What's with "hiding" furry-ness?

[RoxyRava]

I've noticed it's a common trend for furries to be afraid of "being caught" or "coming out." But why? Now, with ABDL-hood, that makes sense. But with furry-hood, I'm convinced it's not.

I've been lurking furry forums for many years, and I know being a furry is many things to many people. Still, it all comes down to a more-than-average love of anthropomorphic animals. So how is being a furry different than being a fan of anything else? Trekkies, for example, do not have to "come out." Sure, if you're into fursuits and yiff, that might come across as weird to some people. But there's no need to explain that part per se. I mean, some Trekkies dress up and do weird stuff too, but that doesn't mean Trekkie-hood is a big secret. Just a quirk. A "thing."

So why are furries so afraid of telling their "big secret"? And why do we speculate if others are furries? Why not just ask?

Basically, is being a furry such a big deal?

 

[Mesmerale]

Misunderstanding with Bestiality, perhaps?

 

[Scritcher]

I think it's because of the mass media - shows like CSI and MTV's Sex2K have frowned on us, and made us look like we're sex machines. And those are shows, or channels, that many people watch. There was also a babyfur pedophile that was covered on the news as well.

I, personally, have been attacked by an adult, of the school system nonetheless, for openly discussing furry (and, it wasn't yiff, it was abut getting a fur con here in MN), because she believed in what the media had to say about us. And, she wouldn't listen to what I, or my friend, had to say otherwise.

 

[RoxyRava]

Hmm. You both make good points.

I guess my point of view is different. At my high school, we have a popular anime club which might as well be a furry club that likes anime. In fact, the club presidents are responsible for Orlando, Florida's Furloween. Being a furry at my school is a very very casual matter.

I guess it depends on whether or not others are familiar with the definition.

 

[babibear]

I've noticed it's a common trend for furries to be afraid of "being caught" or "coming out." But why? Now, with ABDL-hood, that makes sense. But with furry-hood, I'm convinced it's not.

There are a few reasons;

It's looked upon as being childish (Oh, he still likes cute cartoon animals lol!)

Furry Fandom has and still does have a myriad of pretty extreme fetishes, ones that don't have good connotations. To add to this, there are many furries that REALLY like to aggressively push those fetishes publicly outside of the fandom.

The fandom seems to attract the socially dysfunctional even more than Trekkers once did. Years ago I had some friends who had a roommate who was fully incapable of interacting in any effective way. To have 'apartment meetings' they had to talk to him via the MUCKs, even though he was in the very same apartment.

Couple these together and the fandom has a rather seedy reputation and as such many find it good to keep their furry interests private.

 

[xdeadx]

It's usually because of most people confusing it with zoophilia/beastiality.

Some others just fear that people will react like common internet trolls.



But i'm kinda with your point of view on this subject. I don't hide it at all, I just don't go show boating it around. I wear a collar every once in a while and stuff. I don't see any reason to hide it lol

My school (from what I've seen) is extremely different though. When people ask me why I wear a collar(I've gotten it a bajillion times) I just say, "It's a furry thing" and there like... "What?"

I just plain leave it at that unless they ask for more details.

 

[LittleMonster]

I've never come right out to anyone and said, "Hey, I'm a furry," But I don't try to hide my art or anything. Both my parents have seen what I draw (which is all tame fur stuff, I'm not much for yiff) but I don't think they know I'm a "furry."

Once my parents and I saw a show on Animal Planet that featured some furries in some (horribly-made) fursuits and Cat (the tiger guy?), so they think that furries are freaks, so I'm not going to be telling them I am one anytime soon.

Anyway, I don't have the desire to "come out" as a furry; I never have. And I doubt I will anytime soon. It's not something the world needs to know about me.

 

[prometheus75]

It might be the fear of the unknown as well . . . many people would have a different perspective on what being a furry is. My brother saw me drawing a furry a few days ago and asked what it was. I told him it was a furry. He didn't act weird he just kind of shrugged and said, " Oh. . . so your one of those." and just left it at that. My brother is probably one of the nicest people you'll ever meet but its just perspective. People who aren't into it wont see the benefit of being a furry.

So "coming out" in front of people you know has a million possible reactions. It's not who you are necessarily, but who your telling. Its different for everyone at least thats my take on it.

 

[leffykit]

Misunderstanding with Bestiality, perhaps?

This would be my main reason for not telling the people I work with or certain relatives.
That said I dont hide it, I'm hardly ever seen without at least my thin leather collar on and when people ask I'll happily say I wea it because I want to, if someone mentions furry I'l chip in but wont say I am one unless they specifially ask.
theres also the fact that I'm a babyfur, my conbadge has a visible diaper on it and my fursuit is cubby looking, reasons not to say as then the whole bestiality/pedophile thing comes in to those i havent sat down and explained in depth to, like my parents and such. so far they know I'm a furry and that its just an interest but not about the cub stuff

 

[NoahKokoro]

I don't see the need to say I am a furry to others, for two reasons. One, is because of all the misconceptions and the different reactions people recieve (both good and bad). Two, is because the term "furry" is just a label that happens to include alot of different people. Since I'm not the same as every other furry or babyfur, I'd have to sit down and explain every part of the fandom that I'm apart of and not apart of, but since I'm too lazy to do that I normally just pretend I have no idea what a furry is.

