My guess would be "Project Phoenix" which is yet another attempt at recoding the site top to bottom, along with a new layout. I'm sure a number of people know how well those have worked out over the years. The drama probably has something to do with the fact that Zaush, AKA Adam Wan, is running as lead developer. Apparently, he is rumored to be a rapist, and everyone is getting the moral fiber to not want to be tied to something created by a rapist.

I suppose for others leaving, now is as good of a time as any. New year, time for a new site that runs better than FA, after this last downtime a few weeks ago.

Thank you. That clears a few things up.

Mind you, I think the rapist thing is more excuse to get away than actual concern for letting Zaush run anything. There have been more than enough broken promises and dead end updates in the 5 years I've been on this site than I think there is reason to be skeptical about this new project. Whatever Wan might or might not have done, personally, I think any excuse to get away is going to be pounced on by a lot of people, just because there are other sites like Inkbunny and Weasyl. New year, new site, and an excuse to go. I've been quietly re-posting stuff over to Inkbunny, but I doubt I'll be going anywhere for the time being.

Does anyone have any sort of evidence to support the rapist thing or is it just a rumor?

Well, there was a whole "Yiffyleaks" issue a year or two ago. Someone broke into FA and got access to the Private Note System of Dragoneer and several others. Posted them all on the net. That site went offline a few days ago though, but that's how the info became public. Notes were found between Zaush and Dragoneer detailing the issue.

What proof was there that even these were real? Digital things are easy to fake.

However it did seem to be true that there was coercion but not violent rape. It does seem to be a repeating thing as well. So while I think much less of Zaush for being a womanizer like that it does seem like the woman needs to get away from the guy for now and find out what she wants and who she is. He says he is beyond that period in his life, but I don't know enough or care to find out if he is. His art is only porn anyway, nothing that great.

Your point is exactly correct. No way to verify, because these were private notes taken during a hack attack. Most people leaving are running on information that they themselves have not taken the time to verify themselves. If the rape case is in fact true, then yes I would have an issue putting him in charge of anything around here. I won't defend that kind of behavior if it's true, and I might consider a site transfer as well. I don't know him personally though, so I don't know if what he's said on the matter is any more verifiable than the storm of rumors flying around.

Whatever his artistic and coding skills are, my distrust of Project Phoenix actually comes from the SEVERAL design and feature updates that have become vaporware. From Project Ferrox that dies just before I found the site, to the several updates over the years since; not to mention the downtime and poor speed of FA, I've been tempted to leave on those grounds myself. There are other websites for furries that operate better, have features and layouts, and are overall much better than FA.

FA does however still contain a large enough population that going elsewhere does fragment the community as a whole. I have yet to fully migrate to Inkbunny, and I have yet to really make use of Weasyl as of yet, because I'd rather not have to juggle 3 or 4 websites to keep up with everyone. I just don't have that kind of time or motivation to deal with that.

I gave it up because of all the snarking and belittling of the people who were leaving over Zaush, and the parade of rape apologists who came with them. This account is strictly "messages only" because while I don't have an official position on the admin's choice of developer, I am disgusted by the cavalier attitudes I'm seeing toward violence against women.