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Being Stung
13 years ago
General
Back in 1999 I attended my first furry con. It was Anthrocon and I had tons of fun. Before I went though, I wanted to try and be like several other of these "furries" I had seen on tv and talked to online for a while. So I did what many younger furries do and I tried to make a fursuit.
I put a lot of effort into buying material, trying to piece it together to look like my foxy self. I ran into several snags of how to line fabric, how to make heads, how to get eyes in, etc. Hot glue was plentiful and I don't think I still have the hang of that crap. It didn't help I had little serious drawing exposure so my ability to judge forms sucked donkey balls. I also ran into things like not knowing how to do hair on a suit so I used actual hair. I even made a moving jaw as I wanted to perform magic in it for the variety shows.... (well I tried it just moved craptastically) Frankly, it was a shoddy mess I poured my heart into so I thought it was okay and passable. Plus it wasn't a store bought like a Marlyns, so that was a bonus. Sadly though I couldn't figure out paws with a damn so I wore shoes.... Hell I was a toon, so that's fine, right?
At Anthrocon I went around and had fun, got a few okay comments and more. Back then, there was no real reference on how to construct a suit and most everyone's was in similar skill level. The only one who made suits that stood out I recall being Bearclaw who made Yappy's beautiful suit. So if you weren't him, your suit was going to have mesh eyes that probably didn't match, faux fur stock from WalMart, and a muzzle built like a mailbox. If you were like me, it was more about getting in costume and having fun, and you had to go really out of your way to come off scary. Fursuiting was about performance (aka that "magic" stuff that is now hip to bag on). My costume however over years entertained many adults and children despite being frankened together by a low end artist.
Later suit quality got better in the fandom and I wanted to keep up. I made a new head and tried it out, but sadly it wasn't what I wanted and I really hated it beyond belief. I gave it to someone who was to take it apart as it was so big they could un-fabric it and shave down for a more proper head for someone else. (It ended up getting played around with and my feelings got hurt badly instead, but that's long in the past and resolved).
Finally I came to grips that my artistic skills at the time sucked. That hurt me to say and feel that way about myself, but it was true. I went to others for help being happy. My mom sewed a new fursuit body for me as I lacked the skill with a surger. Dogz made me some new hand and feetpaws. I commissioned Brokken for a lovely new head as I adored his suits. This fursuit I loved a whole lot and is the one I have worn for the past decade and you all see today.
On twitter this afternoon, somebody linked to http://terriblefursuits.tumblr.com/page/4 See that stupid orangey fox there doing the splits? Yup that's me in that first suit that I worked long and hard on. Yes, that suit sucked and now is on a site some of you guys are looking around laughing at and giggling over how ugly people's suits are.
Yes, I am okay. Yes, I admit that my first suit was horribly ugly looking back on it. Does it hurt me that people I know enjoy giggling at crappy suits? I know we all have done it in some fashion or form (I can recall a few scary ones back in 99). Does it sting to see myself up there knowing other furries are out there laughing at me? I would be lying if I said it didn't some. The thought is trying to leave me salty as fuck.
HOWEVER.... to anyone on there or might be there in a few years when we all have better suits, I am not mad and please don't try to be angry if this happens to you.
People always judge and crap on one another in one way or another. I see it all the time in medicine. I see patients with a hemangioma covering half their head like a grape-fleshed growth. Burn victims covered in scars. Old people covered in crusty sebaceous keratomas. Other patients see them and comment, stare, and then some. Honestly, it is who people are and yeah it is crappy of them.
It does not change though circumstances which lead you to where you are not the actions that make you who you are. Does this picture of me being up there in my craptastic suit make me any less of a person, or does it mean I didn't bring happiness to other people at the cost of my time and effort with ZERO expectations of anything in return? No. No it doesn't. Pics of any of us there (I know a few other suits) does not devalue us and none of you should let it tell you that you are any less of a person under that suit, nor does it mean you didn't work your hardest with what talent you have available.
