Your family findng out that you're a furry!

Recently I was reading this entry from LapinBeau' FA Journal. Some of the responses are quite surprising (parents can sometimes surprise you, ya know). But probably the most common is with parents thinking it's 'just a phase'. Sometimes they don't care. And sometimes, they're quite supportive....even bragging about their children's artwork and showing it of to friends.

So....anybody got any related stories? I obstain from this as my parents have know idea about the majority of my hobbies.

...Im 23, why would my parents care what I have an unhealthy fixation on?

More or less what Stranger said..

And there is one essential question: What the Fuck IS furry as a person?

There are lots of dirt someone would like to connect with it, if he WANTS. Assuming all the people related to furry share all the kinks and shit someone does as a homogenous mass.

And it's quite as justified as labeling any and every artist as crackpot pedophile wino junkie with tendency to rape and kill.

I got drunk one day and started telling my friends all about "furry". And I was showing off some art and one of them was like "I'd do that."

She's pretty smokin' to boot. Nothing to make an awesome situation better with sexual innuendo and implied kinkiness.

Just about everyone close to me knows about me. It helps that I've got another furry in the family as well. They pretty much don't care about it, 'cept my sis who thinks its an interesting side effect of creativity.

My parents know that I have an almost unhealthy obsession with anthropomorphic animals, but know little about the whole furry culture. Because they're an immigrant couple from rural families, they don't really understand internet culture, and don't really try to anyways -- they've got a small business to run.

And anyways, I'm 21. They really don't give that much of a damn about what I do in my free time, as long as I'm getting work done when I'm not.

Much like with my Bisexual nature, I don't necessarily hide it from my parents, but I don't outright say it either. My mom, if she knows cares less either way, and her boyfriend is about as bright as a sack as bricks. To both, it's more or less me being creative and expressing myself through artwork and stories. Course, my mom also doesn't read my stories but has seen my artwork, sooo.....

I found out just before Christmas that after years of trying to keep my parents from knowing that I'm a furry at the request of my brothers and sister-in-laws, My mother apparently has known all along and not from anybody in my family who knows. She unfortunately is under the impression its a sexual fetish though (as in there's nothing more to it then then the sexual parts), just like everybody else in my family all thanks to television. Narrow mindedness is unfortunately a common trait in my family. They won't even let me explain myself, or what furry is to me, which bugs me as right now I know they see me as some kind of sexual deviant, my mother especially since shes literally the only person in my whole family who knows I'm bisexual and she thinks its somehow connected to me being a furry, again thanks to the media

My brothers finding out I was a furry first was fine..... until that fucking episode of CSI ruined EVERYTHING. My oldest brother is guiliable as shit, so naturally he bought into everything that episode showed, told everybody in my family other then my parents that I was some kind of sexual deviant and literally barred me from seeing my nephew and nieces for about month because he thought I was going to corrupt them somehow or act like some of the furries in that episode around them. Eventually after a few arguments he at least made the concession that barring me from seeing my nephew and niece was an over-reaction but even now I experience ramifications of that first airing of fur and loathing every single time I'm around him or my other brother. To this day he won't let me explain myself and I doubt he ever will. he doesn't give a shit about the reality of my involvement in the fandom (which is pretty much ultra minimal by my choice), he thinks whatever he believes must be true.

They raised me on Disney...wtf did they expect? LOL!

My brother knows, but doesn't seem to care/mind. Parents, they've seen whatever I leave up in view in my room (a 6-foot tall sculpture of my fursona made out of cardboard, and gift arts I got printed, laminated, hanging on my whiteboard), but I tell them not to go into my room as general rule, and probably don't really see it among all the other assorted stuff I got.

well, the primary problem boils down to explaining what the heck being a furry is...

is it a lifestyle? is it a fetish? can you compare to being a trekkie? or a star wars fan? or an anime fan? otaku?

problem with furries is that there's no core franchise to refer to - no "go watch the star wars movies, thats what we're about, period" - there's no set definition

and without that, people start looking to the most obvious or eyecatching furry content - which usually means google or something similar, and not that much good comes from that... plus all the porn and other people online ripping on furries. woe betide he who knows nothing of furries who seeks enlightenment on ED, without knowing of ED's way of 'explaining' things.

