Fursuit Thread V2 OPEN (New Poll)

[Larkspur1678]

Question: How do you all deal with bullying and insults when fursuiting?


The other day I was fursuiting at a St Patrick's day festival. So of course everyone there is a "normie" and either thinks my fursuit is cute or creepy/weird. I don't blame them. If furries aren't their thing, then hey, that's fine. But there was a group of boys (probably like 10-13 year olds) who had the reaction of "ewww a furry".

Okay, fine, I can't change their views that they've been grown on, and It's not my job to debate with them, plus they're just kids. Let them think what they want, but...

They are following me, pulling my tail, yelling "disgusting furry!", and insulting me (mainly about the 18+ side of the fandom which I don't want to be associated with, though I understand it is fairly inevitable).

I tried to calmly avoid them and ignore them. I tell myself I am more mature than them by doing so, that I'm above their insulting. And I don't want to reinforce a negative furry stereotype and confront them. Plus they're kids, I come to these events to make kids smile! And though their parents weren't in sight, I wouldn't want them to run to their parents and for me to get in trouble for telling them off.

But maannn would I have loved to walk over there, take my head off, and tell them how immature they're being. It's easy for them to yell at someone who looks like a stuffed animal, when they don't imagine a human being is in there, but if I'd looked at them face to face and spoke up I'm sure they wouldn't feel so high and mighty. Plus if their parents said anything I could just tell on them and hold the parents accountable.

I love fursuiting at events and the insults won't stop me, but how should I react to badly behaving pre-teens/teens in particular? I'm not afraid to stand up to an adult who insults me (is that a bad idea though?), but I don't want to implant an "aggressive" or "easily provoked" furry image in people's heads when it comes to kids especially.

Again, I'm not talking about younger kids, I'm talking about older kids who know better and know they are bullying.

So what do you think? How should I react? How would/have you reacted?

Just take your head off and tell them to stop. If it keeps up find their parents and/or security. Insulting you and especially putting their hands on you/your costume is NOT ok and it's perfectly fine to be vocal about it!

Edit - Just wanted to add that this has happened to me a couple times, except it was drunk adults at pride fest, and taking the head off made a big difference. You become a person and not just a character.

[Violently Violet]

I haven't yet gotten the chance to suit in public yet as my suit isn't finished, but my main suggestion would be to always have a handler. They can easily handle those situations for you to keep you safe and yet also keep the way people view you in a good, stable position. If you aren't able to have a handler, I'd say that there are probably some situations where you could play it off and not directly deal with it but if it gets too serious and issues for your safety, your suit's safety, or anything else you may be concerned about appear, I'd say it's most likely best to get yourself into a position where you can safely and discreetly tell them off and try to resolve the situation. Hope this helps! I'm so sorry that happened to you!

I actually had 3 handlers with me.. But none of us knew if we should make a ruckus because of it. Everyone's already weary of the person in the big animal costume, and we didn't want to be the "ungrateful" or "stuck up" ones complaining about kids. I don't really get mad about tail-pulling, as long as they're gentle, and it's usually from younger kids trying to be playful, but these guys were looking for trouble, trying to make me mad.

This was actually one of my first times suiting at a public event with non-furries, but now I know this can happen often, I should make a plan with my handlers for when this happens.

[22tabby]

Question: How do you all deal with bullying and insults when fursuiting?


The other day I was fursuiting at a St Patrick's day festival. So of course everyone there is a "normie" and either thinks my fursuit is cute or creepy/weird. I don't blame them. If furries aren't their thing, then hey, that's fine. But there was a group of boys (probably like 10-13 year olds) who had the reaction of "ewww a furry".

Okay, fine, I can't change their views that they've been grown on, and It's not my job to debate with them, plus they're just kids. Let them think what they want, but...

They are following me, pulling my tail, yelling "disgusting furry!", and insulting me (mainly about the 18+ side of the fandom which I don't want to be associated with, though I understand it is fairly inevitable).

I tried to calmly avoid them and ignore them. I tell myself I am more mature than them by doing so, that I'm above their insulting. And I don't want to reinforce a negative furry stereotype and confront them. Plus they're kids, I come to these events to make kids smile! And though their parents weren't in sight, I wouldn't want them to run to their parents and for me to get in trouble for telling them off.

But maannn would I have loved to walk over there, take my head off, and tell them how immature they're being. It's easy for them to yell at someone who looks like a stuffed animal, when they don't imagine a human being is in there, but if I'd looked at them face to face and spoke up I'm sure they wouldn't feel so high and mighty. Plus if their parents said anything I could just tell on them and hold the parents accountable.

I love fursuiting at events and the insults won't stop me, but how should I react to badly behaving pre-teens/teens in particular? I'm not afraid to stand up to an adult who insults me (is that a bad idea though?), but I don't want to implant an "aggressive" or "easily provoked" furry image in people's heads when it comes to kids especially.

Again, I'm not talking about younger kids, I'm talking about older kids who know better and know they are bullying.

So what do you think? How should I react? How would/have you reacted?

