Are there facilities to change and lock up stuff at the center.
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I have a question: My question is this: Is there a place for fursuiters, like a locker room, where we can take our fursuits in a duffle, change into them at the convention center and lockable lockers where we could lock our streetclothes/fursuits, so we could alternate throughout the day? With all that media gauntlet going on, I am not so sure I wish to wear my suit, tail or show outward and overt signs of being a furry. I have no desire, what-so-ever in becoming the nation's TV freakshow de jour!! |
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The short answer is: no. Unless you have friends who are staying in the Westin who are willing to let you store your gear, there is not anyplace secure to keep it.
But you seem overly concerned about the media outside. There is no "gauntlet" to run. If you do not wish to speak to them, just do not acknowledge them. They are not going to corner you or in any way force you to talk to them.
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permalinkI am not overly concerned with what the media will say about me. It is whether or not my co-workers at work will see it. It is more a matter of my professional image.
And Now you have to hear a story for this to make some sense.
I worked in a laboratory as an Scanning Electron Microscopist/Mechanic/Grad Student helper (When they got stuck operating the SEM) and all around guy to fill in the gaps. I did this for "Undergraduate Work Studies Program."
It was the superconductor facility at University while I was finishing up my chemistry degree. My boss, an Oxford university graduate and professor there, was a VERY arrogant, self important, NOSEY overly-competitive, domineering, mentally and verbally abusive man!
One day I caught him going through my portfolio for my drawing class. I was taking an intro drawing class to satisfy fine arts credits. Well I had a few drawings in there with me as a werewolf. He teased me non-stop about it. (That was fine.) People hide their fear of what is different with humor. And this man poked fun at me non-stop! He did it because up until this point he thought I was as pure as the wind driven snow. Indeed, he never knew anything "Different" about me until that point.
This man was the type when he felt threatened a little from someone, he found something dirty about you to use against you. Now there is another story that caused his feelings of "Threat."
I had worked as a handyman for like 10 years before I went there so I had a lot of skills and experience for repairing and even ad hoc-ing something until I could make a more permanent repair. (When you are a Handy-Man you have to work on everything from soup to nuts.)
Until then, he had done this solely on his own for his entire laboratory. They hired me initially because I had to rebuild a vacuum pump for one of the Microscopes and it was spread out in pieces and no one knew which pieces were faulty and how to put it back together. (Apparently the previous guy quit and left the pump scattered in about 200 pieces on a lab bench!)
I walked in the day I was hired and the boss showed me the pump. He told me "The previous guy left without telling us what went wrong with it.."
I looked all these parts for about 30 seconds. It was PAINFULLY obvious to me! I pulled out three parts.
"This is bent, this rubber piece here is rotten and you will need a new one of these."
So that might have made him feel threatened.
But it was most apprent one day when I completely plumbed 6 ceramic tube furnaces with supply and return cooling lines, using copper tubing, a task he had not done for the 15 years he worked there, I think I might have made him feel threatened. Out of 60 plumbing joints that had to be soldered, only one leaked! This guy had no sense of humor and quietly went back to his desk to brood. I knew when he had found something on me it would be hell to pay. He was quite vindictive like that.
Now I told you that to tackle the next phase. For months he had not known anything dirty about me. Now my best friend, who also worked there, we had discussed furries and my getting a fursuit. He thinks this whole thing is really cool! But somehow the word got back to the professor and for the 1 1/2 years I remained there, I did not live down the humiliation of the rest of the group and the rest of the Epitaxial (Thin Film) and Superconductors department! I was the laughing stock of the P Chem department! No one took my work and presentations seriously anymore. They treated my presentations with skepticism. I have no idea what this professor told them. I know they thought it was more than just a hobby for me.
They would laugh and snicker at me in the hallways. They would even have hushed whispers about me wanting to be a werewolf, suffering lycanthropy perhaps and some other, well not nice stuff that I cannot repeat here. .
It was bad because the work I did there was legitimate, and because my boss was so JUVENILE and SO JEALOUS that I could outplumb him, he told the rest of the groups about me and werewolves. You know it is bad when you have grad students asking you "Are you really like folks they showed on Sex 2 K/CSI?"
I was so glad when I graduated and left that place in my dust!
