Anyone else out there find a hard time fitting in with the fandom when you're young as much as i do?
It keeps me from doing alot of things in the fandom id love to do.
Just wanted too see if any other furs feel the same way.
Don't gripe too loudly. You aren't out working nine to five (Or worse) shifts so you can pay your rent and buy your meals.
Took that the wrong way a little
Uhm. How exactly did you take that the wrong way?o.o
Changed the stupid post to fit more what i was going for, im not complaining, just wondering if other younger furs have a problem fitting in around the fandom
Oh, okay, I see what you mean. Basically you don't feel comfortable being in the fandom because not as many people are in the same age range as you. Well I guess the most I can say is get to know those who are the same or near the same age as you and just hang with them. Don't let the age get to you, we're all the same people inside and all soft and fluffy on the outside. :3
Thats what i was going for :p
and now and then some of us even turn out scaley ;P
Haha bud, the furry community is probably a good 30-40% of people from your age-group (which, as a percentage might not seem like much, but when you compare it to the other demographics it's quite a large number). You probably don't see as many of them at fur-meets and conventions because they're still in school and don't have the money to attend such things. I found out I was a furry around the age of 14 and I'm now 23. I didn't find the furry community/being a furry any more difficult than just being a kid, in general. In fact, the community was more my solace away from being a kid than anything.
: Zurik November 28, 2011, 04:03:04 -07:00
Thats what i was going for :p
and now and then some of us even turn out scaley ;P
HEY! o.=.o What's wrong with being scaley? *glares* And yes, I've been a scaley all these 9 years. Still proud to call myself a furry though. =P
I don't really find much difficulty fitting in; a bit annoying though that there's nobody around that's my age, but eh~ Make the best of the resources available :3
@Naetholix - There's nothing wrong with being scaly; they're awesome 'n' sexy and the likes~ -giggles- <3 ^_^
Age differences can be a challenge on both sides of the spectrum, trust me. The average age is somewhere in the mid-20s in our area, roughly. The nice thing is the fandom is fairly open and accepting of all ages. Still, I know I look around and feel positively ancient at some events. =P
: Zurik November 28, 2011, 03:40:56 -07:00
Changed the stupid post to fit more what i was going for, im not complaining, just wondering if other younger furs have a problem fitting in around the fandom
Can't speak for everyone, but at my events (potLucks etc.), I do my best to include all ages and make EVERYONE feel welcome!
I found the fandom when I was around 13-14 years old, like Neox I am now into my 20s and still happily in the fandom. (same dragon I have always been I may add lol) the median age group is 16-25.
But the way your original post sounded I think you might be referring to being age restricted on FA or the fact that you can't yet drive and hang out with furs? If so that's a problem all furs gotta go through and really no one should be in a huge rush to grow old, its over rated no matter what the prudes tell ya lol.
: Drake Wingfire November 28, 2011, 12:19:43 -07:00
I found the fandom when I was around 13-14 years old, like Neox I am now into my 20s and still happily in the fandom. (same dragon I have always been I may add lol) the median age group is 16-25.
But the way your original post sounded I think you might be referring to being age restricted on FA or the fact that you can't yet drive and hang out with furs? If so that's a problem all furs gotta go through and really no one should be in a huge rush to grow old, its over rated no matter what the prudes tell ya lol.
I think if you try hard enough, you will find others in your area who would give you a lift to events
Like Gizmo said: There might be people available to drive you, just gotta find em~ Posting on event threads that you want to go, seeing if someone can come pick you up will probably help. :3 Don't be surprised if someone asks you to meet them halfway, so be prepared to take transit sometimes too.
I've been drawing anthro's and following anthro artists since 2001. (11 years old) Slowly getting into the fandom throughout highschool then finally moving out on my own in 2009 (19 years old.)
Sure, it can be hard when no one around you if a furry. Though, finding open minded friends help. As Drake said, don't be in a rush to grow up, because once you grow up you'll want to be young again. So take your time and enjoy being young. You have a lot more freedom then you think you do XD I'm almost 22 and life is full of responsibilities, lack of time to do anything thanks to college and being a full time artist, which makes it super hard to get out to events even though i have a car.
Where there is a will, there's a way! Just communicate with the people around you and you'll get there :3
I found myself in the fandom through Pokémon, and at that time I was 15. I'm not going to vouch for the majority in terms of the furry fandom, but it seems as though the 13-16 adolescent age range is the prelude for all of us in a sense. I apologize in advance if I don't make sense. xP
A little.
I'm 18 in a month, so I'm not thaaaat far off, but I've been really nervous to go to any meets or anything because most people that do get to attend are older than myself. Not that I feel it's a bad thing- I just personally find it a little hard to picture myself hanging out with people who are around 10 years older than me.
But then again, I just realize that we're all in this for similar reasons and how accepting everybody is.... And I get over it! Haha. I'm still nervous about my first meet, but only because I'm meeting new people. Not so much because there is an age difference.
This news is good to hear :P thanks all for shining a little light on the subject for me.
In my opinion, I woudln't think of it as a problem. Age is a social construction. Self-proven in terms of my experience. I may be 20, but I look like I'm 17. Perhaps I just physically age slower than my "socially agreed upon" age.
It's an interesting phenomenon to consider but I will spare the sociologist's sociocultural jargon and state that if self-imposed "weighting" can be accounted, I'd be 18 years old. xP
Oh well, having said that, I do like being considered at first-sight to be younger than what I actually am in terms of age. :birdy:
I only got into the fandom a few years ago (and only recently made a fursona) ... so I was already an adult.
I talked to a couple that were around here. One is now one of my best friends and the other is an awesome friend who moved before we met.
Just be friendly and look around. It's not too hard, but I know what you mean with being young. I've been a fur since I was 12... You don't see many kids under 16/17 around here, so it sucked until I got older and met furs my age. XD Still haven't met more than a couple in person, let alone even gone to a meet, but it seems like there's a bunch now. Before you know it, you'll get older and kids your age will start showing up. Don't sweat it :P
Okay, this is an opinion coming from a kid who has been verbally bullied throughout his primary and secondary years.
There are young furries out there, but they fear they will be bullied for their "deviant" interests, so they keep it to themselves.
I'm saying this as one of the factors.
Frankly, I can admit to feeling a bit 'out of it' with my age. It seems at least how I perceive it that everyone is younger than me now. I remember a time I used to be called a pup because I was younger than everyone.
I'm not saying I'm quite there yet but occasionally I've had that idea run through my head of not quite fitting in, being a bit older and less in 'it'.
(http://26.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lsrjh8MWAX1qm2jg9o1_400.jpg)