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A Decade of Furry
3 years ago
It was one lazy Saturday in a quiet neighborhood in the suburbs of a small town in Northern Mexico. I told my mom I was going to stay home and work on some high school homework. She had to run some errands, so it would take her a while to come back. Siblings were away too. Maybe at soccer practice, or tagging along with my mom... details are somewhat blurry.
Whatever the case, I wasn't only staying to do my homework. I mean, I'm a nerd. That is no secret. But I had other items in the agenda. Items that in my mind were a bit of an experiment. I remember thinking to myself, "just open an account, and see what's in there. You don't have to post much. Just search around, leave a couple of comments on the pieces of your favourite artists, and if you get bored, you can always delete it. Right? It's not like you have to commit to it for years. Plus, it's free!"
And at the time I didn't realize it would have such a profound impact in my life.
It was 2012.
After all, how could I?
I was just trying to make sense of who I was and where I belonged. I was in those days where I didn't want to be normal. That was lame. But at the same time, being different was scary and somewhat lonely. I didn't knew anyone who liked antro animals like I did at the time. I knew I as different. Weird even. But I didn't want to be a full-on weirdo. Those are very different things.
So I opened my computer, looking over my shoulder, and typed the all too familiar site in my browser.
furaff...down key... ENTER
The button had been there all along, and I had resisted the temptation. A part of me was afraid that I'd be completely enthralled, and I'd end up devoting most of my life to the site. The more rational part kept me grounded and reassured me that it would be fine. Once again, if it got out of hand, I could always delete my account. Right? It's not like you have to commit to it for yeard and years. Plus, it's free!
Create an account. Username? You mean... my fursona's name? Was I even using that term correctly? It felt odd. I had never used a pseudonym. But I had thought about this before. It had occurred to me while I was walking my dog. And the more I thought about it, the more I liked it.
D-R-A-G-O-N-T-Z-I-N
Enter.
I filled out the form. And there it was. I had an account. I guess that made it official. I was a furry. Officially at least.
Maybe it's just a phase. "Maybe I'll get tired after a year of doing this. Maybe this is a fairly small community and after a few months I'd have seen everything there was to it, and I could delete my account. Right? It's not like I was forced to commit to it for years and years and years and years. Plus... it's free!"
It is a busy Thursday comming after work, in a somewhat vibrant neighborhood in the suburbs of a city in Northern Germany. My mom is away once again. But this time I wish she was a bit closer. She still doesn't know about those "other items" in my to-do list, that are not "homework-related". I ask myself if she will ever find out. Or whether I will ever tell her. My siblings are also away. Very far away. And only one of them knows.
It has been 10 years since I joined the community. I have been a furry for a full decade. It feels odd. Almost as if there couldn't have been any other way. As if this was the place I was meant to be. So many other events in my life make me wonder what would have happened if I had acted differently, or taken another path.
But not this.
Ever since that fateful day on June 2nd, 2012, I have not looked back. I became a furry and I wouldn't have had it any other way. It is part of who I am, and it has shaped me to be the way I am today. It has helped me understand who I really am and understand what role I play in a broader sense. I am incredibly grateful to this community, and to all of the absolutely fantastic individuals I've met along the way.
I've had tough times in my life, I've faced the loss of relatives, countless failures, medical contingencies, accidents, drama, worldchanging events, trends, graduations, travels, natural disasters, and of course... the same banner for the last five years! What is up with that? Believe it or not, there was a time when it used to change every season!
So before I become "Old derg yells at cloud", let me land this plane on a positive note. Or a dozen of them:
This is what being a furry for 10 years has taught me:
1. There is nothing wrong with being different. You can use it as a strenght.
2. You are never truly alone. No matter how isolated you feel, I guarantee that there is a person out there who would be delighted to listen to you and make you feel a bit more special.
3. There are many good people out there. The news make it seem like there is only chaos and despair. But that's because being good doesn't lend itself to attention grabbing headlines.
4. A community is strenghtened by openness and diversity.
5. You can't take a person at face value: not all cheetahs are fast, not all foxes are sly, not all wolves are big and bad. Dare to see past the fur/scales/feathers. Challenge those stereotypes!!
6. Disagreeing does not mean we cannot be friends. Dialogue and discussion help us see the world from a different perspective.
7. I guarantee you that there is always something you can learn from every single person you meet. You just have to be open to challenge your own ideas.
8. Being passionate about something is not cringey or shameful. I wish more people were devoted to a hobby, or a cause, or a mission! The world would be very differently.
9. The whole is mightier than the sum of its parts. Furries are a force to be reckoned with!
10. This is not a competition. Some people start off with plenty of skills, some people have more opportunities to improve, some people learn faster. As long as you are learning, and you are trying new things, YOU ARE FINE!! Don't fall for the trap of comparing yourself!
11. Your worth as an individual does not come from the work that you do, but rather from the person that you are. Actions speak volumes.
12. Dare to put yourself outside of your confort zone. You'd be surprised how far you can go, how much you can learn, and what marvelous friendships you can start.
I could honestly write a full book with everything I've learned from this marvelous community.
Is it perfect? No, not by a long shot. But despite its flaws, I love to be part of it, and I'd be more than happy to help fixing what's broken for the comming years. Another 10? 20? More? I guess we'll have to see. After all, I'm not contractually bound to being a furry. I can always delete my account. Right? It's not like you have to commit to it for decades to come!
And you know what else?
The entrance fee? Daring to accept that being different is alright.
