When I hear "popfur" I think of a soda can with ears and a tail
I'm a dweeb
:B

Yes, yes you are. For only dweebs refer to soda as "pop". Well, dweebs and Yankees... ;P

But its okay. We're all dweebs here....

Popufurs are the furs that can actually make a living making art.

^This is what I was thinking as well.

At least in the context of FA.

eh, I don't think there are many artists at all who can make a living on such a small niche community (with crazy cheap prices) :[
at least, not a comfortable living. I highly doubt there are furry artists who own their own home and can afford it all solely through furry art.

I know of a few who make a comfortable living that way ;)

well AWESOME :D
i guess it depends on what they sell/how fast they make them but for most I feel like it just isn't feasible for a lot of people. But if someone can do that, then mad respect XD

I mean, I make above minimum wage just from coloring in premade lineart, if I had enough time to do more custom work as well I'm sure I could really support myself :)

kinda have to say there are some peps who do live off there work, and some more comfortable then others, either that is there only income, or have other project aside commissions and stuff. so yes peps do make it a living. I know a lot who do.

As small as this community is, there's no shortage of furs willing to shell out big bucks for works from the best (and popular) artists.

This is now a poputhread.

To me, popufur can be taken in so many ways. Including insults. I've been called a popufur in a joking way, and as an insult.

But to me, I like to think it's just someone with a lot of admirers.

I personally feel that the term popufur is a derogatory one because what about the furs who aren't suiters or artists, but fans of furry. I may be a suiter and such, but im just here to go at my own flow and im blessed to be apart of something that is very loving, well for the most part. I actually poke fun at popufur by just saying im a popuflop or something derpy. I always make sure, even if im in a chat with my suit, to let others know that im no different then them, we're all apart of the same thing.

I feel so dumb x3 I didn't even know the term when I clicked on this xD I guess it would just be a very well known furry artist

I think that a popufur is just a celebrity within the furry fandom. I'm not sure that there's any specific number of watchers associated with it.

A furry that puts me to shame :\

hmm how so?

Basically a furry that is a better artist, a better fursuiter, is friendlier, more creative, more entertaining, more clever, or more dedicated than I am. I know I sound narcissistic and know they do deserve it under most circumstances (as long as they don't lie, cheat, or steal for it.). But I would be lying to you if I said I wasn't even the slightest bit jealous of the success and the perks that come along with it. Hey that's my take on it... :(

ok, im not different from any one ells, I think the key is to make some thing that peps like to see that is different and new. its always the hard part to do that.

I dont like the word.

Some people take a look at numbers and assume Iam "Unapproachable".

Iam 5'0 tall and I throw candy at cons. IAM HARMLESS.
It breaks my heart when I recieve messages like... "OH I SAW YOU AT A CON! But I was to afraid to say hello".

browsing through peoples responses...TOTALLY thought you said "IAM HAIRLESS"

I love you.

"I throw candy at cons"
omfg i love you.

I REALLY DO.
Last year at a con during a parade i think i hit some people in the face.

omFG

There is no set number of watchers, and there's no set amount of pageviews or anything.
It simply is someone who is (usually) infamous, one way or another. I don't think "popufur" people really exist in the first place and i HATE the term, but it simply is someone who is decently well-known and recognizable i suppose.

Agreed. It doesn't have to do with watchers or necessarily even art, period. I think the origin more or less WAS from derogatory roots, to describe people who are so full of themselves and so busy in their own clique that they can't be bothered to spend any time with the unwashed masses.

I think a popufur is a person that is well known in there filled of enjoyment in what they do, they have perfected what they like, and loves to share what they love to do X3, as for when you become one, i dont think it has to do with actual popularity or watchers, it has more to do with your level of work and how you treat people.

Weather you do only clean work or have a pron fallowing XD it is all how you choose to display your art, with great power comes great responsibility, also there are a few popufur's (if your going by watchers) that simply commission from the greats to get there name out there, in short, i say if your striving to be a popfur, be nice to your fellow furs, learn how to handle drama (i think you know why i bolded and underlined that XD) and most importintley be proud of your work, if you made it this far your deserve to like your art as much as others do :3

as always do what you love, not what others think is good, it'll get you farther then you know :3

I'm stick in that limbo between LVL. 1 and 2...

