Furry Convention Essentials: Howl Out Social Bands

[@spottedpeltwc]

I love this idea. I’m autistic, and when I’m overstimulated I feel like I don’t want to talk to anyone but also want people to know I’m not okay at the moment.

[@joringedamke5597]

Ditto.

[@Latte_The_Dame]

Same here

[@izoraiza7169]

if i go to a con i am gonna diy a badge that will tell everyone that it's my first time at a con since i have everything required to diy one. it'll just say new to cons, new to conventions or something like that to let everyone know i'm in a unfamilair place/scene to me. if i get a fursuit i'll buy a fursuit collar they sell and make a tag to go on it saying new to fursuiting so poeple know to be careful around me since i am not used to it. i have the skills and supplies to diy these things on my own. if you are ok with it you can get someone who makes custom badges to make one for you so that people know about you being autistic. my friend's little sister wears a bracelet that shows she's autistic in really crowded or busy areas. you don't have to have something stating you are autistic specifically if you don't want to but it helps some people like my friend's little sister.

[@LucidShuck]

I’m so glad some cons simply hand these out now. It made me so happy to see Anthro New England not being only had free social tags available but also designed them to fit that years theme.

[@fadedhyena]

I got those on preorder, they're amazing. I have the chest bag and take the yellow Anxious one everywhere, I love having a subtle furry item that's functional in public and not just a shirt.

[@axgelbxnny]

we need these outside of furry cons 😭 i want this to be a norm for everyday life; it would make everything so much easier

[@FinnThePanther]

I know a few people who wear these everywhere with them! They may be furry themed but not furry exclusive!

[@trevormutt]

I love the idea of "I'm socially awkward and working on myself, please talk to me" but then being able to switch when "my social battery is too low to talk to new people". I've seen similar things that has more options (I.E. deaf, blind, yes hugs, no hugs, no pics, etc) and it's a delecate balance between communicating enough vs too much info. I feel like these tags could be difficult too for colorblind people - is that red or green. I feel like big icons are helpful in those cases.

[@SMV-CC88]

Reminds me, I have a "How's my driving?" bumper sticker, next to the "BEWARE OF REAR TURRET" one.

[@izoraiza7169]

my friend did a diy for a friend who goes to a bunch of cons which was basically one of these but with a printer and resin on colored paper. she had colored paper made for a printer printed one out put it in a resin mold to coat it so it could last a long time. she made it so it could clip anywhere on a cosplay or bag her friend had. if I go anywhere and can't get one online i can easily diy one for a con since I have the same stuff to do so. if i go to a con for the first time i'll make one saying im new to the con or something so others know i am unfamiliar with everything at the con. if i get a fursuit i'll get one of the fursuit collars and diy a tag for it saying that i'm new to fursuiting so people know just for safety reasons right where everyone will be able to read them easily in big letters.

[@ShadowMythicalGaming]

This is actually pretty useful for fur conventions it’s great they actually made them because it’s give a flag like Green: I’m open to talk Yellow: I’m feeling nervous and anxious Red: please don’t talk to me Definitely need to be at every convention WORLD WIDE

[@uiopuiop3472]

skabidy toilet in 2024: noo way skabiddy in 2225: yeah it sool cool

[@ShadowMythicalGaming]

@@uiopuiop3472 ain’t interested in that rubbish as it is cringe

[@uiopuiop3472]

@@ShadowMythicalGamingimaginne an anthro skibiddy toilet tho

[@ShadowMythicalGaming]

@@uiopuiop3472 that would just be awkward to see and very weird

[@uiopuiop3472]

@@ShadowMythicalGamingyea

[@IAmShadowfire]

We need those bands for everyday life, not just the conventions

[@mo0nflowersart]

We do! I think it would really help with social interaction especially for people with autism, anxiety, depression, etc.

[@aidenlegobatman]

​@@mo0nflowersart as someone with autism, I agree with both of you!

