Why are you here? - A furry.ca tribute

[Drewdle]

What now feels like an age ago but was only three short years, I found out about the fur culture, and subsequently through my friend Tassimet, found this place too. Benjamin put together this great little Canadian forum for all of us, and asks nothing in return except following a few simple rules, and it's always been a great place to hang out. I've been sporadic at times in my visitations, but there are people here that always make you feel welcome.

Lately though, I've felt like I'm walking down a street where the shops are beginning to get boarded up and the paint is starting to peel. This is no one individual's fault, but it just feels that, with the exception of a few of you, we're all here less often, or have less time to invest in the furryness. I didn't realize quite how acute that situation was until two things happened; I moved, and thus put my personal life into a huge upheaval, and I saw the "roll call" thread Lady Serpent started to see who was still kicking the cobblestones.

So, I thought it would be a great way to celebrate three years, and many more for some of you, by discussing why we're here, and what makes this place awesome. Maybe if we remind ourselves, we can re-ignite some of that magic.

[ShadowKitten]

Mostly when I joined up here...I don't even remember when XD at least a year and a half ago, I had come here to start frequent meetups in my area with other furries and while they were successful (from what I could tell had the most interest out of all the meetup threads made here in quite some time); they dropped dead very suddenly last year in Spring and nothing seemed to resuscitate them nor was any real reason given to why people stopped showing any interest. I kinda assumed a few people continue meeting privately but still it would be nice to know why people just decided to wander off like that, it nailed shut a coffin on one of the very few (I'm quite antisocial and shy, or at least I was until recently, in any offline capacity) social outlets I had open to me; the second last of which is now on its last legs it seems as well so it was quite saddening to lost contact with all these people from both that community and the furry community

After this happened and because I was dealing with my first failed 'relationship' I strayed away from the site and just haven't been as active since and considering the low level of activity compared to places like the individual 'province' forums I may end up leaving the fandom pretty much altogether for the most part anyways due to the sheer lack of connection I now have to it; but right now it feels like I'm following something for no real reason and have barely anyone to talk to it about which is more depressing in my opinion than staying

but anyways, sorry for the doom and gloom talk, it's simply the truth of my situation and what may be in my near future here.

[RappyRaptor]

:3

[KapitanVonWolf]

Well a while ago I thought it was time to "come out of the Furry closet" per say. So I looked for a forum where I could get to know everyone a bit better and Googled "furry Forums" and this was the First to Appear so I join it, and I don't regret it, most of you are awesome from what I've read of you Typing .

As for meets and getting to know more furs in person I Joined Alberta Furries for the more local stuff which is much easier than here.

That's basicly why I'm here on this Forum.

[Drewdle]

:3

I've always loved this, but I meant why are you here, as in this particular forum of furryness. We've had a few threads discussing why you're a fur in general before. Although that's totally welcome too, especially if it's as funny as this comic.

[Cobalt Wolf]

Well This was my first furry forum, and I joined to meet other furries, I didn't find anyone local here to found monfur, which is my local furry group.
I find this forum one of the most active I've seen thus far and sadly thats not a good thing. I am very fond of this place and wish it was more active.

[Disel]

A wail back I find out that there was other people who shared my love for animorfic animals, cald furry so threw searching furry fandom found this plaice along with a few others.

I was just tring to get the hole dreft of it at the time.  I like quite a few furry things, aloung with some things I deedn't like.

I don't relay meet outher people that I find on line (to scared and nerves) so going to meets and  cones are out of the qustion.

i injoy talking on line to outher furs (it's like my safe sone).  so this leet me find outher furs and chet to them.


and for that i'm deeply graful.  thank you thank you thank you  furry.ca maker

[Puma_Concolour]

well, I've been drawing anthro and furry since grade two... so when i found a furry art thread on rooster teeth, i was so excited to be able to show it off... that led to me wanting to find other fur's, and seek out the community... one google search later... i found this place... i like it here. everyone has been nice, and i feel like its a closer community than my local alberta one... though not quite as large

[Daakshi]

This was my first furry site as well. I find that we're much more friendly than the alberta site... (not to cause drama or anything) There may not be as much posting here, but this way, I can read everything that everyone has said.