I guess to me, someone whose name is easily recognizable and possibly a fur who is recognizable IRL too. I once got mistaken for RedRusker at a con. XD

I'm not saying I'm loaded or nothing but I do a better job with artwork than my old job.

I guess I'm getting there?

idunno

a furry that everyone knows?

Im hoping to be up there in rakes one day. Also im not showing up on the search

yah you kinda have to look for your self, still kinda in beta mode. I pop up some were on page 4, at 300 some thing , but there update suck, every so months it updates.

oh wow im not that popular at all lol

Popufur to me just means if you say the artist/furry's name everyone would say "yeah I know em"

A popufur, to me, is a derogatory term for a furry artist who is known to "b'awwww" and cause drama and the like just because they're popular and someone "stepped on their toes" so to speak. I've never heard the term used in good light. D: Then again... I'm just going off of what others have said to me about popufurs.

I'm a "Lvl. 1" popufur. Even though I've been in this fandom for 9+ years and have regularly posted work, rofl. .3. Not necessarily on this site, mind you.

Derp. Make that a lvl 0 one. xD I mis-keyed when using the 10-key pad. Haaaa. Imma derp.

I'd say anyone with 5000+ watchers.

Popufur, to me, is just another person that has an -internet- status that means nothing no where else, and shouldn't be treated special because of it.

Agreed.

i agree with you and your icon

Well in the technical sense its just an artist that everyone knows like meesh, zaush, etc. You would prolly be close to a popufur by this definition.

However its often used with a negative connotation. In which case, its a popular furry artist that is what one would refer to as "snobby", "stuck up", or on a high horse. Kinda the artists where the fame went to their head and started thinking they're da shit.

I would say there are a couple different types of "popufur" - There is the Big picture with the names that most everyone know, but then in smaller pockets of tight knit groups there are popular people. In these smaller groups they may not be big stars to the entire photo, but when you look up close you'll see they are just as amazing for whatever skill they bring to the table.

When I type this out I think of comparing big name musical stars to small underground bands. Those small bands may be less known or "Watched" - but the people who do watch them sometimes consider them as big names.

Personally I'm a "mom and pops" shop kind of guy. While Fancy restaurants may give some of the best food in the world - those small corner holes can compare just as much, and when you find them - you're a loyal fan.

-- I may be rambling and using way too many metaphors, but I hope some of this made a lick of sense.

I consider popufur someone who has over 200 skype friends

*O*

I'm #225 on that and I don't even draw :x

Popufur is a term that started out well but ended being a very derogatory term. Depending on the context, a popufur can mean just that a person is popular/well known, or it could mean that a person is rich, famous, adored and/or otherwise notable in the fandom (often successful solely because of the fandom), but acts superior or indifferent to others (including your fans) (that of course you aren't).

Basically, a popufur can mean something completely okay, or it can mean that you're famous and a douche, depending on the context of what you're talking.
Usually I avoid to use this term exactly due to that offensive meaning. You never know if for somebody popufur will be an insult or not.


I think the main problem of all this (and the reason of the bad meaning) lays in the people that forgets who they are or they were. Everybody was a "nobody" when they began, but lots of artists (much more than I wish), once they become famous, start to ignore the people that helped them to go up, or start to feel and act like they are superior to others. "Why caring about these guys? I have other 999999 new fans ready to defend me".
I think you get the idea. Basically their narcisism and their popularity makes them to act like they were more important than everybody else, reaching to the point of believing they are always right or that if you disagree with them, you're evil, mean, bad, etc.

I like seeing what peps say and im lurning in some cases the word POPuFUR dose have a negative meaning some time, so this is new to me, also I try not to get a big head in how much peps watch me and thinking im better, (witch im not) I hope I never get to that point. im nothing with out you and peps who watch me. also this is some one with out any RL friends AT ALL so every one counts, and I cant tell you when I see some of my fans/friends go, I don't know every one who goes and leves but make me sad when I do konow who it is (there is just sooo much to keep track of)
and just for the record, your one awesome fan and friend^^ thank you for that

Oh Ru, I never even suggested anybody tells it to you in a bad way. I just explained the normal and the bad meaning that the word has, just fur you to be aware. We already have seen how much you care about your people, and yes, being in the popular side of things can be very tiring/busy, because you have so much to be worried about. You have something that the people that is called popufur in a negative way doesnt have-- humility. And that is something very appreciated.

