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What Does The Furry Fandom Mean To You?
12 years ago
ジャーナルヘッダの術！ I love the furry fandom, and so do you. There’s virtually one new furry every other day. It wouldn’t surprise me if a big chunk of people on Earth are furries.
I have heard and read many stories from many furries from con reports to personal moments. I have seen countless amounts of artwork from so many talented furry artists. I have watched many acting performances of fursuiters in big crowds and on big stages. Everywhere I look, I am bewildered by what transpires and how amazing this fandom grows.
With that said, I want to ask one thing: why? What does the furry fandom mean to you? What is it about this fandom that makes it so special to you personally? I am really interested in learning about your reasons behind your loyal support.
For me, there are, actually, a whole lot of reasons why I love this fandom, but I’ll only list a couple just to get the ball rolling.
I enjoy the happiness that this fandom is overflowing with. I watch a lot of YouTube videos of furries and fursuiters doing cool things like skateboarding, breakdancing, playing, acting, visiting McDonald’s, and so much more. And if I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a billion times: this fandom is undoubtedly unique. I hear about fandoms for anime followers, sci-fi nerds, and motorcycle enthusiasts. But the furry fandom eclipses them all. Furries are fans of cartoon animals; we are fans of ourselves. All our fursonas are our own creations. All our conventions are our own hang-outs. We make our fandom fun.
As far as I’m convinced, we furries enjoy doing what they always do best: we make people happy and make a lot of friends. The key to this - of course - is of our outgoing nature. I, myself, am a very outgoing fur. I enjoy making my family and friends laugh as well. I always imagine myself being a part of many different groups and telling them jokes or busting some cool dance moves just like fursuiters. I wish to make many more friends at Furnal Equinox (and hopefully other cons if I could afford to someday) and experience the joy and hilarity that ensues.
And these are just some of many reasons why the furry fandom - this very intriguing fandom - means so much to me.
So go ahead. Share why you love this amazing fandom of ours.
NOTE: This is the first journal that I’ve ever created on my page. Hopefully, I get to read a lot of responses.
I have heard and read many stories from many furries from con reports to personal moments. I have seen countless amounts of artwork from so many talented furry artists. I have watched many acting performances of fursuiters in big crowds and on big stages. Everywhere I look, I am bewildered by what transpires and how amazing this fandom grows.
With that said, I want to ask one thing: why? What does the furry fandom mean to you? What is it about this fandom that makes it so special to you personally? I am really interested in learning about your reasons behind your loyal support.
For me, there are, actually, a whole lot of reasons why I love this fandom, but I’ll only list a couple just to get the ball rolling.
I enjoy the happiness that this fandom is overflowing with. I watch a lot of YouTube videos of furries and fursuiters doing cool things like skateboarding, breakdancing, playing, acting, visiting McDonald’s, and so much more. And if I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a billion times: this fandom is undoubtedly unique. I hear about fandoms for anime followers, sci-fi nerds, and motorcycle enthusiasts. But the furry fandom eclipses them all. Furries are fans of cartoon animals; we are fans of ourselves. All our fursonas are our own creations. All our conventions are our own hang-outs. We make our fandom fun.
As far as I’m convinced, we furries enjoy doing what they always do best: we make people happy and make a lot of friends. The key to this - of course - is of our outgoing nature. I, myself, am a very outgoing fur. I enjoy making my family and friends laugh as well. I always imagine myself being a part of many different groups and telling them jokes or busting some cool dance moves just like fursuiters. I wish to make many more friends at Furnal Equinox (and hopefully other cons if I could afford to someday) and experience the joy and hilarity that ensues.
And these are just some of many reasons why the furry fandom - this very intriguing fandom - means so much to me.
So go ahead. Share why you love this amazing fandom of ours.
NOTE: This is the first journal that I’ve ever created on my page. Hopefully, I get to read a lot of responses.
...the naughty part is a CLOSE second, but second, none-the-less.
I also like the social aspect and how many friends I have from this fandom
*rimshot*
Seriously, though, since I've been to Furnal Equinox for the past two years, I've gained a lot of cool, amazing friends and contacts. My Skype contact list alone is getting mighty long! I feel lucky that I've found such a cool, sociable fandom.