[blue-vulpine]

Wonderful idea, Drew!

This was not my first furry forum. I belonged to a small forum with a bunch of friends for Sci-Fi roleplays and stories, but as the group slowly dwindled away, the forum shut down. However this was my first Canadian Furry forum that I belonged to.

When I first got here, everyone was so welcoming and wonderful that I decided to hang around for a while, unlike so many times before with other non furry forums where I got bored and wandered off.
I've met so many furs from this site, both online and in person and I must say that the experiences I've had, and the experiences shared I wouldn't trade for anything in the world.

Things like bodypainting and bbqs, prowling down King George Highway to Dairy Queen with a pack of fursuiters at 8pm, road trips, getting pulled over by police for a silly misunderstanding after doing the Mentos in Coke trick behind a hotel, almost getting in a fight with an old guy at Tim Hortons during a furmeet, watching Don Bluth flicks till our eyes felt like they were almost bleeding, big breakfasts after staying up all night, room parties, having a driftwood fire and tunes on Long Beach, getting bear maced outside a local 7/11, driving a car that looked sorta like a tiger, 4x4ing in 2 feet of snow with a group of furs, night hikes, bike rides, W-W-W-WONDERWHEEL! (For all you local VI Furs who were there, you know what I'm talking about  ), and getting sand in our tails after playing volleyball for a few hours to name just a few  .

All of these memories couldn't have happened without furry.ca...
I'm just coming up to my three year anniversary at this site, and I look forward to many more years here and the opportunities that will follow. :3

Also, I thought it'd be neat to repost my very first post here on furry.ca, so here goes!

Hiya,

I'm really interested in meeting more furs in my area, so I thought I'd introduce myself here^^
My name is Trevor, a 20 year old Red Fox, living on Vancouver Island. I'm kinda new here to the west coast, so if anyone has some tips on some cool places to check out, or if anyone wants to just say "Hey!", drop me a line. I'm always up for meeting new furs^^
Catch you later :3

-Trev

I came here to meet others with my interests, find events, share my ideas, and listen to others. Since 2008, I have done just that, and I will continue as such.

To my friends of the forums of furry.ca, thanks for all the good times! To the staff of furry.ca, thanks for all your work in giving us all a place to come. :3

-Tj Bluevulpine

[Lady Serpent]

*Purrs*

You guys make me all warm and fuzzy-feeling with all these great memories. 

Great idea, Drew.

To be quite honest, I love chatting it up with people on here, and would be much more active myself if I had two minutes here or there.  Things are rather insane most of the time, especially being in the field of biology during summer field season (and my tendency to accept about six jobs at once, though only two(ish) this season, thankfully).  When work slows down a little, I do hope to be around here much more often.  It should soon; it's just been the first couple weeks of getting used to juggling such a crazy schedule and the whole thing should get a little smoother soon.  I do have a day off (mostly) tomorrow, which is a nice change of pace!

TJ:  Your memories are so wonderful.  It's inspiring to hear your passion and enthusiasm for the awesome people that make this fandom worthwhile.  Your thoughts remind me of my own experiences with the fandom (of course, some of them ARE the same memories!) and that's exactly why I'm here.  The people, the truly kind and open-minded and generally misunderstood people, are exactly what make this crazy, alternative and inspiring world go 'round.  I suppose this moment would be a good one to send much love to all of you that have made the fandom wonderful, because you truly are the epitome of excellence.

I actually came to the fandom itself out of a curious Google search, after watching the last half of the furry CSI episode, to see if 'furry' was actually a real thing, because I was intrigued by people actually going to parties wearing catsuits.  After reading a writeup on what 'furry' actually was, written by someone in the fandom, I got chills when I realized that there were actually other people out there who were 'like me'.  It was a moment of shocked realization that there was a whole subculture full of people that I had never even realized existed. 

