New merman here!

[OceanicStory]

Hi there, folks. I'm a little unsure what to say, really -- It's the first time I've joined a merfolk-group so large, but it's high time it happened.
I'm a 20-year-old from Scotland, and really, I've been utterly infatuated with mermaids and mermen all my days. As to why, I can't be so sure... It could very well be one of those little attractions that take us, and needs no such reasoning behind it. :p
That said, I do love to swim, and make a commitment to spend a few hours in the local pool at least once a week, and aim to swim at least a mile each visit. (If it weren't for the freezing nature of Scotland's coasts, I'd be splashing about in the ocean, too.) I'm also fond of taking walks through the woods close to home, which serve as a wonderful inspiration for writing, which I'm very fond on indeed, and playing piano, which... I'm, er, fond of, but not exactly skilled at. :lol:
Come to think of it, whether I'm worth a cent at writing also remains to be seen. If there's a pocket for mermaid stories somewhere about this site, maybe I can find out?

Sad to say, I don't have a tail. I don't think anyone would believe it if they were to find out I'm fond of all this. There isn't enough space - at home or at the pool - to proudly wear one without drawing spearing stares, either. :$ I'll admit it bothers me, though... The tails of merfolk have always served as a very strong source of attraction to me, that much I'm quite certain of. A shame I can't indulge in such a thing myself.

I really can't wait to meet more people around here. "Closeted merman" as I am, It would be nice to share it all with a few others.
It's very nice to meet you all. :)

~David.

[Merman Dan]

Welcome!

[halesloveswhales]

Welcome to the forum, David! I can't wait to read your writing on here! And it's so nice to have more mers on the other side of the pond :)

[OceanicStory]

Thanks very much!
Oh, don't be too sure, Hales, my scribblings might just be dreadful enough to clear the forum of patrons! xD

[ButterflyVision]

Welcome! It seems we keep getting more merfolk everyday. I don't believe we have any merstories on site. Maybe you can be our first merwriter! I love reading merstories though I have only come across a few. And I'm sure they're not that dreadful! :)

[MerAnthony]

David I felt the same way when I started to swim in a tail. Now if you want a tail that is up to you an how you feel but do what you think is correct. Now for the people that look at you an stare. It is your decision to wear a tail or not but who cares what they think. You are having fun. So with that said welcome an enjoy the network.



Be Happy Swim Free

[OceanicStory]

Well then, Butterfly, I might just try that! If I wind up being the first (surely I wouldn't be?), then even if my stories are naff, I'll still have earned first-place for something! :lol:

That's very encouraging, Anthony. Do I wish I could wear a tail? I do. But I also wish I had a little more privacy to do it, so yes, I may have a little thinking to deal with. Hopefully I'll feel a bit more certain of it all after socialising here for a while.
How about yourself? When did you first start 'mermanning', if I may ask?

[Usagi]

A merman AND from Scotland? My new best friend! Haha welcome (:

[OceanicStory]

Haha. Thanks very much, Syd! :D

[Mermaid Saphira]

Welcome :D

[Mermaid Cascada]

Welcome to the forum :D

[Ayla of Duluth]

The world could always use more mermen :) welcome!

[OceanicStory]

Thank you very much, Saphira and Cascada. :D

And I agree with you wholeheartedly, Ayla. ;D

[MermaidBrittany]

Welcome! :) I too cannot wait to hear your stories.

[Joy&RaptorsUnrestrained!]

Welcome, OceanicStory! It is always good to hear from another merman on here. I also don't have a tail, and though in my case it's more about saving up for one, I have also wondered "where would I feel comfortable swimming in one and dealing with the attention".... and I'm currently down to either "swimming with other merfolk at a meetup or convention" or "going over to this tiny family resort I've been to in Italy with some rocky breakwaters a ways out from the shore," though I also have to examine why I feel that way. Regardless, it's great to hear from you, and there are a couple writers on here, so you're in good company, even if you don't post your stories on here.

[OceanicStory]

Thanks, Joy, it's great to hear from you too. And you're lucky to have even a couple of spots where you could consider tail-swimming. I don't think I have any such luxury here, sorry to say.
It's also good to hear there are a few other writers around. It'd be nice to contribute to the joys of merfolk in such a way. :)

[NerineArcticMermaid]

Scottish and a merman???

