PSA: About "coming out" as a furry

[Troj]

My advice for those who are having to deal with those people who are misinformed by the most negative of stereotypes and aspects of the furry fandom, is to compare it to whatever group/hobby/etc. that they associate with.

Excellent. I will usually compare furries to other geek fandoms, especially anime and general sci fi.

The anime comparison can be especially helpful, because if someone tries to claim that the existence of furry porn indicates that furry is a fetish community, you can just point out that by that logic, all anime must be sexual, because hentai is a thing. Ditto if someone tries to claim that fursuiting must be tied to some fetish--well, then, all cosplay must be about getting your rocks off!

Most people are not so devoted to being "right" on this particular point that they're willing to argue that ComicCon is a massive gathering of sex perverts .

But, yes, setting logic traps aside, comparing something to something else the person already knows well is a great educational strategy.

 

[TheRH100]

My parents were introduced to the word "furry" before I ever even knew they were. They also looked at the wrong side of the fandom, likely they google'd it.
I've devised this slow and thorough plan to come out as a furry successfully to my parents. In fact I already did by now, it's just that I never used the word "furry". My parents are very accepting of me being an anthropomorphic artist in with a community of other anthropomorphic artists. But what they don't actually know is that the stuff I explained to my parents so far determines what a furry is. And yes I will use anime in my argument because my parents also accept my less extensive interest in anime. I guess if you wanna come out as a furry, do it over a long period of time and do it starting on one side of the fandom to represent that as the majority.
Now if I could just get a plan for showing my parents the fursuiting and conventioning side of the fandom. I'll just start with the fact that profits go to animal charities.

 

[Shade_Winters]

My parents accepted me when they found out. My father didn't understand the fandom at all and still probably doesn't. My mother understands it. They know that there are stereotypes about us and know that they're not all true. My family is very open minded.

 

[DrDingo]

An awful lot of people here seem to reckon that their parents knowing about it will have bad results.
Quite honestly, I think my parents would be happy about it if they knew. Even though I love socializing and have a ton of friends, they still assume that I'm highly shy and I need to get involved more with other groups and interests.

 

[gmnchampion]

So interesting turn of events happened over my Thanksgiving holiday that I thought might shed some insight: Was working on my fursona with my best friend, left the room to get something to eat and came back with my mother looking at my drawings. She asked "is this a character from your fantasy book? (I'm writing a fantasy novel, D&D based)" After telling her no and explaining what it was she just looked at me and said "so this is like one of your anime characters except it's an avatar for yourself?" She's totally fine with it and I see the correlation to liking anime. I've cosplayed in the past and haven't had any issue with it, on the contrary, my folks sometimes help me with my costume.

DrDingo brings up a good point, having an interest like this encourages you to get out more and meet people with a similar interest (hey, we're on the forums doing just that pretty much). Some people gather because they like the same artist (concert), some join a league to play together (sports) and others congregate because they like the same show/art (conventions).

 

[TheRH100]

So here's the result of me talking to my parents about being a furry. Since I am just an artist I'm not a "furry", otherwise if I were a "furry" then I would have to have a fursuiter and go conventioning, and at those conventions the majority of those people are doing it for sex. I don't wanna tell my parents that I do more than just general art...

Idk, I also kinda wanna go conventioning but I have to keep my mouth shut about ANYTHING furaffinity related until I'm 18...or later.
The result of me telling my parents was "don't hang with those people they will mess up your mind and make you one of them".
But I understand my parents, they just want to protect me and that's good, I like that. But they just don't see the real picture of just how broad the furry fandom is. I see that my parents don't seem as open-minded as many of the other parents I've seen on here.

 

[Deleted member 82554]

So here's the result of me talking to my parents about being a furry. Since I am just an artist I'm not a "furry", otherwise if I were a "furry" then I would have to have a fursuiter and go conventioning, and at those conventions the majority of those people are doing it for sex. I don't wanna tell my parents that I do more than just general art...

Idk, I also kinda wanna go conventioning but I have to keep my mouth shut about ANYTHING furaffinity related until I'm 18...or later.
The result of me telling my parents was "don't hang with those people they will mess up your mind and make you one of them".
But I understand my parents, they just want to protect me and that's good, I like that. But they just don't see the real picture of just how broad the furry fandom is. I see that my parents don't seem as open-minded as many of the other parents I've seen on here.

Please click on all the links (except the last one because that's more for fun) in my sig.

You are WAY off on that one.

 

[Aetius]

You are WAY off on that one.

Well, I would say sex is among a very large plurality of attendees.

Source: I stood outside of an orgy by accident once.

 

[Dire Newt]

Source: I stood outside of an orgy by accident once.

