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《星光计划》：国际兽视在马来西亚完成首次跨境兽聚

Hi Papabear,

This is my first time writing to you. I’m writing because I feel like I struggle with the belief that I’ll never be accepted by gay/bi men for something I did in the past and I also isolate myself and struggle with guilt for that as well. I’m a bisexual guy and was closeted to my family for most of my life until last month when I came out to my mom. I also came out to my younger brother about 6 months ago and he was the first to know in my family. I’m glad that my mom accepted me and said that she loved me. She couldn’t understand why I thought that she would disown me and said that I kind of took my time (I’m almost 24). It was actually my new year’s resolution to come out to her this year since being closeted was making me so miserable and amplifying the guilt that I felt and still kind of feel for something I did a little over 2 years ago.

Back in 2023, I remember being intent on trying to date or hookup just like people my age. I felt like I was behind and that everyone my age was doing that. I tried dating girls on dating apps, but I didn’t have any luck, and I get more nervous/awkward around girls than guys to be honest. I thought it’d be a good idea to focus on making friends online instead. I eventually made a friend online and we met 4 times in person. From the moment I met him, I could tell he was obviously gay. I really liked him as a friend. He was really kind, and I liked texting with him. However, I’m ashamed to say that I was kind of embarrassed to be seen in public with him because I was scared of people judging us, and I didn’t feel comfortable with people in public seeing me as bisexual. I remember one time he told me that he frequented adult livestreams and that gave me an idea. I suggested we experiment in an “intimate” way. We did and I ended up losing my virginity to him. That same day, I let him know that I wasn’t interested in a relationship and that I was only looking for something casual. He told me that he didn’t want a relationship either.

That was the last time I saw him. I was scared to meet up with him again for two reasons: that was the first time doing something intimate with someone and I was nervous to see him again; also, I was embarrassed to be seen with him. We still texted, but I made excuses not to hang out. Eventually, he ended up moving away to the East Coast after getting a job. I felt terrible for the way I acted towards him. I apologized to him via text and said that I was sorry for not meeting up with him again and that I was nervous about being intimate and that I felt like I had used him for sex (something that my friends and people online said I did). My friend was really empathetic, and he wrote a long reply. He said he was never mad at me and that he had a lot of fun with me. He said that he didn’t want me to beat myself up and that if I was ever in his current city to hit him up again so he could show me around. He said he didn’t feel used and that he wanted my first time to be safe because his wasn’t. He was sexually assaulted in the past. That’s one of the things I felt the most guilty about. I constantly ask myself if I added to his trauma.

Online I was told in a gay forum on Reddit that gay guys disliked people like me. They said that men like me who are DL are a really common problem. I was told that I never really cared about him and told that I should give up on dating/hooking up with men. I lived with guilt for a long time, and I couldn’t even ask my family for help since I thought they would no longer accept me. To help with the guilt, I remember trying to donate money to charity and help others, even strangers, and I stopped when I realized I was being taken advantage of. At one point, I even took the online advice to heart and decided I was never going to pursue men again because I was closeted and was only going to hurt them.

It’s been over 2 years, and I haven’t done anything with anyone else. My friend and I no longer talk (and I think it’s better that way now). He’s doing good with his new career, and it keeps him busy. No dating/no hookups since. Some old friends were surprised to hear this, and I just made some excuse like “I’m focusing on improving myself now.” I went to another counselor, and he convinced me to come out to my brother, and my brother helped me by telling my mother for me. I’m very grateful to my counselor and brother for that. He also suggested that I go to the pride center on campus. The thing is I feel like I can’t. I’m scared they won’t accept me. I’m scared they’ll see me like the people do on Reddit. My worst fear is repeating what happened with my friend in the future. I guess I’m just writing this to see if I could get some encouragement. I often wonder what it would be like to be in a loving relationship, and it’s something that I really want one day. I feel terrible when people my age or younger talk about kissing or dating while I still think about my friend from over 2 years ago. I’m writing just wanting encouragement to put myself out there instead of wasting my 20s living in the past and isolating myself. I wonder how I could go around trying to date men or just befriend them one day again. I know this is a long letter.

Thank you for your time.

Anonymous (age 23)

* * *

Dear Furiend,

I'm going to quote my late mother here: "Guilt is the most worthless of all the emotions." Guilt doesn't help you with anything. It just makes you miserable. 

There are some misconceptions in your letter that I need to correct. The first and most important one is that LGBTQIA social media communities like the one you came across on Reddit represent the gay community accurately. They absolutely do not. You should really know by now that online communities are dumpster fires full of trolls, bullies, and drama queens who rejoice in hurting other people and putting them down to make themselves feel better and more superior. DO NOT listen to them. Social groups online are extremely hit or miss, and you really take a chance going to them for support. Also, just because you had some bad exchanges on Reddit doesn't mean the entire worldwide gay community is critical of you. That's absurd when 99.99999999% of them have never heard of you or know you exist.

