Im not a suiter but i have this issue, i feel to shy to come up and give/ask if its ok to hug

Yeah same, cuz some people are douches in suit to # you cooper >>

ill be at ac, im on the lookout for hugs , gonna try being less shy this year ... i hope xD

I'll be at AC! Come over if you see me! No need to be shy.

hmmm fender you or cooper? xD

Aww thanks! Yeah I totally love talking with non-suiters and making them laugh. I mean, isn't that what fursuiting is for? Ha ha!

XD basically. I won't be at AC this year :(. Enjoy drunkc...I mean anthrocon :D

I have the same problem, I love being in suit and playing with other suiters, but out of suit I just freeze up. It's something to do with the eyes... I can't tell if the person is looking at me or something else, it's a mindfuck XD

Ha ha yeah! I never know where to look if I'm talking to someone who is in suit.

Why do you not mind mindfucking others then?

Why don't you freeze up when you're in suit as well? As for the eyes it should be the same issue, no matter if you're in suit or not.

Maybe it's you mind saying that you should stop acting so childish and thus you "freeze up" or you just don't want to "ruin" the suiters performance. But when you're suiting yourself you and the other suiters are performers and so it's easier to play with the other suiters.

Yes, although my experience with fursuiting is quite a bit more limited, I've noticed a big difference when out of suit among suiters.

well its only natural.. does a bank robber feel comfortable around his fellow masked comrades?

now how do you think everyone whos not wearing a mask feels?

intimidation... you can even go so far as to say that when your in a suit you feel more anonymous.. which makes it easier to talk to strangers..

oh and force strangers to give up their monies.. lets not forget that.

Yeah, my hat is off to all the people that come running up to me and give me hugs when I'm in suit. They are fearless. I'd have such a hard time doing that.

yeah my first encounter with someone in a fursuit was REAL awkward.. i asked for a picture and then was liek... kthnxbai xD

i hope to get my own fursuit someday though, watching your videos and a few others, it looks like so much fun! :3

Yep I am the same way. :/ it's weird.

I understand what you're talking about but don't have that problem.

Hugs from fursuiters are awesome maaaaan.

I am the SAME exact way. In suit I'm bouncy, hugging everybody, and such... Out of suit, I just feel weird. I'm used to being the one in the costume. I know I can bark/meow/growl at them when I am in a costume as well... But not in suit? That always comes across as a bit... Odd XD

Fursuits are liberating :)

I'd also like to note, I started going to cons with a fursuit... I was never a non-suiting con goer. It is VERY rare I hug a suit when I'm out of suit. Actually, I think I've only done it for a few silly pictures.

Yeah same here. I have never been to a con without a fursuit.

my only comment is damn...look at the comments! lol :) i think you have some verry inteligent furiends out their from what i have spent the last 20 min reading that is! souch great input! you should do some kinda shout out ! ---Furric

Hurr, complex.

I'm not a fursuiter, but I know how you feel. All too well.
I'm always pretty shy around others, including fursuiters.

me too =) i have the same problem... >.< well ~~ o.o is the safe feeeling =)

I think it's due to the fact that when others are in fursuit, they're "performing". It can be difficult to know what to do at that moment to play along, especially if the fursuiter doesn't talk. You're comfortable performing your character and you're comfortable hanging with friends, but playing the role of the guy that moves along their performance (you're not really performing, yourself) can be tough. Thus the awkward in-betweenness when you're not sure what to do.

That's my take on it. I don't really interact with a lot of fursuiters while I'm out of suit. Just a bit of "Ohhh lookit the cute doggie... um... well, see ya." :P

Yup! Outta suit totally cool with everybody thats not in fursuit but I'll do the same thing and just be like "oh hey thats a nice looking suit over there" and thats about it.

I had the opportunity to meet some fursuiters recently, and it was the first time I had ever been up close to one and interacted with them in any way, and I was freaking out, like no joke It took forever for me to get enough courage to go up and say hi/pic, etc.
And I don't know why, cause the suits were obviously the most non-intimidating things ever, but yeah, crazy stuff.