I wasn't the only victim of this bastard's torment either. He teased the rest of them too. My friend got it bad, REPEATEDLY from this man when it came to fixing something mechanical. My friend had pulled in one day with his 1967 Mustang overheating and scalded his arms severely when he opened the radiator. .My friend never lived it down whenever we had to fix a piece of mechanical equipment in the lab. This professor always dragged it up and tried his best to insult him any time he could for it.
I know...It is a long story, but it is part of my problem. I would really hate for people I know and like to turn on me suddenly if they saw it on CNN or Fox News Channel and then I was speaking there. I am sure where I work is TONS more professional but I am still nervous about it. I am in Oilfield specialty chemicals and they tend to be for the most part, red-necks, that would undoubtedly poke fun at it. I would think after they got their fill of laughing about it they would want me to come to the company picnic in it! But I really do not want to cause a possibility like what happened at university.
You know, the more I think about it, the more I think being behind the mask of my fursuit would be a much better idea.
If I am asked I can talk inside my suit without feeling ashamed because it is likely no one will know who I am.
Thanks. I got to thinking about this a bit more clearly and it will work out.
Sylverwolfe
The Heavy Metal werewolfe
Bang your head!!! Metal Health will drive you mad!
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permalinkBlog: [Link]
? what's "dirty" about being a fan of anthropomorphic characters or having a mascot outfit?
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permalinkBlog: [Link]
I've been trying to get this point across for years, and can't get people to understand.
Anything is "dirty" if you present it that way. If people would stop dwelling on the seamy side of the fandom, then there wouldn't be any need for anyone to feel embarrassed about being part of it.
I am constantly seeing young kids freak out that their parents might find out that they're Furry. For God's sake, what exactly have they been telling their parents about the fandom?
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permalinkLocation: San Antonio, TX
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Uncle Kage please google furry. It's not too comforting
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permalinkLocation: NJ
Meh, just be patient. Eventually the ACLU will decide we're an oppressed minority and the accompanying slew of discrimination lawsuits will shut the detractors up forever. ;P
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permalinkYou can't be serious, I certainly hope!
Curtailing the free speech of others, no matter how distastful the words might be is also limiting your First Ammendment Rights.
Sylverwolfe
The Heavy Metal werewolf
Bang your head!!! Metal Health will drive you mad!
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permalinkLocation: So Cal, California, USA
Website: [Link]
I'd rather do things illegal in most countries to the ACLU then let them represent me. They have gone form a useful organization to one that just causes trouble.
=)
Tiger kitty ready for AC, at your service,
Verdauga
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permalinkHere! Here!!!
That outfit is the reason this country is sliding into the sewers of lack of morality!
Sylverwolfe
The Heavy Metal werewolf
Bang your head!!! Metal Health will drive you mad!
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permalinkLocation: Chicago, IL
I could present you with a large list of seemingly innocuous phrases or words that when googled, present pages and pages of pornography. While I understand where you're coming from, I think most people can be reasonable about this.
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permalinkYou know you are right: That is the way it OUGHT to be. All things being reported the correct way and an ideal world that would be the case. People would see that many of us just come there to be silly and some of us are there in animal suits that are a means to just be what Jung referred to as our "Animus" (Our inner selves.)
For me wearing the fursuits are about being the me I am around people I trust. In public around people I do not know or people I do not know very well I am reserved and some people have told me I am wound up tight. They think I have no sense of humor. Inside my fursuits I can be who I am at home around folks I do not really know too well. I am the jovial person I am in private.
This however is not a perfect world and the news media is just as centered upon ratings as the Networks etc. So because TV networks and news seek ratings, they take a portion of the furry population, whom acts in shall we say "An Adult Manner" with everything and they create a new truth based upon perception only.
The Media is NOTORIOUS for this! (I do not trust them any further than I can throw them!)
Furries are percieved to be strange and therefore the media will use anything strange to find sensationalism and ratings.
Sadly, the really activist type members of the fandom are all too eager to feed these trained minions of the news media all they want to hear and the media laps it up by the bucketful!
And Honestly, please for just one minute, admit it: We are adults who like to play role playing games (Games that many people give up after their college days) or wear costumes on days that aren't Halloween. (When Kids like to give up Halloween before they reach High School) And we come from far and wide all over the USA and the World to see other adults who like these same things. It does appear strange to outsiders. Just like the Star Trek Fandom, the Harry Potter fandom or Star Wars Fandom appears strange to outsiders. (I say that, however, for whatever reason, these don't seem as "Sinister.")