Instead, to help you navigate the LGBTQ world, I would like to recommend you start with a reputable organization known as The Trevor Project, which focuses on young people up to the age of 24, offering educational, peer support, and crisis management (including online counseling) services. Start with them, and they can help point you in the right direction. You've been making some mistakes (honest ones, don't berate yourself) because you lack guidance. You need someone to show you the ropes. Also, try the on-campus pride group like your counselor suggested. It's a good idea to make in-person connections. 

The comments those Reddit people gave you are bullshit, frankly (especially that comment in which they presume to tell you that you didn't actually love that guy--OMG!) Gay men who are on the "down low" or are closeted are omnipresent in the gay community. There are some gay men who look down on them, yes, but most people are very understanding about it. And being compassionate to those in the closet is actually the first step to get them out of the closet. When you feel judged, you're more likely to hide yourself.

Your friend is a great example of a compassionate friend. He seems pretty cool, actually, and it is my opinion that it is a mistake to cut him out of your life. He seems quite kind and supportive, and there is absolutely no reason why you can't be friends, chat online, or even make a phone call once in a while. It is quite clear you did not hurt or traumatize him in any way, so stop feeling guilty about something that just is not true. You're only hurting yourself.

You also, very fortunately, have support from your brother and mother. That's excellent! Do not underestimate the importance of their love and support, which proves that you are a person who is loved and valued and who is far too critical of himself.

Don't feel bad about that, either. It's very common for gay people to feel guilt and shame that they have feelings that meet with disapproval from conservative societies. What you need to realize is that your feelings are valid and natural, and they are not sinful or bad in any way. Stop punishing yourself. You deserve to find a boyfriend, find love, and be happy. You also should not feel any guilt about the sex you had with your first lover. It was consensual (he told you so! Believe him!) and you both had a rewarding and fun time. 

While there is much to say about spending time to focus on yourself, it's quite clear that you don't mean it when you tell people that; you're just using it as an excuse when you tell them you are not in a relationship. The real reason is that you are torturing yourself with guilt and you feel that sex is somehow wrong if you are not committing yourself to a long-term relationship. In truth, non-committed sexual relationships offer many benefits that include emotional, social, and physical. Here is an outstanding article on that by psychologist Heath Schechinger, Ph.D., who also explains the reason for people stigmatizing sexual openness in terms of social identity theory. Social identity theory states that people stigmatize others as one method of creating social cohesion and stronger bonds within their particular group. For example, a church congregation that identifies as hetero and white might label LGBTQIA and BIPOC people as outsiders and treat them as bad people. By sharing these prejudices, they form stronger bonds and a stronger identity within their group.

You want to not feel terrible that you aren't dating and finding someone to care about and kiss? I have a simple solution. 

Stop it.

The only person stopping you from being happy is ... YOU! So, knock it off.

Is that "tough love"? Not sure, but it's the truth.

Stop stopping yourself and go and meet people. Make friends with some. Make love to some. And, hopefully, make some close and enduring relationships. You deserve it as much as anyone else.

Bear Hugs,
Papabear

After a nice holiday break, the cast are back. And they’re ready to argue…. er…. debate! With a very serious episode debating some of the “top” furry topics. Such as paws vs maws, digitigrade vs plantigrade, anthro vs feral, and more. Can one truly be better than the other? Are these really debate topics?

We did have a bit of a technical hiccup during this episode. A little bit of our discussion of lost. But it doesn’t affect the overall episode.

Episodes are now streamed live on Twitch.tv. After which, the video and audio only formats will be posted after the stream. You can find us on Twitch at FurWhatItsWorth!

NOW LISTEN!

SHOW NOTES Thank you!

Those that were able to join the livestream!

To all of our listeners! And your continued support!

PATREON LOVE

THANK YOU to our patreons! You help us keep the show going!

A Cookie Factory – OwO

*empty*

A Pallet of Cookies

Nuka

A Case of Cookies

Basel the Dragon, Black Baldrik, Ichigo Ookami (Pic Pending), Lufis the Raccoon, TheLoneFoxllie3 (Pic Pending)

A Jar of Cookies

 

MephistophEli, Miles Seawind (Pic Pending), Plug, Sirene Tokala (Pic Pending)

A Box of Cookies

• JakeFoXx
• Juke Hyena
• Lygris

A Delicious Cookie

• Ausi K
• AspenTheCurious
• Barnaby Panda
• Christian
• Citrus Fox
• Gary Holland
• Icy Solid
• Puzzleboy
• Ralley
• Sage Lightfang
• TyR52
• Victor Mutt

