Trust me thats how life is, people come and go and when ur young it feels like your on top of the world. Gettin married and having a kid is of course a big step
And ive been in the fandom for about 13 years, and ive always found a place for myself here, even if im not the most popular artist out there. I'm happy where im at, and if your happy where your at thats all that matters dude
Also dont get so worked up about the past, i know we all wish things were different, and wish we did this and wish we did that but hey thats in the past, time to move on.

Of course not to say you should leave there are folks around that do care and are still good friends, im happy to have known them for a long long time here, Telegram, Discord, etc. and of course u as well dude

Also the fandom aint nothin to get worked up over, its all about what you want out of it like i dont give a shit if i dont have much attention or famous or anything, that stuff doesnt appeal to me. What matters is what i want and that should be the same for you too dude, do what you want with ur life and dont let things get to you. Remember the good times, dont think about them as a bygone era you cant return to, cuz thats not what the past is for. Its for us to learn and grow and find ourselves in the world., especially cuz most of us are all still really young adults that get worked up too much bout life tbh.

Woo boy thats a long one lol I'm here for ya if u want to talk man u know where to find me, just puttin my 2 cents in~ Peace

Also from what i learned from my parents, you WILL and CAN find time to do the things you enjoy, stop worrying so much and just find the things that make life worth it, and if it is being in the fandom then yeah go ahead and stay, who cares what others think lol.

people will come and go sometimes, it's like that in any fandom, furry fandom is no different, I've been a furry since 2005, and been in this fandom online since 2012 and I've seen some people come and go, usually because they think they don't have time for it anymore or they think it's just not the same anymore, but regardless I just carry on because time and life moves and is constantly changing things, but overall, the important I keep in mind is that while life moves on and can sometimes intervene I'll always have time for things I enjoy and bring me happiness, and furry fandom is one of those things, regardless of how much attention I get whether how much or how little makes no difference I just simply enjoy the fandom for what it's really all about talking animals be it anthropomorphic or feral and creating your own fursona that represents you and being yourself, as for life, just enjoy your life and enjoy life itself and don't let things get to you

I’ve been in the Brony fandom and furry supporter for a while, I joined the brony fandom in 2014 and I understand and I too have met others who have left, both bronies and furries. What keeps me going is the fandom itself and the friendships I've made. The thing is everyone feels this way, especially when life comes knocking, but that’s what friends are for. The fandom and the friendships you’ve made, isn’t just a fandom, but it’s like a family, well extended family, but family nonetheless.

Believe me, we’ve all felt this before, I know I have, when my dad had a stroke and refused to get help. It didn’t stop me though. I know it can be rough, but we’re here for you, friendships come and go, but new ones are made, along with new generations of bronies and furries.

Again we’re all here for you and you can talk with us anytime

I hope this helps

Everybody already said all the stuff I would have lol.

I know I'd miss you and your awesome stuff if you left.

I've all but left, and you know I agree with you about the community no longer being what it once was. It's a horrible group of people these days for the majority.

After all you and I; and one or two others who I don't even have to name, are pretty much the OG trendsetters for the whole feral canine community here. Haha.

I've been in this whole crazy thing officially longer than I haven't. Its something you feel. You have to choose for yourself what to do with the feeling. You don't grow out of it. I know, there a lot of folks older than me that I talk to.

Things have changed. Some folk have... left without intending. A guy I knew personally. A few artists that were instrumental in early interaction. Its a fandom of people. And people can do a lot of things.

I'll say this, I hope you stay. There's no time limit. No age-out. Its nice having you. But, you choose.

It is always sad to see galleries suddenly vanish.

Since it seems you would not be upset by advice, I shall offer mine: Step back for a while and see how much you miss the fandom. However, don't burn any bridges by destroying what you have here. Leaving everything in place will let you smoothly return if that is your eventual choice, and it does not punish the people (like me) who find joy by perusing your gallery.

I admit this second reason is somewhat selfish, but I do feel that my world is diminished when artwork goes away. I'm sure many other people feel the same.

I'm 38. I've been lurking since the late 90s. I may not be as directly involved as some, but I've certainly watched the same changes. Watched people leave for good reasons and bad. Watched artists die. Watched the political climate sour.

Do I wish it was the way it used to be? Of course, but I wish that about a lot of things. For all its faults, the fandom still gives me something I can't get anywhere else. It'll keep changing, and I'll keep watching it all happen.

Hi, Aksel

Man, alot of us Older guys are really feeling it huh?
Recently had this conversation with my own base, wondering.....are we just getting older, or maybe Politics have just...fucked this fandom.

Its real interesting to think about.
I havent considered myself a Furry, just an enjoyer, but Ive really felt a turn in this fandom and community from what it once was, since...2015 or 16.
The last recent Decade has just been...man.