Now, hold on. Are the Lime green? Hot pink? Maybe even a neon yellow?

My immediate family knows I draw furry art. They've seen it. So has anyone else who has asked what I draw. I don't really make any effort of hiding it, but then, I don't have to... my furries generally wear normal *CLOTHES*, and have fairly human proportions... no clothes made up of a piece of dental floss and breasts the size of Hummers here.

I know, I know, that barely counts as furry...

This. And Warner Brothers/Tiny Toons. And Sonic the Hedgehog.

Im 23. My dad already knows and he doesnt care.

My mom wanted to come to AC08 with me, after I showed her the website.. She knows I have this hobby with animals and anthropomorphic animals. She's not suprised; I've been an animal person all my life. I don't think my dad cares.

I didn't have this big "coming out" party or nothing, and I think that that's the way it SHOULD be done. I mean, would you furtively and shyly tell your parents that you...like collecting baseball cards? No! It's the same fuckin' thing with furry.

Silvermane: Your family is a bunch of twats, but you're not helping by trying to explain yourself and a tv episode that's what, 7 years old now? Let it go.

Sadly, that episode is still in syndication and shows up on TV fairly frequently. As much as we would like to forget it and bury it in the past, it still keeps popping up and still defines how the 'outside world' views furrydom.

Fortunanty MTV no longer shows that infamous episode of Sex2K.....probably because they did alot of it under false pretenses and someone might sue.

well it all depends i guess

are you a lifestyler? do you walk around the house in a fursuit? do you go shopping in your fursuit? these things complicate comming out as a furry...

on the other hand, if it is on a level simple enough that you can compare you activities to roleplaying werewolf stuff on the internet and looking at pictures related to that (i said compare it to, not equate it with) then few people would ever take offense

Well, I never actually called myself a ''furry'' but my mother knows I spend quite a lot of time on the Jack forum, (I've shown her once or twice and briefly explained the basics of the comic when she asked what I was doing) and she's seen some furry art including this on the wall in my computer/hobby room, so I have little doubt she's figured out the rest by herself.

"Are you drawing those weird little anthrapagorfised animals again?"
"Anthropomorished, and yes."
"You really like those don't you?"
"Yah I think it's neat."
"...is he a bunny?"
"Yup."
"I like his tail. It's fluffy."
"Thank you."
"Are you going to wash the dishes now?"

"no. I want them to be furry too...."

Only if we let it. You're letting it. By making a HYOOOGE deal over one fucking episode of one stupid TV show, you're showing that there is something to be made of of the episode, that something in the episode is worth getting fussy over. Protip: There isn't.

There are a dozen other articles on furry, the vast majority of which are positive and show our fandom doing positive things.

Not to be fastidious or anything.

But if this is the worst nightmare of anyone (including furry) then I'd have to say they don't have a lot of problems.

Like for instance I find myself lucky enough to wake up every morning and live though the day as I can have a mental relapse anytime.

The furry thing. Bah.

Parents know. They know I want a fursuit also. My mother has even offered to help me build one. Course it's not a priority. More to make myself "unknown" at conventions. Fat chance of that happening though :p.

Either way. There you go.

Quoted for the motherfucking truth!

Arc...

That's disgusting.

I'm cautious, at least, with random people. Like a conversation in one class this quarter got to net-groups, so I tossed in furries. One guy was all like "OH!!! Don't get me started!"

Mind you, this was a guy who's pretty flamboyant with a bandanna (and yes, thinly-veiled gay), in a group project, came up with "Incense Gas Chamber."

The one jewish guy in the class was in his group.

..... yeah.

Fortunatley, when I talked later with the hot chick I was actually testing, turns out she's cool with furries, and is gonna keep in touch with me.

Swish.

you cannot simply dismiss the effect of the CSI episode. for many its the cultural ambassador that showed furries for the first time ever - and that made for one hell of a first time impression.