When I look at the incalculable amounts of artwork and fursuits all around me in real-time and on YouTube, I marvel at how unique, exotic, or astounding these creatures look like.
I just wish I could be as creative as any of the awesome furry artists out there; maybe I could stand out more that way.
Then, I found this crazy world on the internet that celebrates something I love so much. I thought I was the only one who loved furry animals this much.
I have had LOTS of fun, amazing experiences. I have learned alot about myself. And I have made friends all over the world!
When I was a teen, I wanted to BE a cartoon character. This is the best way for me to fulfill that dream.
I grew up in the community, I attended the last anthrocon that was albany NY in 1999. I entered the community with belief of community as a whole. This Place is so full of diversity and still never stops amazing me. I've watched the community grow into what it is today. After the csi days the fandom took a slight turn. At the time pornogarohy was finnaly comming out into the open and then exploded. To me there is no sexuality for me regarding furries and personally find it offensive when people think that they we all think this way.
even looking here on fa I was one of the first 2000 members of the site. joining the site 2006 only a few month after it was made. I was here before neer took over the site, and frankly don't feel as if I would ever leave on my own.
I would hate to say i'm practically a "Grey muzzle" even tho i'm only 23. I've watched this community grow for 10 ish years online, even longer in person with my childhood babysitter and personal friend of my mother's being a furry.
To me it's just a normal thing I associate myself with, and I do believe one the comunity greatest attributes is all so it's downfall. To each person being a "furry" means something different. This cause clashes in the community.
to think fa from the day i mad my account in 2006 there were only 2000 ish users on this site alone. now we are in the 800,000+ users. I still some furries who refuse to have an account here.
Since then i have made some great friends and went to some fun filled cons. Im still new to the fandom myself but it has been a fun ride so far.
As for how you joined the fandom, it's kind of like a gateway to happiness, isn't it? Those videos really sparked your interest and those con were worth going to I'll bet. And no matter what troubles anyone goes through, furries will be there to cheer you up and let you know everything will be okay.
So enjoy the ride; seeing as how it's the furry fandom, I think it's gonna get even better.
I've decided that a poem would best accomplish this task
What does furry mean to me? It means so many things!
It means friendship and the companionship that brings
It means music, dancing and lots of artwork and colorful attire
Fursuits, cosplay and yes even murrsuits that make one perspire
it means lots of drama, hate, and judgmental people-what an annoyance!
it also means lots of love and respect for others, no matter how flamboyant
It means Camaraderie with fellow humans who are just as weird and goofy as you
It means not taking ones self too seriously, we're all stuck in the same zoo
Most of all I think it means getting to define for yourself who you are
Whether it be a rat, fox, rabbit, or mouse or even kangaroo rock star.
The meaning of 'Anthropomorphic' means 'to attribute to a human other, non human features'
but, if I had to be specific I think we learn a lot from pretending to be other creatures
There's a nobility in nature, an inherent truth and simple honesty
I think humans have come far and forgotten how to truly be free
I think furry means learning that maturity has a certain time and place
I've seen it foster catharsis and cause hurt and pain to finally be erased
I've seen and felt it foster love in others and myself, and lead to friendships by the score
This is some of what furry means to me, but I could list so, so much more.
As goofy and stupid as this fandom can be, i'm forever in its debt
This lovely fandom i'll never leave or ever want to forget
"...or even a kangaroo rock star." I see what you did there.
No worries about the fandom being goofy or stupid. We gotta have silliness reign supreme in this fandom. Otherwise, we'd just be uptight and bossy. The furry fandom has given me many opportunities to be silly around my friends, and they like me for it just as I like the for who they are. I'm proud I found this fandom.
What does the fandom mean to me?
It means great friends, weekends surrounded by some stunning creativity ( the suits, the performances, the art - a lot of it is genuinely amazing ), the chance to have a life that throws off any shakles of conformity, the ability to make people smile just from walking down a corridor in fursuit, and the chance to travel to cons in various countries and feel welcome and at home in all of them.
Back in the 80s and 90s I would watch cartoons and think 'wouldn't it be great to meet these characters?' Now I watch various furry characters on FA and by going to cons I CAN meet them
It's an eccentric fandom, no doubts about it, but I've always felt happier around people who enjoy being different. Can't see myself leaving it, ever.