*falls over*

:D

[AniaR]

welcome to the network! Happy to have more men joining! <3

[Odette]

Nice to meet you, oceanicstory.

[OceanicStory]

It's very nice to meet each of you, too. :D
Are mermen so few and far between around here?
Well, it's a pleasure to be able to add to their numbers. Let's even things out a little bit! :p

[Azurin Luna]

Welcome! :D it's always good to find more mermen ;)

[Bellasea]

Welcome to the forum!

[Traveling Merman]

Hi, fellow UK merman!

[Mermaid Menanna]

Welcome! :)

[Mermaid Annariea]

hooray, more mermen!!
one of my friends moved to scotland (: he says its beautiful there. welcome!

[Rain]

Welcome to mernetwork David. I'll be looking forward to your stories. ;D

[OceanicStory]

Hello everyone!
And it's good to hear there's at least one other mer from the UK around. I was worried the friged water here would put other Brits off merfolk! :lol:
It's nice in the sunshine, Annariea, but rather dull in the rain... which is a shame, because it's always raining around here.:rolleyes:

[NerineArcticMermaid]

scotland is my dream desination!
Bucket list!

Always wanted to see Skye Isle! theres a little of my familys land and a small wing of castle left there...

Major jealous of you living in scotland :D

[Mermaid Danielle]

Welcome David!
I can't wait to read some of your work! I too love writing, and have been writing on fanfiction.net for the past two years. That's so cool that you play piano! I tried when I was little (like 4-5 years old), but my hands were two small to reach across even 5 keys! I ended up dropping it and picking up flute in 7th grade. In 11th grade I also started playing piccolo, and have been playing both since.

Personally, I believe if it is something you enjoy (and brings no harm/violates the rights of others), you should be able to enjoy that activity regardless of the opinions of others.

It's not easy to do- I have cousins that go out of their way to avoid me (even before becoming a part of the public mermaid community). But at the same time, I have countless family, friends, and aquaintances that absolutely LOVE that that imaginative and creative side of me, and embrace there own imagination and creativity, when spending time with me. I'm 22, and still love to dream as if I were 4 yrs old again, dress up clothes and all- and it is a part of me that people have told me 'never to change'.

To make a long story short, you may be surprised at the response of people around you- don't hold back with something you love just because others might not approve. Best wishes!

[SeaGlass Siren]

Aww! I loved reading this :) welcome to the forum :)

[spottedcatfish]

Welcome to the forum, David. I hope you like it here.

[OceanicStory]

Places like Skye probably drum up the best image of Scotland, Nerine. Quaint, romantic, and rather atmospheric, which is a good deal better than the likes of Glasgow, a city with very little charm to its grid-like, chain-store plastered streets at all. xD

Thanks for the welcome, Danielle. I started writing a short story just last night, so I'll see when I can get it finished, and whether there's a good spot to put it around here. :D I do appreciate everyone's encouragement, but I worry it will take me a while to work up the courage to slip on a tail. The problem with my place is that everything's much too normal, and anything to slightly breach that normality will earn stares and attention for just about everyone! Well, maybe I just need a bit of time..

It's good to hear I've come up with an enjoyable thread already then, Andrea. :lol:

Hi there, SpottedCatfish, it's good to see you! You've probably realsied it's me from DeviantArt, so again, thanks very much for telling me about the place! ;)

[roamingmer]

Glasgow - or Aberdeen during the Haar in the middle of summer when stonehaven is at 25C? Having studied in Aberdeen and spent too many nice holidays in Ullapool and Lewis... Scotland is one place to return to. Except I feel the cold (water especially) so no swimming for me. :(

[Ashe]

Nice to meet you, OceanicStory! So glad we have another merman here :)

[Dee Tal]

Welcome! I hope you can find a way to have fun with a tail. I don't have mine yet but am glad I live in a place where it wouldn't be looked down upon (Portland, OR, USA) but I likely will end up moving to Texas eventually which won't be so tolerant so I will be in the same boat (or along side it) as you at that point.

[Mermaid Lorelei]

Welcome to the forum!