Listen.
I live alone.
I do my washing up when I run out of plates or weekly whichever comes first.

And I constantly have to remind myself that a refrigerator is NOT a stasis pod.

*queue's up Toys in the Attic*

Have you considered freezing yourself until they're invented? Oh, and remember clean at the first sign of movement or things will get ugly.

I "Outed" myself to my parents years ago.... they were just happy I wasn't gay. HA HA HA....*facepalm*

My worst nightmare is someone at the STATION finding out.... Jesus Christ...

Why, don't they let furs on the train there?

Station, as in my Duty Station, where I report each day to work

where is that now that you mention it...

Suddenly that Soap Sock Beating scene from Full Metal Jacket comes to mind

Not even in jest guys.

...Is this covered under the whole "Dont Ask, Dont Tell" thing?

i just think they dont wanna hear it to begin with

Still not my worst nightmare, not even by a long shot... But in all honesty I'll have to admit I certainly wouldn't enjoy it if my co-workers found out.

Meh, I'll be thirty years old in a couple months, I'm openly pagan in a christian family, and my parents hate the woman I'm dating, to the point of threatening to kill her if she ever shows up on their doorstep. Me being a furry is the least of their disappointments in me. We've all just agreed not to talk to each other about things we don't agree on, which, of course, means we don't talk very much at all... but at least it's quiet.

I smoke, i drink and I have sex with girls whilst wearing viking helmets.
My parent's have other things to worry about.

Ok so I made that last part up. I own no viking helmet.

Everyone in my family and almost everyone in my social circles and workplace knows that I’m a fur, and I’ve never had a problem with it.

First of all: I’m a greymuzzle, and I long ago stopped caring about what anyone thinks about me or what I do.

Secondly: I’m a broad-shouldered 6'4" and 225 lbs. So if they did have a problem with it, they probably wouldn’t dare show it anyway!

But mostly it’s because that before most people learn that I am furry, they already know me to be a very kind, intelligent, levelheaded, “normal” person.

The conversation often goes something like this:

THEM: Didn’t see ya around last week. What, were you on vacation?

ME: Yeah.

THEM: So, ya go anywhere?

ME: I attended an anthropomorphics convention.

Anthropomorphic being a five-dollar word for most people, it almost always gets the desired response.

THEM: An an-thuh-puh... what?

That’s my in! I give them the definition of the word, and then usually use the well-worn but simple Star Trek comparison.

Kage recently had something to say about this situation, and I agree with him. Especially about not describing yourself by what you are not. He uses the motorcycle-gang analogy. Which, as a motorcyclist myself, I can relate to. I also agree with him about the infamous CSI episode. Just laugh it off. It is a work of fiction after all. (And for the record, I love the “Fur and Loathing” episode of CSI! To me it’s high comedy! I mean... Dead raccoon on the side of road, run over by a car, who turns out to be a dude in a fursuit, who was also shot, and who also reeks of civet-oil? You can’t get funnier than that!)

Uncle Kage at RainFurrest 09 ‑ Putting Furry in a Better Light ‑ 3 of 3

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kS2d6efvysQ

(Parts 1 and 2 are well worth watching as well.)
WK, that is exactly why I AM a furry. The furry fandom is the first and only one that I have ever found interesting enough to take a direct and active role in. To use the Star Trek analogy again: You go to a Trek-con, and the biggest difference you might find between one Trekkie and another is probably the old "Kirk or Picard?" argument. I neither want or need a core franchise. Too limiting. Too boring. And, BTW, I do consider myself a Trekkie. Just never went to a con for the above reason.

And thats what good old family love is all about ;D

I'm not saying that its a bad thing that there is no core franchise for furries. i like the fact that it is so easy to define it for yourself - i really do.

i'm saying that for the purpose of explaining what furries are to norms, then it can be a problem - or at least a hindrance.

i dont ever think the furry fandom is going to 'defined' in anything other than really really broad terms for any official purposes, but as an aspect of the fandom it represents a difficulty to explain it

With all do fairness, I have never heard anyone getting kicked out because they collected baseball cards, I've know two people who have had that very same case happen to them with regards to furries. Only one of them managed to finally work things out with their parents.