I wish I had a fursuit to make even more people smile. But befriending even only one furry each con doesn't hurt. I've made a bunch of friends with my presence, and I'm happy they appreciate my funny self.
90's cartoons FTW!
It really seems like something I would study. That's where Uncle Kage would come in; he seems like a great professor!
A roommate at collage during my freshman year got me interested in RPG and D&D gaming, and from there into the local SF (Science Fiction) club on campus, the SF forum. New there was something different.
These people were different from the people I have known before in my life. we would do group things together like scream at a specific manhole cover on a specific date in February for 31 seconds. Also it was the first time going in group to a convention, no media conventions, SF conventions are small things.
Anyhow it is some of these people in the club and some other local clubs that got me going to furry cons back in the 1990's as I stayed in contact with these people. In the 1980's there were furry parties at SF cons and one of the reasons I would go to SF cons was because there was a large furry presence at the con. There is no need for that anymore, there are furry cons now, we do not have to share programming. dealer room, art show with others as it's our own cons now.
It has been a wonderful ride so far, always find new people and new fun.
So what do I like now?
Fursuiting
Artwork
Stories.
Now I heard people say that this fandom is different because we are fans of each other. Not quite true there are other fandoms where people are fans of other fans. SF cons in the old days were people that created fiction and those that wanted to create fiction. Either written form, plays, or costuming. There are a lot of SF fans that became SF writers for example.
I think it is the same for furry in a sense. I do not see people as I just want to watch it all happen from afar in furry fandom, I think everyone wants to take part in some way and contribute to the community in their own little way. Taking photos, con staff person, fursuiting, make youtube videos, etc. The list goes on.
Okay sometimes you get people that want to do nothing but it is rare.
Anyhow tilt sent me here.
Now that you mention it, I guess I fall under the "fan who wishes to become an artist/writer/fursuiter/video-maker" category. I know I can't do a whole whack of stuff, but I want to try to contribute as much as I can and see how much I get recognized for it. Even if only one furry notices my work, then I'm happy.
Speaking of which, thank you for contributing to this forum!
I am damn thankful for and to this fandom.
I'm glad I've found a lot of friends in this fandom, too, and not just at cons. I've been hooking up with furries via Skype and we all become friends. Sometimes we chat for hours at a time. They're all funny chats of course.
"Outlets of expressionism and a reliease of inhibitions..." That pretty much sums up what furry conventions are! Conventions give me a chance to unwind and hang out with the friends I've made and allow me to make even more friends. Depending how big the convention centre is, it also gives me a chance to dance wildly and act crazy!
I, too, am very thankful furries came into my life. This fandom is one of the many things in life that make me happy.
I think what I get most out of it, is the social aspects of the fandom. I've met many of my closest and dearest friends in furry, and I met my partner at a furry convention. We've been together for over 7 years now. I've met a lot of people who accept me for who I am, and also share a lot of my other interests as well.
Fursuiting would be a close second. I had my first fursuiting experience about 11 years ago, and I've been hooked ever since. Despite the downsides of fursuiting (the heat, limited vision, etc.), it's one of the most entertaining experiences that I take part in. I also love seeing how other fursuiters bring their characters to life. I still get a big rush of almost child-like joy when I see a fursuit doing something cute or funny. :)
I'm not an artist myself, but I love seeing the truly amazing art that the fandom's artists come up with.
I also love the fact that while there's a lot of appreciation for the various cartoons and animated films that brought many of us to the fandom in the first place, the over-arching "theme" of the fandom isn't tied to any one of them, and people create their own OCs and bring them to life.
I've backed away a bit from the fandom a bit in recent times, but I can't really see a day when I stop participating in it altogether. :)
I have yet to find my special someone, though... *sigh*
I love a lot of the artwork I find throughout the fandom! We have so many talented and professional artists from all over the world enchanting us with their creations. I hope I can become even half as decent as any of them someday.
I totally agree about the fursuiting aspect. It's always a great day to see a child smile, laugh, and play with a fursuiter; they always brighten a child's day.
I may have to back away from the fandom at times, but I don't want to not participate in it altogether either.