Thanks for your nice words =^w^= they mean a lot. =)

>I never even suggested that anybody calls you that in a bad way
>Just for you to be aware

Damn, today my grammar is even worse than usual. It must be the fact that it's 4AM here and haven't slept at all.

I'm a bit mixed on the term popufur. I feel like its derogatory though. A popufur is someone that that either is well known in the fandom or notable in the fandom (possibly art, cons, other stuff) but they act like they're on a high horse.

I feel like people who gain this attention and use it to their advantages like getting free art or getting others to buy the stuff for them. I will admit there are people who have gained that title that aren't like that, using their high horse power to get whatever they want, and just trying to fit into the community even after gaining such status.

there's a lot of drama to the term. xP its crazy in my opinion.

I just thought popufur was like an offhand remark for people who dish out loads of dollarydoos on furry art.

Like, there's people on this site that anyone would recognize by name purely because of how much art they've bought of their character :V

Someone that opens commissions and all slots are snagged within three minutes.

Lets see... to me it has a negative connotation. A fur that has tons of watchers and basks in the attention.

in my case, I try to help out the other beginner artist, and to make peps happy with my work. so as much as nice to be looked up to its better help other, but kinda hard when im bizzy but I try to.

Is always a treat when some shouts on your page on how some thing you drew made or improve their day.

Popular furry. Either with art that goes quickly, active fursuiter, or with fursuits that go quickly. To be honest, I don't believe that 500 watchers would be considered as a popufur at all.

They don't have me or my fursuit account on the popufur site xD

Putting it simply, popufurs are those who are obviously popular because of some reason or another and they let it get to their heads. Ergo, they're assholes that think they're better than everyone. If anyone takes offense to this, then too bad since it's my opinion.

this the first time i have ever heard the term "popufur"
i thought you were being silly at first and just replacing an L with an F
like some people say liek instead of like

Popufurs, I think of obnoxious stuck up baums who drown themselves in their fans, and only doing things to please their fans, or just ignoring them and working on stuff they wanna draw as well as commissions.

or I just think of a soda drink. Popufurs the new exciting tasty refreshing soda drink, it's sure to revitalize you and give you the energy you need and keeps you going through the day!!

popfur to me is a popular fur on the fandom, some are really nice and in my opinion some peaple get mad at them beacuse theyr popular, and theyr not, im not popular i dont see anything wrong with that peaple they won popularity beacuse they had the talent to earn it. some might be really nice around peaple some may not be very nice, it depends on eachs personality

What about 100-500 watchers? You skipped that grouping. ;3

Popufur can mean different things to different people. Some simply see them as furs whom are popular. The term wasn't ever meant to be negative. But some seek popularity, in a self-gratifying way, and usually a lot of drama is created. Those popufurs are looked at negatively by many, but not all, for as you said, being popular draws drama. It's not always the popufur's doing, or some tiny blunder gets magnified a thousandfold.

There are lesser-known artists who bust their behinds on a piece and get very little return. Then someone whom is popular posts something, and it instantly has many faves and comments. Sometimes it breeds some contempt. But usually, it's the drama people want to avoid.

If you discover popularity, use it for good, and don't develop an attitude. So far, you're doing quite well! ;3

Someone who everyone wants to have draw porn for them.

What a Popufur is to me is someone who has SEVERAL ACTIVE watchers. That means they upload ANYTHING and within just an hour at least 10 people have faved it and at least 3 have commented. When they make a journal offering 3 commission slots for $15 or more within the first fifteen minutes those slots are full. In less then 3 days if they've made adoptables they are all sold out.

