What turned you guys into furries? What sparked the interest, what solidified it? Were there any particular artists or people that got you into it? What part of the fandom do you most enjoy?
This would be a poll if they were active, but they aren't at the moment. I wonder if I could edit it later?
The first thing that sparked the interest was hearing about 'people who identify as animals and use litterboxes in schools,' which I have since learned was just a hoax/misunderstanding. I researched things about furries and soon found Fur Affinity. When I found that site I tried doodling an anthro ferret in the corner of my sketchbook, realizing that I am bad at drawing animals and struggle with people, so I expected it to be terrible, but it turned out great and I still haven't been able to replicate it XD
My first anthro drawing is also probably my favorite, and that drawing is what made me like "Yup. I'm a furry." Then I found this site and it was very exciting to be part of a larger community who share this same strange interest that people generally look down upon. So here I am.
This is the drawing. I used my fingers next to it to show you how tiny it really is.
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It's a common topic, and prior to the last kerfuffle that saw this site's Forum wiped, I'd already enjoyed reading and chit-chatting with folks about this. We all have personal stories, experiences, thoughts, hopes, dreams and fears, and in spite of a worldwide selection of lives and the paths we lead, 'Furry' is a common theme. I like that.
For myself, it was dreams. Extremely vivid/lucid at times (Where 'I' could knowingly control things). Sometimes they were nightmares, and this was causing me and my whole family problems when I'd wake them up in distress (Screaming/crying). Being the only girl out of four children, Papa almost always deferred to Momma in how I was guided (And disciplined when I earned it, and I earned it, a LOT!) and such, She went 'Western Medicine' on my young self (Best guess when that started would've been around circa age 6? 7? Anyways)... The usual psycho-babble/drugs, for a few long and miserable years, and nothing 'Helped.' As I matured and my body began to realize itself, things in some ways became worse, but I won't delve too deep into the specifics (Site Rules and basic social manners), but it was even starting to scare me. Was I crazy, or going there, fast?
At some point, Papa decided he was going to take part, and he took me to see what folks would think of/call a 'Shaman/Medicine Man' from a neighboring Res.. While this Man was mostly dressed as a regular person, his abode highlighted his Native American roots and life, and in spite of being very peaceful and calm (Reassuring even), he had that particular 'Look' some folks have, that drill right into your eyes and soul, and you feel like you're standing there w/o a thread of clothing and he can see ALL of you (Body, Mind, Spirit). Well, we had a few meetings, did a few things, and in the end he talked with Papa, Momma and myself in attendance (Something I really respected, 'cause for the most part, the 'Western Doctors' never let ME in on the conversations they had with Momma).
There's a few words he used I can't convert to English, but the general diagnosis was that past lives were making themselves known to my current one. How's THAT for an eye opening/mind boggling concept? At roughly 7/8 years of age, I never watched a cartoon depicting animal/furry characters in quite the same light again.
So that was the beginning of my Path into the 'Furryverse.'
I wouldn't have had it any other way.
From K-8th Grade I was taught under the Catholic Faith/Doctrine, and boy was that FUN! (I could choke-out a Black Hole with the sarcasm in that statement). One of the things that interested me was the overlap in all things 'Anthro' so I started with what I'd known best- religion. Angels, Devils, allthings in-between, and so on. Other Faiths, Paths, Mythologies and the stories they contained just kept me going.
So I had plenty of precedence in it, and will never waste a second of this life trying to convince anyone. They're free to choose/believe as they like, just as I am.
Now an aged adult of sixty years (That's as close as I'm sayin', so don't ask for more! lol), I've got many decades into this.
The Internet was truly a wonderous thing, good and bad. For researching stuff, reaching out across the ethereal worlds of different sites and such, seeing what others were up to, was such a fun thing to witness! It helps knowing 'I' am not the only one, of course. :-)
I love both the differences and similarities. The brilliant minds and imaginations of so many Artists, Musicians, Writers, and this all built on top of others (Disney, Hanna-Barbara, etc..). Tie that in with real world anthropologies hailing back to the earliest recorded/created things the human species has to offer, it just keeps going (Chew on THAT 'Energizer Bunny!')
It's sometimes a wild and bumpy ride, and I'm gonna hand on and enjoy it for as long as I can.
Lovely topic, and 'Thanks!' for bringing it back to the Forum!
A.S.
