As you move around the world that is FA, one sees about two things. The first and foremost is the art. Honestly I don't know that many more then a hand full even read the captions on the art but the art that is seen. If you are like me then once you see some art that is good then you go to that artists's place on FA and look for more. On that one piece of art, you may see some of those icons for the artist or the commissioner. Or if you look at the artist's general info page you will see under their name the Profile info and some tiny little pictures. These Icons (or stamps) are most often the artist saying I have a mate(s) and leave me alone! And then there are the ones that show that they are popular with many friends. All these you have seen and you understand. But if you look at a few others you will see something else. You can even see it in my profile. Go ahead and look at it and come back.....

*whistles*

Did you see it? Those little icons are group memberships. Icons that show what they like, causes they support and other information that tells you about them. These are the Group Icons. They are just as easy to make and use as the individual icons and while they do not show that you are loved or that you have friends, they show that you have more to you then just a name. They link you to other furs that like what you do and celebrate that fact. Now this is not news to most of you but it is something that I want to bring a highlight to. This is a shock to many but ... furs are not all sex and no brains. We do have other interests.

Many people join groups by finding them though artists and friends that have found them. The system for making groups in FA is not really the most transparent, but joining them is. just go to the group and Watch them then in your profile use the "icon+groupname: tag to link it into your profile. but there is one group that you can look though to see what groups you may want to be part of the "FA-groups" group  FA-groups. (http://www.furaffinity.net/user/fa-.....plz=1292149302) You can find groups many ways though them and you can find many that you may be a part of or want to be a part of.

So say you are s single straight fur (like me). There are groups for Streightfurs (2 of them) and single furs (2 of those straightfurs Straight_Furries ). Say that you are a french fur not only is there a group that is Frenchfurs  frenchfurs but also one that is a bit better named Francofurs FrancoFur. Say that you are not a judgmental kind of person and want everyone to get along (more or less), then Tolerant-furs  Tolerant-Furs is the huge group for you. And even though they are attacked a lot by some intolerant furs, there are even groups for furs that are religious like Muslimfurs  muslim_furs and fpc  FPC (Furry Prayer Chain - Christians) Of course ther are groups for those with alternative family arrangements like Polyamorous  Polyamorous (furs that can love more then one) and those that are out to make a point like "no_drama"  no_drama (for furs that are fed up with 'drama' n furry. Yes, there are groups for sexual things as well but lets me be clear, there are many groups out in the FA with interests you can tell your momma/daddy about over the holidays.

This is something that everyone can do. Something that will make your FA life a bit more fun and make the community stronger. This is important and if you are reading this find one or more interest group and join it. Put it in your profile. You don't have to be an artist. Or a writer/bloger. You don't have to make a song about it. You just have to join a group and find others that are like you and celebrate that as part of being you and what you are.