MUSIC

• Intro: RetroSpecter – Cloud Fields (RetroSpecter Mix). USA: Unpublished, 2018. ©2011-2018 Fur What It’s Worth. Based on Fredrik Miller – Cloud Fields (Century Mix). USA: Bandcamp, 2011. ©2011 Fur What It’s Worth
• Patreon: Inflammatus – The Tudor Consort, Creative Commons 2019
• Closing: Cloud Fields (RetroSpecterChill Remix), USA: Unpublished, 2018. ©2011-2018 Fur What It’s Worth. Based on Fredrik Miller – Cloud Fields (Chill Out Mix). USA: Bandcamp, 2011. ©2011 Fur What It’s Worth

S12E7 – The Great Furry Debate

And then this, from Cartoon Brew: “Studio 100 International, Studio BlueGreen, and Viva Pictures have unveiled new details about On The Edge, an original animated feature aiming for a worldwide theatrical release in 2027. The team behind the project is positioning On the Edge as a high-energy family adventure with an unusually explicit environmental mission baked into its narrative DNA. On The Edge follows a group of endangered and overlooked animals on a globe-trotting quest for survival. The story centers on Donnie, a Cuban solenodon who leads a ragtag band of misfits as they attempt to uncover why certain species thrive while others disappear. According to the trio of procurement companies, what sets On The Edge apart is its origin. The film was developed by Studio BlueGreen, a not-for-profit creative studio focused on using entertainment to deepen audiences’ connection with nature.” Looking forward to this one next year.

image c. 2026 Studio 100 International

Dear Papabear,

Lately, I've been frustrated with puritan attitudes inside and outside the fandom. Outside and inside, I often see people calling anything even remotely spicy "gooner material" (I really hate that word), labeling others porn addicts just for liking NSFW content even at all, and acting like people are too open about this; and while I won't deny this happens, I'm not convinced that it's as big of an issue that it's made out to be due to the following reasons:

1. As stated previously, I've seen multiple instances of people calling anything even mildly suggestive "oversexualized" or even "soft porn," such as images showing female characters with toned bodies or showing any amount of skin.
2. People exaggerating about the prevalence of NFSW material. As an example of this, there was an instance on a subreddit called r/Palworld in which I saw a post where someone complained about there being too many NFSW posts on the sub but after scrolling through it pretty thoroughly, I couldn't find a single NSFW post on that sub. My guess is that this user maybe saw one post they didn't like and got upset over it.
3. Instances of people wandering into NSFW areas and then getting mad upon seeing NSFW content, which is like jumping into a pool and getting mad because you got wet.

All of that is came from both the fandom and the internet in general but for something inside the fandom, I've seen quite a few people acting like having a sexual element "ruined" the furry fandom. I'm old enough to be considered a greymuzzle but I've only been a furry since around 2015, so I don't know a whole lot about the fandom's beginnings. From what I've heard, sex has been a part of this fandom pretty much since its inception, with fanzines containing adult comics and stories as well as there being spicy artwork in the fandom's early days. I can't say with certainty if this is the case but if it is then those complaints are pretty much moot because those who make them are complaining about the fandom being what it always has been but whatever the case may be, is the furry fandom having a sexual side really such a bad thing?

We live in a society that demonizes sex and labels it as something shameful and abhorrent. I disagree with that sentiment very strongly because sexual desire is a perfectly normal and natural thing as well as what makes us who we are as humans and it's because of this that I believe that sexuality is something to be embraced, not shunned.

This is why I'm glad that the fandom is so accepting of sex. It's a place where we can express and explore our deepest desires safely and without feeling any of the shame that society tells us we should feel.

I know I went off on a tangent there and I apologize for that. Anyway, I'm writing this because I wanted to ask you whether or not you think there's anything that can be done to do away with puritan attitudes once and for all because I don't know about you but I've had pretty much all I can take of this whole mentality of "sex bad" and would like for it to end.

Don't get me wrong, I understand that there is a time and place for everything, and whenever I talk about sexual matters, I keep it confined to NSFW spaces because while I believe that sex should be embraced, I believe in being sensible about it. I don't think we should all go wild and screw anything with a pulse. I just think that shaming others for something that's a natural part of us all needs to stop.

Anonymous (age 38)

* * *

Dear Furiend,

Sex and the Furry Fandom is a huuuuuge topic about which I could write a book. Indeed, more and more, I am thinking I will write a book about sex in the fandom. But I have two books I want to get done before that. Without getting too detailed on the history of furporn in the fandom (and that is quite the tale), I will address the many concerns and topics in your letter as concisely as possible.

Firstly, for those unfamiliar with the term, dear readers, a "gooner" can mean a couple of things. In American slang, it can mean someone who is addicted to porn or, more specifically, the practice of edging (bringing oneself or someone else close to orgasm without actually climaxing). However, if you live in the United Kingdom, a gooner refers to fans of the Arsenal football club known as the Gunners. So, don't get football gooners confused with porn addicts hehe.

Now for a whirlwind history of sex in the fandom.

