i saw that book before, but not in a library. still though, that would be quite a pleasant surprise. honestly, i don't mind the furry fandom going more mainstream. It will probably be more accepted.

This brings up something I've pondered, will furry be as much fun if it goes mainstream?

Deal is, if it goes mainstream, some furs will need to lead the fight with a positive image campaign.

The problem right now is that many stay too silent. Which permits people to be A) surprised when they initially hear of it. Then, they seek out information and too often run into B) all the porn and fetishes. With positive so much harder to find then negative, we're all volunteering for the red light district.

What I have seen is that this thing is a two sided coin. It's either the hardest G rated deal in existance and the softest R rated one. Generally, what's R is kept behind doors, IRL. And, what goes on behindn locked doors, darn near everyone is guilty of.

Besides, what is considered "Mainstream"? The movies? I know that way back when Furry was nowhere near today's level of knowledge, Naked Gun (think it was 2 1/2 and not original) gave a full screen shout out to Furry artists. I think it was a fox vixen, weilding a whip on a naked man, tied to a pole. TV? Not only has two well known shows done entire episodes about the fandom, but a dozen more have had specials/references/interviews. The Fox network was turning down a pitch for a Furry themed weekly comedy show. Even news will broadcast fursuiters on the scene. Games? Oh, yea. GTA has a fake news cast about a fur con in their version of New York. Crazy Taxi has suiters that need a ride. One can golf in a fursuit in a particular Tiger title. And, I know that there are more references out there. As is, we're probably approaching 'little grey alien' status in pop culture. So, what truly defines 'mainstream'? Heck. Even Guiness recognizes us for holding a couple world records.

I actually wish we were a little less well known, now that you mention it. We do get a lot of crap. And that theory is exactly right, about being surprised when they hear of it, look it up, and find porn. When you look up "furry" on google images, mostly what you get back is 1. Porn and 2. Demotivational posters about furries which makes the surprised discoverer say "Hey, this isn't socially accepted. >:U I better make fun of it so no one will think I'm weird. Rot in hell furfags!"
Always the same. That, or they see the terrible news coverage we usually get about how the fandom is one big fetish, instead of appreciating anthropomorphic characters, which is what it's essentially all about.

There is more to it then that. Human nature, in general, is geared towards the sexual side. After all, if the innocence of the fandom was more popular, then the engines would be listing that side amongst the top sites. Alas, porn is more popular. So, the sexual stuff is sought and the simple engines go with what the numbers say.

And, then, there is also the haters, out there. To be honest, some have legit reasons and can actually give a good debate for hating Furrys. For every one of those, there's a dozen who would recite from the "Book of No IQ's" that anything that doesn't fit their pre-described notions is (X Factor) evil. Because, if they were good, they would be as close to me as they could be. And, for every dozen of them, there's a sea of trolls. They merely hate because they want to. Again, Human nature.

I can reference from my travels this one teenager that saw the suit. He wasn't a trained flea and knew not of the hater's cry, "Yiff in...". But, he knew hate and expressed it as they drove by in the verbal form of yelling over and over, "Fuck you!!!" Such people can be bought by two cents. As their opinions aren't even worth that. Their types have always been. Types that would fill in lynch mobs and such. Backing a cause of hate, because they feel empowered to do so. And, it's been my finding that nearly all of them won't even strike unless they feel 1000% secured against retaliation. Hence, why an annonymous nick on some web site is so liberating to them over facing down a potential flying fist.

And, of course, there is some unusual pull towards the sexual side. Seeing as how I dare to be publicly Furry where others would only express behind walls, (be them wood/plaster/& such or made of fabric; AKA fursuits) I have learned long ago that having a tail invites the sexually naughty to feel an invite, so to speak, of touchy-feely. It may be this very reason that I ever opted to don the fox, in the first place. Figured that if they were going to be doing that, let it be at arm's length. In actuality, it's been more like a "Keep off the grass" sign. Plenty of visuals and vocal comments. But, the touchers back off.

Not so with deer. Something to do with the stub tail makes total strangers interested in cupping a feel. In fact, I converted to fox the day after four women were holding the deer tail at once.

Lol! Gold :)