Friends who are furry-haters.

[[Sov]]

I have some irl friends who are openly furry haters. Not so much furry haters, but they more-so just say that furries are sick fetish freaks/weirdos, etc. 


So this is more of a question: Would you keep friends who talk about furries like that? Would you try and educate them? Or just keep silent?

[Nrein]

Honestly, it depends on the friend. If it's someone whose open to reason, and has been poorly educated on the matter, sure I'll try to make them see us as who we really are. Well, the majority of us, anyway >3>

I myself, have only friends here that think furries are just odd/strange/weird/etc. Of course I'd keep them as my friends, even if they "hated" furries, simply because I know I don't fall under the stereotypes they would/could say, and I wouldn't feel personal offense.

[WingedZephyr]

In addition to what Nic said, it also depends on what that friend means to you and how often it causes an issue in your friendship.

If it's someone who is really important in your life, find a way to make it work. They don't have to like furries, they just should care about not saying something offensive to you.

If it's a topic that only comes up once in a blue moon, just ignore it. It happens. Chances are, whatever they're saying, it's not worth holding a grudge over it.

If you want to tell them, tell them. If you don't, don't. You can also defend the fandom without actually naming yourself as a furry if you want to.

[[Sov]]

That's true. I just feel like it comes up a lot with these specific friends I'm thinking of, and it always makes me uncomfortable. Like, maybe they know and they want me to say something, but I'm not really sure if I really want to or not.

[Puncia]

Not to make me sound like anyone special, but I tend to only have close/good friends that are intelligent, mature and open people. I don't mean they're all stoners or bisexuals or have unique styles, but they would let someone educated on the subject speak before assuming anything. The reason is simply that those are the kind of people I share interests with and enjoy being with.

Only one of my friends have ever spoken negatively of the furdom, and he simply asked in a bi-sentence "Isn't that sorta like a fetish thing?" and I explained it in 2 sentences and that was the end of the conversation.

But to answer your question...
Would I keep friends who talk about furries like that? Would I try and educate them? Or just keep silent? Yes, I would give them a fair and honest chance of changing their opinion, explaining to them that the fur fandom is just as harmless as a Harry Potter fandom or... a Dr. Who fandom. If they didn't listen to reason, I would simply tell them how I feel about their blind prejudice and not invite them to my parties anymore. I wouldn't avoid them however, that would be childish.

[soutthpaw]

Try comparing it to Renaissance Festivals and those who do the reinactment stuff.  My sister is big time into thise including doing the jousting with her horses, have a whole guild etc.  People attend  multiple week long festivals and seem to have no issues with it.   THe like reading/watching/ and doing art from the time period. In addition they choose to reenact the time period at events.   
With Furries its only difference is the subject matter.   There are also many who do not even know there is a fandom for what interests them.  Think all the Disney fans, animated movie fans, anthro game fans, etc.   you can use trekies or Star Wars fandom too.  but like us those are less mainstream...  [size=78%] [/size]

[Draco Vertolgr]

I have friends who say they are oaky with me being a furry but secretly dis me for it even though I explained to them what a furry really is. I think people like to believe the worst in others just for fun, I know it sounds dark but I think people are just tht cruel