You are correct, sir, that the sex in art and fiction in the fandom goes back to the beginning of the modern furry world. Most people trace it back to Vootie (the first furry APA, which is a sort of limited edition magazine subscription) around 1976, when the first installment of Omaha, the Cat Dancer by Reed Waller and Kate Worley was published. Omaha was a comic for adults that had sex scenes in it but was not really porn because it had a storyline and interesting characters. (Pornography is sexually explicit material produced with the sole purpose of turning on the consumer). Actually, though, it goes back a little further than that when Fred Patten started producing a member directory for the Cartoon/Fantasy Organization (a precursor of the fandom) and this evolved into a kind of bulletin to which the members of the C/FO started to contribute art and stories, some of which were adult in nature. This led to the first fights in the early fandom even before we started calling ourselves "furries" in which members were upset that R-rated stuff was appearing in the directory. 

This was all back in the 1970s. Moving forward into the 1980s, we have the beginnings of people outside the fandom shaming furries and calling them "skunk fuckers" when furries were just a small group of anthro fans attending WorldCon and other sci-fi and fantasy conventions. The insulting term became quite common, and some furries even embraced it. A comic book anthology called Skunk from MU Press was released in 1993 with stories by furries and nonfurries alike. And, naturally, other comics came along (e.g. Genus) with lots of adult stories and drawings in them. There was more controversy about sexual themes with the first furcon, Confurence 0, in 1989. Although there were only 65 attendees, some criticized the con for allowing people to appear in suggestive dress (including Bob Hill performing in his Hilda the Bambioid fursuit). 

Fast forward to the late '80s and early '90s, and you get the infamous Burned Furs vs. Freezing Furs "war" in which the Burned Furs protested the proliferation of adult-oriented comics, drawings, and stories in the fandom and pushed for there to be a more family-friendly vibe to the fandom. The Freezing Furs were a short-lived effort to counter the Burned Furs and to say that there was nothing wrong with adult art shared among adults. The Burned Furs movement lasted from 1998 to 2001, was revived in 2005, first as Burned Furs II and then renamed as Improved Anthropomorphics, having a Live Journal site that petered out around 2009 (you can still view the page here Improved Anthropomorphics — LiveJournal). Now, there is nothing wrong in taking a position that you want the furry fandom to be more G-rated. The problem was that members of these groups started flame wars, often threatening each other with violence. Most unpleasant and unproductive to the discussion.

Predictably, the efforts of the Burned Furs came to naught and there is more furporn on the internet now than ever before. Still, people get irked by this (although they aren't furry per se, there are people online now called "puriteens," who, as the name suggests, are young people online who want to cleanse the internet of porn). 

The more that people like the Burned Furs and the puriteens try to scrub the world of adult content, the more things stay the same. Of course, there are countries that have managed to block all adult content from their internet providers with sometimes humorous results. For example, when North Korea sent their soldiers to the Ukraine upon the request of Russia, the North Korean soldiers suddenly found themselves with access to online porn. They spent so much time jerking off to the images that they were useless in the field. You see, in North Korea, if you are caught watching adult videos online it can actually result in a death sentence. Pretty extreme!

Whenever a society restricts adult urges to such a degree, the results are predictably bad. For example, Prohibition in the 1920s and 1930s led to organized crime distilling and shipping booze, which often led to gun violence; people also made their own booze, often creating such strong concoctions that drinking the bathtub gin they made could easily kill a person. After years of trying to ban alcohol, the federal government finally gave up and repealed the 18th Amendment with the 21st Amendment in 1933.

Restricting sexual behavior has similar bad results. Whenever you tell people, "You can't have sex," they will want it all the more. This is why we ended up with, for example, the Catholic priest scandal. In my humble opinion, the problem the Church had with priests molesting boys (and some girls) for sex has been the result of their not being permitted to marry or to have sex in any other healthy manner. I don't think that the priests were necessarily homosexuals or pedophiles (as claimed by the Church). What they were was desperate to find some sexual release in another human being, and since they had access to boys in their church and had power over them to demand they keep quiet about their prurient activities, that is how they got their sexual release. (Note: this is my opinion, and I know many will argue against it, but I feel it is valid.) 

While we don't all live under such strict demands as those in the priesthood, many modern societies (including in the USA) are very restrictive of open sexuality (as you wisely noted in your email). When sexual restrictions are codified--such as in anti-prostitution laws--the results are quite damaging. In an article published in The Journal of Law and Economics ("Do Prostitution Laws Affect Rape Rates? Evidence from Europe"; Vol 65, No. 4, November 2022), authors Huasheng Gao and Vanya Petrova state:

​"Liberalizing prostitution leads to a significant decrease in rape rates, while prohibiting it leads to a significant increase. The results are stronger when rape is less severely underreported and when it is more difficult for men to obtain sex via marriage or partnership. We also provide the first evidence for the asymmetric effect of prostitution regulation on rape rates: the magnitude of prostitution prohibition is much larger than that of prostitution liberalization. Placebo tests show that prostitution laws have no impact on nonsexual crimes. Overall, our results indicate that prostitution is a substitute for sexual violence and that the recent global trend of prohibiting commercial sex (especially the Nordic model) could have the unforeseen consequence of proliferating sexual violence."

