The most interesting conflict I've been watching lately has been the comments in 's Unconditional comic. Funny enough the discussion has not been about the unfair bias in American against homosexuals, but about the relationship between the characters and which one of them is at fault for their damaged relationship. Which is as much a credit to Rukis' ability to create some seriously compelling characters, as it is to how people see the roles of individuals in a relationship.

Absolutely fascinating stuff.

I've actually been quietly keeping up with the comic. While at first I was worried that Rukis had created a somewhat preachy or heavy-handed dialogue on the issue of homosexuality, I've grown pretty close to the characters and their complexity-- not just the main characters either. Few of the 'supporting actors' or 'bit players' are depicted in an irrational way-- they're strikingly human, something hard to find in fandom literature, IMHO.

The comic itself is very compelling and I love it, but man studying the bias of the readers has been just as interesting. I actually feel bad that comment surfing has been as much fun as reading the comic, because Rukis has really done a spectacular job making everything feel so real, which must be why all the commenters are getting so hopped up. Watching the staunch Marcus haters revel in his suffering, the Reis haters try to defend Marcus, the undecided jump to the defense of whichever character seemingly was in the right on whatever latest page is out. It's like those few times in debate club when someone actually brought up a really hard hitting topic, and people couldn't separate themselves from their own personal bias. Led to some really good debates, and nearly a fistfight or two.

The most earnest conflicts always seem to have a violent undercurrent to them. I initially thought it kind of typical that Rukis put the homosexuality issue on the table, since by the numbers a lot of furries are also homosexuals. My gut reaction was that it was exploitational-- but I'm glad to have been proven wrong. Rukis' work, whatever (his? her?) intention, has made people discuss a real, legitimate, and current social issue in an atypical way for the culture. It's not 'this is my homo-erotic fantasy, come and watch it'. It's more like 'what are some real issues facing gay couples today?'

I'm not gay, but given the reputation of the furry culture I may as well be. I've always been and always will be fascinated with minorities and outgroups, not just the fringes but the otherwise normal people who carry the shame of having 'quirky' tastes. Being part of an outgroup continually changes my perspective on issues, and in a weird way that's actually started helping me out in my career.

Generation gap - old furries vs. new furries.

You can see it with the separation between "Brony cons" and "furry cons".

Interesting choice- explain. What kind of conflicts have you run into?

I've volunteered to work a few cons. I have had a hard time explaining to old-guard furries that the new 18-25 year olds who are showing up have never seen Bugs Bunny or Daffy Duck, and most of them have never even seen Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Google "What is furry" sometime, and read the essays, and try to guess at the age of the authors. The new furries grew up on Sonic, or Pokemon, or Spongebob, or My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic ... stuff that might not even be called "furry" by the older types.

Programming at the older furry cons is often extremely out of touch. There's already several "brony cons" with big-name talent from the MLP franchise. Looking at many furry-con programming guest lists, and you'll either see names that have little or nothing to do with anthros, or people whose last contributions were ten years old or even older.

Older furries tend to have some kind of cut off date, like Animaniacs or Space Jam, and everything after that doesn't really count. It can be difficult talking to press outlets or advertisers, where you want to include contemporary phenomena like Regular Show or MLP as part of how "furry fandom" is alive and well, when your back-up only wants 20-year-old product.

I'm predicting you'll see more and more grousing about how "furry" has died because it's not the same thing it used to be.

Oh, I've seen plenty of that, but I hope I'm not going out on a limb by saying that the generation gap isn't really any greater or lesser than other interpersonal conflicts within the culture. Perhaps the only difference is that it doesn't have the appearance of being as pressing as other issues, like creative ownership or the irony that we have to devise plans to deal with 'fringe' elements when the furry fandom is arguably a fringe in and of itself.

I would like to know how long in life u could be a furry. It seems a bit childish to keep on it after 30'.

So you're of the mindset that involvement in this society is age-based, or phasic? Tell me more. Is it a conflict between real-life affairs and the organizational culture? What constitutes 'childish' and 'mature' in your opinion?

i know it shouldnt, but it is very bad seen (at least in this conservative country that i live) that adult people do any related stuff that little kids do. For example, it is childish to play video games. I do think the activities considered childish will change in time, but by then, other stuff will be considered childish.

And people in this country can't take you seriusly if you have a hobby other than getting drunk.

For example, it is very weird that you tell someone you know here, that you still watch a specific cartoon, unless it is one that everyone of your age saw.

Whether or not watching cartoons at any age is 'right' seems to be where the conflict hinges, but think about it a bit further. People naturally react to things outside of their experiences, their comfort zone with mistrust. Ridicule and doubt are simply ways of expressing this conflict. That gut-check is inherent in all humans. More than society it's part of our biology, our mental chemistry.

Whether you choose to engage in 'strange' behavior is your choice. How much you choose to share with others is also your choice, but always be prepared for ignorance and dismissal. Don't take it too personally, however... chances are, the same people who insult you for your behavior simultaneously carry guilt and/or shame for something they identify with. Besides that, I think all of us can remember a moment where we've ridiculed someone else based on their behavior, perhaps even felt bad about it in the aftermath.

So, will watching a cartoon when you're 30 make you seem odd in the eyes of your peers? Indeed, but how you deal with that implication will prove or disprove your maturity far more than the act of watching the cartoon itself.

This is where I think the furry subculture is presently kind of weak. We look at others as more judgmental than us, whereas the differences between 'us' and 'them' are really blown out of proportion. We tend to focus on ways to 'win', rather than look at what causes arguments in the first place. We get too easily dragged into conflicts and hurt... but after all of it, I'll admit that at least some people have done a fine job of learning how to be a furry and keep their style.

well, i suppose you could always get along with your friends. But being the few furs we are here in Chile, is quite lonely to keep this lifestyle