I swear I'm not a gold-digger or a creep!

[Cinder42]

Well, this is odd now isn't it. I'm pretty sure a lot of people have experienced this, and it's not exactly a life-threatening issue, more just me grumbling over a self-conscious frustration that's been nibbling my bum for years, and inviting you folks to do the same, see we aren't alone in this!

The gist is, it's incredible to me just how difficult it is to talk to people you look up to, or make friends with people online, particularly in the furry community it seems. Yeah, that sounds absurd, and like I said, this is more dumb mumbling, but let me elaborate. I am very into art. Be it animation, digital art, traditional art, fusuits, whatever, doing it myself, or seeing other people do it, I'm super psyched about it, my life revolves around it. I'm the sort of fan who, when I like someone's work a lot, I also really want to get to know them as a person. I'd love to just hang out with them and be buds. I make art of my own so it's not like I'm in it for free art or anything, I just want to chill out at have an art friend to talk to about it all with. Trouble is, bring around to my first point, artists on the internet seem to be impossibly skittish. Weather closed off to all but purely professional interactions, or just impossible to reach, they never really seem to be the slightest bit interested in talking. I understand people like their privacy, some people just don't like to make friends online, all that jazz, but it seems to be every single time. The "I already have a group of friends, I don't need more" comes up a lot, at least in my head but it hurts a bit so I try to ignore it. My squad is ever expanding, always room for more. Is it just an artist thing? Are artists all just silent introverts who keep to themselves unless they post artwork. Am I just weird for constantly wanting to make friends and talk to the people who look at my work, and people who's work I admire. I put artists I idolize on a pedestal, one only supported further by their aloofness. If I ever get popular as an artist, I never want to be on a pedestal, I want to be all up in my fans like we're all homies.

The biggest reason I brought this up at all is because I recently joined a site for furs in my area. There is a small group of people around my age who I saw at a con a while back but we didn't really talk since I was only there half a day. They make suits and go on outings frequently. I recognize them though and I want to just say "hi, I recognize you from the con, we didn't' really talk and I know for a fact you don't have any idea who I am but I would love to chat and get to know each other more, I don't know anyone else my age in real life who's in the furry fandom, let alone does the same art as me so I would love to have some friends I could talk about it with without just getting blank stares in return" But I can't because JUST READ IT! That sounds like something a complete phycho would say! I'm a fifteen year old girl so I'm not that intimidating, but through the internet I seem like a forty-year-old perv-man, or just a desperate little freak. And worryingly, does the fact that I'm overthinking this so much make it creepy? I'm pretty sure it does!

[HollowOfHaze]

I know what you mean. The same thing applies to pretty much any group of people who are interested in a certain subject. If you try to deviate just a  little bit from what they want, they pretty much shut the door in your proverbial face.


Sorry to hear that you had that experience Cinder. I think that the general perception that most people have of "Either it's some overly-energetic prat or some old neckbeard" is not just your experience. I've come across similar issues before. Try explaining to a bunch of people in a Skype call that you aren't just some 20-something year-old psycho.


It's not you, it's the fact that communities as a whole tend to act like that. There nothing any of us can do to change that.
Keep doing what you're doing, and I am sure that eventually you will find some people willing to interact normally as well as interacting proffesionally/sincerely.

[Tim Siguire]

I noticed this and it piqued my interest. Well, anyways I am agreeing with hollows. The community has a habit of staying with what it likes. And you aren't alone. I over think things a lot when it worries me, but that's what makes it normal for you to want things.

You are a cool person and have good art. I'm already in your homie fan base.

Now, the upside is that you aren't obsessed with every person you find an interest in. Its normal to want friends, and its normal to want to know them. I actually feel like that whenever I meet someone. But I often keep my distance because I'm afraid I come off as creepy or aherm.. Too interested.

[Zane the Fox]

Well. I a open artist. I always looking for a new way take art from wood craving...metal work. Pen. Pencils. Fire work. Food. Whatever. I like to have artist friend that be professionally and sincerely.