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Community Involvement
13 years ago
General
"Community" is a weird word for me, since I've never really been active in one before. I love talking to people, don't get me wrong, but the prospect of being in a large group never openly appealed to me. I prefer a close bond to three people than a mutual interest to three hundred, if you follow the logic. So it's an interesting position to be in when I've become so embroiled in the furry fandom.
As I've stated before, it's in the recent months I'd finally found my niche in the fandom, and made the friends I'd been looking for over the two and a half years prior. I'm hardly a "popufur" or whatever crap we call that, but there's no doubting I'm at least established, and I have all of you to thank for that. I'm still amazed anyone cares what I have to say a lot of the time, so the fact over 250 people liked me enough to stalk me means a lot.
I've felt extremely good about the past few months especially since it became the point where I got to communicate with everyone in the fandom I wanted to. It may shock you guys to find out how long I've been watching some your accounts- a few were in my search history even before I had an FA. So there's a period of bliss in that I had accomplished a goal of sorts, both in getting my name out there and especially to the people whom I wanted to know it.
What has me thinking now (aside from having stayed up all night playing S.T.A.L.K.E.R. with a few cans of Coke) is future involvement. I knew the fandom was big, but I don't think it was until I got a Twitter that I realized HOW big. Hundreds, even thousands of people I've never met but seem cool roll by in my "You May Know" sidebar daily, and while some I recognize, the majority are people I've never heard of, though at least a few of you have.
My activity in the fandom is kept exclusively to FA. I talk to friends on IM services and Twitter, but as far as meeting new people, it's all on this site. I'm not very involved in the fandom at all, in that respect. Most of you know I've never been to a furry anything- no cons, no meetups, none of that. And I'm getting a nagging feeling I should, because it's become such a big part of my social life.
Though I dismiss the notion pretty quickly, for a few reasons. Mostly because I tried the "local scene" concept when I was studying clowning, and was disappointed beyond measure. There's a certain mystique to the fandom when it's all online, and I get the feeling talking about the stuff I do here out loud in all seriousness would leave a sour taste in my mouth. There are other reasons, too- I'm extremely hard to get along with and just because someone's a furry doesn't mean we could be friends, for examples. Plus, I'm interested in the fandom for a very specific subset, being the cartoony, and I don't really have an interest in much else, so people who don't like cartoons in the same way and I are going to have very little to talk about.
Again, this might just be my paranoia. But I imagine showing up at a Massachusetts fur meet or whatever, being surrounded by a group of people who all already know each other and know nothing about me nor I anything about them, and being way too nervous to say anything. And as a result, having a terrible time. I'd love to meet a few people in person; that's not an issue. I still want to attend a con at some point since I'd like to meet all the cool bros I've become friends with here. But beyond that... I just don't know.
I guess the point is, am I crazy for wanting to involve myself more in a community which is 95% people I have no common interests with or would rather not meet anyway? And if I was crazy enough to do it is it worth it? Any one of you I talk to regularly I'd kill to hang out with for an afternoon, but anyone else I'd rather just stay home. With taste so particular I really don't know if I'd be wasting my own time.
I think I'm gonna try and take a nap now. Proof-read this when I wake up to see if it even makes sense...
As I've stated before, it's in the recent months I'd finally found my niche in the fandom, and made the friends I'd been looking for over the two and a half years prior. I'm hardly a "popufur" or whatever crap we call that, but there's no doubting I'm at least established, and I have all of you to thank for that. I'm still amazed anyone cares what I have to say a lot of the time, so the fact over 250 people liked me enough to stalk me means a lot.
I've felt extremely good about the past few months especially since it became the point where I got to communicate with everyone in the fandom I wanted to. It may shock you guys to find out how long I've been watching some your accounts- a few were in my search history even before I had an FA. So there's a period of bliss in that I had accomplished a goal of sorts, both in getting my name out there and especially to the people whom I wanted to know it.
What has me thinking now (aside from having stayed up all night playing S.T.A.L.K.E.R. with a few cans of Coke) is future involvement. I knew the fandom was big, but I don't think it was until I got a Twitter that I realized HOW big. Hundreds, even thousands of people I've never met but seem cool roll by in my "You May Know" sidebar daily, and while some I recognize, the majority are people I've never heard of, though at least a few of you have.