But it is sadly the representation of a portion of furry fandom that acts in a manner that differs vastly from the rest of the nation. This is protrayed and because it is so shocking to most, and there are no other mainstream sources of information about this fandom available to the rest of the world, the fandom is being protrayed in a biased manner.
Instead of me being, what appears to me, to be a lonely voice these people hear trying to dispell the rumours, I would rather just live in the "Furry Closet" and keep my big mouth closed about it.
Now Others feel this way too. Their parents have seen stuff about Furries on TV and think their kids are into the most shocking parts shown . I for one dealt with this problem. I waited to tell my mother. I waited until my Wolf fursuit showed up at the door and she third degreed me about the package. My mother's first words to my father about it were as follows:
"Well apparently your son is a furry-pervert like from CSI."
It has been a long battle to discuss this at home and I think many furries who are still kids and still live at home are really afraid of what their parents might say or think. I realized my worst fears with it and I cannot blame them.
Thankfully for me My parents were able to see a less negative side of it.
They had to see me at the church Halloween carnivals and Bazzars and the various other little shin-digs like it for the church, and various communites around us and it was then they realized I just liked being a big goof in my fursuits.
I think that many furries are worried that their parents will disown them. I DID! I finally got through it and it meant a lot to me when they sat down with me at supper and asked me why I wore the fursuits.
Unklekage: The main reason kids freak out like this is FEAR. Plain and simple.
I worry people will think I am a freak. Only friends and acquaitances of mine that have been into my apartment and actually seen my fursuits hanging up know about my furry hobby. I am just not prepared to blurt it out to anyone I meet. I am not like that. I do not need to flaunt it and I do not need to get their acceptance. I like wearing the fursuits and being silly and for most that is enough.
Sylverwolfe
The Heavy Metal werewolf
Bang your head!!! Metal Health will drive you mad!
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permalinkI'm really sorry you had to go through all that. And your words are strong and true, too. I consider it to be the same thing as sexuality, as something that should only be discussed when appropriate, not advertised (like 2's rant on it). In the meantime if someone gets stuck in a spot like that again, I think a good response would be, "No, we don't do stuff like that. Think of it as cosplay, just with animal suits". When I ask around about that, people seem to have no beef with cosplayers except for a generally non-hostile "oh yeah, they're geeks". Seems much better to the alternative in my opinion.
There is one person I'd like to tell though, my best friend. But I can't. Years ago, he saw CSI and that MTV program. I brought up the subject only once, telling him I met a "furry" at school and asked him if he knew what it was.
His response? "Oh those freaky people who dress up like animals and attach [censored for a family-friendly forum] to their suits and [use your imagination here]?"
I kindly explained to him what furries really were and how that stuff ended up on TV, but I couldn't come out and tell him that I was. He's opened minded and I'm bringing him around slowly but surely, and someday I hope to invite him to Anthrocon. AC is a nice place and all, but first I have to get him comfortable with the idea of furs.
-There is no truth
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permalinkMy best friends from my childhood weren't really surprised. All of my friends knew I wanted a wolf suit since I was like 13 years old. They saw me in it and said "Yep...He's totally you!"
No need to be sorry for me. I am fine. I just got tough during those days.
Sylverwolfe
The Heavy Metal werewolf
Bang your head!!! Metal Health will drive you mad!
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permalinkLocation: Philadelphia area, PA
Yuck. I'm really sorry that happened. It must have been very painful, especially coming from someone who's known you all your life. *gentlesnugs*
That said, and with all due respect, it probably would have been a good idea to mention that you were planning to order the fursuit first. A lot of people take to an idea better if they can hear about it before they see the evidence. And parents tend to worry about stuff a lot more if they don't know about it from their kids--if we don't tell them, many figure it's because we have something to hide.
I found out that a dear friend of mine was transgendered when he bounced up one day and said, "Good news! I got a call that my testosterone arrived at the pharmacy today! I can go pick it up!" I've had another trans friend for years, and i was still a little thrown for a minute there. In retrospect, mel did say he told so many ppl that he forgot he hadn't told me. *wrygrin*
I'm glad your parents were finally able to see you inside the fursuiter, and recognize how much innocent joy it brings you. Here's hoping we continue to learn, as a group, how best to share our furriness with others and make them feel welcome in our community.
