Any Aspie fursuiters out there?
 "Come with uncle and hear all proper! Hear angel trumpets and devil trombones! You are invited!" Location: Horsham, PA
Blog: [Link]
|
I have a condition commonly referred to as Asperger's Syndrome and was just curious if there were others on these forums that have it as well. For anyone who's not familiar with Asperger's Syndrome (or AS for short), it is a mild type of autism characterized by deficiencies in social interaction and non-verbal communication. For example, people with AS or "Aspies" have trouble reading others' emotions through their body language, their topics of conversation tend to be one-sided, they have unusual areas of interest and try to get people to be interested in them rather than they taking an interest in the other person. As a result, Aspies find it very hard to make friends and are often easy targets for bullying. Some even suffer from depression because of it. Living with this condition has been hard for me most of my life, but with the guidance and support I've received in the last few years I've made some significant improvements in my life, and I'm a better person because of it. But there are always going to be challenges for me that non-Aspie people won't have such a hard time with. Going to my first AC in '09 is one of them, particularly because it's a big social event and I'm not going to know many people or even anyone at all. I've read some posts on here about some introverted people who just walked aimlessly around the con looking for someone to talk to but either were ignored or didn't have the confidence to try and strike up a conversation w/anyone. I sure don't want to be one of these people, and that's why I think it's important to try and find people on this site who have had some of the same problems I've faced in life. So if you're out there, let me know! |
Delicious
Digg
Facebook
Google
Yahoo
Technorati
Icerocket
Do you only want to hear from Aspies who have fursuits (which is what you titled
the thread), or all Aspie furries whether or not they have a fursuit?
- Login or register to post comments
permalinkLocation: Horsham, PA
Blog: [Link]
I meant all AS furries in general. I thought you had to have a fursuit in order to be considered a "furry." I'm not quite sure how it all works since I'm new to this scene.
- Login or register to post comments
permalinkYou don't need a fursuit in order to be a furry, any more than you need to own an exotic car to be an exotic-car enthusiast. Approximately fifteen percent of Anthrocon's attendance wears fursuits; a few percent want their own and can't afford it, and everyone else partakes of the fandom in other, equally respectable ways.
That said, the titular question of this thread touches on an interesting tangent, which you very nearly missed in your post. Asperger's makes certain aspects of social interaction difficult for those affected; a fursuit can enable one to interact socially under a different set of rules. So the million-dollar question is, might someone with Asperger's find the use of a fursuit to be, in some way, advantageous / beneficial / cathartic?
I always remember a blurb from this article on last year's AC...
--
iSKUNK!
- Login or register to post comments
permalinkLocation: Horsham, PA
Blog: [Link]
That's a very good point you brought up about fursuits. When people are dressed in costume and they are together for the same purpose, it seems easier to fit in and be more accepted. I don't like to use analogies, but the same thing would apply for, say, a sports team. Everyone on a team is dressed in a uniform, and the reason they are playing the game is to win. In order to achieve this goal there are certain rules that apply, so everyone on the team would be on the same page and communication would be a lot better.
- Login or register to post comments
permalinkLocation: Alaska
There are, I'm not one of them, and I'm friends with many. If you get in a situation where you don't want to be at the con and want to hang out with a smaller group of people, some are AS, you can drop me a line. I won't bite, and I certainly know the limits, so I won't make you feel uncomfortable.
How long have you known about your AS and have you been dealing with it? Many who have AS learn how to deal with it if they've the capability, as I found out with one of the furs who doesn't like to visit the con. Well, he had multiple reasons, but he still loves you all.
I actually spent more time with the groups which organized outside of the con than actually physically be present at Anthrocon. This did make me very sad as I missed ArtSlave's fursuit and the creative writing programs.
Next year! *shakes paw*
- Login or register to post comments
permalinkLocation: Horsham, PA
Blog: [Link]
I was first diagnosed in 1999. Between then and 2006 I had seen some therapists off and on who were specialized in treating people with AS, but I couldn't find anyone who was around my age that had the diagnosis whom I could possibly be friends with. In 2006 I joined a social group with young adults in the Phila area that mostly have AS, and I've been with them ever since. We get together every now and then for social events. Some are more high-functioning than others, but we have a lot of camraderie and I enjoy it very much. Outside of this group I've been performing in community theater for different troupes since 2004 which I also enjoy. I'd love to meet more Aspie & (supportive) non-Aspie furs at the con or outside of it! Thanks for your interest.
- Login or register to post comments
permalinkLocation: Horsham, PA
Blog: [Link]
I'm just curious: how did you find out your friends have Asperger's? Did they tell you straight, or did you discover that there were oddities about them and they told you after asking what's wrong with them? Where did you meet these peoople?
- Login or register to post comments
permalink