Its a really weird thing too especially if you know the person out of suit. Just because you can see their face has a strange effect on certain people.

So your one of those people who dress up in weird animal costumes ? XD

Who me? Nooooooo! Thats just silly! Who would do a thing like that?

I've never been in a suit but yeah, I'm a lot more awkward around suiters than out of suit people.

i think its becuase of the suit you're more used to it and feel comfortable.
but when out of it. its like you're out of place and such. though i dont own a full outfit but a head i can almost know how that is. :)

I hear you, buddy. When you were at furfright, I saw you, but couldn't approach you out of suit. It was...a phobia. I have a bad phobia of fursuiters and it I don't have mine on I can't move, cant look them in the eye and my adults have to take me away.

Being in fursuit allow me to interact with other fursuiters. It's just a tool to me. I am as true to myself in and out of suit. In many ways it's my armor, my means to communicating with others

Nope, then again I'm a loud douchebag that yells at all the animals :D

Nope! I love interacting with suiters both in and out of suit. :>

Ugh I have the same problem with both fursuiters and those out of suit! Takes me a lot of motivation to get me to walk up and start talking or even asking for a picture. I'm also not really used to hugs since I'm not much of an physically affectionate person, so one time I was offered a hug and I stood there for a few awkward seconds before realizing I should accept the hug. Strangely, back here in my hometown, I can talk to almost any stranger if I feel like it. At my first AC, I was pretty much like those shy anime girls the whole time, "U-UM...C-CAN I TAKE A PICTURE WITH YOU? P-PLEASE? :(".

I can see how it can be intimidating when surrounded by lots of new faces but those faces are probably just a shy. So there should be no worry striking up a conversation with someone new.
I love talking to people out of suit just as much as I do in suit. You get to hear people's stories from all over the world.

I don't have a fursuit, but I can definitely relate. I feel very awkward asking fursuiters for hugs. lol I even chickened out of hugging a fursuiter when a friend offered to ask the guy if it was okay to give him a hug! It sucks, cause I love getting hugs from fursuiters.

Aww you should never have to worry about asking fursuiters for hugs. I love when people ask me. I actually feel kinda flattered ha ha!

awwe we love you in and out of suit :)

It's like Spaceballs. You don't know if they're making faces at you under there.

THIS^

I have totally done that before ha ha!

I have the reverse problem

Sometimes I swear you and I are the same person. Stop saying what I'm thinking.

I'm a very open minded person but you need to get outta my head and get your own thoughts! Ha ha!

Just punch every fursuit in the nose, you'll soon find your comfort zone.

THIS is the solution

You can keep using that tip you got from Shark Week over and over again!

I don't really have that problem....i love interacting with suiters both in and out of suit. They are so goofy and cute!

And if anyone sees me in suit, don't be shy! I love hugs and pics, so don't be afraid to come up and give me a big squeeze! =)

i understand what your talking about, I was kinda like that the first few times when geting back into fursuiting [when out of suit] at the cons, but over time just got to be playful when out of suit, lol



my biggest prob is that when i'm out of suit i keep wanting to talk to the suiters, that problem being that most wont talk back, lol

I think I'm the same way. A lot of people are. It's just easier to look silly and talk to people in suit because people can't see the person under the suit so I guess it makes them feel more secure..

I'm only reminded of spaceballs where darth helmet has the mask down and the president turns around and jumps out of his skin. "For gods sake man would you keep that mask off when your around me. *turns around* I swear. I can never tell if he's making faces at me under that thing" the entire time he is turned around helmets making faces at him. *president turns around and helemets helmet snaps down again*. Loose translation of course.