Go on...

 

[Deleted member 82554]

Well, I would say sex is among a very large plurality of attendees.

Source: I stood outside of an orgy by accident once.

Lol, yeah the fandon is pretty sexualized, but I was referring more to being a furry you have to have a fursuit which is just flat out wrong!

Although, I guess one could consider that the epitome of being a fur.

 

[Aleu]

So here's the result of me talking to my parents about being a furry. Since I am just an artist I'm not a "furry", otherwise if I were a "furry" then I would have to have a fursuiter and go conventioning, and at those conventions the majority of those people are doing it for sex. I don't wanna tell my parents that I do more than just general art...

Idk, I also kinda wanna go conventioning but I have to keep my mouth shut about ANYTHING furaffinity related until I'm 18...or later.
The result of me telling my parents was "don't hang with those people they will mess up your mind and make you one of them".
But I understand my parents, they just want to protect me and that's good, I like that. But they just don't see the real picture of just how broad the furry fandom is. I see that my parents don't seem as open-minded as many of the other parents I've seen on here.

You don't HAVE to do those things to be a furry. :/
Also it's not cons they go for sex, it's furmeets. Why? Because it's FREE.

 

[Willow]

So here's the result of me talking to my parents about being a furry. Since I am just an artist I'm not a "furry", otherwise if I were a "furry" then I would have to have a fursuiter and go conventioning, and at those conventions the majority of those people are doing it for sex. I don't wanna tell my parents that I do more than just general art...

Well here's the first mistake. You don't have to fursuit or go to conventions to be a furry. Let alone have sex in a fursuit. Not to mention the majority of people go to cons to have fun and hang out.

Idk, I also kinda wanna go conventioning but I have to keep my mouth shut about ANYTHING furaffinity related until I'm 18...or later.
The result of me telling my parents was "don't hang with those people they will mess up your mind and make you one of them".
But I understand my parents, they just want to protect me and that's good, I like that. But they just don't see the real picture of just how broad the furry fandom is. I see that my parents don't seem as open-minded as many of the other parents I've seen on here.

Well if you gave them a good explanation of what the fandom is that wouldn't be an issue.

Also it's not cons they go for sex, it's furmeets. Why? Because it's FREE.

Only PEASANTS go to furmeets for free sex :V

 

[Mentova]

I've never gotten any free sex at meets or cons :c

 

[Deleted member 82554]

I've never gotten any free sex at meets or cons :c

Are you showing enough skin? :V

 

[BRN]

Only PEASANTS go to furmeets for free sex :V

The peasants are horny, they have no sex. Let the meet take~

 

[Alexxx-Returns]

Please click on all the links (except the last one because that's more for fun) in my sig.

The last one always inspires me to get my fursuit finished.

I know a lot of people say "it's a hobby, so no one needs to know", which is fair, but I like to talk to my friends/family about all my hobbies - especially my parents, because they are pretty darn interested in the creative shizz I get up to. Yes, there's no reason to 'come out', and no reason to tell everyone who will listen, but at the same time, it doesn't necessarily have to be kept as a secret.

I think the difference is that I made my parents aware that their living space was going to be covered in craft materials necessary for making a fursuit for the next several months - and that I'd like to go to conventions once it was finished. The result was that my mum offered to be my handler.

 

[Ozriel]

I've never gotten any free sex at meets or cons :c

Neither have I despite the rampant rumors from people of me being severely promiscuous.

 

[Toshabi]

Neither have I despite the rampant rumors from people of me being severely promiscuous.

Hey want some free Toshabi sex?

 

[Ozriel]

Hey want some free Toshabi sex?

You can have some with my shotgun if ya like, Toshi-kun. :3c

 

[Toshabi]

You can have some with my shotgun if ya like, Toshi-kun. :3c

Is it a double barrel? If so, I hate to inform you that, unlike other furries, I only have one weiner.

 

[Ozriel]

Is it a double barrel? If so, I hate to inform you that, unlike other furries, I only have one weiner.

We can make it work.

 

[Toshabi]

It'll most definitely bring a new meaning to blowing your load. :V

 

[Mentova]

Neither have I despite the rampant rumors from people of me being severely promiscuous.

You and I can make those rumors true~

 

[Schwimmwagen]

I've never gotten any free sex at meets or cons :c

I never go out and get free sex from other people.

The free sex comes to me.

 

[Ozriel]

You and I can make those rumors true~

You'd have to come to the meets so they can assume that I, the Lesbian furry who is having sex with Three guys is also banging you on the side. :V

You don't want to get free sex from drama-mongering furries. You are better off sticking your dick into a vat full of molten glass.