[@Autenaten_McCready]

Question: If you are socially awkward or new and dont know anyone yet, can you use both the caution badge and the green badge together. Wouldnt that say yeah, I want to socialize, but I am shy or maybe have bad or underdeveloped social skills?

[@FinnThePanther]

Sure! You can have a mix of two to indicate something in between!

[@zackerymorris8268]

Ive seen similar items at non furry cons ive attended and honestly i love these conceptually.

[@LeopardPrintRunt]

This is so cool to see, honestly a huge weight off my mind! I love the idea of attending a con, but I am so painfully awkward sometimes, so having a way to let people know I need a minute WITHOUT TALKING is a next level concept for me. Thank you!😄

[@BatpiaEmeritus]

I love, love, love this idea! Also the same concept, but as collars. I need to get some

[@sakuraice22]

I need the red and yellow ones for my day to day life

[@vengefulwolf74]

oh these would be amazing as a table host. i love tabling and having conversations with my customers, but it gets very tiring having conversations at length when i can potentially be busy.

[@kreuner11]

I've seen lanyard version, those work too and you can print the yourself

[@longWriter]

Whoa---nice colorization! @4:44

[@weirdfoxnikkii]

I´d love to have the yellow one but the majority of my fursuit is yellow it might justblend in with the fursuit I will try it though!

[@FinnThePanther]

You could always attach it to a bag or something that is a contrasting color!

[@weirdfoxnikkii]

@@FinnThePanther yeah I wasnt thinking about that! I looked at the store to buy the bag and straps you showed in the video I will have to save up some money first but thats fine my first Furry Convention will be Eurofurence this year

[@MarzzRover]

Apologizing in advance to the people whose badges I miss because I can't see very well!

[@brianbavington4482]

I need to get these badges. I may be no furry, but these can help me with my mental health and social skills.

[@techyMrB]

These are a great idea! Planning on going to meets and cons the near future, so ordering these is a no-brainer for me.

[@RoaDKiLL760]

absolutely love the concept behind the bands, probably going to take your advice and get myself one. thank you!

[@RodaMoonknight]

I think these would be easier to see and notice to the badges some cons give like MFF, because often they could get lost with the con badge and my own badge

[@FinnThePanther]

I agree, plus the clasps are much stronger so they'll really stick to whatever you attach it to!

[@logancaldwell7813]

⁠​⁠@@FinnThePantherI could pick the yellow one, but I would rather have the green one because I need to learn how to talk or interact with people. And I’ll be open if they want to take a picture or a hug.

[@nah-e9o]

just seeing the thumbnail got me hooked. I NEED THOSE

[@twitchew]

the only issue would be the color coding for color bind. so maybe add a pattern (stripes, solid, dots?)

[@mihailoaleksic3330]

There's a sign on the top of each

[@Hexadeca]

Just ordered the tags. Can't wait for Anthrocon finally get to go this year.

[@JDCarnin]

Those straps would be genuinely a life saver for me as an autistic person. The reason why I never went to a con for over a decade. (Although I’m trying a very special and small one this year.) But since I’m in Europe, me and probably many others are kinda missing out on all the cool and useful stuff from US brands. Sure, could get them shipped to me, but at 70€+19% Sales tax that I would have to pay for them at the customs office, so in total 90€, they aren’t justifiable for me. And probably for a lot of other people as well. Btw, I love your videos, always interesting and helpful!

[@n0etic_f0x]

I do like things like this. I am wildly anti-social as a person but... so are a lot of us. I do not care if you take my picture, hug me, or ask me questions even very personal ones. So I can come off as _very_ social, and it is not a lie. My favorite restaurant seats you with random strangers and it is fun to talk to them... mainly because I am likely never going to see them again. People have seen me as wildly loud even though my workplace actually qualifies me as non-verbal and will put me in groups with people who are deaf. I have two coworkers who have signals we use only our arms to communicate. I know if they want green Komboocha by the height at which they place their hand. So yeah this is very useful. If I am at a lounge I am going to be on green, to me that is the point of the lounge.

