Some help with biased friends and other questions?

[yo]

So, I'm getting into 8th grade, and so far all of my friends I met in elementary think furries are the furries you hear rumours about. Im pretty enthusiastic about being a furry, but so far I've told nobody I know. Is there anything I should keep in mind when doing so? On another topic, I've never met another furry. Did anyone else have this problem? If so, did you meet any other furries when heading into secondary? Thanks!

[anoni]

Ask yourself this question, do you really need to tell them you're a furry? Think about it carefully, weigh the advantages and the disadvantages and ask yourself whether telling them you're a furry will really be beneficial.

Being a furry should be treated as a hobby, you're probably interested in a lot of things that you don't tell other people about, why does furry have to be different?

Furries are also a secretive bunch, it's very likely there are furries in your home town, but you need to find them. Try searching for a local furry forum and see if you can find some furries who can introduce you to the wider community.

[Halei-Helai]

There really isn't any reason to tell people you are a furry unless you think that they might be one too or that they are otherwise really cool and relaxed about stuff. I am fortunate in that some people I know are totally fine, but even then I don't make it my core identity and beat people over the head with it.

That being said, in middle/high school it might not be a good time to be out and proud about it. I knew a kid who wore collars, furry shirts, and even a tail to class and got his butt kicked and got called names on a daily basis. Don't be this person. Not everybody needs to know every hobby of yours.

[yo]

Yeah, I know that. I would NEVER put out that I'm a furry in high school. That would just be idiotic. My brother had to switch schools for a bullying problem, and there was absolutely NO reason that he was bullied, other than the fact that he was new. I would never do something that stupid! Thanks! 

[thefurryf0x]

Honestly, think it out. None of my friends know I'm a furry personally, though when they mention furries in a negative light, I either bite my tongue or defend them.
How close are you with your friends? If they are close, and you know they will be with you through thick and thin, maybe tell them. Or don't, your choice entirely.

Think about it. 

[Aldebar]

Some of the negative things people say about furries aren't entirely unfounded, I'm afraid. The best you can do is admit that some of the less-than-savory aspects and people exist but that not everyone who's a furry condones or participates these things. In my experience, getting defensive doesn't seem to help and can even make it worse in some cases.

I also agree with Halei-Helai in that sometimes there isn't a need to let people know about it anyway. I certainly didn't when I was in grade school, or even now, since my interactions with other furries are entirely online and the most I did IRL was draw anthro art in class. I had interests outside of furryness that I could share with my friends.

[HollowOfHaze]

Don't go out of your way to tell someone. If they ask, and you feel that you can trust them with any form of sensitive information without a doubt, then go ahead.


My experience with friends who ask is a simple "Yep" followed by everyone going back to gaming and whatnot. Honestly, I don't think anyone I know really cares, and I don't mind that at all.


It's an infinitesimally small part of who you are, don't let it become a massive concerns of what people might think. It won't really contribute much at your age.