Hey, it's been a while since I've updated here so I thought I would. I update more over at LJ if anyone's interested in adding me there C: Plus..I feel like I need more friends there in general /lame ..so I thought I'd ask. Normally I use my lj for art posts and "emergency" commissions, but since I've been so busy I havent been able to do this lately.. I: So, if you're interested still, just leave a comment to be added..

http://vani-kins.livejournal.com/

And I've been seeing this meme everywhere, so I feel pretty compelled to do it and hopefully answer some questions for myself..

Basic

Are you a furry?

At this point I dont even know anymore and I'm pretty unsure. I'm kind of at this stage in my life right now where I'm really starting to learn things about myself and just constantly trying to find answers.. you know, kind of like wondering what the hell your sexuality is and such when you're really unsure. However, by anyone outside the fandom I'd probably be considered one just because I draw them a lot and tend to like animal characters more than human ones. I: I know a friend of mine constantly teased me by calling me a furry every time he saw me drawing one of my characters..and it used to really piss me off. Though now when he does it I'm just "If that's what you want to call them.." and surprisingly he doesnt do it anymore..heh. So it's more of a progression..I used to get really aggravated when people called me one, now I just kind of accept it as a "Whatever" sort of deal, I find it's more easy because they just leave you alone or accept it and forget about it and move on. So I guess the short tl;dr answer would be "I'm not sure, but for now..no, not really, I don't consider myself one."

If you have a Spouse/SO - Is he/she a furry too?

No..I'm single..

How long have you been in the community?
Probably since...gee, I dont even know. I wanna say ever since I was on neopets lolol. Because back then I was drawing animal characters more than before and drawing anthros without even knowing what furry meant. Pretty much I was into it before the term furry got a bad name and it used to be the ~*cool*~ thing. So that would mean I've been into it ever since I was in..the..6th grade or so. It's really funny..I was pretty oblivious to the term before it became so..stereotyped. Seriously, I was friends with a real hardcore furry and a few others and we roleplayed all the time and he got me into furcadia and I didnt even realize what it meant or what it was back then..I just thought it was fun. I: I remember always wondering what the hell "yiff" meant. I was such a silly 13 year old.

How did you find furry?

Neopets..!! and later on..mostly from furcadia.

What's your reason for furry (what interested you to get into the community)?

Art pretty much..and more recently the people, I find I feel better and more secure around people that are in this sort of community or know about it.

What's Furry to you?

I'm not so sure anymore..there's so many definitions for it now. I always thought it was someone who pretty much self-proclaimed themselves as one, loved drawing animals and anthros and was just..idk really hardcore into it. I guess people who really see it as apart of their life in a sense..

If someone found out you're a furry and asked you about it how would you respond?

I dont even know..at first I'd be pretty embarrassed and wouldnt know what to say. Though in the end I'd probably be like "I like animals and I like drawing them, so what? Am I a bad person for this..?"

What are your favorite aspects of our community?

The people C: So far, I think they're the most comfortable and fun to be around.. I cant really describe it, but it just puts me at ease..

Do you use any furry terms? (i.e. yiff, paws, murr?)

Lol, no I dont...the only time I do is when I'm just mocking someone or something haha.

What do you wish furry was NOT associated with?

All the drama and pretty much sex really, it feels so..unnecessary..? I know there's always going to be those two things in any fandom, but for some reason it's just..more emphasized in the furry fandom.

How strongly do you feel about someone bashing the community as a whole?

I'm kinda iffy on this, it's interesting to read up on this stuff but I feel like it's unnecessary once again.. you know? It's kinda like "Okay cool, now lets go bash on your fandom since you feel like you can bash on everyone else's."

How strongly do you feel about anyone bashing you yourself for your interest based on the media's aspect of what furry is?

If it's based on the media aspect, then at that point I'll just roll my eyes and forget about it because the media has pretty much obscured what furry is and what it means. Pretty much you're getting someone bashing you who hasnt a clue about what they're saying..

Personal

What is/are your fursona(s)?

My fursona is what I like to call an Alaskan Wolf Shepherd. She's a mix between an Alaskan Malamute, German Shepherd and a Timber wolf.

Do you have any fetishes that pertain to the fandom?

..no...no I do not.

If you could magically morph into your fursona would you?

Oh totally, it's like...a childhood fantasy or dream of some sort.

Do you believe you have a spirit animal?

Not really. I:

What other fanbases/groups are you a part of?

Well, I'm somewhat of a former anime fan, I wont say otaku because I wasnt really...you know, majorly obssessed. However, I could get back into it with ease, I've just been pretty lazy with keeping up with anime lately so I always find myself getting back into the ones I grew up with.

Are you a fursuiter? If yes, how many do you own?If No, do you ever plan on being a suiter?

No..fursuits kinda..creep me out a little to be honest. I've always been that way, especially as a kid. Mascot suits always scared me a little..

How many of your friends are furry?

A few, I didnt really have any friends that were furry until I came to college and joined up with this club that appreciates animals and such. However, now that I'm in Florida I'm starting to meet with more people that are in the fandom U:

How many pets do you own, if any?
I haveeee 4 cats, Pepper, Kobey, Artemis and Mercutio C: I'm hoping to get a dog one day though..whenever I'm financially stable to do so..

Aside from furry what other interests do you have?
Rping, Video games, Character development..animation...

Are you confident enough in yourself to say that you're a fur, no matter what the media says?

No..not really, my low self esteem wouldnt allow me to do that if I was one..

Meetups

Do you attend any cons? If no, would you attend any cons? If yes, which cons have you been to?

Nope, but I'm hoping I can attend one soon..there's a few people out there that I've been wanting to meet for the longest time..

Do you go to local meetups(bowling, public outings...etc)?

No..there arent any around. I:

Have you ever attended a furry party? If no, would you attend one?

No I havent..and the thought of one sounds pretty scary, but if I were with a group of friends I felt secure with then I'm pretty sure I'd go if they convinced me. |D

Online

Have you ever met up with a fur you talked to online?
...s-sorta..? I met the ones I knew online when I got to college due to the fact that..we attend the same college. So technically yes, but not really..

What furry websites do you attend?
..apparently just FA here..

What non furry websites do you frequent?
tons I: Da..LJ..a few oekakis, facebook..youtube..

Has the fandom done anything for you that you're thankful for? Has it taught you anything or brought you anything you treasure greatly?

Yes..yes it has actually. It's lead me to meet tons of awesome people so far that I really love and to a community where I dont feel so..insecure.

..and well..that was..interesting to fill out...