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SHARKNADO! It can't be denied. We discuss it, come up with our own movie pitches, and wax chaotic as usual. https://fsquaredcon.com Also, Xander threw up the trailer made for the con on YouTube! http://www.youtube.com/user/DraggetShow Ep 75 - Porn Storm - SHARKNADO! It can't be denied. We discuss it, come up with our own movie pitches, and wax chaoti...

SHARKNADO! It can't be denied. We discuss it, come up with our own movie pitches, and wax chaotic as usual. https://fsquaredcon.com Also, Xander threw up the trailer made for the con on YouTube! http://www.youtube.com/user/DraggetShow Ep 75 - Porn Storm - SHARKNADO! It can't be denied. We discuss it, come up with our own movie pitches, and wax chaoti...

Dear Papabear,

I've discovered the furries half a year ago and am still discovering the fandom little by little, so I guess you can't really consider me as a full member yet since I don't even have a fursona but after reading some of the letters, I thought you wouldn't mind.

I apologize in advance for my writing since English isn't my native language.

So...

The problem I'm currently experiencing isn't nearly as important as some I've read, but I guess we luckily don't all have suicidal friends or horrible parents, eh?

I'm 18 (considered as adult where I live) and am going to the equivalent of US's college. I am currently on summer vacation and just like during all of the recent years’ summers I am... well, bored. It isn't an issue during the rest of the year since I'm glad to simply get home and relax after school but on summer vacation I have enough time to get bored and the problem is that I just can't find a hobby.

I don't really have any friends since I'm not really friendly... and don't speak much... okay, okay, because I'm just completely asocial to be honest, so I have to have fun by other means, like video games and Internet and... that's it. Staring at a screen has been fun for the last seven or eight years but at this point even that begins to bore me.

Of course Internet gave me some ideas of hobbies, like drawing or writing or programming and I tried each of these but apparently just didn't... had the will (a.k.a. balls) to hold on to them (to the hobbies, I mean). Now, I know the 10,000 hours rule and that I need to dedicate myself to these hobbies in order to begin to be good and enjoy it but I apparently simply don't have the motivation to keep it up and continue even if my current results are horrible (gawd that drawing... even thinking about it hurts my self-esteem, haha...).

I think I'm most interested in drawing. I don't really know why, maybe it's the social aspect or maybe it's that you work around a single "idea" as opposed to writing where you need a lot of imagination to write a whole story.

On the other hand (or let's furrify this expression a little: "On the other paw"), programming might be a good choice too since I'm already familiar with computers (unlike pencils...) and am not too bad at math which is the main source of entertainment at school, right after doodling.

As regards the writing, like I said it does require a lot of imagination which I'm lacking... when I need it. I did tried to write a story once... and ended up staring at the screen with a notepad on it for something about half an hour.

Some days ago I wrote a couple of lines of... poetry/philosophy/whatever-that-is but I still feel better about drawing than writing.

So I guess my question is: what should I do to gain the motivation I need to start a hobby?

Thank you in advance for your advice,

Sincerely,

Lolity

* * *

Hi, Lolity,

Thanks for your letter. You can help me out a little by giving me a bit more information. At school, do you have a favorite class or classes? When you watch TV or look on the Internet, what things in particular interest you or at least catch your eye? Are there some things on the news that interest you more than others?

This will help. Thanks.

Papabear

* * *

Dear Papabear

After reading your e-mail requesting more information about my interests, I tried to do a list of them and my thoughts trailed off the subject and I ended up doing a lot of thinking... I know it is confusing but I guess my real problem is...worse?...than just a difficulty to find a hobby, which is the consequence of the real problem.

So, it's difficult to explain...

As I mentioned it in my previous letter, I have no friends and my relationship with my family is pretty horrible, all of this being the result of my efforts to keep everyone away from me. I've always been shy and didn't walk up to people first and had only a few friends in my life before we split apart or before I broke off all contact with them.

I think the moment when I switched from shy to asocial was four years ago when I was dumped by my "closest" friends, who were just some school mates when I think about it, for... basically being an annoying asshole. They were right to do this, now when I think about it because during that year I had my teen crisis and was acting really, really like a dumbass.

But the point is that I didn't feel it that way the following year and I guess this is the reason why I began not to dare to talk to others and drive away anyone who tried to get close to me. And from this point the fear of interacting with others slowly grew up to the point when I simply broke all contact with all of my friends and repelled my family to the point when I'm more a dweller in the family's house than an actual member of the family.