 

[Grutzvalt]

Misunderstanding with Bestiality, perhaps?

*mis*understanding? Not around here!!!! But yeah, thats usually what people *assume*...

 

[JessePup]

mabey some people are naturally shy about things like being furry.

 

[Falkio]

There are a couple of reasons to keep it a secret.

The majority of normal people take the fandom at face value - some sort of bizarre sexual fetish. Nobody sees it as an innocent gathering for socialization. That is why I'm afraid to publicly identify myself as a fur. I choose not to wear any symbols or tote a collar, because I don't want to draw attention. I take pride in being a fur, but at the same time, I respect others enough to conform and be normal. Not everyone needs to see my tail and ears. I have no desire to be made aware of other peoples kinks. Privacy is courtesy.

What bothers me, is that people group AB/DL with pedophillia, and furry with beastiality. Calling it "weird and freakish" is one thing, but labeling it as "sexually deviant" is another. Anything out of the ordinary is immediately seen as sexual. I think people dislike babyfurs so much because of the convergence between the two kinks. It is simply too much to handle. If you draw the line at diaper wearing, then animals in diapers must be a mental shit storm.

I don't hide it, but I don't share it either. Its more of an upon-request thing. Ask me and I'd gladly share.

 

[NoahKokoro]

There are a couple of reasons to keep it a secret.

The majority of normal people take the fandom at face value - some sort of bizarre sexual fetish. Nobody sees it as an innocent gathering for socialization. That is why I'm afraid to publicly identify myself as a fur. I choose not to wear any symbols or tote a collar, because I don't want to draw attention. I take pride in being a fur, but at the same time, I respect others enough to conform and be normal. Not everyone needs to see my tail and ears. I have no desire to be made aware of other peoples kinks. Privacy is courtesy.

What bothers me, is that people group AB/DL with pedophillia, and furry with beastiality. Calling it "weird and freakish" is one thing, but labeling it as "sexually deviant" is another. Anything out of the ordinary is immediately seen as sexual. I think people dislike babyfurs so much because of the convergence between the two kinks. It is simply too much to handle. If you draw the line at diaper wearing, then animals in diapers must be a mental shit storm.

I don't hide it, but I don't share it either. Its more of an upon-request thing. Ask me and I'd gladly share.

Actually, I don't think many people even know about babyfurs. Furries, sure, but I'm not so sure about babyfurs or AB/DLs.

 

[Falkio]

No. Most people do not. But I meant that in regards to those "in the know". People already in the fandom hate babyfurs, and make the same assumptions. :frown:

 

[Jeffy]

DAMN CSI ruined both being a furry and ab/dl hood for me cause my parents like, obsess over that shit :/
You remember those episodes?
King baby (i think was 115)
and Fur and Loathing (HAHA Punny! I can't remember which episode)

 

[NickofNewjersey]

DAMN CSI ruined both being a furry and ab/dl hood for me cause my parents like, obsess over that shit :/
You remember those episodes?
King baby (i think was 115)
and Fur and Loathing (HAHA Punny! I can't remember which episode)

OH GOD! I just saw the fur csi episode! It was disgraceful, then I heard the words fur pile and yiffing, then they had a video recap! Is there any thing CSI can't ruin!! I felt bad watching king baby, now I REALLY feel bad for all the furries who had to see fur and loathing! link - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1vPze_IWKE&NR=1 EDIT: just watched more of the video! I can't belive it had the csi agents go to a yiffing pile! WTH this is not safe for work!

 

[leffykit]

DAMN CSI ruined both being a furry and ab/dl hood for me cause my parents like, obsess over that shit :/
You remember those episodes?
King baby (i think was 115)
and Fur and Loathing (HAHA Punny! I can't remember which episode)

The problem with CSI is tat there are far too many people out there who take it as gospel for what the job is like in real life and that yes the world is that scary. CSI is a TV show made to entertain and as such the writers have a modicum of creative icense with he truthful content.
think about it, a shooting at a furcon where its portrayed as it is in real life. people enjoing themselves and laughin and someone gets shot like in any normal hotel settign would be boring, but throw in the "dark side" and have it resulting from or connected to an orgy and that gets ratings people!!

Same with the king baby episode

how many of you took X-Files or Bones to be hard fact? Id take it none, because although its in some ways serious its still for entertainment, same goes for CSI too

 

[Fire_lupine06]

X-Files wasn't hard fact?......u.u you broke my world man....

 

[Mornavial]

ok first after watching that link I wana find and punch the guy who thought that up

Second the reason most people wont go out and say they are a furry is as others have said because like with AB/DL most just can't take the thought of people shuning and looking down on you because "normal" people are too narrow minded to lison