[@aliensphinx8643]

I got one in ANE for my anxiety!! its great!

[@Kitsami_the_folf]

Thanks for the tip Finn. Will definitely check these out.

[@jamesgoodwin1741]

is there one for "i have no social skills, but please talk to me"?

[@meliciousdezombie5115]

I am a person who can get too overstimulated and can start yelling at people who are yelling or talking in a loud voice. This would be awesome! Especially for people who get overstimulated too quickly

[@blizardthewolf]

Kuddos to holdout they got some awsome stuff!

[@birddadup5136]

I am considering some variation of this for once i get back into fursuiting.

[@PeaBrain87]

If you have both the yellow and the green on at the same time does that convey that ure open to chat w anyone but theres a chance that u might have to dip halfway through from being overwelmed?

[@FinnThePanther]

Absolutely! You can definitely be in between two

[@TheTbrWolf]

Oh I love howl out! Got my blanket from them!

[@husvidfloden]

when i'm on green, i feel like i'm leading ppl on sometimes by advertising that i'm open 2 socialising & then having an encounter with some1 who might think we're getting along whilst i have a gut feeling that we won't click. @ that point, idk whether it's best 2 just stay on yellow. how do u guys seeing this navigate the situation? & another genuine question: does any1 who doesn't have a guaranteed group of friends attending a given convention go on red? if u're seeing this & u're 1 of those folks, lmk why. i'm curious. i'd feel like i'd've wasted my money going 2 a convention just 2 critter-watch

[@shawnquinn9534]

Had to chuckle at the outtake at the end.

[@DejitaruJin]

I saw a couple variants of this at MFF, but opted not to use any myself because I just... couldn't properly assess my own social capacity. Unsure if I could really handle a stranger starting a conversation with me, but at the same time not wanting to deter an attempt without knowing. In the end, I looked like too much of a dork for strangers to talk to anyways, lol.

[@BreckThePanther]

There's two of them!

[@BlueSplashpaw]

Is there one for social anxiety? I have really bad social anxiety and want to make new friends but I won't ever initiate really

[@FinnThePanther]

There are but not from this brand specifically

[@legoshishirou7664]

I have the Plan to visit EF28. Hopely this Plan can realized.

[@Garrett_Bear_Stap]

What's the tag that says "it's ok to tackle and wrestle me to the ground but I'm shy so don't talk to me"?

[@Lucyfer_Eve]

As an extrovert, would it be a problem to use the green one, to be more """atractive"""[conversation-wise] ?

[@kennystevens2923]

Nah, definitely not. I think you've got the right idea wearing the green one as an extrovert. It'd definitely show people that you want to be talked to.

[@armron94]

If I ever do go to a con I'm the one holding a camera that's not a cell phone

[@ClayTheFoxx]

Damn bro these are lit gotta add them to my techwear outfit on my vrchat avi frfr

[@PupZeke]

Not only furry conventions. I think they’re good for any conventions!

[@IorekByrnison086]

Great video. Just put my order in for these. Thanks for telling us about them. Awesome video tips. Keep up the awesome job.

[@kibawolflve124]

i have Asd have badges even pin saying i dont like be hugged so i think thses be great for people like me who more socal at cona but my battery drain after long day of suiting

[@kialfurman2978]

I have them, I use them for daily use and for my puppers when we’re at the park. I have one semi-antisocial Dalmatian and an extremely loving heeler and these help a lot with that too.

[@abbyhere8488]

ey i am early! this is such a good idea! i love conventions, this is ideal!