My activity in the fandom is kept exclusively to FA. I talk to friends on IM services and Twitter, but as far as meeting new people, it's all on this site. I'm not very involved in the fandom at all, in that respect. Most of you know I've never been to a furry anything- no cons, no meetups, none of that. And I'm getting a nagging feeling I should, because it's become such a big part of my social life.
Though I dismiss the notion pretty quickly, for a few reasons. Mostly because I tried the "local scene" concept when I was studying clowning, and was disappointed beyond measure. There's a certain mystique to the fandom when it's all online, and I get the feeling talking about the stuff I do here out loud in all seriousness would leave a sour taste in my mouth. There are other reasons, too- I'm extremely hard to get along with and just because someone's a furry doesn't mean we could be friends, for examples. Plus, I'm interested in the fandom for a very specific subset, being the cartoony, and I don't really have an interest in much else, so people who don't like cartoons in the same way and I are going to have very little to talk about.
Again, this might just be my paranoia. But I imagine showing up at a Massachusetts fur meet or whatever, being surrounded by a group of people who all already know each other and know nothing about me nor I anything about them, and being way too nervous to say anything. And as a result, having a terrible time. I'd love to meet a few people in person; that's not an issue. I still want to attend a con at some point since I'd like to meet all the cool bros I've become friends with here. But beyond that... I just don't know.
I guess the point is, am I crazy for wanting to involve myself more in a community which is 95% people I have no common interests with or would rather not meet anyway? And if I was crazy enough to do it is it worth it? Any one of you I talk to regularly I'd kill to hang out with for an afternoon, but anyone else I'd rather just stay home. With taste so particular I really don't know if I'd be wasting my own time.
I think I'm gonna try and take a nap now. Proof-read this when I wake up to see if it even makes sense...
If you are happy just being online, stay online. It worked for me for my first few years.
(Also, we never talk anymore. I remember when you first joined the fandom. )
Just like you I also appreciate the mass amount of people who sends me notes about contact info, but I feel that my public space is FA with my gallery comments, and shout page. My IM is more like my time to spend with my small circle of friends, the ones who have been with me and spoken with me even before I started submitting into my gallery.
That said, I am not afraid to meet new people and expand my small circle, but it must be done overtime and a single request in my notes really doesn't cut it.
~Omega
I pretty much got into furry the same way by being interested in cartoons/cartoony things and for the most part did not like most furries. Over the years it has grown on me but I still don't consider myself a "real" furry.
Just go to a con or meet and hang out. For the most part they're plenty friendly and there's probably lot more people around that share your interests than you think.
And with the aspect of the 'communication' with others, think I could understand yah there! That or more so bein' nervous, even the possible shyness at times!
If yah give events a try though, you'll more than likely find that one other person there you could jus' "click" with, maybe make the quick buddy! Even if you guys wouldn't share the same common interest, you still could get along pretty well!
Pretty much how my overall experience first goin' to Megaplex was the first time, and the second time I got a few more friendships, and even blossomed <3
If yah do choose to eventually wanna go somewhere and get experience, I think I'd say a meet to get the quick feel of how bein' 'round others in this big, crazy fandom would be like! But the cons, though I've only been to one specific one, way way fun!! :D
People there are overall fun, friendly, great to be around! And as plus with suiters and everything around, fun is had almost every minutes somewhere!
In nutshell, I'd say, NAH, your not crazy (...that much) to wanna get experience with this! Every fur eventually may get this sorta feel! <3
And in seriousness as side note, I'd know I'd definitely wanna get chance to meet yah one day dude!
Could talk about paws and dresses all day! 8'D
If I were you, I wouldn't worry about having nothing in common with 95% of the fandom. The 5% is all that should matter to you, and you can only meet them at cons. I am of the opinion that being social is vital to ones health and happiness even if you have to, say, go out of your way to be extroverted at a furry con-- so it may well worth it for you.
You might try "talking about the stuff [you] do here out loud in all seriousness" to hone your craft, get better... I think you should try it. As for the other stuff, I don't quite understand... what disappointed you about the local clown scene?
Everyone takes their steps in the fandom at different paces. I'm unsure of how I would react if I did get the chance to go to a con or a meet. Its mainly a comfort thing with each person.