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submitted by TakeMyKnot
[link] [7 comments]

So, I got a less requests than I was hoping for, but maybe that's a good thing, since I didn't end up overwhelmed. I did the ones I thought I could do good with, so, yeah. None of these really do anything NSFW, not in a literary sense.

/u/scamer38 wanted "A dimension traveling cat that go to different dimensions one of which may be this one." I took that option of if one of the dimensions would be this one, and turned it into an interesting plot thing. See for yourself.

Next up, /u/IMA__TIGER__AMA wanted a story that would "Start out as a small group against an oppressive government that eventually overthrows it through a civil war. Bonus points if the leader of said revolution is Felix." I came up with an interesting way to tell that. Check it out.

Lastly, /u/LJE_Shot1 wanted a story with "Some kind of magic-using character (preferably one with robes) exploring a giant underground cave systems filled with mysterious ruins and treasures. And there will be spooky monsters too." So I wrote this.

As for /u/leothaturtle's story, I know I said I could do the Afghanistan story, but I just don't know enough about all that stuff to do a story like that justice. It would be insulting. If it's any consolation, I was planning on making a story inspired by the Metal Gear series, so... uh... I don't know where I was going with that, but eventually I'll know enough to be able to not be uninformed.

submitted by AdvancedAzrielAngel
[link] [13 comments]

submitted by Featherfell
[link] [1 comment]

submitted by Matthews_Atelier
[link] [1 comment]

Dear Papabear,

My problem revolves around some furry drama. Isn't that a surprise. Furries are never dramatic. 

Anyway, omitting sarcasm, my letter actually revolves around a small, close-knit group of furries I'm a part of. We have this group chat, and we used to get along very well. We're internet friends, but close internet friends. 

However, over the past month or so, I've realized I'm not really like them. I mean, I have fun around them, for sure, but... It's hard to explain. Its almost as if our base morals conflict with each other. Plus, I'm partly, pretty much mostly, to blame. 

You see, I've always had one simple fault- it's hard to offend me, so I assume everyone else has my thick skin, when in reality, everyone's unique in how much they can handle.

I was playing therapist one day, trying to give advice to one of the furries in my 'tough love' sorta way. I don't really believe in the "aww it ok baby lemme give you a hug" sort of method that's become all too common. Yes, it may work short-term, but, let's be honest, true problems are more deeply rooted, and if the person truly believes something is bogging them down, they should locate what is broken and fix it. 

That furry didn't take too kindly to it. I tried to word it sensitively, but I was blunt and to the point, and they took offense. I hurt them. 
This isn't the first time I hurt the others, either. My very nature seems to offend some people, ironically, because I assume people don't get offended.

I'm a loving person at heart, I swear, I'm just terrible at communicating and keeping my mouth shut, but after hurting all these furries so many times, I decided enough was enough. Packed my suitcase and turned tail, walked right out of that door. 

Now that I reflect back on things, though, was leaving this group the right thing to do? I wasn't unhappy in their company, completely the opposite, but the mere fact I made others unhappy with my presence is enough to leave. Was me leaving just a cowardly way of avoiding fixing myself, or was I truly doing it with the best of intentions? 
Now, two weeks after I left, the head of the chat's trying to convince me to come back, and I'm unsure of whether to return to this chat, be in the company of furs I like and make that lead fur happy, but have the guilt of knowing I hurt them and probably making them think I'm the over dramatic one, or should I stay out, know I won't hurt anyone, but loose them as friends and risk being considered a coward? 

To make a long story short, I repeatedly get in scuffles with the furries in that chat because I'm slightly mean (and bad at communication) and they're slightly sensitive, and I couldn't risk hurting them more, so I upped and left. Now I have the offer to come back... I do miss them, but should I really return? I may just hurt them more. 

Thanks for reading this train wreck of a letter, I hope it's at least legible. 

Your weary deer,

Anon. 

* * *

Dear Furiend,

Papabear agrees with you that it doesn’t always solve a problem to just offer sympathy when someone is troubled. Sometimes it does help (when people already know what is wrong and just need a bit of comforting), but sometimes you do need to point out where the problem is so they can identify it and fix it. This is the very thing I try to do with this column. I may have hurt some people’s feelings, too, but it seems I never hear from anyone if I have. Perhaps they just don’t respond.

