I wish I’d known the fandom was a thing sooner. I discovered my interest in anthropomorphism pretty early (because 80s cartoons), but I lived in the middle of nowhere growing up, and even after we (finally) got internet access, it was pretty bad… I didn’t have a lot of opportunities to just go browse around much, and it wasn’t until late highschool that I realized there was a whole fandom built up around it. This discovery, unfortunately, came about when I got involved in a separate community that was openly hostile to furries, which led to me feeling real awkward about the whole thing, and not really feeling “safe” being openly furry (even online) until years later. I wish I’d just been myself and not worried about what strangers on the internet thought (and started associating sooner with people with similar interests, rather than trying to fit in with folks who clearly did not.)
Kinda same. By all accounts i should have been a Deviantart kid in the 2000’s, i had the exact right set of interests and tastes; but i didn’t get a computer until 2010 and by then i was way too insecure and guarded to do anything artistic. So i just… hung out. Never being fulfilled creatively, never sharing my imagination with anyone. It was miserable. Hell, it’s miserable right now.
If anyone younger is reading this: it’s the internet, you’re safe behind a username and no one will find out. Be cringe.
I wish I’d known the fandom was a thing sooner. I discovered my interest in anthropomorphism pretty early (because 80s cartoons), but I lived in the middle of nowhere growing up, and even after we (finally) got internet access, it was pretty bad… I didn’t have a lot of opportunities to just go browse around much, and it wasn’t until late highschool that I realized there was a whole fandom built up around it. This discovery, unfortunately, came about when I got involved in a separate community that was openly hostile to furries, which led to me feeling real awkward about the whole thing, and not really feeling “safe” being openly furry (even online) until years later. I wish I’d just been myself and not worried about what strangers on the internet thought (and started associating sooner with people with similar interests, rather than trying to fit in with folks who clearly did not.)
Kinda same. By all accounts i should have been a Deviantart kid in the 2000’s, i had the exact right set of interests and tastes; but i didn’t get a computer until 2010 and by then i was way too insecure and guarded to do anything artistic. So i just… hung out. Never being fulfilled creatively, never sharing my imagination with anyone. It was miserable. Hell, it’s miserable right now.
If anyone younger is reading this: it’s the internet, you’re safe behind a username and no one will find out. Be cringe.
Sound like you had quite the journey. I’m glad you’ve found your people.
Me, too! I like you folks! :)