Love yourselves you beautiful animal people!
Whatever the case, I wasn't only staying to do my homework. I mean, I'm a nerd. That is no secret. But I had other items in the agenda. Items that in my mind were a bit of an experiment. I remember thinking to myself, "just open an account, and see what's in there. You don't have to post much. Just search around, leave a couple of comments on the pieces of your favourite artists, and if you get bored, you can always delete it. Right? It's not like you have to commit to it for years. Plus, it's free!"
And at the time I didn't realize it would have such a profound impact in my life.
It was 2012.
After all, how could I?
I was just trying to make sense of who I was and where I belonged. I was in those days where I didn't want to be normal. That was lame. But at the same time, being different was scary and somewhat lonely. I didn't knew anyone who liked antro animals like I did at the time. I knew I as different. Weird even. But I didn't want to be a full-on weirdo. Those are very different things.
So I opened my computer, looking over my shoulder, and typed the all too familiar site in my browser.
furaff...down key... ENTER
The button had been there all along, and I had resisted the temptation. A part of me was afraid that I'd be completely enthralled, and I'd end up devoting most of my life to the site. The more rational part kept me grounded and reassured me that it would be fine. Once again, if it got out of hand, I could always delete my account. Right? It's not like you have to commit to it for yeard and years. Plus, it's free!
Create an account. Username? You mean... my fursona's name? Was I even using that term correctly? It felt odd. I had never used a pseudonym. But I had thought about this before. It had occurred to me while I was walking my dog. And the more I thought about it, the more I liked it.
D-R-A-G-O-N-T-Z-I-N
Enter.
I filled out the form. And there it was. I had an account. I guess that made it official. I was a furry. Officially at least.
Maybe it's just a phase. "Maybe I'll get tired after a year of doing this. Maybe this is a fairly small community and after a few months I'd have seen everything there was to it, and I could delete my account. Right? It's not like I was forced to commit to it for years and years and years and years. Plus... it's free!"
~ ~ ~ 10 years later ~ ~ ~It is a busy Thursday comming after work, in a somewhat vibrant neighborhood in the suburbs of a city in Northern Germany. My mom is away once again. But this time I wish she was a bit closer. She still doesn't know about those "other items" in my to-do list, that are not "homework-related". I ask myself if she will ever find out. Or whether I will ever tell her. My siblings are also away. Very far away. And only one of them knows.
It has been 10 years since I joined the community. I have been a furry for a full decade. It feels odd. Almost as if there couldn't have been any other way. As if this was the place I was meant to be. So many other events in my life make me wonder what would have happened if I had acted differently, or taken another path.
But not this.
Ever since that fateful day on June 2nd, 2012, I have not looked back. I became a furry and I wouldn't have had it any other way. It is part of who I am, and it has shaped me to be the way I am today. It has helped me understand who I really am and understand what role I play in a broader sense. I am incredibly grateful to this community, and to all of the absolutely fantastic individuals I've met along the way.
I've had tough times in my life, I've faced the loss of relatives, countless failures, medical contingencies, accidents, drama, worldchanging events, trends, graduations, travels, natural disasters, and of course... the same banner for the last five years! What is up with that? Believe it or not, there was a time when it used to change every season!
So before I become "Old derg yells at cloud", let me land this plane on a positive note. Or a dozen of them:
This is what being a furry for 10 years has taught me:
1. There is nothing wrong with being different. You can use it as a strenght.
2. You are never truly alone. No matter how isolated you feel, I guarantee that there is a person out there who would be delighted to listen to you and make you feel a bit more special.
3. There are many good people out there. The news make it seem like there is only chaos and despair. But that's because being good doesn't lend itself to attention grabbing headlines.
4. A community is strenghtened by openness and diversity.
5. You can't take a person at face value: not all cheetahs are fast, not all foxes are sly, not all wolves are big and bad. Dare to see past the fur/scales/feathers. Challenge those stereotypes!!
6. Disagreeing does not mean we cannot be friends. Dialogue and discussion help us see the world from a different perspective.
7. I guarantee you that there is always something you can learn from every single person you meet. You just have to be open to challenge your own ideas.
8. Being passionate about something is not cringey or shameful. I wish more people were devoted to a hobby, or a cause, or a mission! The world would be very differently.
9. The whole is mightier than the sum of its parts. Furries are a force to be reckoned with!
10. This is not a competition. Some people start off with plenty of skills, some people have more opportunities to improve, some people learn faster. As long as you are learning, and you are trying new things, YOU ARE FINE!! Don't fall for the trap of comparing yourself!
11. Your worth as an individual does not come from the work that you do, but rather from the person that you are. Actions speak volumes.
12. Dare to put yourself outside of your confort zone. You'd be surprised how far you can go, how much you can learn, and what marvelous friendships you can start.
I could honestly write a full book with everything I've learned from this marvelous community.
Is it perfect? No, not by a long shot. But despite its flaws, I love to be part of it, and I'd be more than happy to help fixing what's broken for the comming years. Another 10? 20? More? I guess we'll have to see. After all, I'm not contractually bound to being a furry. I can always delete my account. Right? It's not like you have to commit to it for decades to come!
And you know what else?
The entrance fee? Daring to accept that being different is alright.
Love yourselves you beautiful animal people!
I'm really happy we could chat a bit and exchange a few words, you are a really great person... oh sorry, Dragon. ^^
Keep being great and enjoy many more years in the community!
As I said on twitter, I'm very gad to have you and your brand of different mingling with the rest of us!