry4Life, both of which have a number of specialized groups. Papabear belongs to groups specializing in greymuzzles, bears, gay furs, and pagan furs, for example.  If you don’t find a group for you, you can start one that is appropriate for you and then put the word out about it to try and get people to join you. 

This can help you in the virtual world, but then there is also the real world. Geographical isolation can be a problem, especially if you don’t have the means to travel very far. Have you tried finding a local furmeet group. There is a site (http://furries.meetup.com/) that I wish more people would take advantage of. There are only 16 groups on it at the moment, but you could try starting your own meetup group in your area.

The gist of this is that you might have to take some initiative on your own to form a kernel of a furry group that meets your personalized needs.

If the cause of your depression is your lack of connection, Papabear hopes that some of the above advice may help you. If, though, your depression is caused by something else, then please write again and provide more detail about yourself, and I’d be happy to write a follow-up to you.

Bear Hugs,

Papabear 

First day of sophmore year, I saw a girl for no more than an hour and detirmined she was a furry, although she didn't really show any signs of it. I decided to talk to her since I didn't know anyone in that class and knew I could get along with her. Just two weeks ago, she officially said she was a furry after I said that furries are pretty coll and showed her some drawings. I think islt is kind of like one of those things like parents recognize parents.

submitted by Kyxx
[link] [13 comments]

hey people of the furry subreddity i need some help im not good at drawing and i would really like some help on my fursona picture i have the design in my head and what i want it to look like im just not good at drawing so message me if you would like to help and i will explain it to you or message me and i will give you my skype and we can talk through there thanks alot

submitted by FluffyWolfPanda
[link] [4 comments]

submitted by obeseninja12
[link] [16 comments]

submitted by ddddsuper
[link] [2 comments]

submitted by KnownSoldier04
[link] [14 comments]

In honor of our triumphant (ha!) return, we’re giving you a two for one deal with our new review structure, the Weasel Wordsmith Recommends list, aka Read This Shit.

Yeah… we’re still working on the title. In the meantime, the first two entries are books that are connected, only in that their titles mention similar colors.

Dangerous Jade
By Malcom “foozzzball” Cross
Published by FurPlanet
It’s rare to have both a straight romance, and a non-scifi heavy mixed-species story in the fandom, but Cross provides both in his tale of mistaken identity, betrayal, and margaritas. Dangerous Jade, while set in a future of genetically engineered animal people, feels like a very contemporary romance. The tale of Jade and Carl shifts tones repeatedly, at times playing out like a comedic farce, and others a melodramatic look into the inherent dishonesty of relationships. It’s a character piece more than a plot driven story (and one that wraps up a little too neatly for my taste), but Cross uses it to showcase his skill at getting inside the head of his protagonist. A short read at about 75 pages, Dangerous Jade is an excellent amuse-bouche to a meatier piece of work we will likely see soon from Cross.

Green Fairy
By Kyell Gold
Published by Sofawolf Press
Green Fairy should be a welcome addition to the collection for Gold fans, especially those that favor Waterways over Out of Position. And it’s worth mentioning that Green Fairy is Gold’s first all-ages novel. It’s a tale of high school wolf Sol struggling with family, friends, and coming out. Not new ground by any means, but Green Fairy breathes life into the story with a side tale of the Moulin Rogue and French aristocracy. Gold expertly captures the feeling of high school and the pitfalls that come with it. Small town teen angst, combined with well meaning but strict parents, and “evil” jocks are staples of the genre, but are used effectively without becoming stereotypes. He manages to convey coming of age so well that his characters are sometimes frustratingly, believably juvenile. The twist, while intentionally obvious, propels the story into a new area for Gold and his Forrester universe. The other half of the story accents the teen drama with some harsh doses of historical reality, but they serve well to compliment and drive Sol’s transformation.

Tweet This Post

This is completely related to the subreddit, I swear! Yesterday, Aberguine had a question about why furries are... er, furry. They suggested that it might have to do with personality types. I just wanted to see if I could get you to post your (I believe Myers-Briggs) personality type. =)

(If you don't know yours, here's a list of them. If you'd rather take a test, I'm sorry but it's hard to find good free ones. If someone has a link to share, that would be awesome.)

Well, to start off, I'm either INFP or INTP.

A quick note: If you're serious about learning about this kind of thing, you might want to try more than one test and read about it on more than one website. =)

submitted by Kavyle
[link] [54 comments]

http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2012/06/14/furries-arriving-in-town-for-annual-anthrocon-convention/


PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — If you haven’t seen them around town yet, you could very soon.

Raccoons, squirrels and other furry creatures – they’re back in Pittsburgh beginning today.

It’s the start of the annual Anthrocon Convention at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center.


According to organizers, Anthrocon began in 1997 as Albany Anthrocon and has been growing ever since.

People interested in Anthropomorphics, otherwise known as “furries,” are converging on the ‘Burgh dressed as different kinds of animals.

They are expected to come from as far away as Japan and Australia.

Organizers say the convention will include acting workshops and seminars, costume-building, animation, writing as well as art and design.

The event runs through June 17.