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permalinkI found out later that it was the fursuit that upset my mother. It was a long and drawn out bit of time. She did not know I sold some precious metal to buy it. I had procured some platinum doing an odd job for someone and smelting precious metals. So when my mother found out that the suit was bought with that instead of my savings and then she learned I was making friends she got off my back about it. I had a hard time making friends and she thought that it was like Star Trek or Star Wars and just laid off of it.
Sylverwolfe
The Heavy Metal werewolf
Bang your head!!! Metal Health will drive you mad!
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permalinkLocation: MI, US
Website: [Link]
Getting used to wearing a tail outside, in public, can be hard, but overall it can also be very fun! I've already made a few trips to the local college town wearing my furry regalia (read: tail and tanuki-mario T-shirt) and it's quite a rush. I think you'll probably end up having more fun if you don't have a problem flaunting your fur ;3
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permalinkThe best thing to do when going out for eating etc, is simply remove your badge, ears, tail or whatever it be if you don't want to be bothered. I only had a badge, but when I went outside, I tucked it under my shirt. Don't make it obvious that your some tourist outsider.
Nova Scotia's Raptor, Rappy!
Aim: Velociraptor9o
msn:
yim: raptor_90
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I have to agree that if your not wearing anything remotely furry, that your badge gives you away.
While walking to the Westin to set up last year a gentleman accross the street pointed to my friends and I and yelled out ' HEY THERE THEY ARE!!! FURRIES' And proceeded to gawk and follow us out of utter curiosity.
Though we found it amusing, I can see others finding it a bit unwelcome.
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permalinkSeconded.
I've been told at various conventions that con badges of all types are nicknamed, "Mug me!" badges. I.e., they're a dead giveaway you're from out of town and are potentially carrying large amounts of money.
Unless you have a black belt in an arcane martial art, it's probably better to remove badges or cover them when you're outside the hotel and convention center. I am not aware of any Anthrocon attendee who's ever been held up, but God forbid, there's a first time for everything!
And remember to travel in packs.
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permalinkLocation: Montreal , Quebec , Canada
... Am I the only one who is'nt affraid of "big cities" here?
Somehow everyone seems to think we'Re going to be raped or mugged at every street corner XD
HAHAHA
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permalinkLocation: Kalamazoo
It's not fear, it's common sense. It only takes one person out of everyone in Pittsburg to ruin the Con for someone.
Going out in a T-Shirt and jeans to grab a bite to eat is a LOT different than going out wearing ears, Tail, and con badge.
You have to realize that if someone already has the intent to ruin someones day, they are going to pick the 'best' target they can... and someone from a convention, staying in an expensive hotel, is going to be at the top of the list.
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permalinkNo. I live in Houston, Texas. The 3rd or 4th largest City in the USA. It gets as rough as it can be sometimes here.
The reason folks think stuff like that is the media's over sensationalism of it. The instances of violence are reported more often than more positive news because they like any other TV program seek ratings.
The consequence is news filled with lots of crime coverage and therefore people fear to let their children play outside, to go out after dark, etc.
That having been said it is just wise and common sense that when in an unfamilair surrondings, you have people and lights as well as a buddy or two.
Sylverwolfe
The Heavy Metal werewolfe
Bang your head!!! Metal Health will drive you mad!
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permalinkLocation: Jacksonville, Florida, USA
Jacksonville, Florida native here. I frequently go out across the town in my furry get-up.
Generally, you want to use common sense. I can tell when there's a potential for trouble. Avoid dark spots and passing too closely to people. Also, pay attention to the body language and general clothing style of people. While it may be considered profiling, it's better to err on the side of caution.
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permalinkBlog: [Link]
I second the motion. It has been the advice at big conventions of any sort for many, many years.
It is also highly recommended that people not walk around by themselves, especially after dark. Be it Pittsburgh or New York or Chicago or Ames, Iowa, it's not a good idea to do that. Having one or two people with you is the safest bet. Come on, it's a convention! Bring your friends with you! And if you don't have any, then it's a fine opportunity to make some!
If you're traveling in a large group, go ahead and wear your badges. It makes the local merchants love us all the more.
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permalinkYes. I have to say that is a good plan. I am meeting a few friends there. They are the reason I decided to go this year. I was planning on next year until a few things cleared up in my schedule.
One I havew met at another con, the rest I know from furry boards I have helped them moderate and run.