It isn't like they don't care about me, it's just that I'm so good at isolating myself that it's rare when we have a conversation longer than a "Hi!" in the kitchen. As regards the school, I usually just ignore anyone who tries to speak with me which gave me the reputation of the-guy-you-don't-speak-with, which is comfortable. This whole situation makes me feel horrible whenever I interact with other people which leads to me isolating myself even more.

At this point you're probably wondering what does all this have with the hobby problem... Well, I'm slowly realizing that I really don't enjoy being alone and that this loneliness makes me depressed. And this depression keeps me from doing anything, drawing, writing, programming or enjoying video-games. Of course, I don't always feel like hanging myself, these moment being actually really rare, but when I try to do something and see it isn't as good as I expected it to be, this depression keeps me from improving myself. I also noticed that these four years of not speaking to anyone left me with a real difficulty to express myself orally and making sentences but I guess this problem will disappear by itself if I begin to actually speak with people.

So, all I need to do to break this depressing monotony is simply begin to talk to people, starting with my family but... I just can't. It's easier for me to write for an hour a feeling filled letter to someone I don't even know (no offense) than to just go downstairs and speak with the people who are supposed to be my family. And this is the problem. I want to get out of this nasty situation but am too... scared?... of... nothing! I don't know how to do this, how to force myself to speak to others and I need your advice if you have one.

I'm sorry for these confusing letters and also for my writing which is probably even worse than it was in the first letter since I'm not in the best of my form right now... you know, snot and tears all over the keyboard'n'stuff...

So, thank you for your patience and sorry for racking your brain with my problems.

P.S.: On the bright side I now know what animal my fursona would be... a clam. It's gonna be fun fursuiting that.

Sincerely,

Lolity

* * *

Dear Lolity,

To paraphrase Shrek, your letter is like an onion, having several layers. First you start of with this problem that you can’t find a hobby to enjoy, then, digging deeper, we learn you have problems interacting with peers and family, and digging still deeper, self-esteem issues.

Your letter indicates self-esteem issues, which, for instance, make you self-critical of any efforts you make to draw or write or do something creative. Poor self-esteem often stems from how one is raised. You say you, apparently, have family that is caring, and yet you cannot talk to them. 

Whatever happened four years ago that drove the rest of your so-so friends away might have just been the straw breaking the camel’s back, a back already heavily weighed down by other psychological burdens that have caused you to withdraw into yourself.

The good news is that you recognize the loneliness you have created for yourself is not a pleasant shell to hide in. (That you want to be a “clam” is quite telling). But your approach of forcing yourself to talk to people and be more extroverted won’t work because you are treating the symptom and not the cause.

For you to get out of your shell, you are going to need to find the central cause of what lead you down this path in the first place. I hope I don’t sound like a broken record when I suggest that a bit of counseling could help you to find what deep down inside of you is really bothering you. You need to approach your problem from the inside out, not outside in.

Feel free to write again, Lolity, and let me know your further thoughts.

Hugs,

Papabear

submitted by RandomPotato
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I'm not a furry but I consider myself open to basically every aspect of human lifestyle choice and intimacy. I applaud all of you for being so open about your life choices in the face of certain adversity.

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Author: Fred This hefty, de luxe, full-color book is a translation from the French. L’histoire de Sonic The Hedgehog was published in May 2012. Les Éditions Pix’n Love are the corporate author; Marc Petronille and William Audureau are the editorial coordinators. Pix’n Love, founded in 2007 in Cergy, France, advertises themselves as “the world’s leading [...]

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What does a surveillance state look like? What if you find yourself living in one all of a sudden? In this week’s episode, we discuss theories on their initial creation and purpose, and spend some time talking about the concept of privacy rights in general.

Metadata and Credits WagzTail Podcast 2.0 Episode 87
Runtime: 30m
Cast: Jude, Levi, Wolfin
Editor: Levi
Format: 128kbps ABR split-stereo MP3
Copyright: © 2013 WagzTail.com. Some Rights Reserved. This podcast is released by WagzTail.com as CC BY-ND 3.0. If distributed with a facility that has an existing agreement in place with a Professional Rights Organisation (PRO), file a cue sheet for 26:00 to Fabien Renoult (BMI) 1.67%, Josquin des Pres (BMI) 1.67%, WagzTail.com 96.67%. Rights have been acquired to all content for national and international broadcast and web release with no royalties due. Podcast image belongs to Michael Adams-Wade, used with permission. Surveillance State - What does a surveillance state look like? What if you find yourself living in one all of a sudden? In this week's episode, we discuss theories on their initial creation and purpose, and spend some time talking about the concept of privacy rights in gen...