[@strangebird5974]

Ok, I have to say: This innovation seems like a really neat idea and I can understand why it grew out of the furry fandom. Let me explain: I have no experience going to furry cons, but I have many years of experience going to festivals, and one thing that I had to learn the hard way myself that I for many years didn't see people talk about that much was that you had to manage both your physical and mental health when doing such an intensive thing as several days of partying at a festival. One reason this is an issue for me, I suspect, and the same reason why it didn't receive mainstream attention for a long time, is that I highly suspect that I'm somewhere on the autism spectrum. Thus, social interactions, while enjoyable, take a lot of energy out of me. And as we probably all know, the furry fandom is replete with people on the autism spectrum as well. It only makes sense that in a community with a heightened awareness of how taxing social interactions can be, small innovations and technologies would emerge to manage social interactions in a more fluid way. And I especially like how inclusive and respectful this is of people with differing appetites and energies for socializing. So kudos for this. I'll have to experience my first furry con in the not too distant future, and having lanyard badges like these would be neat.

[@cptnkaos5994]

good advice Finn and a great idea

[@KatDoesCrime]

These are such a good idea! I'll definitley have to get around to ordering some!! :D

[@Rabbitsblood300]

I wish there was a way to tell people I don’t like talking about drugs or alcohol, because a lot of the times people come up to me at conventions or meet ups. They always want to talk to me about like how drunk they’ve gotten or how high they’ve gotten and I really don’t like talking about that stuff And it happens so often it’s kind of annoying

[@Foxy_kat1111]

I’d have all in use at all times, if I went to cons. Well, Anthrocon isn’t that far from my house so I could go there fir the next one.

[@tobot303]

I just realized that Finn is the only furry I follow and have no idea what he looks like irl. Do you think we'll ever get a face reveal?

[@mihailoaleksic3330]

I don't know, but I know he's black

[@DripTiles]

Finn where can we purchase theses amazing tags.

[@savagelionLDC]

Hey @finnthepanther im going to a convention coming up in my home state of new jersey and its gonna be my first con so im excited but nervous so i might look into these

[@kennystevens2923]

Are you going to Garden State Fur the Weekend?

[@ayatoshad]

That could help me alot and would be very cool to wear in public in general. I need this as a bracelet xD

[@Donco04]

I really like the idea, somethines during a con i just dont fell god for talk to new people (being tired for example)

[@gejzor]

Nice, good to know this

[@MmmHuggles]

They look useful. Not sure about the price vs quality but, hey, great thing to let people know right up front without issues, assuming they can ready, which I sure do hope everyone at conventions can lol. I know too many people in person who would notice a band like that but for whatever reason not bother to read it. I'm "weird" in that I read EVERYTHING my eyes notice. Can't help it.

[@MissMeganBeckett]

They have these for attaching to leashes and collars for walking nervous or aggressive dogs that need to avoid either people or dogs or children, whichever you’re dog is needed to avoid, they also have red yellow and green but they are often attached by elastic or Velcro around a strap rather than the clips that attach to loops that are on the badges that are specific for furrys, it seems a good idea to have that kind of visual signal that you probably wouldn’t welcome interaction and might be useful in all sorts of situations for a lot of different things, I personally don’t have energy to explain that I temporarily can’t talk when my personal medical things happen unexpectedly and that I probably need a few minutes because it’s not always possible or obvious for others to notice something going wrong with my blood pressure but I might have the energy to point to a badge that explains things and I’ve been looking into which one would suit my style and likely use case so that I would always have the right signs on me for foreseeable situations, I think pins are probably too small and patches aren’t likely to be to easily transferable between outfits but that maybe a flip book of cue cards on a retractable key lanyard attached to my outfit’s waistband might work well for me as long as I remember to always put it on before I leave the house.

[@Gcallen5175]

These r lessons I’m going to take to heart Finn because I’m still learning about a lot of furry stuff & whenever I go to my 1st con I won’t be too talkative so I can get my bearings when I get a full fursuit

[@arpyt1334]

Saw u in the AC parade vid

[@Hilohim]

That's really helpful

[@oldmonkey7720]

i always wanted to add a pink one, for....