In the case of my parents, both of them are supportive. I actually told my mom about being a furry by referring to the CSI episode (I did explain its a bit of an exaggeration). Its rather nice like that, especially with my brother also being a furry (we're waiting on my sister at this point), since I can talk about how much fun meets/cons are with them. That, and knowing that my mom knows about the "all foxes are gay" joke in the fandom.

See, Siri, when I hear the claim that "my parents did kick me out for furry" I have to wonder what else is going on there; what's not being told. I refuse to believe that it is JUST for furry that a parent would throw their kid out of the house.

I have no doubt that furry might be a catalyst, or the straw that broke the camels back that caused someone to get thrown out, but the be-all and end-all? Sorry, I just don't see it.

I have a couple, you want one of mine? Only used twice whilst working at the renn faire.

My mom's known about me going to Anthrocon the last three years now. =p Pretty sure she don' give a damn. My grandma knew of it, too, don't think she particularly cared.

...Yeah, this family's weird enough as it is that none of what I reveal really surprises anyone around here. Although while my bro laughs off my Hawt Half-Nekkid Furry Chix Pix, my mom might have a heart attack... >.> *hides the evidence*

I'd come out of the furry closet if it didn't take so damn long to explain this kinda stuff. I tried explaining it to my friend as Scotiacon is taking place in his hometown of Inverness, and I had to explain the concept of furries like 5 times before he got it. Imagine explaining it to 2 people who can barely grasp the concept of lolcats (well, my mums taken a shining to them, but my dad just can't quite get them).

I always thought a furry's worst nightmare was their parents walking in on them in a furry suit having sex. Then once they take their masks off they realise not only is their child a furry, but they are also gay.

Then again I guess that IS your family finding out you are a furry. Albeit in a rather upfront and graphic way heh.

...And ruin my 1,000-dollar, custom-built suit!? O.O BLASPHEMY.

I think my mom is confused by it overall but she knows I'm not an idiot and even after we watched that CSI episode, first time, together (because we bought the DVDs and were getting very into the show because it's crime drama) I was embarrassed and shaking my head in disbelief and she was all:

"So...is tha-"
"Sooooo not."
She WAS right about the cat "girl" being a guy though, give her that XD

My dad I think is more worried but he knows I know more about online communities than he ever will so he knows he can't really tell me on anything.

How about having sex in a fursuit and having your parents walk in along with a vet asking; ''Are these the two you want neutered?''

(What? We're talking nightmares aren't we?)

Not going to try and change your mind on that, at for the sake of fairness, I don't know either. I, on the other hand, can believe that a parent would do that for just one issue, considering there are parents who would do the same for being gay/loving the wrong person/choosing the wrong career path. Some people are just that uptight.

See, I can understand, I can fathom parental rejection for those other things. Those are Big Deals. Those things can Change The Rest Of Your Life, Possibly For The Worst.

But furry? It's a goddamned hobby. Even the most unreasonable Crazy Evangelical recognizes the hobby of it. Whether or not the approve of stuff associated with the hobby...

Personally, I can't, if you honestly think someone is making a bad choice (even if its in your own mind) the last thing you should do is give up on someone. My 2 cents worth.

Also, I think you're projecting your own beliefs on this matter, cause not everyone considers it a hobby.

Ive known friends who's parents kicked them out for having different political beliefs. It's fucking stupid but that's just how some people are.

Hobby or not it can really fuck you. For example my girlfriend is a lolita, you know what I mean. Since my mother discovered that she has been over me to broke with her, just because she is different. Of course I don't listen to her is just stupid, but my mother is really energic about that. I thank lord she dosen't know what a furry is.

Here, where I live just three people had asked me if I'm a furry and I just respond: what's that?

Ugh, I'd reccomend not dating a goth. It's a ..... useless thing, in the long run.