- This topic has 15 replies, 10 voices, and was last updated 7 years, 4 months ago by
.
-
Hi, Novo. My name is Aerak; one of the staff here.
I think you are overthinking things. Furries aren’t anything special. What I mean by that is, our group has huge similarities with any other geek group out there. Anime, sci-fi, steampunk, superheroes… take your pick. We have artwork. So do all of those other fandoms. We have costuming… so do all the other groups. When you think about it in those terms, furry actually is pretty relateable to what much of the main stream is involved with. Comic book movies and tv shows rule the media. Comic con draws thousands upon thousands of people, including celebrities. So explained in the right way, furry is not extraordinary in the slightest.
If you want to be a “furry” then you are a furry. Most likely you already are a geek, so, surprise, it just means you are still a geek and nothing really changes. Once you figure out that almost everyone is a geek, things get much easier. MNFurs works with all the other geek groups in the area – Geek Partnership Society, Anime Twin Cities, even the Science Museum – to name a few. Our members help at local conventions like Convergence, and Anime Detour. And non-furries from those geek groups help with our events. So like I said… we are part of a larger community.
If you ever want to chat more about it, feel free to message me on Skype or Telegram. =)
Yeah, After I finished Writing it all out I realized it made it sound like I was Overthinking it. Which I can see I was Opps! I know its not anything to overthink(Worry,stress) about. As you said, I think I just have to get over myself more and realize there isnt “Extraordinary” to it. I guess Im just really Nervous about fitting it :P. Should I rework or remove this Post? Incase it sounds to…er Overthinking-ish?I Hope I fit it and get to know some people 😀 Just a bit nervous.
Also Im new to Telegram and don’t fully understand how to add people.
-The Void Walker
Hello Novo, I can relate on the “what if somebody finds out” and not telling others of being a furry. Because it’s true, there is a huge negative stigma of Furry Fandom, I just don’t want people to generally know that I find the fandom interesting and that I’ve felt I’m part of it for years. Only this year did I come out to look on the forums and learn about this Minnesota group. Even then, I took something like 4 or 6 months before I actually made a post and said hello, even though I had been lurking with an account made.
I remember when I made my interests in the fandom public to my immediate family and other family in general…I just ended up composing and posting a thread about it on my personal FB. Everyone was accepting with it and even though my immediate family did not really understand, they accept it because I do and that I made something out of it based on my current position and standing in the community. I also accept that many will not understand it and probably not agree with it, but I am okay with this…It all comes down to just respecting that I, and many others, have interest in the fandom and that interest makes one happy and more comfortable.
As far as the whole ‘what if someone finds out’, I use to be very wary about it, but overtime it came to the point that people can learn to accept or don’t…If someone does not agree with it then that is where respect comes back into play and just respect that I have that interest and do not speak negatively about it. People outside the furry fandom can think it’s weird all they want, I just don’t care as it’s a fun interest for me and love being part of it.
Before moving to the cities back in 2012 I was a closet fur for the longest time and MNFurs brought that out and provided many opportunities that I worked hard on.
On an ending note, I hope you are able to find your footing in the MNFurs community, I hope you are able to make many new friends and be part of a group of friends, I hope that people respect you and everything you believe in, & I am always around for questions/concerns when they arise as an MNFurs staff member! 😀
~ Drake M.
T H € B | Z F [] X
RETIRING JUNE 2024
MNFurs Events Department Co-Head - Events are the main driving factors of the organization. Have an event you want brought to life? Let us know!
MNFurs Photography Department Staff - Photography and capturing moments is what we do at our events for our community. Let's chat about your photography needs!
Midwinter Frolic Staff ~ Photography - Midwinter Frolic is a fun winter camping event down at Whitewater State Park. Attending and have some photography ideas? Let's chat sometime!
Furry Migration Staff ~ Photography - A will be a wandering staff photographer at FM this year. Want a photo or two or more? I'll be around!
MNFurs ~ 501(c3) Non-Profit Organization
If I’ve learned anything over the last two years, it’s that hiding who you are is a damaging thing to do. I’ve been in the closet for 30 of my soon to be 33 years on this Earth, and my life is remarkably better now that I’m not anymore. I have lost friends and family members and yet I would gladly come out again. I don’t shout to the world that I’m gay, but I don’t hide. My boyfriend and I do everything that a straight couple does. I hold his hand and kiss him in public. At first I was very very nervous to do so but then I realized that I was not going to waste my life worrying about what people thought of me. It’s my life and I am going to live it to the full because I am who I am and I deserve to be happy. I’m not harming anyone, either. Neither are you.My family knows I am also a furry, and they don’t care. Some of my friends are very supportive, too.
I imagine many of us are introverts. I sure am. I used to be very nervous wearing my Chip and Dale T-shirt at work, where I’m a mechanical engineer. But I eventually worked up the courage and now I wear Disney shirts all the time, have a Chip and Dale coffee mug, and have a little stuffed wolf on my desk to cheer me up when I get anxious or scared. Nobody ever made fun of me. I got a few compliments, even. They know I’m gay, too, and that went over well as I found some supporters and everyone else treats me just the way they always have. It feels so good to just relax and not hide.
I very much sympathize with the poster here about the “what if people find out” fears. It is scary and in my case, potentially life-threatening. However, my advice is to simply be yourself in all things. The closet, be it rainbow or furry, may offer temporary safety but you lose a lot of joy by staying in it. Start small and work your way up. When I get my wolf tail I’m going to wear it around the house for a while and will wear it to the library where I do my sketches while I wear my Chip and Dale shirt. Sounds like fun 🙂
That being said, I would never judge you if you did choose to stay in the furry closet because I totally get the fear and anxiety. I just want to encourage you to step out of it, if and when you’re ready. Feel free to send me a PM if you’d like.
Engineer by day, artist by night.
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