But back in 2002, during my sophomore year of high school I remember I was on the school's library computer and on that old askjeeves search engine, I typed in "furry" instead of "fury" and after seeing a furry transformation site, I became hooked and since then I considered the furries in this fandom as my family, who have done more for me than my actual family because honestly I do not think I would be here right now if it was not for all the furries I have met who I consider my friends and family.
Being part of this furry family has also helped me overcome my social awkwardness as well as prevented me becoming anti-social that my actual family wanted me to become and more so when I became a fursuiter and fursuited SO much at cons like AC, FurFright and FWA. I became hooked also prior of me becoming a fursuiter with artwork and stories though anything with cowboys, transformations and well anything that is in my profile info because it helped me accept who I am and love this fandom even more!
Anyways, Tilt and JBadger lure me here.
Sounds like you've had a bit of a success story there. Sorry to hear about the strife you've had to put up with.
It's true, though: once you get a lot of friends from this fandom over time, you start to feel like family. Everyone starts to care for their friends very much, and they let each other know that everything will be okay.
In the two years - well, two years of one same convention specifically - that I've been at Furnal Equinox, I've met many friendly furries, and the atmosphere is very positive! I happy to have met such an amazing fandom, and I'm happy I'm still in it.
CAPS LOCK FTW!!!
In 2006 I saw a Funday Pawpet Show video of a subservient fursuiter. I got pulled in, and couldn't stop watching, I couldn't believe people would do this without "consequences". I saw it at a distance on the internet for years, but never gave it much thought until that point. It was cute, it was fun, and wow, people just freely verbalized stuff like this.
Now I have a fabulous job in the city of DC, a city I love in a part of the country I love. I have a live-in girlfriend who adores me and infuses me with huge doses of Doctor Who and steampunk. I've gone to countless conventions where I fursuit 12 hours at a day and do improv comedy. I'm a gonzo fursuiter and go out in public frequently in-suit.
So, furry was one of several triggers that helped me control my life, and now furry is the reward I give myself for controlling my own life. It was a long process, I did feel plenty of pain along the way. But when I look at where I was a short four years ago, it was well worth it.
I found the fandom through a friend back in freshman year of high school. I thought it was a tad odd, but I gave it a shot. I've been hooked ever since, and it's become more of a lifestyle for me than just a thing I do on the side.
I'm ending my first year of art school now, so I'm happy to say bullying is really non existent for me now
When working for a certain pickle company, was volunteered to wear the mascot character for an employee video and company sponsored events, and got paid for it. I wanted a suit of my own, but what to do with it?
I built a partial on a taxidermy form without any sort of reference. It was crude, and hard to navigate in, but won several prizes or made the semi-finals in local costume contests.
I didn't know what the fandom was until six years ago when looking up mascot suits on the internet. Saw the Fursuit Spam Skit and was pulled in. Looked up online tutorials and built my own coyote which debutted at a local con. Being a newbie, there was uncertainty as to what might be expected upon arrival. It was a pleasant surprise learning how well Rocket was accepted. It was like being at a family reunion on the Warner Brothers backlot, if that's possible to imagine.
These people like some of the same stuff that I do. It's a home away from home.
But when I joined up in the late 90's/early 2000's, I could definitely say that this summed it up for me: http://www.tigerden.com/poem.html
Furry (and to an extent, therianthropy) was an escape for me. I liked being able to live as my inner-self. I liked interacting with others on that same level. People just being themselves, truly. I loved seeing the different ways people portrayed themselves. The icons and imagery. The creativity.
On a different level, I was heavy into cosplay and the next step for me was to learn kigurumi cosplay, aka fursuiting. This was just the next natural step. I became a professional mascot some time a few years back, and I highly enjoy acting in costume. Again, it's probably an escape on some level.
These days, with so many millions involved in the fandom on some level, I'm not sure if it quite feels the same. It's more of just a fun thing to mess with for a lot of the newcomers. Back in the olden days, it was a much smaller group, and everyone kinda knew each other, or your friend knew people you didn't know. I enjoyed the funny animal club with the secret handshake very much, but these days I am re-evaluating my thoughts. Not to say that I don't enjoy furry now, it's just that the fandom is almost a completely different thing from when I found it originally.