I majoraly agree with wolfamus, having a handler is very good, and can keep you safe. They keep others from pulling on you (and little kids that are clearly... unclean off of you if you need), can be your voice if you don’t want to talk in your suit without a moving jaw, and can make sure you keep hydrated.
Having a handler has helped me a few times now- when I was too stubborn to hydrate and also when I went to an event that was mostly little kids. Lots were fans, but I had to have my handler legitimately walk a child out of my area because they got so scared they tried to fight me?? It was... strange. Also my tail was unstable and at a point two kids tried to rip it off.
So that’s personally my suggestion, although often it’s not possible.
If that’s the case, definitely simply taking the head off and telling the kids to leave you alone, especially at a public event where you can find security and claim harassment depending on the severity of the situation (likely with minors they’ll just herd them away and scold them or find their parents).

Edit;; seeing you said you had three handlers... honestly if you feel like you’re in a place where you’re really not wanted (you said everyone was wary of you already?) I wouldn’t go unless you’ve told some form of security, or I wouldn’t suit at all. Sometimes it’s hard to go where you’re not wanted.

[72027]

omg i remember seeing the first version of this thread years ago, but never being able to post bc i was coppa'd! i'm super glad to have found it again, i love fursuits sm

i don't have one right now, but at some point i think my girlfriend and i are going to try making some! but that means i'll have to pick which of my ocs to make and that will be a tough decision lol
When you start making one, I suggest picking a canine character, preferably with a rather simple design. There are many more tutorials out there for canines than any other species and a simple design will help you to get the hang of it. Hope this helps!

oh that's a good idea! it does seem like most fursuits are of canines. i have a fox character, their design would probably be super easy to make too !! well besides all their piercings and glasses

You know, even the piercings would probably be pretty simple. Just cut holes in the foam for the piercing holes and I bet jewelry would be easy enough to make out of clay or cardboard or something else cheap. I also see someone who sells fursuit sized glasses that could be painted whatever color you need. :3 Fig's an adorable fox though!

JSHDKJLHSAKDJ dont buy those glasses! you can buy them for $1 at the dollar store!! i believe they also have them at party city and hobby lobby for $2. that person is just popping out the lenses and reselling them for a few extra bucks by labeling them as "fursuit glasses." i really hate when people do that :L

[Violently Violet]

Edit;; seeing you said you had three handlers... honestly if you feel like you’re in a place where you’re really not wanted (you said everyone was wary of you already?) I wouldn’t go unless you’ve told some form of security, or I wouldn’t suit at all. Sometimes it’s hard to go where you’re not wanted.

Yeah, I've been thinking about that. I'd contacted the event holders beforehand to make sure it would be okay for me to come in costume and they gave the impression that it was, but when I showed up people seemed kinda suprised and wary. I don't mind, but it seemed more like they were doing me a favor by letting me fursuit there? It might have just been me, I could have read the signals wrong.

But since I felt like they were doing me a favor I felt like I had no right to complain kind of? I might be more careful with what events I go to, or make sure to contact them far in advance.


Anyway, I'm curious what is best to do when it is only verbal abuse directed towards you? Like is someone is calling you a disgusting furry or insulting you but not following you or touching your suit. Should you just be above petty insults and ignore it or.. like uhh stand up for furries kind of? Or is that just asking for trouble?

[Larkspur1678]

Anyway, I'm curious what is best to do when it is only verbal abuse directed towards you? Like is someone is calling you a disgusting furry or insulting you but not following you or touching your suit. Should you just be above petty insults and ignore it or.. like uhh stand up for furries kind of? Or is that just asking for trouble?

Unless it's continual harassment(like following you) I'd just walk away. They obviously aren't changing their mind and most likely just want to provoke you.

[22tabby]

-snip-

Anyway, I'm curious what is best to do when it is only verbal abuse directed towards you? Like is someone is calling you a disgusting furry or insulting you but not following you or touching your suit. Should you just be above petty insults and ignore it or.. like uhh stand up for furries kind of? Or is that just asking for trouble?

I don’t know if I would honestly so much of “stand up for furries” as simply stand up for yourself, but only if it’s continual or they are following you just for verbal harassment.
“Hey, think what you will, but if you don’t stop following and harassing me, I will find security here.”
Or even a simple “could you just grow up and leave me alone?” Somehow, telling people to grow up seems to fluster them more than anything, haha.

[MeltiTheDragon]

You know, even the piercings would probably be pretty simple. Just cut holes in the foam for the piercing holes and I bet jewelry would be easy enough to make out of clay or cardboard or something else cheap. I also see someone who sells fursuit sized glasses that could be painted whatever color you need. :3 Fig's an adorable fox though!

JSHDKJLHSAKDJ dont buy those glasses! you can buy them for $1 at the dollar store!! i believe they also have them at party city and hobby lobby for $2. that person is just popping out the lenses and reselling them for a few extra bucks by labeling them as "fursuit glasses." i really hate when people do that :L

Thanks for correcting me! I rarely shop at any of those stores [I only go to hobby lobby for colored pencils] and I didn't know they had fursuit sized glasses. :3

[Wolfumus]

So I have a quick question. I've been working on making my first suit head and I noticed that the upholstery foam on the inside is beginning to turn yellow in some areas. Is there something I'm doing wrong or should I be concerned about it? Thank you!

[Larkspur1678]

So I have a quick question. I've been working on making my first suit head and I noticed that the upholstery foam on the inside is beginning to turn yellow in some areas. Is there something I'm doing wrong or should I be concerned about it? Thank you!

Upholstery foam discolors over time, it's happened with me as well. It's only cosmetic from what i've gathered though.