Of course, certain laws restricting sexual activity are good to have, including laws against rape (which is actually a crime of violence, not sex) and against having sex with minors. So, I'm not saying all sexual behavior should be allowed--not by a long shot. I'm saying that restricting sex and sexual materials across the board is unwise.

Even more influential than laws against sex are social prohibitions--because they are much more far-ranging in nature. If we took all such restrictions to heart, the only sex that would be allowed would be heterosexual sex between married couples and only for the purposes of reproduction. Everything else would be met with stringent disapproval to say the least. While American society has become a little more permissive over the years, allowing for sex between unmarried people, for example, and becoming somewhat more open to gays and lesbians, there is still a lot of disapproval in the air.

All this contributes to my arguments for allowing porn, including furporn, to be available to adults. Before I go into that, I need to add the proviso that there is, of course, a bad side to porn. One is porn addiction, which is detrimental to one's life in that it can grossly interfere with work, school, personal relationships, and just having a life if you spend hours and hours consuming pornography to the exclusion of daily tasks. And, of course, the whole porn industry is highly exploitative of those who get drawn into making the videos, magazines, and other content. 

I'm not talking about that aspect of it, though. There are, in fact, positive sides to adult art, which can be a celebration of natural desires. When it comes to furporn, the visual and roleplay side of it can help us explore our evolving sexuality. Furporn can be a useful tool in this because it helps us to explore sexuality behind the protective mask, if you will, of fursonas. What I mean by that is that adopting another form in the shape of a furry character can buffer one against feeling embarrassed or guilty because of social stigmas that we have not yet overcome. For example, I have spoken to furries who say they use a fursona of the opposite sex to explore whether they might be gay, bi, or trans, or perhaps they adopt a dominant character in an RPG who would do things that they would fear doing in real life (or the opposite in which their fursona is a submissive lover who wants to relieve the stresses of responsibilities in real life). One can also explore a variety of fetishes within the relative safety of furry roleplay, which can help you determine whether or not you might wish to explore such practices in real life. Doing all this in, say, an online RPG also has the advantage of being an extremely safe form of sex (you can't contract an STI by looking at a monitor or your phone, can you!)

Exploration of one's sexuality amongst consenting adults is a healthy way to grow and develop as a person. Those who shame people about furporn and other adult forms of pornography are very likely either unable to wrest themselves from a controlling society or are too afraid to admit they have sexual desires themselves. Criticizing people and trying to control content online (or anywhere else for that matter) is an attempt to remove temptation from their lives or to feel superior to those who, in their opinion, are immoral. A good example of this includes the various cases of politicians trying to pass "morality" laws or religious figures criticizing sex or homosexuality as "sin," only to learn later that the politician booked a massage with a gay sex worker or the religious leader has had several affairs behind his wife's back. As the Shakespearean line goes, "Methinks thou dost protest too much."

To answer your question, no, I don't think we will ever do away with puriteens and Burned Furs and holier-than-thou types. Nor will those people ever get rid of pornography and human sexuality. My answer to the Puritans is that if you don't like porn, don't consume it. As for those who do, that's fine. Explore away. As long as you are doing things consensually, legally, and safely, you're fine. 

This is your life. Explore the world and explore yourself, including your sexual side. As long as you are hurting nobody else, do what you like.

Bear Hugs,
Papabear

Back in 2025, I did a review for a game called PAW Patrol World; a game I said I was pleasantly surprised by and actually really enjoyed playing, giving it a 4/5 score. Since then, I’ve been on the lookout for other games based on this show, hoping to have maybe another surprise and hopefully find a children’s game that anyone, regardless of age, could enjoy. Which is when I heard about Paw Patrol Rescue Wheels: Championship and I got, admittedly, a little excited. As a fan of racers since the N64 golden years of Mario Kart 64, Diddy Kong Racing (which I wish Nintendo would do a new entry for), and the Rush games (another series I wish would make a comeback), I was looking forward to checking this out and hoping this would be another great kids game. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case as this turned out to be just an average racing game that really doesn’t do anything new and, sadly, feels like a step down from Paw Patrol World.

Dear Papabear,

I need help making sense of everything and I am kind of overstimulated by everything. My friends and Dad's side of the family support me all the way, but my mom and stepdad don't at all support LGBTQIA+. I came out to my friends as pansexual recently. My question is, "How do I make sense of all this and come out to my parents?"

Eclipse (age 14, TX)

* * *

Hi, Eclipse,

You are under no obligation to tell your mom and stepdad about your sexuality unless you feel comfortable doing so.

The other thing you need to realize is that, at your age, sexuality can still be mutable. That is, you are still maturing and changing. When I was your age, for example, I still thought I was straight. It was not until much later I realized I was gay.

