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submitted by KontonAkuma
[link] [4 comments]

Dear Papa Bear, 

As you can see I'm sort of on the younger side of the fandom but this doesn't change my love for it. I've been in love with anything and everything furry for almost two years now.

I just recently "came out" per say, I told my parents about me being a furry. I showed them some fur suit picture, some cute anthros I drew up over the years, thoroughly explaining that it's a big deal to me but for them just to consider it a hobby. That was two weeks ago and I still haven't heard a break from the constant teasing and bullying. They told me yesterday, "Why can't you just be a normal teenager like Destiny?" It hurts so bad that not even my parents can accept me, I already get enough teasing being open at school. I mean, my best friend keeps calling me a creep.

I guess this is a question of acceptance. How am I supposed to deal with all of this coming from all the people I love most? Please let me know.

Your Admirer,
Galix (16)

* * *

Dear Galix,

I suppose your parents miss the irony in having a child named “Destiny” while telling you that you must conform. Hmmm...?

And if your “best friend” calls you a “creep,” then time to find a new best friend. If any of MY friends called me names, I would certainly question the quality of that friendship. I would never treat them in such a manner and expect the same kindness from them. You should, too.

The biggest cause of mental distress in humans is the unrequited desire to please one’s parents and to be accepted by them, as well as by one’s peers. You will find millions of people on psychologists’ couches because they never felt they were accepted by the most important people in their early lives. This is understandable, because as infants, toddlers, and young children, we depend upon our elders for everything from food and shelter to being a role model for our behaviors. They are the people we look up to, and so their opinions have great power over us to either nurture us or torment us. Such is the touchstone of parenting: good parents nurture (but not to the point of indulging their children’s every whim), bad ones torment.

But if you are to become an adult, and a fully-realized person, you have to overcome your need for approval from others and learn the biggest lesson of all: the only voice of approval that really matters is your own. If you do not approve of yourself, if you do not like yourself, you will be miserable all your days. But if you DO like yourself and feel comfortable in your own skin, then the opinions of others will ricochet off you like bullets off Superman’s chest.

I would like to recommend two books by don Miguel Ruiz to you: The Four Agreements and The Fifth Agreement. The author explains in these books, using concepts developed by the Toltecs, how to live life on your own terms. You can likely find inexpensive, used paperbacks on Amazon.com.

In the meantime, you have to deal with the current bullying situation. When it comes to school peers, you have to deal with them at their intellectual level (mostly, brutish), which is why I suggest learning some self-defense. Becoming physically fit and not being shy about it is a highly effective way to shut bullies up, since most bullies are cowardly slime who back down from a fight when pressed. Another way is to be more clever than they are. I wrote about this in a column back in March (http://www.askpapabear.com/letters/she-is-teased-at-school-for-wearing-a-tail).

As for your parents, since you can’t beat them up (small joke).... Have you told them that they are hurting your feelings? This is a very tough thing to do, I’ll admit. It’s hard to, basically, criticize your parents’ parenting. The way to approach such a delicate topic is by doing so with understanding, remembering that, while they are your elders, they are also just human. So, preface a conversation with something like: “Mom, Dad, I know you’re only thinking of my well-being, but....” and go on to explain that being a furry is who you are, and if they can’t accept that, then it makes you feel like they don’t accept you either. Many parents don’t get that being a furry is, for many, more than a hobby like collecting dolls or being a Trekkie; it is who many of us are. If you can make your parents understand that, then, hopefully, the teasing will stop.

Hope this helps! Good luck!

Papabear

submitted by VentKazemaru
[link] [27 comments]

It's 0922, I'm jerking around at work since it's a light work load day and I'm sitting, browsing pictures of mine and others thinking "what do I think makes my fursona an individual? What separates him from the masses of others?" And then I thought "what do others think separate themselves?" So I figure throwing out an open chat on the idea. Just post a picture or description for reference, list off what you think makes your fursona an individual! And please, for the sake of conversation, throw someone else a bone if you post. Mention something unique you notice about at least one other person. I'll try kicking this off in the comments. Here's hoping this takes off.

EDIT Say why you did your character up as you did, too. Was it to be unique, a style or infatuation you have, driven by your real life?

submitted by Senelbeat
[link] [85 comments]

Just wanted to say hi ! Hope everyone is ok and is having a good day :D cuddles

submitted by Mootness
[link] [20 comments]

submitted by Leksey
[link] [5 comments]

I know a lot of our members — especially the editors and publishers — are busy gearing up for Anthrocon, so I’ll keep this as short as I can. Happy travels to all heading to Pittsburgh, and may you have awesome sales, a great time, and a lack of con crud!

