Greymuzzles
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Do greymuzzles face discrimination in the fandom? WagzTail is distinctly lacking in older podcast hosts and guests, but we did the best we could and brought you the old Path Hyena and the also-old Braniff. We then proceed to speculate.
What are your thoughts? Leave them below. We’d especially be interested if you’re 35 or older.
3 Comments
So, is like “old” is when you are 30 years old or older?
You guys are cracking me up! I was doing my first anthro art in college back in 1984.
As for me, I don’t feel much discrimination in the fandom, but I do find it hard to relate to younger furries in terms of music, culture, and attitudes. This makes it hard for me to make close friends, except on a superficial level. The frame of reference is too different. However this isn’t related to furry per se: It’s the same with college students. I have classmates who are half my age, and though we work well together academically, we don’t hang out together.
The age difference, culture change, attitude differences – that makes it awkward to socialize. That, and my own kids are now starting college. That makes it feel kind of weird to hang out with a 19 year-old socially, and “not” feel like a dad or uncle.
Suiting is a little bit different: When in my fursona, I don’t seem to have the same barriers, because no one seems to have any clue that I’m older.
Early-40s fan here. I think you covered most of the points! Generations and pop culture make a big difference, not having grown up with the same cartoons, movies, books, tv shows, etc. Plus yeah, it looks weird when you’re hanging out with someone younger, or vice-versa.
On a personal note, as I’ve gotten older I’ve found I have less patience for personal identity drama. Everyone goes through the young adult “Who am I, what should I do with my life” angst and experimentation. Watching people experience it again and again gets repetitive, but there’s nothing that can be done except wait it out.
When I meet younger furries who’ve gotten at least partially past that stage and have mature, intelligent opinions about themselves and the world, they’re a lot more fun to talk to! But age is never a good indicator of that; I’ve met 18-year-old furries more interesting to talk to than 26-year-old furries.
I’m early 40’s. I’ve never felt any discrimination due to my age. I’ve actually gotten a lot of respect because of where I’ve been and my knowledge. Because of my age, I’ve “adopted” a lot of furs as kids (or rather they’ve “adopted” me as their dad…and grandpa for a few of them.) I actually started out in the furry fandom rather late (Sept 2011). I can relate to alot of the younger ones, though not with everything they do. Course, I’ve never really looked my age, so trying to “act my age” almost seems like I’m trying to act older than I really am.