Uplifting furry experiences

[Scani]

So, here's the question... as a furry, have you ever had a moment of pride in being part of the fandom? A great social experience with other furs, an opportunity to be a 'fandom ambassador', anything like that where you walked away afterwards feeling more worthwhile for having the experience? Also, no reason to limit yourself to just one - feel free to share as many as you like, discuss previous ones, whatever you so desire.

I'll get the ball with this story from Midwest Furfest 2007 - actually, Dan Skunk also witnessed this, so...

At MFF 2007 on the Friday night, we had a few folks from Toronto - Dan, Khaz and myself - who ended up going out for a vaguely Toronto furry-ish dinner. As we stood around in the Woodfield Mall across from the hotel, our discussion was centred on... whether or not we wanted to eat at the Rainforest Cafe. Khaz and myself were decked out in furry paraphernalia (well, tails, anyway), and I was supporting the "let's eat here" cause, 'cause really, how often do you get to eat in a jungle while wearing a tail? Anyway...

While we had this discussion, a couple of girls (probably in their early twenties or so), doubtless attracted by the appearance of a couple of young guys in tails, approach us and ask about what's going on - as apparently they've seen a whole bunch of people looking just like us in the mall earlier. We respond, rather obtusely that we're attending a convention at the hotel across the street. (While I certainly wasn't assuming bad faith, I wouldn't drop the furry name on a whim.)

They fill in the blanks and say that they think they know what kind of con it is, but aren't quite sure... at this point, I can see them narrowing it down between "they're furries, or they're anime cosplayers." I encourage them to try us with what they think the con's about. Mostly because I like to play.

"Is it a furry con?"

"Yup!"

And believe it or not, the response is not anything close to "Ewwww!" *flee*.

We actually end up having a very animated conversation for a few minutes about furry in general and the convention; the general consensus on their part seems to be that they actually find it rather cool that the third-biggest furry convention in the world is pretty much in their backyard. Totally no creepout factor on their part, though, which was awesome - it's actually a lot easier to explain furry to people who already know what it is, assuming that they haven't already jumped to their own conclusions. Anyway, we leave off with a tentative invitation to stop by the hotel if they wanted to get a closer - I don't know if they actually took it.

Either way... it was sort of a cool ambassador-ish thing... maybe they were wanting to hit on me, I dunno...

[Benjamin]

Ummm...
In my case, I've had a number of ambassador-like situations.
I don't really have a detailed story to tell, but I hear every so often from people that stumbled across either of my sites (StripeyManey or furry.ca) and discovered their way into the fandom through them. They tend to be thankful of that and think of me in a fond manner. It's kind of inevitable to be in an ambassador-like role if you have something so public out there, of course.
 
As for meeting people RLwise who take an interest in furry... I'm usually open about it with co-workers... and I've yet to have any problems on it. I suppose they usually understand that I'm a rather respectable and normal person, so the fact that I'm furry may strike them as unusual or unexpected, but nothing horrible. Heh.
 
Benjamin

[Harle]

I wasn't there, but I did hear about this...

There was a situation at a con where one of the local pubs or diners or something had a little special going on for the furry con-goers. Some kind of deal where you could get cheap food if you had the furry getup going on, or something. I don't remember the details.

Anyway, some guys started harassing the furs in the pub, and the owner kicked them out.

Unfortunately, later in the afternoon, the owner went outside to do something, and one of these guys hit him in the head with a brick and took off. The guy was hospitalized. It was terrible. =/

But some people got together and pooled their money, and bought the owner of the diner a huge assortment of flowers and a get-well card, and sent them to the pub.

I just thought that was a sad but uplifting story at the same time.

[Benjamin]

Oww... That's pretty sad. It's not terribly surprising though, considering the small-mindedness of so many people out there. He did the right thing though. Nobody has the right to harass others on such a basis... and he had every right to throw them out of his establishment.
 
Benjamin

[Scani]

I heard that one too, actually - that happened at Anthrocon last year at an establishment called Fernando's Cafe.

http://unclekage.livejournal.com/68070.html

Apparently the disturber (singular) was a panhandler who was a hint off his rocker (it wasn't a confrontation by 4channers or anything like that); the rest of the story is pretty much as described. Though I don't think it detracts from its positive nature - a local business owner opening and wanting to make them as comfortable as possible without harassment, and furries opening up to express their appreciation in turn for that welcome, even to the extent of personal injury.

Wonder how many folks will be patronizing the place this year...

[Aaeden]

Wow, those are some awesome, and some awful stories.

The closest I can provide to this is when I wear my tail and ears, the people who respond best to the 'costume' are little kids. I've been pointed out a number of times by little children, probably not older than 8, who oohed and aahed to their parents about how I was wearing a tail, and most often with an open smile on my face, got a smile in return from the parents. It's that childish innocence that isn't plagued with the preconceptions and misconceptions of the fandom that can truly appreciate it. It's in that moment that I feel special and unique in my role as a furry.

[Ayres]

My most uplifting experience was my boyfriend defending my furry-ness.  His room mate was going on about how all Fur's are sexually deprived perverts, and are just about sex at conventions.  My boyfriend corrected him, and told him that I was a fur and was not like that.  His room mate then argued with him that I wasn't a "real fur" because I didn't go to conventions or meet ups (shows what he actually knows about me)  My boyfriend just told him that hes ignorent and that Fur's are really amazing people.  Gawd I love him

[Ekevoo]

I'm the co-founder of a Brazilian furry convention called Abando, with an idea similar to Feral. That was awesome. Completely mind-blowingly awesome. We had loads of fun, even without having any idea of what we were doing (first timers, eh? XD). That definitely made me damn proud of being a furry! <3

I have had other such instances too... all of them in Brazil for now. I've been here in Canada for too few months and my job leaves me very little time to actually have a life. But there's going to be some bigger events soon that I really don't wanna miss! =D And I'm definitely not missing Feral.

[Tiger_Dusk]

the closest thing to haveing a really uplifting furry experience was prolly with one of my "brothers" way up north in the arctic. He's a lion and he was questioning his furriness. We stayed up all night talking about being a furry, i dunno how to explain it ^^ i guess it was one of those bonding moments ya know? It felt really good to be furry :3

[crazyfur]

erm uplifting?? ive had more hugs from furs than  from anyone else i know i guess. Downlifting??  went to a furry meet once on Halloween and some local kids laughed at my friend because he was wearing a tail. I growled and they ran away!!

[Aaeden]

I've had locals at cons laugh at my ears and tail before, but I didn't let it bother me. Of course, the laughter was the "Wow, wtf" kind as opposed to the "you're a loser!" kind. It's nice to run into people who will actually be shocked and amazed at something like furry, because the negative stereotypes haven't gotten to them yet.