To me being a Popufur is not something bad... it's enviable. However, there is a bad taste about it in the sense there are so many Popufurs who are horrible to their watchers and/or commissioners. This isn't set though cus there are PLENTY of really awesome and sweet people who are Popufurs and often times it might just be the watchers who are crazy. Cus often times peeps love to white knight a cause when they don't have to. ( Most Popufurs have "knights" even if they don't mean to have them. :3 )


But this is all just what I've observed. : O

A 'popufur' to me is someone who thinks he is all that and a bag of something.

I think it has to do with presence more than watchers, and also where it is. I'm sure someone who popular on IRC, Tumblr, or SecondLife may not be extremely popular on FA and vice versa. They might be popular for the truckloads of art that they get, or for being notorious drama cows.

I also tend to think people are popular if i see their icon everywhere on journals or comments on art, even though that's a silly conclusion to jump too...

"0-100 watchers ( either beginner artiest or social networking, for like RP or friends)"

....*just curls up and cries* ;O;

sorry this is just a rough estimate, sorry to make you sad.
also nice work^^ keep it up^^

also bummed because I'm almost at 200... and that wasn't even listed, ha ha!

and oh goodness, thank you ;u; that means a lot to me!

To me, Popufur is just another vague unspecified word such as "gamer" or "brony." There really is no set number, it just seems to be a "viral video" type effect. What makes a viral video? How do some become viral but most don't? It stems from an assortment of different reasons. Some artist just have raw talent, being able to complete masterpieces that are just awe inspiring. Others may have a particular style that is very appealing to many people, but no matter what the outcome, I've noticed that the quickest ways to climb the ranks is just to post as often as possible. If you can post a submission at least once a day, those papeviews and watchers will climb quick.

I've also seen many artificial ways to boost your numbers, such as posting "I'll give free art if you post a journal about this" journals, ensuring that at least a couple new people will find you. I see these journals at least once a day. Another way is by jumping on bandwagons, (and I'm guilty of this too) such as drawing something that many others have started posting alot as well, such as MLP, or even the recent "Wii fit trainer" rule 34.

But back to your original question, what do I think is a Popufur? I'd say it's anyone who can quit there job and make a living selling their art simply by knowing that the piece came from that certain artist. As soon as you start saying things like, "Holy crap! I got a commission from So-N-So" Then they've officially ascended into Popufur status. But really the way I see it is, you should NEVER watch someone JUST because they're liked by everyone else, you should watch someone because you enjoy the content that they post and are happy to see something from them in your inbox.

If I could close with a message for anyone who considers themselves a Popufur; don't be a stuck up asshole, and don't ignore your watchers. They're the reason why you're a "Popufur" in the first place.

hmm odd i'm not on the site o:

To me, a popufur tends to have a few qualities...

1. Minimal drama. If they do have drama, it's pretty small and usually well contained. Those furs that end up falling to the allure of the drama llama end up not having a very loyal fanbase.
2. Watcher count. Just like you said.
3. Relevant artwork. The reasons that Fisk and Blotch and Wolfy-Nail are so popular is because they tend to draw artwork in volumes that represents the demographic of furries. They draw a lot of canines and felines, and a few reptiles or other things here and there. Artists that focus on things like.. monsters or snakes or aquatics tend to not get up there because a lot of furries like to see foxes and tigers and wolves a lot more than they like to see killer whales or snakes.

The other side to this is that sometimes being a popufur isn't very desirable. These furs often become detached from the fandom because they're surrounded by salivating fans that want artwork, free or otherwise, and they get bombarded by notes and commission requests, whether they write journals about it or not. If they end up with a large pile of commissions, then they end up spending more time drawing what other people want rather than what they want.

Some people might enjoy that. Having a large fanbase gives you a much larger group to pool from for commissions, and you can often get away with higher prices because the demand is so high. People like Nek0gami or Spunky can even have auctions that get upwards of 700 dollars for a single-character pin-up style commission, with minimal, if any, background... And the shameful thing is that some of those pictures end up not being any better than some of the artists willing to sell full-color artwork for 50 or even as low as 30 dollars, that have to go that low because demand is low.

I would never encourage anyone to be a popufur. I would LOVE to get to know some of the artists that I personally really enjoy and admire, and would love to pick their brains for information about how they got to drawing, how they practice, and where they learned their respective talents and tricks of the trade, but I wouldn't ever want to be a popufur myself.