New Members

Welcome to our newest members, Roland Jovaik and Gene Breshears!

Member News

Among the many releases from FurPlanet for AC is ROAR #5, which features stories by several FWG members, including Searska GreyRaven, Mary E. Lowd, Ryan Campbell, Huskyteer, Sarina Dorie, H. A. Kirsch, Ben Goodridge, NightEyes DaySpring, and Roland Joviak.

Check out Mary E. Lowd’s “Weremoose” in Untied Shoelaces of the Mind.

Huskyteer also has a poem in Apex and a story in Heat #11 (another issue that features some familiar names — you’ll also find stories there by members Tempe O’Kun, Whyte Yoté, Dark End, and Kyell Gold).

Bill “Hafoc” Rogers’ story “The Language of Emotions” has been featured on the Anthro Dreams podcast. Give it a listen!

Also new from FurPlanet for AC is James L. Steele’s novel Huvek, as well as the anthology Anthropomorphic Aliens (edited by associate member Fred Patten).

Besides the new issue of Heat, Sofawolf Press’ Anthrocon debuts include new novels from Kyell Gold (Uncovered) and M. C. A. Hogarth (The Godson’s Triumph).

Finally, Rabbit Valley brings us Alflor Aalto’s latest, Stories From Lakeforest U.

(Members: Apologies if I’ve missed anyone’s new stuff. Want to make sure your news gets included here? Start a thread in the Member News forum!)

Market News

The World Weaver Press anthology Corvidae opens to submissions today.

You’ve only got a few days left to send conbook submissions to Rocky Mountain Fur Con and (the very last) Condition. See our conbook page for details and links.

Guild News

Sean Rivercritic has this update on the first FWG anthology, Tales from the Guild, Volume 1: Music to Your Ears: “All finalized items are to the publisher. Just have to put it together and confirm release dates.” Watch this space for updates!

Members, now’s a great time to freshen up your bio pages. Just email new bios and/or pictures to furwritersguild (at) gmail.com.

We’re always open to guest blog posts from members! See the guidelines here.

Want to hang out and talk shop with other furry writers? Come join us for the Coffeehouse Chats, Tuesday evenings from 7-8 p.m. Eastern in the forum shoutbox. It’s an informal way to check in with your weekly writing progress and goals. And if you’ve got something you need a beta for, we now have a critique board in our forum (you’ll need to be registered with the forum in order to view it).

That’s it for this month (and thank goodness — that was a lot of links). As always, email furwritersguild (at) gmail.com with news, suggestions, and other feedback, or just comment here.

One last question…

Which of the new releases are you most looking forward to reading?

 

I'm not going this year, but I really hope you enjoy the city! Pittsburgh can be a very nice place, and a lot of the folks are happy you're returning. Have an amazing time there!

submitted by VinegarEel
[link] [3 comments]

I don't mean for this to sound offensive, I mean, I've got my weird fetishes too, but, are most of you homo/bi/pansexual, or female? Because everyone knows, on the internet, you're male, until proven female.

[EDIT: I accidentally a word.]

submitted by NotThatCompelling
[link] [46 comments]

More animation coming to comics! The Amazing World of Gumball is of course a popular Cartoon Network series created by Ben Bocquelet. It brings us the adventures of Gumball, a young blue cat, along with his younger sister Anais, a pink rabbit, and his younger brother Darwin, a goldfish. (Hey look, it’s cartoons! It make sense, okay? Trust us!). Now Boom! Studios have brought Gumball to the world of comics through their Kaboom! imprint. The new series is written by Frank Gibson (Adventure Time) with full-color multi-media art by Tyson Hesse (Bravest Warriors). Of course Kaboom! has a write up on the whole thing.

image c. 2014 Boom! Studios

I've been trying to find some barn owls to help for my reference picture. However I am having difficulties finding any male barn owls that aren't some form of hybrid or feral. I've searched FA and SoFurry, but I can't find what I'm looking for.