[@artrob42]

Tbh I can never make friends in this fandom, online or at cons and it’s honestly hard find friends. However these tags do seem useful, so I’ll probably get them and see how it goes.

[@drawerganizer785]

Cons are difficult places to make friends. Generally it takes several interactions with the same person for a friendship to form, and that doesn't happen at cons. The friendships I've made at conventions are frequent con goers I've met at several different conventions. Local events are much better for making friends.

[@artrob42]

@@drawerganizer785 I would like to go to local events but there isn’t any near me and if there is I don’t know about it till after people post pictures of them the day after.

[@limendime3720]

@@artrob42 You should volunteer at a con if you haven't already. It's a great way to make friends

[@loganstr.2125]

It's actually very depressing that asking for consent in the fandom is such a difficult thing for some people to do, to the point where badges are needed to convey whether a stranger wants to be touched or not. I don't get what's so hard for other furries to get about asking before touching people... I know regardless of any kind of wristband, I ask if people want hugs, or to take pictures together, and when I suit it's sad that I have to even use the yellow band to begin with.

[@drawerganizer785]

Yes, Especially if you're fursuiting, please wear these tags. And even if you're pretty social, there will always be times when you're not feeling it, so get all the colors, not just the green one. Your body language is hard to read and your fursuit makes you look friendly and social even if you're drained. As someone who doesn't own a fursuit and isn't popular on social media, I don't have random people come up to me at cons that often, even if I wear a green badge. But I feel less awkward approaching people if they're wearing a social badge.

[@Donkeyearsa]

Peoples moods can and do change from moment to moment and such things could be very problematic if you happen to have the wrong one on at the wrong moment. It could cause you problems as if you have the green one and someone sees you that you really don't want to interact with and you will have to interact with them as you just told them off even though your tag says they can talk with you, or if you have a red one on and that person you really wanted to talk with will out right avoid you. I see them more as more of a problem than a solution.

[@FinnThePanther]

Like I said in the video, there's going to be nuance amongst the three levels, some situations will inevitably break what the bands suggest. But that's also how being social works as well, it's an experience that requires flexibility!

[@Mr.Dan4er]

I'm just too afraid to go to a convention -w-

[@TheNonameHousehold]

Instead of the bands, could someone say... wear a big bright pet collar with the same color as the bands? 🚫😸💚

[@KomaedasOneTrueHope]

As an autistic individual. I’ll take 50

[@PIasmaniac]

ANE clip in the beginning 💪❤️‍🔥🔥

[@EthanWolfCat]

If I had to wear one, I believe it would be red at all time... x.x

[@nessunday]

the social bands are a good idea tho the price is comical

[@robertgraw7711]

I hope I can meet you this anthrocon

[@big_DAD_wolf]

Is this an 11 minute ad?

[@furmoblue]

pov: discord

[@KatDoesCrime]

So true though

[@flizzycat]

70 euros for this is kinda too much... I don't know...

[@zombeastification]

Imagine going to a sociable event and being unsociable.

[@FinnThePanther]

A lot of people go to practice their social skills!

[@reinekewf7987]

i am a toxic person if left alone so i think red all the time maybe yellow

[@x_aquatix_x]

insanity

[@evilfurry9399]

Hate social bands

[@soupdrinker]

ok

[@KatDoesCrime]

I think they're pretty awsome, ngl, as someone who can sometimes get socially anxious I don't go fursuiting often, but these might even be something I'd consider for cosplaying as often people come up ro me and try to start conversations Usually i'm okay with that, but by the time 5pm hits i'm absolutley drained mentally I think they're a revolutionary idea :)

[@evilfurry9399]

Stupid idea social bands

[@nah-e9o]

cry about it i guess

[@nannerpuss9430]

What makes it a stupid idea?

[@KatDoesCrime]

Why? For what reason? I think they're actually really useful