I had always drawn 'anthros' and beast-creatures, and been interested in pretending to be an animal, and running on all fours, and I always had a fascination with costuming and playing as a creature.  My dreams were always full of me as the Darkstalker (a demon-ish feline creature from my thoughts), hardly ever a human except in nightmares.  To realise that other people were just as 'weird' as me in the same ways was truly and incredibly a moving moment.

I quickly found Furry.ca after searching for a forum to meet other people 'like me', and I haven't left since.  Through here, I met up with my first 'real' fur in person, quite a few years ago, and when I offered him a handshake and he looked at me oddly, then gave me a massive hug instead, I've been hooked ever since.

I've met so many amazing people over the years through these boards, and continue to meet new amazing people all the time as they come out of the woodwork.  We've met so many of each other in real life, had amazing times and wonderful conversations, shared art and poetry and fantastic stories, and simply enjoyed the company of like-minded people.  The forums have been such a sanctuary and I hope they'll continue to be for years to come.

It has been quieter lately, but it does happen on occasion.  The more people post, the less quiet it becomes.  Topics that get people talking, or thinking, like these, are definitely always welcome because it's exactly what brings some of us out of the woodwork.

Stay fuzzy;
-Lady Serpent

[Drewdle]

I suppose I didn't really touch on why I'm here myself.

One of the first times I visited Victoria, I spent the night with Rune at Tassimet's place, and had at that point no idea what furry was. I hadn't even had those bad first experiences people often cite as their first exposure, like finding fur porn online, or seeing some stupid send-up on television. I was genuinely ignorant, and I think this was for the best, to be honest, because I came to the table with no judgements to be passed. I've always felt a strong connection to nature, and to cartoons. I never let myself grow out of that phase of my childhood, and I was raised a Beaver/Cub/Scout. Finding other people enthralled by nature, the art, and the idea that we are all at least part animal was a startling experience.

Since that initial discovery, I have struggled with balancing my identity a bit. I hosted some fur-meets a couple of springs ago in Nanaimo, after taking over for Torwin, but it was stressful and difficult to keep running financially, so those stopped. But if not for those meets, I wouldn't have met some of my closest friends. Even though they might live in different towns and I don't get to see them much, we are definitely of kindred spirits.

My work, up until this year, has also dragged on me a good deal. You can only do something you're not passionate about for so long. So the big move to Victoria was kicked into gear, and now we're here. And I'm going to school for something I'd rather be doing. All good things. But I can't find my collar since the move, and that got me thinking about all the people I haven't seen a long while. And where some of my artistic roots lay, and whether or not I've been paying them sufficient attention.

That's why I'm here. The people, the community, the connection to nature, and to some extent, cartoons and art as well.

[Lady Serpent]

I absolutely agree.  It's the excitement and comfort of sharing something inherent with fantastic people who feel some of the same things; have some of the same passions.  Not all furs feel the same about everything, but there are so many wonderful individuals that the company truly makes it worthwhile.

My work, up until this year, has also dragged on me a good deal. You can only do something you're not passionate about for so long.

Mm, I hear you, Drew.  What are you doing these days, then?

-Sephren

[Drewdle]

I absolutely agree.  It's the excitement and comfort of sharing something inherent with fantastic people who feel some of the same things; have some of the same passions.  Not all furs feel the same about everything, but there are so many wonderful individuals that the company truly makes it worthwhile.

My work, up until this year, has also dragged on me a good deal. You can only do something you're not passionate about for so long.

Mm, I hear you, Drew.  What are you doing these days, then?

-Sephren

I'm enrolled in school at UVic, to take Theatre/Fine Arts. Also, I left my job of three and a half years to work in a local cafe as a barrista (currently training). Been there two months, and it's awesome. I get paid a lot less than I used to, but I think it's worth it in the end.