The mask grants aninimity (probably spelled wrong) and annonoymous + annonymous = okay but annonoymous + know person (you) = creeped out. Its possibly cuz they can see you but you can't see them. That's almost part of human instinct to be thrown off by that.

for some strange reason,when i red your comment, i red it and in my head i could hear robbin williams voice. lol.

now that is interesting XD this scene is Mel Brooks speaking and Rick Moranis as Darth Helmet. but i guess Williams does match my sarcastic tone i normal have when i talk XD

:) i know what you are talking about. spaceballs is lol

spaceballs can be used to solve any problem. XD

I love suiting and i love interacting out of suit. I understand where your coming from but I think the shyness comes from a place of over thinking it. I take the suiters for face value when I'm out of suit, just enjoy them for the fun out going characters they are and dont think to much about what the person inside may or may not be like :) I think alot of people just psych themselves out about it.

Hmm yeah, I mean I'm pretty much the same in and out of suit but when Im around fursuiters I just like shut off. I am probably over thinking it. Like what do I do or say around a fursuiter.

Understandable, I would just say think of it in terms of when your suiting, what would you want people to say and do to you in suit? Its just like role reversal hah.

I know this feeling

When I'm around fursuiters, I'm usually all, "OMG you are so CUTE!!!"

Me to!! I have no problem hugging fursuiters when im out of suit either...the only down side..is knowing its not actually a giant animal...how depressing lol

I love fursuiting. I love interacting with fursuiters and nonfursuiters when im in suit. But when Im being my normal self (and not Piggins or chinese man or what have you), I find intereacting with fursuits very awkward.

Yup! You hit the nail on the head! So its not just me.

A fursuit can give you confidence

dont feel bad, a fursuit doesnt change you, with a suit or without it, you have to feel the same way

i dont own a suit, but im rly shy, especially around suiters. i get the same way coop idk if its just because of my age or just because of my personality.

I feel ya on this, When I went to my first convention I had no idea what to do, how to act, I probably didn't ask for a hug until the last day of the con. Sorta felt like a stranger there, but.. I also didn't in a way. Its strange...

On thing I am not, is quiet at conventions. I run all over the place talking with people. I love doing it. A big thing to realize at a convention you are a stranger amongst strangers. There really is no harm in saying hi to somebody at a convention because they probably don't know a large portion of the people who are there either. You'll be shocked to find that they know somebody, that knows somebody, that knows somebody you know.

I find I have the same trouble. I enjoy being around suiters, but I purposely avoid them. I feel like if I hug them or linger with them I am somehow annoying then or invading their personal privacy. I think a suit is sort of a right of passage into suiter interaction, to an extent.

Well Cooper I am no doctor, but i will say so stuff that a dortor would say.

It seem that the fursuit has become a way for you to feel accepted in the fandom, so without the suit you feel like people see you differently and think differently of you. You like the way non suiters act around suiters and visce versa. that is why you suit and without the suit you almost feel jealous of perople when they are in suit, even you friends

And if it helps my first meet (delaware furbowl 35) i really just stoud in the corner for the first half-hour or 45 minutes.

I mean I don't have a fursuit and I still feel weird interacting to people in fursuits. I don't when the fursuiter realizes they're wearing a costume and acts like such, but if it's like they're working at Six Flags or something, I just avoid talking to them. It is just a costume, really.

heh. Are all these people fursuiters? I think there are just too many people. It takes time to get to know someone out of suit. those I will hug. But otherwise just in suit. Heck the cougar really does not hug anyone anyway.

Oh yes, I've been suiting for 14 years and it has always been the same situation. Feeling shy and sometimes awkward around fursuiters out of the fur, much more relaxed and extroverted in the fur.

I'm not much of a fursuiter yet. (I would love to have/make a suit I'm proud of just haven't made up the cash yet.) But yeah I've felt awkward around some suiters. Mostly cause I'm a shy person. However I do feel more at home around furry conventions and suiters in general.

It's kinda hard to explain. I'm gonna stop rambling before this becomes to long XD

im a bit the same way. whenever i see someone on suit its like i forget everything and dont remember what to do. i love hugging fursuiters and cant wait to be in a fursuit of my own, but i dunno why i i feel like i do when im around them :/

I have literally the exact same problem X3 Can't even make eye contact comfortably.