Most people confuse puberty with maturity. They are not the same thing. Just because women start having their periods around age 12 or 13 doesn't mean they are mature yet mentally or emotionally. When it comes to these qualities, women reach mental maturity around age 22 or 23 (men around age 25 or 26). Emotional maturity for women is reached around age 30 or 32, and men (don't hate me, guys) around age 43 (you heard me). 

While your body may have matured by 14, the rest of you still needs time to catch up. Determining your sexuality is not merely a matter of physical maturity (this is a big reason why an adult man having sex with a 14-year-old girl is considered to be raping a minor). Eclipse, your teens and twenties are a time when you are discovering who you are as a person. Yes, one of these factors does include your sexuality, but we are much more than our sexuality. We are intellectual, emotional, and spiritual beings as well.

We shouldn't define ourselves by our sexuality alone. When I introduce myself to people, I usually describe myself as a writer, publisher, and furry. I never walk up to someone, put my hand out for a shake, and announce, "Hi! I'm Kevin! And I'm a cis gay man!" 

What I'm saying here is that you should not push yourself to solidify your identity right now. In the same way you are still trying to figure out who you are as a person, what your interests in life are, what career you might pursue, and so on, you should still be discovering who you are sexually. It is not uncommon for people to discover this as late as their 50s, believe it or not.

Am I saying you are not pansexual? No, I am not saying that at all. If that is how you feel right now, then you are pan. But be careful. Are you certain that you are not feeling this way because you are being influenced by friends to do so? There are many cases in which people, for instance, have felt that they have had to be trans in order to be cool. Announcing one is trans to teen friends can be viewed as being rebellious and edgy. There is also pressure from people--usually adults--to tell you that you are not trans or pan or bi or gay or whatever.

If your mom and stepdad are anti-LGBTQ and you tell them about your sexuality at this time, you will probably experience a lot of negative pressure from them, a lot of casting of doubt. In a worst-case scenario, they might even try to send you somewhere for conversion therapy, which is still legal in Texas (and 21 other states). Conversion therapy is dangerous, to say the least, and has led many LGBTQIA youth to commit suicide or suffer other mental anguishes.

My advice, as you can tell, is do not come out to your mom and stepdad. Now is not the time. And don't feel guilty about not coming out to them. You came out to those you felt would be supportive (good!) and you have not done so to those you feel would not be (wise).

TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS

In the meantime, continue to focus on yourself, continue to work on discovering who you are physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. That is what your teens and twenties are for. No rush, Eclipse. Take your time, okay? Work on the full you!

If you have any other questions or follow-up, feel free to write again. Good luck!

Bear Hugs,
Papabear

Woods, snow, a warm fire, and soft critters are the definition of cozy. Developer Pine Creek Games and Publisher Noodlecake bring all of these quintessential qualities together in the woodland survival game, Winter Burrow, to make for a nicely paced, albeit short experience that is best experienced in a few comfy gaming sessions. 

Whenever I browse the Xbox storefront, I’m mostly looking for sales on games I’ve missed out on or possible hidden gems I can recommend to gamers. Rightfully, Beary Arms is one such title and it’s one that really took me by surprise. Not just because I kept calling it “Rightfully, Bear Arms” but because its simple premise hooked me right from the get go.

Arrkay has so many zines to catalogue! Keep him company while he and Tempe O'kun chat about vintage furry art and writing and the furries we meet along the way. Dralen Dragonfox joins us and reminisces about furry life in the 1990s. We sort through the raw original master zines of Taral Wayne (and some Rowrbrazzles!) Merch, Sweet Tees and stuff: https://culturally-fd-merchandise.creator-spring.com/ Support Culturally F'd: https://www.patreon.com/culturallyfd Listen in on TEMPO TALKS with Tempe O'Kun https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIPk-itLl1jPyIK2c7mK-LpbvfDNqfcSW Check out Tempe O'Kun's books "Sixes Wild" and "Windfall" here: http://furplanet.com/shop/?affillink=YOUTU2907 Here's a playlist of his other Culturally F'd videos: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIPk-itLl1jPS7tnT4hdJwBI-CeLF8Kb_

Found this over at Animation World Network: “Nickelodeon has set a February 23 U.S. debut for the animated preschool series Mr. Crocodile. The show is based on the French children’s book Monsieur Crocodile a Beaucoup Faim (Mister Crocodile is Very Hungry) by Joann Sfar, published by Gallimard…  The series follows the toothy, loveable Mr. Crocodile and his best friend Daisy as he cheerfully navigates life with comical misunderstandings. In the premiere episode ‘Lucky Croc / Sleepover Croc,’ Daisy and Mr. Crocodile search for a lucky item to help them win a bike raffle. Then, Mr. Crocodile can’t fall asleep at his first sleepover until the whole family pitches in to help.” There’s a link to the series trailer too.

image c. 2026 Nickelodeon

Every once in a while, an intriguing looking Kickstarter crosses my feed. Bel’s Fanfare just launched and it's already making waves. Straight from indie developer Chibig(Mika and the Witch’s Mountain, Deiland, and more) comes another Kickstarter for a beautiful looking game. And this one is worth the excitement.