Maybe there is a subreddit for this, if someone could direct me to it that would be equally helpful. Thanks in advance _^

submitted by GyreSoul
[link] [3 comments]

Not to meet up, just wondering. :3

submitted by penbloke
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A seriously bad kitty and a music video for “Crossed Wires” by Superchunk.

submitted by Hellsion_loves_Tanks
[link] [2 comments]

submitted by ReCat
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I want to expand my friend list and meet some new furs! Add me on NA at "schmoo592". And while you are at it you might as well post your username here, lets get a massive username thread going!

submitted by schmoo_
[link] [13 comments]

submitted by unknown1321
[link] [5 comments]

TigerTails Radio Season 8 Episode 15
The latest episode of TigerTails Radio. For previous episodes, visit http://www.tigertailsradio.co.uk From: TigerTails Radio Views: 13 0 ratings Time: 02:16:29 More in People & Blogs

submitted by artbane
[link] [comment]

Time and time again I keep seeing comments about how hard it is to convince friends that the furry community isn't as sex-crazed as it seems. I see people getting into awkward situations where they need to discuss the topic of the fandom and why not everybody in it wants to fuck dogs. Worse, I see people talking about how they will "come out" as a furry when it's seemingly perceived with such negative light.

First and foremost, you don't "come out" as a furry. To be a furry is nothing like being gay. Being gay is implied - your friends will notice eventually, and it'll be made especially obvious when you're constantly hanging out with "that one guy" so much more than the friends you've known for so long. Being a furry is different. There's no implication. It's a secret you could take to your grave and you wouldn't even need to try. In fact, quite the contrary, you'd have to be trying for people to think you're one to begin with.

There's no obligation for your friends to know you're a furry. Not telling them doesn't make you some kind of liar, or a fake, it just means you have some interests that you are safely assuming will not be mutual. Simple.

Moving on. Saying that the furry fandom isn't perverted is false, but I'm not just going to leave it there, I'm going to try and back up my point, so if you've made it this far, you might as well read the rest before making your judgment.

My first piece of evidence is how people have this concept that they absolutely have to dispel how sexualized the community is. If the community wasn't mostly perverse, then this wouldn't be an issue. I keep hearing the same retort that "every fandom has its freaks/perverts/weirdos", but you're cracking an unfunny joke the moment you imply that the furry fandom in particular isn't rocking an obscenely high amount of adult content in comparison to any other fandom I can think of.

The /r/yiff [NSFW] subreddit has more subscribers than the /r/furry subreddit, by a fair margin. This is probably one of my weaker arguments, but the point still stands. There's several specific NSFW furry subreddits that make this number more staggering, and in comparison there's much fewer SFW furry subreddits. Face it. Most people are here for the porn, and that makes them perverted.

But that's not a bad thing. I'm not bold enough to say that we ALL like the yiff art, but I really want to say that at least 3/4 of the fandom is totally into it. Everyone has their kinks, everyone has their "thing" that they're into that they don't talk about with friends because, well, there's no place for that kind of information. Yiff is no different. You'd never tell your friends because, first of all, they don't need to know - and probably don't want to know - but also because they probably won't understand why you're into it, and think lesser of you. That last part is the exact same reason why just about everyone keeps quiet about their fetishes when it comes to friends. Nobody wants to be mocked, so even if the opportunity presents itself somehow, keep it to yourself.

This right there is the issue I have. Keeping it to yourself. Being a furry is closely linked to yiff art because it should be. All things considered, it makes a lot of sense. A lot of the SFW furry art is fairly sexualized to begin with. Most male characters have a chiseled, rock hard sexy body and are frequently seen with their shirts off, whether it be a slender or a bulkier frame, and most female characters are seen with revealing clothes and a fine pair of breasts, which you can see more clearly due to the cleavage being shown.

So, don't ask how you'll explain to your friends that the community isn't mostly sex-crazed, because it totally fucking is. The community is just so big that it's easy to think that when we say "most of us are perverts", that all of the things furries do at conventions, or for charities, or for parades, or awareness, or anything else must also be about sex, and it's not. If most of the fandom is about the sex, then there's still a fair amount that don't care about the sex at all.

You are insanely delusional the moment you think that the people in it for the sex are the minority. Please be serious. There's an absolutely staggering amount of yiff art in existence and many people with fursonas pay a high commission for their character to be drawn having sex with another character.

We're furries, and we love sex. This is nothing to be ashamed of, it just shouldn't be paraded around, either.

submitted by Narrowminded
[link] [60 comments]