It really do be like that.

I'm going to be 38 this year myself and I'm really only interest in the art and some world building that other artists/commers do. Everything else I've just fallen out of interest over time (from the reasons we discussed in your prev journal).

Times do be changing and we're no exception that that rule. But aye, I do think it is a mixture of us getting older and the current flow/tide of pol has become a dividing factor that pushes some of us away from the fandom over time.

Honestly for me personally, my best decade was during the early 00's, when I was going to college and reading all the Fur webcomics and being engrossed within the fandom and early forums way back then. Today?, nah, not the same feeling, and I feel way more disconnected and semi isolated than ever before (Which is just me posting on here now and then via some journos or 1 community art server on Discord).

Social media hasn’t just changed the fandom—it’s changed the internet itself. The community isn’t niche or small anymore; everything is centralized. Few of us still have personal websites, and with this site’s owner passing, another piece of the old era fades.

At 38 (yikes, I know), I’ve reflected a lot on nostalgia. Even if we could go back, we wouldn’t fit in—those times are gone. But that doesn’t mean the fandom is dead or uninteresting. Art quality has improved, and people are more proactive in sharing. Politics hurt the fandom, but I see signs of balance returning.

Machine learning has also reshaped things. Being an artist doesn’t feel special when AI can generate art effortlessly. It forced me to reconsider what I love about this space—not NSFW, con parties, or clout, but the appreciation of anthropomorphism, aesthetics, and world-building.

I stay because I enjoy creating. I’m not here for status or popularity—there’s nothing prestigious about being a big name anymore. That realization is freeing. The real joy is in curiosity, creativity, and sharing with like-minded people.

It's your choice if you want to stay or leave obviously. All the best either way.

It's completely natural to feel this way! Especially with age and familial growth. I know (online) people who have A) given up drawing yiff completely because of marriage/children outside of furdom, B) switched to only SFW or primarily, and C) continued with yiff, despite or even BECAUSE of marriage/children outside of furdom.

In the past 6 months, I got two commissions—one from one middle aged artist who could only work on my art bits at a time because his computer is in the family living room and his kids run up on him all the time, and one from a middle aged artist whose wife not only knows about his yiffy job, but fully supports it, and has her own fursona.

It's all about you and your partner. There are SO MANY married/established couples on here who support each others' furry yiff creations. And I know so many couples who WORK TOGETHER on them!

Of course, having a child DOES change things, but any family can find a healthy balance with work and communication.

As for the community—yes, it's also changing. There's jerks and bullies; always has been. But there's also good and accepting people too. Always has been. It's definitely gonna be tough, no doubt about it, but I think that's what makes finding that special group worth it.

In terms of creating and releasing art, well...I can't draw so I can only give you advice on the 2nd half. But I guess it can apply to both! What I personally like to do is gather up everything I haven't yet uploaded, and put it aaaalll in one folder. (back it up, if necessary) When you feel like uploading, post a couple of pictures or so! When you feel like drawing, draw a little bit. Do so when you feel motivated to do so; nibble on that elephant. After you upload each piece, put it in a different folder, or what I like to do is zip it so it doesn't show up. Elephant? What elephant?

BUT!! I will say this: READ DOWN HERE, COBALT!

Ultimately, it will be your choice whether or not you decide to hang it up or keep going. Of course I'll support you either way; you're certainly still a superstar in my eyes. One thing I WILL warn you about however is this: whichever route you choose—DO. NOT. DELETE. YOUR. SUBMISSIONS.

I know what you're thinking, "Oh this is just so you can keep fapping to my stuff, blah blah blah" and to be honest, you are partially correct. But the main reason is this. I've been part of the furry fandom for twenty one years myself, and have watched/enjoyed thousands of accounts. I can't accurately say what percentage of creators over the past two decades have quit, and which have stayed. BUT, what I DO KNOW, GUARANTEED, is that for anyone who's ever come back(and yep, a whole lot have) ONE HUNDRED PERCENT—YOU CAN'T GET ANY HIGHER THAN THAT—EVERY SINGLE PERSON WHO HAS EVER DELETED THEIR ACCOUNT OR THEIR SUBMISSIONS, HAS REGRETTED IT WITH ALL THEIR HEART UPON THEIR RETURN.

ALL of them.

I've tried to warn people, both successfully and unsuccessfully. And it's literally 1:1 all the exact same thing: Either "I'm so glad I didn't" or "I wish to god I didn't".

So regardless of whether you do decide to leave or not...keep your stuff here. Take my word for it.

And all us old timers come out the woodwork.

You know I love you most of all

aww. so sweet of you to say. ^_^ love you too.