For me, this is a reminder of why I have gotten better at art and performance over the years. You can either stagnate and look around making fun of everyone else, or you can dust yourself off and improve your talents until you are the awesome person you've been chasing after. So go ahead and make a suit that isn't the world's best, you shouldn't have to be expected to be perfect out of the gate. Just work your hardest and have fun, knowing you did your best and if you choose to improve one day you will. Fuck the haters.
To all of you, remember nana korobi ya oki as the Japanese say. Fall down seven times, get up eight. So if anyone wants to laugh at my old suit, go ahead. I know the person who wore it and he's brought a lot more happiness to this world than people who laugh at others all day. He can hold his head up high, knowing that despite whatever suit he has worn, he is going to perform and enjoy it no matter who wants to try and ruin the fun.
*shakes his tail and dances off to have fun as usual* ^.^
I put a lot of effort into buying material, trying to piece it together to look like my foxy self. I ran into several snags of how to line fabric, how to make heads, how to get eyes in, etc. Hot glue was plentiful and I don't think I still have the hang of that crap. It didn't help I had little serious drawing exposure so my ability to judge forms sucked donkey balls. I also ran into things like not knowing how to do hair on a suit so I used actual hair. I even made a moving jaw as I wanted to perform magic in it for the variety shows.... (well I tried it just moved craptastically) Frankly, it was a shoddy mess I poured my heart into so I thought it was okay and passable. Plus it wasn't a store bought like a Marlyns, so that was a bonus. Sadly though I couldn't figure out paws with a damn so I wore shoes.... Hell I was a toon, so that's fine, right?
At Anthrocon I went around and had fun, got a few okay comments and more. Back then, there was no real reference on how to construct a suit and most everyone's was in similar skill level. The only one who made suits that stood out I recall being Bearclaw who made Yappy's beautiful suit. So if you weren't him, your suit was going to have mesh eyes that probably didn't match, faux fur stock from WalMart, and a muzzle built like a mailbox. If you were like me, it was more about getting in costume and having fun, and you had to go really out of your way to come off scary. Fursuiting was about performance (aka that "magic" stuff that is now hip to bag on). My costume however over years entertained many adults and children despite being frankened together by a low end artist.
Later suit quality got better in the fandom and I wanted to keep up. I made a new head and tried it out, but sadly it wasn't what I wanted and I really hated it beyond belief. I gave it to someone who was to take it apart as it was so big they could un-fabric it and shave down for a more proper head for someone else. (It ended up getting played around with and my feelings got hurt badly instead, but that's long in the past and resolved).
Finally I came to grips that my artistic skills at the time sucked. That hurt me to say and feel that way about myself, but it was true. I went to others for help being happy. My mom sewed a new fursuit body for me as I lacked the skill with a surger. Dogz made me some new hand and feetpaws. I commissioned Brokken for a lovely new head as I adored his suits. This fursuit I loved a whole lot and is the one I have worn for the past decade and you all see today.
On twitter this afternoon, somebody linked to http://terriblefursuits.tumblr.com/page/4 See that stupid orangey fox there doing the splits? Yup that's me in that first suit that I worked long and hard on. Yes, that suit sucked and now is on a site some of you guys are looking around laughing at and giggling over how ugly people's suits are.
Yes, I am okay. Yes, I admit that my first suit was horribly ugly looking back on it. Does it hurt me that people I know enjoy giggling at crappy suits? I know we all have done it in some fashion or form (I can recall a few scary ones back in 99). Does it sting to see myself up there knowing other furries are out there laughing at me? I would be lying if I said it didn't some. The thought is trying to leave me salty as fuck.
HOWEVER.... to anyone on there or might be there in a few years when we all have better suits, I am not mad and please don't try to be angry if this happens to you.
People always judge and crap on one another in one way or another. I see it all the time in medicine. I see patients with a hemangioma covering half their head like a grape-fleshed growth. Burn victims covered in scars. Old people covered in crusty sebaceous keratomas. Other patients see them and comment, stare, and then some. Honestly, it is who people are and yeah it is crappy of them.