Bel’s Fanfare follows Bel, a demon whose family has spent many years trapped in the depths of The Witch of the Sea, as she becomes the new Aura Cleaner of the ship at the behest of Captain Popplar. Bel also receives a family heirloom from her dad Belceboo before reporting in: the ukobach shield. Armed with her family shield, Bel must venture into the many mysterious areas of the once prestigious The Witch of the Sea and cleanse them of Aura(which is created from impurities of the soul). While doing so, Bel is also working to finally free her family from the ship. Along the way, she meets a number of interesting patrons, including the reptile controlled chef Eden, the lion like theater director Sr. Fos and the Queen of the Sea, Rovella. And that’s just the start.

The Kickstarter launched only a few days ago and it’s already made over $250k and still climbing. I can see why too. Inspired by Zelda and Spirited Away, this game looks stunning from the visuals on offer and seems to include some pretty neat puzzles and boss battles. Just from the Kickstarter alone, I’m very intrigued by the premise and the mysteries lurking within The Witch of the Sea. The Kickstarter ends on March 7 so there’s plenty of time left to back it and get exclusive rewards like a special shield skin, physical copies and even a statue of Bel! Bel's Fanfare is well on track to release on all major platforms, with an early release possible in 2027.

Be sure to follow Chibig on Twitter and Instagram and other socials for updates!

Despite being a rather slow month for major releases, January does, once in a while, sneak in a surprise or two. The oddly titled 2XKO, a fighting game from the makers of League Of Legends and one I’ve called 2KXO more times than I can count, is one of those surprises of the month. Now, I’ll freely admit I know next to nothing about League Of Legends: I never played the MOBA, I never paid much attention to the lore, nor have I watched the Netflix series Arcane. The most I know of the series is the song ‘Get Jinxed’, which I’ll admit is a pretty darn catchy tune, so a lot of the in-game lore and references I won’t be delving into and, instead, will just be focusing on the game itself. Which, spoilers, is quite possibly one of the more fun fighting games I’ve played in a good while.

1. 1. Introduction
   2. Virtual Worlds and Interactive Spaces
   3. Furry Media in Anime, Manga, Comics and Books
   4. Lifestyle and Everyday Furry Culture
   5. Conclusion

Article Content

• Introduction
• What Are Furry Art Bases?
• Why Are Furry Art Bases Useful?
• Where To Find Furry Art Bases
• Crediting The Original Artist
• Conclusion

Introduction

Online spaces are at the heart of modern furry culture. From social platforms and games to media and creative communities, much of the fandom’s interaction happens digitally. These spaces allow people to express themselves, share art, and build lasting connections through a shared love of anthropomorphic characters. Platforms like Discord, TikTok, games, and virtual worlds all play a role in how the community grows and stays connected, while creative hubs like Fursonafy help fans take the next step by turning ideas into custom characters, art, and designs that represent who they are.

Virtual Worlds and Interactive Spaces

Beyond social platforms, many furries connect through virtual worlds and interactive games. These spaces allow people to step directly into digital environments where identity, creativity, and community overlap. For some, this is about play and exploration. For others, it is about expressing a character in a way that feels immersive and social.

Virtual spaces give the fandom something unique. Instead of just sharing content, users can actively inhabit worlds as avatars and interact with others in real time even if that’s through video games or dating services.

Second Life and Persistent Virtual Worlds

Second Life has become a long-standing home for many furries. Its open-ended design allows users to create detailed avatars, build environments, host events, and form communities that persist over time. Furry regions within Second Life often include social hubs, clubs, art spaces, and roleplay areas where people meet regularly.

What makes Second Life especially appealing is the level of control users have over their appearance and environment. This freedom allows for deep character expression and long-term social bonds that feel closer to real-world communities than traditional games.

Games as Social Spaces

Video games also play a major role in furry interaction. Whether it’s Fortnite or Pokémon, some games feature anthropomorphic characters directly, while others attract furry communities because they support character customisation, roleplay, or social interaction.

Multiplayer games, sandbox worlds, and roleplay-focused servers give furries a shared activity that naturally encourages communication and collaboration. These spaces often blur the line between gaming and socialising, making them ideal for building friendships.

Furries in VRChat

Image via Reddit

Identity Through Avatars

Avatars are central to how furries interact in virtual spaces. A well-designed avatar allows someone to express personality, mood, and creativity visually. Whether it is a custom character in a game or a fully realised digital fursona in a virtual world like a vtuber, avatars act as both representation and performance.

This form of identity expression connects closely to how furries engage with mainstream games and franchises that allow character customisation or feature anthropomorphic designs.