Wow~!OMG!! O.o

Popufurs are furrys with tons of watchers, Can live off the money they make doing art, and get hundreds of comments on any picture they make.

im not even on the list

I know only TWO of those names

The word can mean many things to different people. Some people say that a 'popufur' is a furry that causes a lot of drama. Some people say they're popular furry artists. To me, a popufur is a furry artist that is well-known in the fandom. Usually a popufur has lots of watchers and gets a lot of comments on everything they post. The amount of watchers, favorites, comments, pageviews and whatnot don't mean anything. What just matters is just how well known you are in the fandom. That's what it is to me at least.

If you are an artist/commissioner/suiter and your main goal on this website is to be Popular you are going about it the wrong way. People who only want to get popular for the sake of being famous (outside of this niche website) never end up well.

Instead as an artist, you should look to do art because you *enjoy* it not because you get 'X' amount of watchers.

I am in the limbo of 100-499. I am awash in nonentity, and failed expectations beyond my circle of immediate friends.


Or, I just draw for fun, mostly. :D

The fur of a popple?

Sounds like a type of pill or juice. Heh, so I guess I'm under level 1. Meh. Don't really care About popularity.

the term "Popufur" to me is nothing like the word's composition of "Popular" and "Furry". If this were just the case, than Popufur would have any large range of meanings.

No, on FA, Popufur is more of a social construct that has arisen with a mentality of some popular furs using their popularity as an excuse for some of their actions, or for putting themselves above others. A similar construct would be like your stereotypical high school cheerleader who feels like they're part of an exclusive club or clique. While admittedly, some cheerleaders are going to be more level headed in personality, it's almost across the board that every High School has that "one cheerleader" who is somehow a part of 3 or 4 major groups of people and are kind of put off by anyone else who is somewhat near them.

Popufurs, likewise, will usually only associate with other popufurs, and usually, they don't so much as bat an eye at other people, though they're more than happy to use their status to get themselves a chat with other high end artists. Does it mean that the other artists don't talk with a wider range of people, including those who aren't high up the chain? of course not. Just because you're a popular furry, it doesn't mean you get tagged with the term "Popufur". I guess it just depends on more of your actions with people. You seem to like us regulars and our input, so I doubt you'd ever be cataloged as one, and if you were, I'm sure many would come to your defense right away.


The sad part is, I'm not actually sure how long Popufur has been around meaning what it has. Part of me thinks it started out more as a pun, like "hey, look at him. he's so popufur right now. You're such a Popufur!" and it eventually devolved to the term we have today, where we compare it to the "popular" people like those in exclusive cliques.

Well, there are popufurs with talent, Aka the artists you pointed out, who earned thier reputatation.

Then there are ones who bleed money like a stuck pig into dozens and dozens of artists so that people watch them cos of that ( as well as the big chunk of creeperfurs who wanna be thier freeeeeiiiiinnddddddddddd, because of the very idea of lots of art)

The first is the only one who i think deserves much, the other is an attention whore.

Also, 10k watchers, thats a pretty big fanbase, so you are popular! :P

http://youtu.be/nmcdLOjGVzw

I think a person gains watchers, fans, followers, whatever for initially doing something that pleases a crowd. Such a positive response can go to someones head though & get out of control. Really, I think the term "popufur" could go either way, depending on who you are talking about.

Popufur: pretty much anyone than me.

Popufur: People who take more porn commissions than clean ones

lol o dear.....
welp guess im out

I definitely like your way of describing a "popufur" in different levels. I agree to the numbers you mention for each level, which truly fits the popularity for an artist here on FA.

I know from personal experience of what it is like to go from not being well known to slowly becoming a "popufur". I say this because me and my mate are fursuit makers and recently at AC I realized how odd it is to have so many people come up to our dealer table and give us so many compliments on what we make.

Marfs!

Popufurs are furs who gloat in their popularity, that's all there is to it.

^ Pretty much

I think popufur is just a fur who happens to be popular, regardless if they're artists or not

Simply someone who a lot of people recognize by name.
Jay Naylor being one. If you mention that name around furries, most of them will probably know who you're talking about. Thus he is an example of a "popufur."