Im the same exact way, i think its because i can't see the person or how there reacting under the suit, hell they could be making stupid faces at ya the entire time and you would never know. In suit i feel a lot better cause then they wouldn't see me mouthing swear words to them :p (nah i don't actually do that, unless its someone i really don't like)

lmao, btw i didn't even realize that people made the Spaceballs references about the making faces until after i posted this comment, i guess my mind made the connection without even thinking about it

Lol.

Generally no, I don't have issues with being out of suit around other fursuiters. I don't make communication with them, as generally most won't want to talk. I can easily go up and get hugs though. Just walk up with your arms out.

Actually, I prefer to hug the fursuiters more when I am out of suit, and then I prefer hugging non suiters more while in suit. I'm not too keen on hugging other fursuiters in my suit, fur captures scents entirely too well and lots of suits either just smell bed, or smell bad with coverups, or smell too deodorized. When I get hugs from suiters, the scents and oils rub off on my suit no problem. I am pretty critical in how my suit smells, I've managed to get quite a name for myself as smelling so good and fresh. I like to keep it that way. :)

SAAAAAAME. Sort of, It matters if I had a energy drink within the last hour, then I can do anything

I have a hard time going up to people and talking whether I am in a fursuit or out :/ I can understand what you mean dude. Being around fursuitters when I am not in suit is weird for me too. I smile and laugh, but in my head I am going crazy and all shy and stuffs.

I hear ya!
If its a non-suiter I can go up to anybody and start talking but if I have to go up to a fursuiter its like my force field is down ha ha!

Just picture them in thier underwear......wait.....wouldn't exactly work in a fursuit........hmmmmm :P

Yeah, man, seriously. I have lots of confidence in suit, but out of suit I transform back into socially-awkward, super-self-conscious me. Ack.

Hey pooper-scooper tom. I'm an avid fan of your videos. Heck, you've even helped inspire me to make my own videos too. I'll be bouncing around ac in suit. Out of suit i'll be holding a bbf sized camera so if i spot you, be sure to act like your usual silly self. Aurius wolf will be with me sometimes holding my camera while i'm in suit as well. Let the huggin begin!

sometimes you get those suiters that arnt very social, as in.. they are deep into their actual fursona where they wont even talk, they just make sounds, i kinda dislike running into those people, its cute for a min, but some people would like to have a decent conversation you know? lol

I mean I don't mind it if thats their thing. My hats off to them cause thats gotta take some extreme will power to stay in character like that. I tried the whole silent thing when I first fursuited at Anthrocon 09. I just couldn't do it.

lol well your funny so thats totally okay im sure xP but yea, idk how people can stand to not talk in suit.

I'm the same way too.

Out of suit, I'd love to just start interacting with suiters, giving hugs, etc... but all I find myself doing it watching from a distance, etc. It still really brings a smile to my face though.

Last year was my first time in suit at a con... and that was such a different experience. I'm in suit giggling the whole time (but nobody could see/hear that), getting hugs with other suiters, hugs from random people (some weren't even from the convention.)

I'm pretty shy out of suit, too. I like to look at other suiters when I'm not suiting. Not really interact.

I'm like the same way but a slightly different scenario. I attend concerts all of the time. Every show I go to I at least meet one of the bands and I can talk to them like I've known them forever. Out of the concert I'm an awakard chick who hides in the corner at social events. Its weird but true.

I think we can all mostly agree that is is awkward out of suit unless it is someone you really know well. I will be getting into a suit in around less than a year. I already know what it is like to be someone and someone you are trying to be. Eventually people will have to brave up and just approach people who say they are comfortable with it.

Now that I have my suit, I feel the same way... I used to not, back before I started suiting...

I think the question more is, why do you not mind making other people freeze up while you're safely in a emotional containment outfit? Also, fursuits from now on are officially Emotional Containment Outfits, just so you knew.