Sylverwolfe
The Heavy Metal werewolfe
Bang your head!!! Metal Health will drive you mad!
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permalinkLocation: NJ
Funny, I wore my badge everywhere I went in Pittsburg and no one ever bugged me at all. But then again, people tend to avoid looking me in the eye no matter where I am. I have been told I have the 'evil eye' and that my smile is chilling. I suppose that's a good thing. >:}
I do work in science. Genetics to be exact. Everyone I know there knows I'm a furry... nobody makes fun of me. Wonder why... >;3
Really, it's all in the work environment. In the hospital labs (and the biomed database company I worked in previously), we're all mega-nerds and a large percentage of people are heavily into anime and cosplay to begin with, so its actually pretty normal. ;D
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permalinkI guess the matter in question has been answered, but if you want to store your bags while you're in suit I could store them in the wagon for you. I'll probably be parking in the convention centre parking lot which is just a quick elevator ride down from the headless lounge.
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permalinkThanks Ledgema,
I wished I had seen this comment the other day. I will bear that in mind whille there.
Sylverwolfe
The Heavy Metal werewolf
Bang your head!!! Metal Health will drive you mad!
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permalinkWebsite: [Link]
LOL, Ill admit, I happen to be breifly featured in one of those media bits. Most of them were simple "WTF" sortof peices not meant to poke fun, but only normal folks asking questions about why were their people running around in animal costumes. I personally have no problem with them being there, but yes, I agree, some of them need to show a bit more discretion about taking pictures of folks and publicizing the material. Yes, freedom of the press is a nice right, but sometimes I feel that they abuse it a bit. I was not at all asked for permission for a photograph, but they took one anyways and I didnt even know till I saw my butt(quite litterally my butt) on TV. I was that one guy "is it a dog or a wolf perhaps" I didnt mind that much cus my face wasnt on TV, but it would still be nice if they would at least show enough courtesy to ask first before videoing me and putting it on TV. I know, I really cant argue that one very well as we are entitled to the right to freedom of press, but its how I feel and I dont mind expressing that feeling. Yes, you dont have to tell me, I fully understand why we have the right and I appreciate it, yet, I still feel the media abuses it occasionally.
However, lets not have this topic turn sour over an argument over media folks. SO, on to the business of telling where one might find ways of getting around the con without encountering media folks.
Here is what you do. Walk from the hotel(second floor of the hotel), straight across the bridge that connects it with the con center and up the elevator. From that point is access to the second headless lounge(the first being inside the actual hotel) and several other convention activities such as the ballroom events, the game room, the photo shoot if you want to have your picture taken with all your freinds. OR, you can move across the con center and use the other elevators on the other side of the center to take you down into the middle sections of the con center where you can access the entrance to the dealers room, artists alley, and art show. You might explore the area before making the trek in suit. Its not that long of a walk at all, but will seem longer in suit as you might find yourself meandering around with your vision impaired. The path is completely sealed off from media activity as all of it lies within the confines of the hotel and con center(including the bridge that connects the hotel and con center) and because of this, media companies cannot photograph or videotape you and publicise the material without breaking the rules of the con(which strictly say, no video or general media coverage will be taken on convention grounds and publicised for any reason unless prior consent is acquired from the convention to do so. No, thats not a quote from the standards of conduct, that one came from memory, so only use it for a side reference.
The path is also quite often used by other congoers and can even be accessed from the parking garage. You could easily use it to get from the con center to the hotel without encountering one single news reporter.
Such as the woman who produced a very nice article on AC last year asked permission to do a small article, was given permission and was escorted around the con and allowed to ask questions and take interveiws. She even started out the article like she was gonna trash us and then said: nope, there aint anything to trash, these people rock, Im gonna come back next year for my vacation. So yeah, expect to see her getting random hugs from fursuiters this year.
Fact is, its up to you if you want to avoid media folks and yes, there are ways of getting from the hotel to the con center without encountering them. AND if you need a place to change, there is also the headless lounge in the con center, but you must also keep in mind that fursuits should not be left unattended in the headless lounge. Its not a storage room, but a place to take off your suit and cool down or just take it off completely and transport your suit in a container back to your room. There are some suiters who rely on it to get into suit such as the robo wolf and that giant dragon suiter that shows up every so often. They simply would not fit into the elevator, so they have to change in the con center.
CJ
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