Author: Kakurady Earlier today, Pachi the Porcupine was revealed as the Toronto 2015 Pan Am Games mascot, in front of thousands of children at the annual Kids CBC Day in Toronto. CBC featured the mascot in action on their Toronto evening news. Of the six finalists, Pachi was also most-liked by the public, with over [...]

Author: crossaffliction In this issue, we have two finales; that of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles arc “Krang Wars” and the series finale for Hack/Slash, which is even called “Finale.” Then, we have Rainbow Dash in her entry to the My Little Pony: Micro-Series. So, I guess, thematically, Dash’s pet Tank is a tortoise, which [...]

submitted by Almafeta
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Back in April I went to my first Furry meetup at a skating rink where suits weren't allowed because the owners didn't wanna risk scaring any children, but tails and ears were ok. When I got there I was being my shy self, when I overheard someone ask one of the furs why he was wearing a tail and the fur responded in a way that seemed a little rude to me by answering back with a question of why she "didn't" wear one? So I have to ask, how to you respond when you are out in public, or a furry meet, when someone asks "Why are you wearing a tail?"?

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submitted by Greypuppy
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Author: Higgs Raccoon It’s been seventeen and a half years since cartoonist Bill Watterson published the 3150th (and last) strip of Calvin and Hobbes, the comic about a six-year-old boy and his sardonic stuffed tiger. Since then, film director Joel Allen Schroeder envisaged a documentary about Calvin and Hobbes, and in 2007 began filming interviews [...]

I have been a Furry for 6 years, 2 of which have been spent in RL participation in furmeets and conventions. When I started out I was so sure I was a fox. I was into Foxes before I even found the Fandom. But recently I have grown apart from my species, and I am not so sure I am a fox anymore. I don't know what I am. I have hesitated changing species cause I don't want to be all across the board, plus I have a fox fursuit already that my friend PAID THE FULL PRICE FOR AS A GIFT! I need to do some soul searching. How did everyone in here find thier true Fursona?

submitted by Hemms3
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Welcome to Fuzzy Logic episode 88! SPAAAAACE!

We start off the night discussing what you shouldn’t do in a movie theater. I’m looking at you, guy with the glowing bulge in his pants. There’s discussion of the Zimmer man guy and his impressive musical portfolio. Halfwit regales us with tales of Shin Megami Tensei 4, and then explains class based affirmative action… followed by her word of the week!

Isty has news on a couple of kickstarters, one of which we thought was dead. He narrorates his Anthrocon novel, including mention of the Ursa Majors. We won! And then he winds down with a short discussion on Texas passing rather restrictive laws on abortion.

Our emails are four in number and four is the number of our emails.

First is Shifter asking advice about how to handle being approached by a documentary. Next is Koakai discussing space matters in terms of housing and how he is interested in building a small mobile trailer house (they are TINY!).

Kuchi provides a bit more information on his situation in his hometown. Ryo then talks a little more about his new place and the church next to it.

Next show will be about time management. There’s never enough of it in a day so how can you best use what little we all have?

Write in and let us know!

Links:
Tails and Tactics
This is a delightfully adorable collectible card game that we though had died on Kickstarter, but found new life on Indiegogo! Go check it out!

Room Party! The Game!”
This is another card game in a very similar vein, only this is not furry themed. It’s based on the idea of throwing the most kick-ass room party you can! As of the time of this posting, they could still use a bit more funding, go have a look-see!

Music Break: Beyond the Clouds from the album ‘Millennium’ by Audiomachine. Featured as the background music in the initial ‘How to Train Your Dragon 2′ teaser trailer found here.

Episode Summary Music: Crash Test Dummy Man: Mega Man 2 – OC Remix

Episode 88 – SPAAAAAACE - Welcome to Fuzzy Logic episode 88! SPAAAAACE! We start off the night discussing what you shouldn’t do in a movie theater. I’m looking at you, guy with the glowing bulge in his pants. There’s discussion of th[...]

Author: thommanson These stories concern the sex and/or love lives of three female anthropomorphic thylacine clones. Only read if you’re of legal age and interested in a long review, et cetera. The first story in this collection, “Dick and Jane”, deals with the disillusionment and despair of Jane, who must learn to live with the fact [...]

Author: Draconis Welcome, Ladies and Gentlemen, Furries of all ages, you are invited to join us and our circus family for the second year of Fangcon, the greatest convention in Furry Fandom. Our convention circus circuit has us at a new location, the Holiday Inn in beautiful Knoxville, Tennessee! Start planning now and make those [...]

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