Ha ha I like that

How about like "vessel" or "chamber"? Portable Emotional Containment Chamber

Oh I like that. A lot. Just like Bruce Willis' robot self, or S.H.I.E.L.D.s life-replicas

And then like, whenever someone is putting on their suit's head a red light will flash, a siren will blare, and a voice will repeat "SEALING THE CHAMBER" and at the end steam will shoot out from under the head accompanied by a loud clanking sound

I could barely talk to a fursuiter at a Picnic last time. I hope to over come that next time.

Its not just you, things like that are alike for mostly everyone, for some people that goes more noticable for others less, maybe not in that same situations, but for example, when i'm asleep i don't talk much, hate people to poke me, even dislike people to hang around me... but when i'm awake, I do exactly the opposite.

Yeah i had this issue at my first Furcon which happened very recently. I think the best cure for this is more booze.

i am the same away... Its more in the area you dont know how they will act. Plus Ifind when in suit ur more open and your self you dont have the same walls up as you would your out of suit self. But as you can tell its not just you :p

I'm the same exact way; I actually skipped two meets and a convention because I get REALLY nervous without my fursuit (which is almost done).

I just toy with suiters in and out of suit. All about teasing and creating scenarios, the rest takes care of itself :3

WOW!! Im not the only one with this problem!! Im in the becoming of a suiter in the next few months but YES! I get this very same feeling! I didn't think any other fur had this issue let alone the GREAT Coopertom! It feels good to know this (: Everytime I see a fursuiter in real life or a mascot, i just get that gut/shy feeling and i feel like I'm 5 again. Idk if I'll still feel that way in my future fursuit. But hey it's good to experiment (:

I guess it isn't really a bad thing. Just feel more comfortable interacting with fursuiters in suit than out of suit.

i have the same problem with non-suiters myself ha! ha! when i first started around home, i would just sit around and not do/say anything what so ever. I hadnt put on my fursuit in about 2 weeks till last night to try some new jokes, actions, and the what not alike. I had some succes in areas, but im still willing to work on improving to wear off the awekwardness of knowing some good actions to use around non-suiters. Oh! and if ya must know, ive been practicing around family members for the record (even though they still adress me by my original name which is annoying)

i have not been around other fursuiters when fursuiting yet, but im really looking forward to that feeling. but as far as im looking at things, i`d say im still learning the ropes of behaving around fursuiters while not wearing mine. ive only had that expirience once with a friend and it turned out ok.

i dont know if you have people around you that you could practice with to overcome that awekwardness feeling of being in fursuit and acting around non-suiters. but it may help if you do.

I've only started suiting, so I'm still adjusting to even being IN suit, much less having the nerve to hug anyone while out of suit. I want to be more outgoing, but shyness usually prevails. :\

I am getting over a phobia about costumes, of any sort. Hell, I stopped trick or treating when I was 10. It took months to work up the courage to go to a meet and not freak out over the two fursuiters that were there. That I went to FCN and wasn't balled up in a stairwell corner is HUGE for me. I can't tell you how great it was to fursuiters there like you and Jillor making it easier to interact with people in suit.

I should be getting one of my own this year, so I'll see then if I'm more open when I'm in suit.

Hey thanks! I know how it is to be on the other side of the mask so I try not to freak out shy people too much.

When I was a kid I was terrified of people in mascot costumes. I can't say I'm as nervous around them now when out of suit, but when I was a kid I wanted absolutely nothing to do with anyone wearing an animal costume.

And now you get to surround yourself with them! :)

It's the same when you're in any situation where you don't have a social script to fall back on. When in fursuit among fursuiters it's kinda easy to figure out what to do because pretty much anything goes and you feel comfortable, but being out of suit among suiters you suddenly don't have a per-defined "script" to call upon. It's stressful even for extroverts. You don't want to do the same things out of suit as you would do in the suit because that would be kinda weird, and you can't treat the suiter like a normal person on the street, so your brain goes WTF and you're left there doing nothing.

