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Slightly concerned for my future on FA (Long read)
2 years ago
Hey everyone, it's been a while.
Sorry that my activity for the last 6 or so months has been very minimal, there's been a mixture of very full-on studies and some close family deaths as well that have contributed to me being very M.I.A. But I should hopefully start to get some art done after this semester finishes up in a couple of weeks. So those who are still waiting on commissions from me, please do not think I have forgotten about you or those pieces. Motivation has been as low as it's been for a very very long time.
But now to the main topic of intention for this journal.
As most of you may have seen, there's been some rather interesting new policies added to this site, particularly when it comes to Pokemon and other characters that may be seen as "minor age-looking". So basically you either have to "age" them up (which is hard for the majority of them to have that done to them, unless you highly anthropomorphisized them) or just don't draw them period. Also the ruling is kinda giving a bad image on those who are physically petite. I'm hearing there has been artwork removed of petite or flat-chested female characters, because it's deemed as someone with physique of a minor character. I mean loli and shotas, I can understand sites banning those, that's more than fair enough, I get that area is a big part of the initial idea behind this ruling. But come on, the extension of who and what other kinds of content that's being affected is ridiculous and unnecessary. The stupidest part about this is that apparently minor characters are still given the thumbs up with vore themed content, because that's apparently counted as SFW. A MASSIVE facepalm in my books, and I hope the staff at FA review and render this ASAP, because it's gonna give them a very embarrassing reputation in the long run.
Speaking of which, altogether I've noticed that the staff here have added more and more of these restrictions, and the staff themselves has been more and more filled up with these radical activist types who are trying to push these ideations to the main heads of the site to cleanse FA of all themes that can be deemed "insensitive" or "morally wrong". What these people need to understand is most of the fandom (at least those who are still active here) can 100% understand the moral differences between what's appropriate for kinks with furry art/fantasy and kinks IRL. Apart from a very small select few kinks in art that are very understantable for why they're banned (even if they don't have any IRL thoughts, that I can also understand and respect), but I don't think we should policing other on what type of art they can enjoy drawing or viewing.
Some of you might remember a very long journal I wrote on the (still-ongoing) debates about feral NSFW art, and my thoughts on that. With more and more of these changes happening, I'm growing more and more pessimistic about how long it will be until art involving ferals, at least on a mature+ theme basis, and those who produced or commission it will be purged and banned from this site. Doesn't matter how logical it is that feral characters in NSFW pics are still HEAVILY humanized in either expression, emotions and dialogues in some cases, I feel the fandom's viewing that all feral fans must be zoophiles is growing larger. To the point that I think that eventually it will lead a big impression to those who run this site, to start prohibiting it all together.
So I'm going to give a heads up on what my intentions will be, IF the FA heads do indeed target feral artwork in future.
If it does get to the point where feral artwork ends up becoming banned here, then I WILL be leaving Fur Affinity.
If I at that point I haven't been permanently suspended from the moment they start speed-searching through and purging every feral NSFW thing known to mankind, then I myself will personally close down my profile. Either way, there's so much feral stuff through my profile, that I'll probably be bound to be wiped from here before I can even say the word COOKIE. And in connection to that, a fair bit of my art creating future in the fandom will be probably come to a halt. I probably wouldn't publicly open for commissions again, because this site has been the only site where I've been able to gain some kind of business, and it's the only site I have felt safe to do so. I've got profiles on other furry sites such as Weasyl, SoFurry and Inkbunny, but I haven't really gotten much business on there ever, and I barely ever update them nowadays. I've also too voiced my opinion on dealing commission on Twitters, for those who may be wondering up to this point of the journal. I am absolutely NOT up for migrating my business over there, but I may post whatever art I do produce on there as a personal gallery (probably on my AD account). I'd probably only open comms and/or trades for close friends, that would probably be it.
And again just a reminder, this is all IF everything goes south with FA in terms of what they'll further police on this platform.
That being said, I hope that the staff here continue to have enough logical sense to know that it's not a dangerous theme of artwork to invest in and don't consider getting rid of it. Because if they do, I'm very sure that it's not going to be just myself that will be either leaving here or getting banned here. I would strongly assume that at least half of the registered users here will also be on that same boat, and we'll just happily watch how it would backfire on this site as it sinks into the depths of the internet archives.
At the same time it would be pretty sad if it came to that, because I have called this home as an artist for the last 10-12 years. I've grown my business and reputation as an artist here, and most of the artists I follow still primarily post here.
The only business "option" I would maybe consider to the public, and something I have heard other artists suggest they might do as well in that kind of situation, is go back to Patreon. I did have a Patreon thing on about 4-5 years ago, but I never got any followers, plus I didn't post anywhere near enough to reach my part of the tier fulfilments to claim the money from those who did. If I did go back there I'd probably still only work on personal and fanart projects, and I'd probably base the tiers off resolution quality, timing of post releases, special content and maybe WIP access. If anyone would be up for seeing that either way, let me know in the comments below. But I'd probably consider that at the very least when my motivation and art activity is a lot better than what it is right now.
But anyways, that's the end of my massive pessimistic rant about the craziness here.
In better news with life updates, MY FURSUIT CAME! I may post a photo or two of him soon on here, but for now if you want to check out any photos of him until then, I have some posted up on my Twitter - https://twitter.com/gangstaguru123
It's mostly what I use Twitter for nowadays XD
I hope everyone is currently doing well ^.^ Current Working List - 30th of January, 2022
Art Queue
Awaiting Art From..
KlausD - Trade piece/2016
Anthropornorphic - Commission/2016
Telegram Art Channel
KlausD
Anthropornorphic
Would be nice if FA as well worried about updating their website and bringing it forward from the early 00's, compared to shit like this.
As for Your suit. A Shepsky is A Shepard/Husky cross right?