 

Events and Shared Experiences

Virtual spaces, and networks also host events such as dance nights, art showcases, and social meetups. These gatherings mirror real-world conventions in a digital format and make participation possible for people who cannot travel or attend in person.

Music-driven events, including virtual dance nights and DJ sets, are especially popular in these spaces. They allow people to perform, socialise, and celebrate creativity together in real time.

This type of shared experience helps virtual worlds feel alive and deeply social rather than temporary or anonymous.

Commissioning a fursuit has never been so easy!

"They where extremely understanding and patient. They provided fast response times and amazing communication"

Edward

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Beyond games and virtual worlds, furry culture is strongly shaped by long-form storytelling. Anime, manga, comics, and books give creators the space to explore character development, emotion, and worldbuilding in much greater depth. These formats often act as a gateway into the fandom for people who first connect with anthropomorphic characters through narrative media.

Stories allow furry characters to exist in fully realised worlds, making them feel relatable, complex, and emotionally grounded.

Anime and Animated Storytelling

Anime has played a major role in shaping modern furry aesthetics. Many series feature animal characters or humanoid designs that explore themes such as identity, belonging, and society. These stories often resonate strongly with furry audiences because they treat anthropomorphic characters as more than mascots.

Anime-inspired art styles have also influenced furry design, particularly through expressive eyes, simplified shapes, and emotional storytelling.

Manga and Visual Narratives

Manga provides a different kind of storytelling experience. Its focus on visual pacing and character emotion makes it well suited to anthropomorphic stories. Many furry fans enjoy manga because it allows artists to explore mood, relationships, and character growth in a way that feels intimate and personal.

Manga has also influenced furry comics and web-based storytelling, especially in panel layout and character expression.

Furry Comic: Love Me Maybe

Image via Reddit

Comics and Independent Creators

Comics are one of the most important creative pillars of the furry fandom. Independent artists often use comics to tell original stories featuring their own characters. These works range from lighthearted adventures to serious, emotionally driven narratives.

Because comics are often creator-owned, they allow for a level of freedom that appeals strongly to furry audiences. Many popular furry characters and storylines originated in independent comics rather than mainstream media.

Books and Long-Form Stories

Books give furry storytelling its deepest form. Novels and anthologies allow authors to explore detailed worlds, complex themes, and long character arcs. These stories often appeal to readers who want immersive experiences rather than short-form content.

Furry books also tend to attract older or long-term fans who enjoy reflective or emotionally rich narratives.

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Furry culture does not exist only online or in media. For many people, it becomes part of everyday life through smaller, personal forms of expression. These quieter interactions with the fandom are often just as meaningful as social platforms or virtual worlds.

Some fans enjoy displaying artwork, collecting themed items, or incorporating furry aesthetics into their personal spaces. Others engage through comfort focused items that reflect characters or designs they connect with like a body pillow. These elements allow people to feel close to the fandom without needing to participate publicly or socially.

Lifestyle engagement often includes things like prints, plush items, clothing, or character themed comfort objects. For some, this might be artwork on a wall or a favourite book on a shelf. For others, it might be something more personal, such as a character themed pillow used for relaxation or emotional comfort. These items help make furry culture feel present in everyday routines.

What makes this aspect of the fandom important is choice. Not everyone wants to be active on social platforms, attend events, or participate in games. Lifestyle engagement gives people a way to connect on their own terms, privately and comfortably.

By embracing both highly social spaces and quieter personal expressions, the furry fandom remains flexible and inclusive. It allows people to engage at whatever level feels right for them, whether that means creating art, joining conversations, or simply enjoying a favourite character in their own space.

Example Furry Body Pillow

Image via Furry Body Pillows

Conclusion

Furry culture today exists across many different spaces. Online communities, virtual worlds, games, media, and everyday life all play a role in how the fandom connects and grows. These spaces give people the freedom to engage in ways that suit their personalities, interests, and comfort levels.

 

For some, connection comes through social platforms and shared conversations. For others, it comes from immersive virtual worlds, storytelling through anime and books, or quiet personal expressions that make furry culture part of daily life. Others prefer social media spaces like reddit, tiktok or discord. Together, these experiences form a living ecosystem that continues to evolve as technology and creativity change.

 

What unites all of these elements is a shared appreciation for imagination, identity, and creativity. The furry fandom thrives because it allows people to express themselves authentically while finding community and belonging along the way.

 

If you are exploring the furry world for the first time or looking for a deeper way to engage with it, Fursonafy is here to help. Whether you are interested in learning more about the fandom or bringing your own character ideas to life, Fursonafy supports creativity at every stage of the journey.

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Author

Xege Kheiru

Jennifer is an ex-costume designer turned fursuit maker, better known by her fursona's name Xege Kheiru. Under this alias she has written extensively for the Fursonafy blog and many others on the topic of fursuit making and general information about the furry fandom.

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