I know what you mean! I'm pertty much same in and out of suit but throw fursuiters into the equation and I turn off. Like you said, I don't wanna treat the suiter just like a regualr guy and I have nothing to work with outta suit in regards to the other fursuiter, I'm just a dude ha ha!

I have never had a problem like this. I guess it is because I had worked so closely with mascots/characters in the past.

I use to be like that around suiters but only because i didn't really know anyone now I'm ok but it's still kinda like that for me too

It might've been said before, but wearing a costume, especially one that covers your entire face, gives you a sense of anonymity. People tend to feel more comfortable or willing to do the things they do in a fursuit because their true identity is concealed. I mean, it's like the Blue Man Group; You can't tell anything about them while they have the makeup and the bald caps on, and they are allowed to act more silly than how they probably would act in front of huge crowds if they weren't wearing all of that.

It's really a psychological thing. Having your true identity concealed tends to make people far more outgoing and less inhibited.

Lolz---Your just prob used to being in suit so much your not used to being out of suit during the convention but thats normal i think. But sometimes i get that way as well so dont worry your not the only one but most of the time i am not like that its just a rare thing that happens.

This is the exact reason I didn't go to Furfright last October. I really don't want to just stand around not in suit and watch everyone else have a blast in their suits and shit. I'll bet it's kinda awkward. I'm really looking forward to going this year IF i can get a Hamilton suit. Then it's game time.

but all in due time

Aww you should have came! Conventions are not just for fursuiting. I party just as much out of suit than I do In suit. Its great to enjoy the con and not having to see it like your looking through a screen door the whole time.

I'll see you this time around, man. We'll have a drink together. you and Scurrow. I've been dyin' to meet that dude

I love to be a fursuiter and I understand about what you're going through.
Some people like to hide their real selves and become a totally different character.
There's absolutely nothing wrong with that. I have so many friends that are like that.

I'm pretty much the same crazy guy in and out of suit but I just get a bit awkward around suiters.

Ahh. I see.

believe me there's probably a looooooooooooooooooooong list of us like that....lol anyone who agrees with me reply to this say yes or no.

Im generally shy regardless, but less so when im suiting

I Wont be able to own suit but i'm sure getting a hug will feel good wither it be a suiter or non-suiter

I can relate. I was always intimidated by fursuits and full-body costumes. (probably why my parents never took me to Disney World ) I still get that feeling now, but mostly with the non-talking fursuiters. When I'm out of suit talking to you or Twitch or any other talking fursuiter, I find that I can comfortably engage. Maybe it's because I'm always a little worried that the person wearing the suit, but not saying anything, is under there judging me. Really, it's simply because I'm taking myself too seriously.

I used to be pretty intimidated by them too, especially when younger. I think what helped me was a few things - cooler looking suits, more action/talkative suiters, and getting to know a few of them personally, like yourself.

I think the other thing, which is odd in my case, is that I've been writing a lot of stories and doing the whole cartoon thing. It kinda.... forced me to thinking and communicating with "talking animals," whether imaginary or in suit. Like, I want to hear the character's "story" or "voice," if that makes sense.

There's a pretty funny story about how, after Who Framed Roger Rabbit was finished filming, Bob Hoskins couldn't stop seeing the cartoons characters everywhere he went for quite a while, and that's... sort of what I've been going through. :P

I'm the exact same way. Unfortunately to me it seems like a fear of rejection from people. If I approach somebody in suit it gets a smile out of them and they love being around it. Approaching somebody out of suit though it's like I get this feeling the person wants to say "Why is this loser talking to me"

Yeah, dude. I clam the fuck up around fursuiters. It's not even an issue of self-awareness; I draw a total blank. Nothing even comes to mind.

Except this: http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l.....nuyo1_1280.jpg

And this: http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l.....nuyo1_1280.jpg

It sucks, man.