...help?
Hi! I'm certainly not new to the fandom, just new to this site. I have been in the fandom for a year now and I am 14. I was wondering how I might go about introducing my parents to the fandom? I have a stepmom that I know will never let me live it down but I don't really give a crap about that. I sort of want to build a partial fursuit, but I would rather explain the fandom to my parents first before they look it up on their own and find the encyclopedia dramatica article :/
So how would I go about this? I also have an older sister who isn't very likely to appreciate it.
(yes I know this topic has been posted before, but I kind of wanted to hear direct advice for my situation)
Thank you! I will make sure I try that. I really appreciate your help.
This should be a good time to refine your social skins.
I am assuming you made a typo and meant social SKILLS. Social skins brings to mind gruesome mental images 
Yes. I almost always check for typos, but skins slipped past me. Sorry.
Jayde, what Chi explained to you will be really helpful when you're introducing people to furry fandom. Over the past year, I've shared my interest in this fandom to other people, and there wasn't even one negative reaction from ANYONE! I did everything perfectly when sharing the fandom to others by being cool about it and knowing what to say. You'll be fine as long as you follow those guidelines.
My family is very accepting, so it wasnt really a problem for me... other than my dad, who can be very judgemental....
my advice would be to NOT make it sound like something thats bad or embarrassing...make it sound like youre just explaining a hobby, something that you like.
instead of making it sound like something they should be worried about, say things like "a creative group of people", "some people take alot of time and skill to make costumes, and they're really cool!" talk about the art aspect of it, and if they really want to find out more, or look at it for themselves, show them the article on this site... https://www.anthrocon.org/about-furry
An effective introduction.
OH! Turn on Taboo on NatGeo and they sometimes show this certain new episode that talks about 'seond lives' and they say fursuiters live a second life in the life they feel they should've been born with as an anthro yadda yadda. I'm 14 too and my parents COMPLETELY approve. Especially after the episode of Taboo.(; It's pretty dot on too.
Sabel Lynn Loki
Loki The Shisa
Saloki~
OH! Turn on Taboo on NatGeo and they sometimes show this certain new episode that talks about 'seond lives' and they say fursuiters live a second life in the life they feel they should've been born with as an anthro yadda yadda. I'm 14 too and my parents COMPLETELY approve. Especially after the episode of Taboo.(; It's pretty dot on too.
Sabel Lynn Loki
Loki The Shisa
Saloki~
i wish i had natgeo still. :( any one know where i can find it on the net?
I get the whole "feeling free and having fun" aspect of being a furry in public, but it's embarassing seeing a bunch of people acting like that. Especially when there's no counter-point, someone who is comfortable with being a furry but doesn't feel the constant need to wear ears or a tail, or freak out the mundanes. Like how not all sports fans cover themselves in body paint and get into riots when their teams lose.
right, but the only sports fans who get shown on TV in the highlights reels are the ones who are acting crazy.
same thing applies.
Positives. Stick with the positives. Don't list things that we are not. Say only what we are! This works. After learning it here, I've applied the idea to several other things I do.
Heh. IM NOT A SEX FIEND. D:
Uncle Kage...ha
Hey guys! Just an update- I said to my mom- "Hey, want to see something cool?" and she was like "Yeah, of course!"
So I showed her the video "Qarrelzel in fursuit" with the white lion with horns (I think ^^')
She thought it was AMAZING,
She said to me "This is what you want to do, isn't it?"
I said "Well...yeah."
She said "That's AWESOME! You can totally make something like that!!"
FTW I LOVE MY LIFE.
Good stuff! 
Hey guys! Just an update
Awww...good furry, helpin' yer mom find the awesome in the fandom without a lot of pressure or drama. Here, have a cookie.
The overall guidelines: Start Small, Play It Cool, Make Them Relate.
Start Small: Don't begin with "I want to build a fursuit and go to a furry con and I have a fursona and..". Mention small things, like "Hey, this comic strip is pretty cool." or "Look at this costume I found online." or "My friend Eddie online mentioned he's going to a convention in Pittsburgh in June."
Play It Cool: Similar to start small. Express realxed interest in this stuff, not 'Wow! This is the most awesomely awesome awesomeness ever!" Saying "I kinda like this furry stuff." is much more easy for parents to understand than a sudden "I am a furry." Interest, not identity.
Make Them Relate: Ask what sort of stuff they were into at your age, and how their parents felt about it. Likely they had some things they did in their teen years that their parents totally didn;t understand either.
--Chi