I also believe that people have become overly sensitive, especially in American culture. A large part of the problem is a school and social system that is so concerned about self-esteem that it goes too far in the other direction: rewarding people for mediocrity and letting them get away with not being responsible for their own lives and their own decisions. The result is, well, frankly, we have a lot of weak-spined people in our country now. I mean, these are people who never fail a grade (we can’t fail people and make them repeat a grade! OMG!), who get awards simply for participating in an activity instead of excelling at it, and who are protected from any kind of criticism that might “hurt their feelings.” It’s gotten so bad that some colleges have been sued for teaching subjects such as the problems of racism in society for fear of offending students. When you protect people too much, shelter them too much, then you do not prepare them adequately for life: you are setting them up for failure. And that is not doing them any favors.

We learn more and grow more from the failures in our lives than from the successes. If you succeed all the time and life is easy, you stagnate as a human being, and then when suddenly your fortunes reverse, you implode. A great example of this is child stars. Many celebrities in music, acting, and sports get so famous and so rich so fast that they can’t handle it. They lose their money because they don’t know how to invest, they become drunks or drug addicts because they don’t know self-control, they lack humility because they are constantly told how great they are by a wall of fans and body guards and yes men.

But I digress.... In your case, you sound like you are trying to say things in a kind way while still pointing out where a problem is. Reading between the lines of your letter, it might be that some take offense because you come off as a know-it-all by trying to tell them they are wrong. The way I approach this in my column is to use examples in my own life and, often, show where I went wrong, too. Then you can say something such as, “You know, I had a similar experience and really goofed up, and this is what I learned from it.” If you haven’t gone through what they have, you might try to find something similar or use an example from somewhere else in life. If it is a really serious problem, you might simply just recommend an organization that can help them (as I do in cases of suicidal furries, for example.)

I’m not exactly sure how you are “slightly mean,” but will say to you that you should never use language that insults or disparages another person. Choice of words is very important, and you can say the same thing to someone in a way that is not hurtful by not saying things like “Boy, that was so stupid of you to do.” Instead, use “Well, you made a mistake, and we all make mistakes. Here’s what you might try to do to fix it....”

And here I go back to my favorite site, Tiny Buddha, which has an excellent page on how to give advice to someone the right way: http://tinybuddha.com/blog/10-tips-advise-wisely-how-to-give-advice-that-actually-helps/. (Honest, folks, I don’t work for Tiny Buddha or get kickbacks from them LOL).

You should not feel bad about trying to help others and hurting their feelings when you were just doing the best you could. You say you like these furries, and the group leader has invited you back, so that says a lot. It is possible, too, that you think you did more harm than you actually did.

Learning from the above, I would recommend you return to the group.

Hugs,

Papabear

submitted by Stealthtyper
[link] [7 comments]

submitted by NoahGoldFox
[link] [1 comment]

Hi there,

I'm not in the fandom, but I do want to commission a piece of artwork for someone close to me. What would be the best way to find artists who would be willing to make a specific piece of artwork for a price?

submitted by selfproclaimed
[link] [2 comments]

Hey, I just got a drawing tablet and although my art is NOT very good yet, I am trying to practice with different characters. So leave your ref and I might completely butcher drawing your character!

submitted by FERRET_TESTICLES
[link] [9 comments]

submitted by bjorn0411582
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submitted by BlindCoyote
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submitted by Raptros
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submitted by Yiffing_Time
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There are so many options in my mind right now, I'm almost too overwhelmed with the options in my brain, so it's difficult for me to make a decision!

I'm fed up with waiting for inspiration, so I'd like to know what kind of fursuit species, style, and other things would be most popular, and what people would be interested in purchasing.

Would you be so kind as to take the super-quick survey? I'd really appreciate it!

Aside from the survey, please comment in this post on things you would like to see!

The survey is here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/928B9X3

And, just as an FYI, there is already a Shark fursuit in my plans for a personal suit, so that's why it's not in the options. ;)

submitted by TwerkOnThatShark
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submitted by Saamstraat
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submitted by Lol33ta
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submitted by Yiffing_Time
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submitted by 10art1
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submitted by squirrelflight01
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submitted by VentKazemaru
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