I do know for sure that we have quite a few writers around here (me being one of them) so you're definitely in good company. :3

[Mermaid Danielle]

Places like Skye probably drum up the best image of Scotland, Nerine. Quaint, romantic, and rather atmospheric, which is a good deal better than the likes of Glasgow, a city with very little charm to its grid-like, chain-store plastered streets at all. xD

Thanks for the welcome, Danielle. I started writing a short story just last night, so I'll see when I can get it finished, and whether there's a good spot to put it around here. :D I do appreciate everyone's encouragement, but I worry it will take me a while to work up the courage to slip on a tail. The problem with my place is that everything's much too normal, and anything to slightly breach that normality will earn stares and attention for just about everyone! Well, maybe I just need a bit of time..

It's good to hear I've come up with an enjoyable thread already then, Andrea. :lol:

Hi there, SpottedCatfish, it's good to see you! You've probably realsied it's me from DeviantArt, so again, thanks very much for telling me about the place! ;)

Is your deviantart account under the same name? I also have an account there and would love to follow your work...

[Elle]

Places like Skye probably drum up the best image of Scotland, Nerine. Quaint, romantic, and rather atmospheric, which is a good deal better than the likes of Glasgow, a city with very little charm to its grid-like, chain-store plastered streets at all. xD

I've already been told I'm going to scotland one day. but I probably wont be seeing anything like Skye. I'm being taken to Greyfriars Kirkyard to go see Bobby and then meet in-laws........

[spottedcatfish]

Hi there, SpottedCatfish, it's good to see you! You've probably realsied it's me from DeviantArt, so again, thanks very much for telling me about the place! ;)

Oh hey! I didn't realize before that I had talked to you on DA. It's nice to see you on here!

[OceanicStory]

The sea is certainly quite bitter, RoamingMer, so you'll spend more time trying to keep warm than you will just enjoying your swim. There are pools aplenty, of course, but... well, I'm not sure how many permit tail-swimming.

Thank you, Kalini! Say, are mermen really so few around here...?

Ah, then at least we'll be suffering in company, Daemon. ;) But our time and chance will show up someday, I'm sure...

That's great to hear, Lorelei. Have you a place to show people your stories? If I'm going to mingle with fellow writers, it would be very nice to sample some of their work, and I would be very happy to read some of yours. :D

Danielle, my DA page is Slither-Fin (http://slitherfin.deviantart.com/), and, er... it's currently empty. I tend to use it to collect and 'favourite' other artists' work, because I'm nervous people would come across any mermaid drawings of my own (I really need to get my act together, huh? :lol: ) I think I'll post this story of mine there, too. It'd be nice to actually upload something for a change. ;) How about you? What's your username?...

Oh, Edinburgh's a very atmospheric city, Elle. Grayfriars is especially spooky, as is all the old, gaunt, austere buildings around it. The central city itself is quite a sight, too!
Better than Glasgow, in my opinion - I'll certainly say that!

It's nice to be here, SpottedCatfish! :D Thanks again, and I hope we get the chance to chat again soon.

[Mermaid Isabela]

Nice to meet you David! Welcome!

[Merman Ray]

'mermanning'

First I'd like to welcome you to the MerNetwork David. I like to see fellow mermen here. And, 'mermanning', I like this term :D
This year I have desided to save money for a tail. I have been wanting one for 28 years now and it's about time I get one because I am not exactly getting any younger.

I would also love to read your merstories. In fact, if there was a story section on the MerNetwork I would read everyones stories.

[FreshWaterMermaid]

Welcome!
I personally get really excited whenever we get new merMEN!
I hope you enjoy hanging out on here :)

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk 2

[OceanicStory]

Likewise, Isabela. Thank you!

Thank you, Ray. Yes, it's great to meet fellow mermen, however few we might be. :D I should probably follow your example and get a tail myself, when the chance arises.
I posted a link to the opening of a story over in the Everything Else forum, if you're interested.

Thanks, FreshWaterMermaid. It's good to know I'm a welcome presense, then. :lol: I've already enjoyed hanging out around here. Everybody's pleasant, and have plenty of interesting things to say. I hope we get the chance to chat sometime. :)

[Jadestone]

Hello!! Welcome to the forum (:

I usually live in the 'states, but I'm spending a semester in Ireland actually (: I'd love the chance to swim in the ocean here, but I am too afraid of the cold x_x So I know what you mean there. If you get a tail and I'm ever in Scotland, I'd happily go for a swim at a pool with you (: Maybe if there was more than one merperson around it wouldn't seem quite as strange, haha.

