Secret Identity as a Mer?

[MermaidCelesteFL]

I've had this ongoing problem both when I was in the cosplay community and now as a mermaid. The people around my office can't accept me for what I am (because I enjoy cosplay) and routinely make fun of me for being so weird, so I have to hide my hobbies and go under an alias to avoid being harassed. Yes, even my mermaid name is an alias. (You wouldn't believe me if I told you that my actual name is Ariel, and I work for Disney, but it's the truth.)

Does anyone else have this problem? Most people who think they know me have no idea that I do this as another job/hobby, and I feel like I can't truly express myself the more I keep it inside.

[Cordelia]

I guess I've never really thought about this before. I have a lot of different hobbies aside from mermaiding. I write and I knit a lot. Some I share with people, others I don't. (And sometimes I wish I hadn't. Anytime I mention knitting on the book of faces one of the guys I went to school with asks when his Neville sweater is going to be finished. :/ It's intarsia and to knit it with nice long lasting sweater quality yarn would cost over $100 not to mention the 6 mos. of knitting time.) I'm more introverted, so I guess I never really feel the need to share all my life with all the people, because, for the most part, it's not really any of their business. That sounds kind of harsh rereading it, but it is also true and perfectly acceptable.

I'm sure there are a lot of things that you do not share about your personal life with your co-workers (or co-irkers depending on whether you like them or not). Not telling them about your mer-business/hobby is fine (unless they all have cute little sons and daughters with birthdays coming up). ;D


The people around my office can't accept me for what I am (because I enjoy cosplay) and routinely make fun of me for being so weird...
This bothers me. Why are adults so damn boring?! If the harassment is bad enough to go to hr, then do so. If not, you can employ other techniques to shut down that kind of conversation, such as not responding and walking away when someone tries to bait you. After a few times (sometimes more than a few times if they're really thick) they'll give up because "this game just isn't fun anymore."

[Trade Winds]

I am lucky. My coworkers know I am a furry and mermaid. No one really cares or acts negatively.

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[Merman Dan]

(You wouldn't believe me if I told you that my actual name is Ariel, and I work for Disney, but it's the truth.)

Do you work at one of the food/drink carts, by chance? I think I saw you two weeks ago when we were vacationing there. :) Yeah, a name like Ariel kinda stands out.

[Meilyn]

If other people are making fun of you for being you, then you're not working with adults. That's not right in any form for someone to make you feel inferior for being yourself.

Everyone of my customers I've told about my mermaid thing, they've been more than respectable and supportive.

There's only been 1 person who has told me other wise and she was and still is, a 33 year old little girl who moonlights as an adult. Always putting others down because she's miserable at herself and her poor choices. But again, she's miserable and it was a means to put me down which hasn't and will not happen. Toxic people are the worse to be around. I hope your situation gets better and you won't have to hide who you are. No should have to hide who they are.

[Mermaid Narina]

I've managed to keep the mermaidy thing a secret from people at my school, but one girl (with a big mouth) has found my YouTube channel! It gives me anxiety everyday thinking about her telling people (high school can be a brutal place, and i already don't quite fit in). But I don't want to delete my YouTube account OR my videos that I've put so much hard work into... :(
To me I've always been a fairly private person. Unless someone asks me about mermaiding, I'm not going to tell them :P

[Lucinda]

I've had this ongoing problem both when I was in the cosplay community and now as a mermaid. The people around my office can't accept me for what I am (because I enjoy cosplay) and routinely make fun of me for being so weird, so I have to hide my hobbies and go under an alias to avoid being harassed. Yes, even my mermaid name is an alias. (You wouldn't believe me if I told you that my actual name is Ariel, and I work for Disney, but it's the truth.) .

Is the Disney job the same as the office job? Or are you talking about two different jobs? (Cause I find it hard to imagine anyone working for Disney who'd find dressing up strange).

[MermaidCelesteFL]

My office job is within Disney. I work in the tunnels.

[Lucinda]

Tunnels? *looks a bit baffled*

[SeaGlass Siren]

oh the tunnels. where the character's come out, thats why you never see the characters walk through the park.

[MarkF]

Work may not be the place to discuss your real you, it's a competitive environment. Too many people can't control themselves under that stress and may say things that they wouldn't really say outside of work. Management wouldn't care and may even transfer you to the character performer area. I use to be a corporate VP and that's what I'd offer.
A women in her 20's as a mermaid in person unexpected could change peoples dreams, both guys and gals "Did me".
If it's any consolation, if you think revealing yourself a beautiful mermaid "Something the whole world is Awe-struck by."
Instead how about be a Merman which some of the Merfolk didn't even know existed in literature.
Ya know if you had a photo of yourself in a classical Mermaid pose and pin it up on your cubical, that would likely provide the statement your looking for, it may trigger their dreams. If they are condescending and they say is that you, just say "yep!" and tell them to go back to work.
A picture can do far more than a paragraph. Your not in high school and people no longer see only one pretty girl in the whole school.
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[Rivertee]

Probably a little corny but to phrase a very well received queen "Let it go, don't hold it back anymore. "

[Blaze]

Probably a little corny but to phrase a very well received queen "Let it go, don't hold it back anymore. "

Dammit I swear I *JUST* got that song out of my head. Thanks! ;D

[Rivertee]

Lol welcome. But the message is very powerful all the same

[Aquos Savar]

I understand you, actually, im doing right now. My name isn't John Savar, but is an alias that i use whenever i like to view mermaid videos without people actually knowing that is me. Im a male student that wants to use a mermaid tail once in my life. I keep it hidden from my parents because of what their reaction could be, i prefer to keep it safe.

you're safer than me, because most people think more of female than male when thinking people using tails, but im not giving up. NEVER GIVE UP!!! :D

[malinghi]

Im a male student that wants to use a mermaid tail once in my life. I keep it hidden from my parents because of what their reaction could be, i prefer to keep it safe.

you're safer than me, because most people think more of female than male when thinking people using tails, but im not giving up. NEVER GIVE UP!!! :D

I sympathize. There's definitely a stigma associated with anything outside mainstream behavior, not just mermaiding. But society is getting more tolerant over time, and I find that encouraging.