Write to Papabear

"Fetishes" Would Be Better Called "Variations" or "Preferences"

9/27/2018

Dear Papabear,

I have an interest in furry bellies and growling stomachs, whether they be male or female. I think this started when I was young, when I watched The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh. When Pooh’s tummy rumbled, I was allured by how round and fluffy it was and the sound it made. I was also enamored by the likes of Baloo and Little John. Now, this interest has evolved into a fetish. I still watch cartoons, and I find it satisfying whenever a character’s stomach growled. I used to look at furry belly art and fat furry art on DeviantArt, Twitter, and FurAffinity. I was even interested in drawing my own chubby characters. I even participated in a couple of furry belly role plays. Then one day, my parents caught me in the middle of an RP on an Amino devoted to furry bellies. They were disturbed by the content of that Amino. I argued that it wasn’t anything like boobies or genitalia, but they weren’t having any of it. In an effort to persuade them, I eventually showed them some of what I’ve been looking at. I have been looking at fat furries along the lines of the following pictures (Prepare for a long list):
https://www.furaffinity.net/view/22209172/
https://www.furaffinity.net/view/22943479/
https://www.deviantart.com/bluecatriolu/art/Vore-Buddies-610318186
https://www.deviantart.com/bluecatriolu/art/Kitty-Belly-Cuddles-591298523
https://www.furaffinity.net/view/23308662/
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DDnQJRqVYAIZt0Q?format=jpg&name=large
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DadGyQMU8AI6Pn5?format=jpg&name=large
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DZUO2haWkAEZkuK?format=jpg&name=large
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DWx4MQSVQAELQHZ?format=jpg&name=large
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C8OC1ZsVwAElGG8?format=jpg&name=large
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DiFo1ACXUAUwi6t?format=jpg&name=large
http://artietheferret.tumblr.com/post/165370818820
http://artietheferret.tumblr.com/post/164087520490
http://trozte.tumblr.com/post/176149181657/remember-baa-baa
http://trozte.tumblr.com/post/175656112297/hey-guys-ive-been-thinking-and-i-decided-to-open
https://www.deviantart.com/nissandriver217/art/The-Fat-Couple-458170598
https://www.deviantart.com/nissandriver217/art/Noisy-pony-bellies-465647560
https://d.facdn.net/art/hubert-hyena/1512522181/1512522181.hubert-hyena_hibernation.jpg

By the way, I am not gay. I am a straight Christian. My parents already told me about masterbation. I know that there is such a thing as too fat. I try to avoid fat furry pictures with explicit content. Anyway, in my personal opinion, I see nothing wrong with the above pictures (although the nose bleed in the 5th picture might show otherwise). However, my parents still weren’t happy about me looking at furry bellies even after I showed them some pictures!

I think that furry belly and fat furry art falls into a grey area between the light side of the furry fandom and the dark side. I still want to draw/look at those chubby characters, but I’m worried that I might wander into the dark side, and therefore make my parents mad. My question for you has many forms, but I can choose only one. Are furry bellies SFW?

From,
Anonymous (Age 17)

P.S.: I also have Asperger's.

* * *

Dear Furiend,

If by NSFW you mean Not Safe for Work, I would say that browsing any furry art while at work is not really acceptable to your boss(es). People have frequently asked me about whether looking at furry stuff at work is okay, and my answer is this: If you are at work, you should be working and not surfing the Web for personal reasons. Simple, yes?

As for your belly interests, there is nothing wrong with liking big bellies. As you likely know, there are all kinds of sexual preferences in the world. People often label them as "fetishes" because humans like to use disparaging terms for anything they don't consider "normal." This then makes the person who has a "fetish" feel bad about themselves, which then leads to neuroses, guilt, self-hatred, and even psychosis.

The truth is that Mother Nature likes variety, and that is why not everyone likes straight sex with stereotypically attractive people doing things only in the missionary position for the purpose of procreation. According the online magazine Healthline,

“Sexual fantasy is highly varied across the spectrum, so fetishes might simply be one element of our diversity in terms of sexual interest and arousal,” Jessica O'Reilly, Ph.D., a sexuality counselor since 2001, told Healthline. “That means we'll have different tastes just like we do in food.”

My advice: do not feel guilty about liking bellies. As long as you are not hurting anyone, enjoy whatever you like. If your parents don't approve, that's their problem. I know, I know, we all want our parents' approval, but it is exactly that need for their approval that drives many people crazy in life. Respect your parents; they have experience and knowledge you don't have yet, but don't be afraid to form your own opinions and beliefs.

Hugs,
Papabear

3 Comments

Alec

9/30/2018 06:40:07 am

Sweet, a fellow furry belly fan. It's okay like it. You're not hurting anyone so you're good. There's a large (pun intended) group of people who love round fluffy bellies on social media. Go on Twitter. They're very friendly and supporting.

Now, PapaBear. Thanks for helping this guy out. I can relate to the parents judging thing and I want him to know he's not alone.

rat.

10/2/2018 09:54:24 am

Hey, fellow Christian from a conservative home chiming in.

The fact is that fetishes /are/ sexual in nature, and are definitely not safe for work. If you would prefer to call it an "interest" or a "preference", that's totally up to you, but no matter what word you use, the spirit of the word is without a doubt, not safe for work. I also want to advise you to be guarded regarding the people with whom you share your interest (not necessarily online, although that is a consideration). Regardless of whether you equate it with sex or not, most do. Even if they find out like your parents did, just because it's out in the open does not mean it's a good time to talk about it. (Note that I'm not saying you shouldn't share it with other people who share your interests. I think a group like that is probably the best outlet for such a thing, so long as the people involved are trustworthy.)

If your parents are anything like mine, I can tell you it's no wonder they don't approve. I made an assumption that you are from a conservative home, or at the very least, not very liberal. The fact is that as people get older, they tend to become more conservative (or at least, more entrenched in their beliefs). I have almost no doubt that your parents, though I'm sure they love you very much, will not be budging on this matter any time soon. This is because, although sex might be more normalized than ever in today's culture, the stigmata against fetishes show no signs of lifting.

I don't share your preoccupation with large bellies, but I can give you some encouraging words. I tend to think of things in terms of history, so let me put it this way. I believe history will never stop progressing. Fifty years from now, it may be much more acceptable to have a fetish. I certainly know that, should I choose to have children, I'll try my best to teach them there's nothing wrong with such a thing (although the above still stands: be careful, and certainly don't talk casually about it unless it's been cleared with the other parties).

But these are not things you should discuss with your parents. There is recorded proof that, more often than not, showing people facts and arguments which contradict their opinions often roots them even more deeply in their own convictions, logical or not. Should you attempt to reason with your parents, I do not believe it will end well. Should you continue in your interests, I would be more careful in the future.

I'm going to have to cut this short, but don't take the above as words of discouragement. I, like others on this post, wholeheartedly believe there's nothing wrong with being into what you're into. Just be careful, and be smart.

Papabear

10/2/2018 10:29:58 am

I agree with you, Rat. I've said similar things in other posts on this site. The cat was already out of the bag, so I wasn't going to bother to tell the writer to hide it from the parents, but, as you say, repeating it and arguing about it won't help, either. You are correct.

"Fetishes" Would Be Better Called "Variations" or "Preferences"

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