Do you remember your first time?

[Dan Skunk]

The first time I met another furry was here in Oshawa.

I looked up some local furs on either this web site and started talking on ICQ with one alot and eventually we decided to meet up.

I think we just walked around talking about stuff for a long time. He told me about some other Oshawa furs and some meets furs had in Toronto.

And well, now, I'm always happy to go out and meet new furries. I especially like helping the shy ones and getting them to open up and feel comfortable.

I organize furmeets, I'm staff at cons, and I run a web site that helps local furs find each other (That I got from Ben). I've helped match up a lot of furries with each other, helping them find new friends and mates. I've helped get a few local communities started and built accross the province by introducing local furs to each other.

Furry has give me so much, it's enriched my life so much, introduced me to hundreds of amazing and interesting people and changed the way I look at the world.

I can't help but want to give back.

If anyone's looking for furs in Ontario, I've build up a very large database of of them.

http://www.furnation.com/toronto/members/

427 furries from every corner of the province all interested in meeting new furs.

[Deoge]

427 furries from every corner of the province all interested in meeting new furs.

AND ITS GROWING MORE AND MORE!!!!!!!!! WOOT!

Dan...thx to your website I found 4 other local furs PLUS! I knew one of em from nearly 9 years ago and he only lives 1 min from my house!
Karadur, Me and other local fur (She says she knows me aswell  ) are all gunna meet up!!!

Dan's the Man!

[Dan Skunk]

Karadur, Me and other local fur (She says she knows me aswell  ) are all gunna meet up!!!

That's awesome.

'Bout time someone got some stuff happening out there. I remember when furs there were talking about there being no other furs around them.

Good luck.

[Aaeden]

I find that the whole 'there aren't any furries around me' to be a very well-built misconception fed by the following:

1. A fair number of 'starting furries' (not all, by any means) tend to be social outcasts to begin with, and their social skills and social circles are minimal at best.
2. What defines a 'furry' is still a matter of question. I know a BUNCH of people who don't identify as furries but definitely fulfill my social quota just as much as any 'real furry' does.
3. Transportation is a big limiter. Looking at the remote areas some of us live in, not to mention the lack of ability to get from point A to point B, we are definitely restricted in the amount of areas we can look for 'furry friends' in.

So really, the fact that there are no furries around is just completely untrue, it's a matter of finding and getting to them that's the problem, and Dan is definitely doing his part to help find them!

[Dan Skunk]

Aaeden, yes, and that's the whole point of the project.

Silfur started that site to just an aid to Toronto furries, but I think it's grown far beyond that now.

I like to help welcome those social outcasts and help them build their confidence in social situations. Even among other furries, some are still very shy an need a little encouragement to feel comfortable and accepted.

There are a lot of furries that don't really identify as furries for various reasons. I've found a number of them and showed them that thats what they are. I tell them a furry is any fanatic of funny animals for any reason and that everything else is just a matter of diversity. There's no rules for being a furry, you don't have to join a subculture or subscribe to any particular philosophy.

Part of what makes furries so accepting is that diversity within furry. With so many different beliefs, perspectives, and lifestyles, we *can't* pursue our furry interests together *without* accepting others.

There are a number with transportation issues I find, too, yes. There's a few furs on that list that are in small towns with no way to get anywhere else. I remember one fur like that who was so happy when I managed to find one other fur near them and they've become really good friends.

[Aaeden]

Mmmm... there are a number of people who don't identify as furries even though they know what furries are. Two-spirited people, for instance. Additionally, there are a number of people who are very close to shamanistic studies who have animal totems that are a part of themselves, so much so that it relates in their social lives. And yet still, they are not 'furries'.

It's not always about convincing someone that they are a furry, but allowing our definition of furry to include them without removing their ability to be whatever they choose to be.

There's a lot of people out there who just don't realize it, but there are others who are quite aware and yet are still not classified in their minds under our umbrella term.

[Lady of Michtlan]

First time meeting furries, huh?

I think it was a fantastically dramatic moment!

We were trying out a new pub to locale for meets - it was an evening meeting of which I attended after working a long shift at the pet store.  I went with my friend Bit (a lovely but awkward gentleman) and met there my friend Kiba.  Already - by this time, I had downed 2 Pints of thick Sleemans Honey Brown and was ready for the entirety of the group.

There were around 20 people at this event - VERY overwhelming for a crowd anxious person like myself!   However, 2 MORE pints later, I was fantastically tipsy and gaggling and laughing with all the local furs.  It was a lovely evening.  I think I said a lot of things that were not appropriate, but we need not repeat that ;P

Actually, a lot of my furry meeting stories have been influenced by drink.  How irresponsible is THAT?!

Mich
*Drunken Rat*

[Dan Skunk]

Aaeden

Mmmm... there are a number of people who don't identify as furries even though they know what furries are. Two-spirited people, for instance. Additionally, there are a number of people who are very close to shamanistic studies who have animal totems that are a part of themselves, so much so that it relates in their social lives. And yet still, they are not 'furries'.

Different things entirely yes. Nothing to do with anthropomorphic animals, really. For therians, though--perhaps that's what you mean by two spirited--I can see the relevant symbolism. Which is what my interest is, mostly.

It's not always about convincing someone that they are a furry, but allowing our definition of furry to include them without removing their ability to be whatever they choose to be.

There's a lot of people out there who just don't realize it, but there are others who are quite aware and yet are still not classified in their minds under our umbrella term.

Yep. Just a matter of how you want to define it. I just take the most common element rather than adding other things to the definition.

Lady of Michtlan,

Actually, a lot of my furry meeting stories have been influenced by drink.  How irresponsible is THAT?!

Hehehe. I wouldn't say it's irresponsible. Do what you enjoy.

I know not everyone's into doing pup style meets though--then again not everyone's into conventions either.

[DJDarkViper]

just throwing this one out there because i know of a couple,

there are some people who totally fit the bill of being a "fur", but they do not want to associate themselves with the Furry Fandom in any shape or form.

[Pashnekwa]

I've never met a fellow fur...
But hopefully in the next few weeks I may meet Reyus 

[Deoge]

I feel ya! Im gunna be meeting up with a few local furs tomarrow, cant wait! lol two of em I knew well before I even knew they were apart of this fandom!

[Dan Skunk]

I feel ya! Im gunna be meeting up with a few local furs tomarrow, cant wait! lol two of em I knew well before I even knew they were apart of this fandom!

This going to be the first Chatham furmeet?