It's ever-changing, and I'm not sure if anyone will truly figure it out.
I love being my own self! I get to take a couple aspects of my personality and multiply them by infinity thereby bringing out my fursona and acting as him. Sometimes I'm heroic. Sometimes, I'm graceful. And sometimes, I'm just plain silly. But I wouldn't have it any other way.
Yes, indeed, this fandom will always change all the time. At times, it'll change a little bit; at other times, it'll chance drastically. I hate the latter of the two changes (well, depending if the change is good or bad, that is), but I do my best to look on the positive sides and take my time to adapt. As long as it doesn't change what our fandom is all about, then I'm happy.
FUN FACT: I once actually dressed up as a giant 5-pin bowling pin costume for a local town's annual Santa Claus Parade. It was incredbily humid and heavy wearing that damn thing! (LOL) But seeing all the children's smiles and hearing everyone's cheers more than made up for it. I enjoyed giving everyone hugs. The two most memorable moments from that parade for me? A young boy with Downs Syndrome beamed as he gave me a hug; I felt warm-hearted inside. And the other moment was being surrounded by three or four teenage girls at one point; chicks really dig costumers! (LOL) I think back to that now and wonder... maybe fursuiters are just as popular with today's crowds. Maybe more!
I'm happy to meet many intelligent furries - like yourself - in this fandom. I myself have graduated college in three different programs, so I feel like what I've learned will help me out a bit more in certain conversations (if any pop up).
But since I've been attending conventions starting in 2006 I've made freinds with a lot of cool, crazy and highly creative people since then. Most of the cons I've attended have been a blast, and thats probably why my interest is still high, unlike other interests where they always hit a peak and then fade away.
I dont care much for "yiffy" artwork. It doesn't turn me on at all. I love furry art that touches my heart, excites my imagination and brings back those feelings of childhood wonderment.
Thank you very much for your comment,
Thank you about my videos. I'm trying to make them better every year. When I first started uploading videos to YouTube in 2007-8 I had less than a hundred people watching them. Last week when I uploaded a new video, it got over 100 views in 4 hours...yipes!
Plus I like that other people are viewing animals for a deeper purpose than a lot of other people do
And its a community, a pretty nice one at that, and I like that a lot I like belonging
Plus I can express myself, and my art, without judgements here (for the most part)
All in all, most of you guys are amazing
In my opinion x3
jk I am a fan of all the good things ive heard of and seen
I think the fandom and the friends I have made here saved me
So in a way, furries motivated and encouraged you to host many furry variety shows at cons in the long run. They have taken away your sadness and left you with positive memories, fun adventures, and awesome reviews.
By the way,
I joined, honestly not know squat about Furries. Just came in due to my love with Loves and RPing like Wolves. Then as soon as I got more information on it, I decided to use a character I use for small stories I made and made that my character. I had my moments where I was so into it, I actually made my mom dislike furries because of it xD Good or a bad thing? I will never know. But, to this day, I will never regret becoming a furry, over 2 years ago. Actually, during the time I found it, I was actually depressed. So it helped me with that too, and still does when I am(Hardly now.). And another thing, I would probably never have met the friends I have now if not for the Furry Fandom. And I have some great friends. And love them to death. :)
What is it about this fandom that makes it so special to my personally?
I'm a creative person as a whole. I can draw, make ceramic peices, I can write, play multiple instruments(Trumpet, Bass Guitar, Percussion, Piano), do photography and sing(sort of, lol). With me being so creative, I think it fits with alittle be of everything. So, it dosent really change my style, but adds more to my creativity, and adds new styles. And with new styles, causes blending of styles. I use to draw a lot of Historical things, such as World War II Era things. And with the "Anthro" style of drawing, it made my art more interesting(Such as this: http://www.furaffinity.net/view/8449568/ ). And I think it helped improve my drawing skills a lot too. So, in a way, it just adds a new interesting blend and style of drawing that I do. :)
The vast artwork within this fandom is astounding. Some pics I find give me a bit of... well, not "inspiration," but "intrigue" to try and imitate that style or try how they drew the paws, tail, etc. I hope I get better with my furry artwork soon.