Could someone set us straight?

[TundraWolf]

Well, this has been driving me nuts for a month. My mom has a friend who told her after I told her about furry and I was one that furcons are sexfests where people dress up like animals. My research says otherwise. I want to know WHAT THE HELL GOES ON AT FURCONS! And most of all I want her to be fully accepting that I AM AND ALWAYS WILL BE A FURRY! SO far she seems to think 85% of furry is yiff. It seems like 2% and that is a mere subculture. Could someone fill in the holes of this Swiss cheese!?... metaphorically.... yeah that's not going to catch on is it.

Okay so I have been over yes there is a certain caution to be applied, but that has already been gone over and I knew that from the start. I just want to know how bad furcons really are.

[Fox]

Although I've never been to a furry convention, I'll give you my understanding based on what others have told me.  Furcons are generally held at hotels, as far as I know, so the people attending that are from out of town will have rooms at that hotel, or nearby hotels.  While I doubt there are any furcons that have any fursuit orgy rooms, it would not surprise me if stuff like that happened in the private rooms of some con-goers.

Some people hook up during conventions, others plan out sex events in their hotel rooms, others just hang out and drink or whatever, but I'm sure that's all contained in private rooms.  Unless you want to be exposed to it, you wouldn't be.  Besides, I don't think you can get away with doing anything sexual in plain sight in a hotel without risking being kicked out by the management.   I'm pretty sure the cons themselves are designed to be kid-friendly anyways.

I think I would compare furcons to going to college.  People might end up going to wild parties, or get laid, and for some that might be the only reason they go, but it's not what it's actually about.

But who knows, maybe I'm wrong, maybe there are furcons that have orgy rooms, lol.  Again, I've never been, I'm just giving my thoughts based on stories I've been told by people who have gone to some cons.  I doubt furcons are any worse than any other convention, people just might dress up in fursuits for sex instead of doing it in star trek uniforms, or superhero costumes, or as anime characters.

[S2]

This is a great question!

Fur cons, like any con, can be awful or awesome; it all depends on the group of people you go with. There are people who simply go around using conventions as kinky sex flings but I would say most people are just there to role play and act silly and have fun--unfortunately a large part of that fun for many people involves alcohol. This is true for a lot of cons, really, like sci-fi/anime, and one reason why hotels seem to be cracking down more and more on late-night parties. I've been to several and never quite feel comfortable with seeing grown adults murr over each other. I wouldn't say that most furs at cons do that, but if you're not comfortable and it is near you you are going to notice it nobody what "it" is.

At MFF a few years ago, they moved into this really nice upscale hotel--not even thinking that maybe the environment would be too high-street for most convention goers. The police were called every night due to an underage drinking party or two and on the first night two guys were even arrested after getting stupidly drunk and deciding that gay sex in the pool was a good idea--though I find the idea of a whole bunch of old rich prudes walking by such an event looking on in horror rather hilarious. The downside is that that single event will probably have characterized furries in general if they were not a "fur", Chicago in general if they were not from Chicago, America in general if they were not from America, etc. How far someone places themselves from a distasteful event will dictate the scale of their dramatic reactions. I won't even go into the room party where dueling Jack Sparrow cos-players really livened up the drinking games

The reality, though, is that no hotel would host a fur con if they were nearly as bad and notorious as drama llamas like to pretend. Hotels have a zero-tolerance when it comes to public alcohol consumption, for example. The majority of people there are just there because they really like anthro animals and use that interest to connect with others to have fun and be geeky. This includes LARPs, art-offs, or simply hanging out with people you've gotten along with for years online in a central location. They key is to go with people you really know and trust and who have similar ideals and expectations about what they want out of the con. This applies to any kind of convention.

I like how declarative you are in regards to being furry--I was the same way when I was younger That tells me you probably take it a bit more seriously than "a fursuit looks like fun." Therefor it's going to be up to you to really think about what it means for you to identify with "furry" and a lot of people probably aren't going to get it and you should try not to let that one label define you as then you might get carried away. Figuring out what you like about being a "furry" and what you want out of it will determine what your con experience will be like; knowing the answers to those questions is the only way to know how you fit into the grand scheme of things. Leverage that knowledge to take advantage of things you like and to change things you don't like.

Of course, regardless of if cons are bad or good, you are really young so the chance of you ever being able to go to one (if your parents are doing their job IMO) are next to zero At least not for a few years heh heh And honestly there isn't a lot of con-sponsored events, particularly in the evening, for under-18 types due to the liability younger people implicitly bring with them. But if you go with a great group of people and have no need for con-sponsored events or tracks to keep busy, then that 18 threshold probably won't matter for you. But I guarantee it will cause concern for your parents. Nobody wants to see their kid get into trouble.

[S2]

I should also note that I have some very amusing and crazy con tales but I only remember them because of how crazy they were (which means they stood out, AKA not the norm).

[TundraWolf]

So really I didn't expect to be able to go to a furcon until I was 18. I just wanted to know what went on. Nice to know she just had a stereotype. To be honest... I kind of like being bugged about  "furry stereotype this and furry stereotype that" because it makes things... interesting... that is other than how my mom got because she thinks that is is badish. Anyways I guess I should have figured that is what furcons are like. It makes sense. Anyways since this year was oh-so-horribly-planned I think I'm going to the furmeet Oni hosts annually next year. That should be just as fun as if I was able to go to a furcon... from the sounds of it that is if not more fun

[Vulpine Raver]

I have been to one Furcon and it was awesome! =^_^= It was Rocky Mountian Fur Con. There were, like S2 said, people who went out to drink, but they didn't come back to the hotel raising up a storm. Cons usually have a board director or supervisor that makes sure that the Con remains a family-safe environment. I have never had any problems with furs at furcons. Also, furs do not usually yiff in public, even if they are drunk, again, that I have seen and experienced. The dealers tables and end of con dance is amazing. So, to answer your question, no it is not like stereotypes say. This is a touchy subject that is usually revealed on the dark side of experiences. 

[TundraWolf]

So, to answer your question, no it is not like stereotypes say. This is a touchy subject that is usually revealed on the dark side of experiences. 

Yeah, because my mom is so touchy about it I haven't told her that it is more than furry fandom is neat, but I am a furry 4 life kind of furry. I am a little worried she would be upset and try something. I want to personally meet the person who started these stereotypes, and... I don't know actually. Give him a stern introduction to the fandom I guess?

[Vulpine Raver]

Haha...yup, and give him or her a stern talking to lolfolol

[Ekim]

So if fur cons are yiff conventions, what does that make Comicon?

(I call Archer, find another costume.)

[TundraWolf]

So if fur cons are yiff conventions

One, being asexual I would have no reason to go.

Two, I would be FAR to young (for like, 8 more years at minimum)

Three, reason one, it would be boring.

[Ekim]

So if fur cons are yiff conventions

One, being asexual I would have no reason to go.

Two, I would be FAR to young (for like, 8 more years at minimum)

Three, reason one, it would be boring.

Although not specified, the question was more for Oni, or Fox ... or anyone who has watched Archer

[Oni]

If the rumors are true. One might as well just come to a party at  House Kitsune and they will get the best of both worlds. lol

[Mowr]

Oni's parties are 1337!