And yay writing! There's a couple people I know have been working on merfolk-related stores around here, and I've had half a mind to write one myself with all the free time I seem to have encountered (:

[OceanicStory]

Thank you, Jadestone! Yes, the chilly water is a real pain. It's not fair that the scenary should be so nice and rugged, but the water around it so cold! :lol:
You could be right about the lack of company... If you ever come to Scotland, I'll be sure to take you up on that offer. ^_^

If you want to give writing a try, I think you should go for it! It's one of things I think anyone should attempt if they're keen. Even if you go ahead and write something, you don't need to share it with people if you don't think it's good enough, or if you don't want to, so there's no harm in just giving it a shot. :D

[Jadestone]

Oh haha, I do already write (: Ever since I was little. Probably because I read all the time! Only one ting mermaid-related though, and I abandoned it about 25k words in whoops. But I've had a short story idea floating around my head for a while, so I might give it a try

And I will certainly let you know if I ever end up in the land o' scots!

[OceanicStory]

Well, if you do drop by these Hills o' Haggis, I'll be here. :lol:
And as for your storywriting, just keep at it. If you finish that mermaid story, or post anything here, let me know - I'll be sure to read it. :)

[Mermaid Lorelei]

I happened to read the beginnings of your mermaid story. It's very nicely written.

As for me, I don't believe I've posted any of my mermaid writings yet. I have a little bit of writing on my DA account, but those are old snippets of other things. Feel free to take a look if you'd like. http://ninjagimli.deviantart.com/

[OceanicStory]

Thanks very much, Lorelei! Your work's especially good, too. ("It begins..." was very stirring. ;) ). I saw your mermaid photos, too. Was it easy to swim in that water? It looked pretty cloudy. :O

[Taniira]

Hi David! I'm new myself and yours was the first post I clicked on!

My boyfriend lives in Glasgow (I don't know enough about the geography to know how far away you are from there). I may be over again in April (and there's a decent chance I'll be trying to move over permanently within the next couple of years).

Welcome again, and I hope we have a chance to meet up!

[Merman Dan]

Does anyone else think it unfair that when you search Google for Mermaid yet get:
http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Media/Columnists/Columnists/2012/7/4/1341402375925/The-Little-Mermaid-008.jpg

But when you search Google for Merman you get:
http://userserve-ak.last.fm/serve/500/62786951/Classic+Years+of+Ethel+Merman.jpg

[OceanicStory]

Hi there, Taniira, and welcome to the forum! I'm rather flattered that my post was the first to catch your eye. :D I clearly haven't been here very long myself, but you'll quickly discover just how friendly everyone is, and how pleasant their company is, too. It's an easy place to feel right at home in, so I hope you enjoy yourself!
And yes, it'd be wonderful to meet up with a fellow mer sometime. ^_^
I agree, Aeolius. The many times I've seen that photo, and I haven't a clue who "Ethel Merman" even is.

[Merman Dan]

The many times I've seen that photo, and I haven't a clue who "Ethel Merman" even is.

You'd know her if you heard her:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kdggcQhysQ
Otherwise, I'm just an old codger. ;)

[Nemefish]

wellp..... everyone has already said hello and welcome so ill just say welcome too, and its nice to have more mermen added to our population.... yea i think thats all :T :D

[Tasha Mermaid]

MERMAN yay.....nice to meet you OceanicStory, im from Australia (yep the land down under lol) and currently have no tail either :( ...but i do have a merfin which i use and am waiting on my hydra monofin to arrive so i can start making my fabric tail. I understand about the stares people can give, i can be quiet shy until i know people not to mention i am quite different in general and it doesnt help that im also a "bigger mer".
I think if its something you REALLY wish to do then you should just do it, besides would you rather care about stares or sit yearning to do something, sometimes we have to be braave to be able to be ourselves :)

Oooo i love Merstories, i would be interested in reading them :D....i write a little too, currently writing a kids poetry book (not mer related) :)

[seagirls626]

Welcome to the MerNetwork! Hope you have a great time!

[OceanicStory]

Thank you everyone. ^_^