It does not change though circumstances which lead you to where you are not the actions that make you who you are. Does this picture of me being up there in my craptastic suit make me any less of a person, or does it mean I didn't bring happiness to other people at the cost of my time and effort with ZERO expectations of anything in return? No. No it doesn't. Pics of any of us there (I know a few other suits) does not devalue us and none of you should let it tell you that you are any less of a person under that suit, nor does it mean you didn't work your hardest with what talent you have available.
For me, this is a reminder of why I have gotten better at art and performance over the years. You can either stagnate and look around making fun of everyone else, or you can dust yourself off and improve your talents until you are the awesome person you've been chasing after. So go ahead and make a suit that isn't the world's best, you shouldn't have to be expected to be perfect out of the gate. Just work your hardest and have fun, knowing you did your best and if you choose to improve one day you will. Fuck the haters.
To all of you, remember nana korobi ya oki as the Japanese say. Fall down seven times, get up eight. So if anyone wants to laugh at my old suit, go ahead. I know the person who wore it and he's brought a lot more happiness to this world than people who laugh at others all day. He can hold his head up high, knowing that despite whatever suit he has worn, he is going to perform and enjoy it no matter who wants to try and ruin the fun.
*shakes his tail and dances off to have fun as usual* ^.^
Lives to live by Vermy, I'm sorry you got made fun of. It's so much easier to criticize and kick down someone elses sand castle then to create and put yourself out there.
I decided a long time ago I wasn't going to be one of those pessimistic trolls who sist all day making fun and crapping on everything while never contributing anything from themselves. There's always gonna be haters who despise you because they themselves were/are too scarred to do what you do. It's much safer to sit back and do nothing.
I know your art and character has brought me much joy just from the internet so I can only imagine the fun and happiness you bring to kids and adults when your out their performing your magic.
Thank you Vermy for not being afraid of expressing yourself and staying above the negativity and hate that is so easy to fall into. Your a awesome guy and I really hope to meet you one day at a con. =)
And I still remember your old fox 'suit, Vermy... I remember you were wearing it and trying to do a magic trick, and the volunteer from the audience ended up tricking *you*!
Though I agree, a lot of the suits on there were from the first few years of furry cons. It feels a little odd now seeing how furry has grown from the weird little niche it was hehe.
Keep having fun! It really annoys the haters. :P
You don't know just how true that is. *beeeeeg hugs!*
I may have to write a journal about it.
Also, for the record, 90s mailbox snouts happen to be very in with my crowd.
The problem with that site, as you said, is that no one remembers the older suits, and how they were well made for the time, before anyone got ideas on how to build them. In 10 years, I'm sure the same suits we see today will look like crap compared to the future suits.
http://terriblefursuits.tumblr.com/.....st/19272687135
Face it, haters are going to hate for the sake of hating. Usually because their own lives lack any meaning or purpose.
Though like Dusty said above, just keep having fun as it pisses off the haters. Or as my workplace says, people only try to rain on parades because they know sugar melts and they're safe because turds float. XD
*chases with a jar of peanut butter and two slices of bread!* XD
I'm a (partial) fursuiter, and to me, my partial is just another outfit for me to wear. *bag-bag-bag*
I've been attending cons for almost a decade and I've come to the conclusion that around 60% of a good, memorable fursuit is not down to the quality of the suit itself, but the performer inside. A person can commission a $4000 suit that looks fantastic, but if they just stand around doing nothing then the novelty will soon wear off. A person can make a suit from bits and pieces found at home - it won't look as nice as the $4000 commission - but if they have lots of fun and are seen to do so, the cheaper suit might end up being the more memorable one for other con goers.
I don't think I ever came across your original suit ( my first con was AC '03 ), but looking at the pic it seems okay. Maybe not the nicest looking suit in the world, but as I said - appearances aren't the main thing. The fact that you're doing the splits speaks of a fun performance and I would have liked to have seen you back in the day.
So let the hater's hate. I bet 90% of the people uploading pics on that site don't even fursuit themselves.
Honestly it's pretty easy to pick on amateurs, I don't think it reflects well on anyone who does it. It's like, okay, sure, if you want to go after the easiest targets imaginable, go ahead! Overall sincerity is gonna suffer but like, if you gotta tear down others to make yourself feel good, that's your decision to make.