I don't like the furry lingo for a popular person, though. I prefer just "popular," "(semi-)famous," or "well-known."

Popufur - Furry thats popular.

Or if you want to be derpy about it.

Every fur knows about that fur one way or another.

To me.. popufur is anyone who can make a statement about the fandom, or any part of the fandom. And be taken seriously by the majority of the fandom.
:P Something that comes to mind might be a popular artist declaring that u18chan was bad because it stole art.

It just means like what popular means on other sites. Mostly just being well known. As for watcher numbers can not always be something to judge it on since some accounts may be dead accounts. I also notice on DA and a few other sites.

I use 'popufur' as a derogatory term or insult for an artist that has become so self absorbed with his pseudo 'fame' and starts to get an attitude towards his fans, completely forgetting its them that make him/her popular, and that he was once upon a time a guy that only had 10 or 11 watchers, struggling to draw circles correctly. It's a corny, lame term and if you are aiming to be 'popufur' instead of drawing because it's your passion and love, then I feel bad for you son, I watch 99 artists but you won't be one [god I can't believe I typed that]

In short, any artist that sees himself as 'popufur' is too full of himself, and I'd rather support the guys that stay humble, down to earth, and connected with their fans.

I think it means when someone's well known AND liked by other people. ^^
Everyone probably has their own definition, though, so there can be a lot of different types of popufurs.

might I suggest a fix to your "levels"

0-99 watchers (Fresh of the Boat)

100-999 watchers (popufur LEVEL 1 Up-and-Comer)

1000-9999 watchers (popufur LEVEL 2 Battle Scarred)

10000-19999 watches (popufur LEVEL 3 Hot Stuff)

20000-29999 watchers (popufur LEVEL 4 The Climb)

30000-40000+ (MEGA POPUFUR!!!!! The Everest)

I guess this means I'm nearing Level 2, Woot! (948 watchers as of now)
I guess to me, being popular means to be able to live off your drawings, to simply open commissions and 30 mins later have your list full.
Though I have noticed some artists gain popularity through infamy and drama. Others gain popularity through going under the wing of another artist more popular than them selves. And then there are those that do it on their own merit.

Lol I like your levels

I just reached level 1 XD

apparently im between one and two. Im level 1.5

Im a lvl 1 Huray! hahaha Nah its not rlly important, most important to have fun and improve in the progress. I just started being an artist since a year ago orso. I dont think I will ever hit Level 2 or any huge amount of watchers like urself tough O_O.

I think a popufur is pretty much an (non)artist who is very well kown by pretty much everyone or at least the group of ppl who are in the community for a while. But newbies will come across these popufurs pretty quickly. Popufurs also sounds like a new critter or species :P

to me, a popufur is a really well known furry artist or a well known furry... In this case the only well known artist that must be popufur is  squeedgemonster

How to reach the popufur without drawing too much R-18 btw (´∀`)
Someone should making a tutorial for this

Imo I think its when you hit either 5,000 watchers OR your comments get 200+ comments on average.

I worry less about the art and more about the person. If the person has a crappy personality and does morally questionable, stupid, or advantageous actions that benefit themselves with little consequence because of their status, then I stop watching them immediately or call them out on their malarkey at the cost of my own skin or potential hatred by the unrequited paladins of the internet. Popufurs can be pleasant. Usually the ones I can stand are the performers/bards. Some of the popufur artists tend to get on a high horse or think selfishly, which is usually defended by the deafening drone of dingbats.

Truly, it's odd, because I have been called a popufur (I deny it), yet I cannot quantify these accusations as my page is bleak of numbers. But if I go to cons, or other major events, people ask for me by name. So, I do not know if numbers are the sole qualifier in whether someone is a popufur or not.

I do not know if I personally would call you a popufur, because your actions do not reflect those that have attained that acrimonious status. You appear to be a very pleasant person who actually bothers to listen to the fans versus some of the others that only talk to get more money in the forms of journals announcing their commission slots. I like that you do this and it brings me more faith in the furry fandom that I love and loathe so much. :)