"the general idea of a furry from an outsiders perspective is still just the yiffing crowd."
lol but its true.
and i dont give a fuck bout it

But, there's a reason that the cons and such aren't adult only. There are minors involved. A survey that I took had results that showed that most people didn't think that sex was really an important part of the fandom. Of course you could argue that they just didn't answer truthfully.

A morning radio show I listen had a discussion about IFC since one of the hosts was staying in the hotel, and while there was a bit of mockery one of the hosts actually defended the fandom. He didn't have any specific details but brought up that they were just doing their thing and not hurting anyone and the other guy had probably offended them by now.

So, we are getting a little advancement i think.

It is getting better. Slowly. But, as the fandom gets larger and more mainstream it may just get treated like any other geek fan base.

I dont listen to radio, and Ive heard 3 different stories on the matter, and seen way too many blogs and journals about it now.
So its old news now (Dont think I dont care about it, just Ive heaard enough about it)

I agree, there is more to the fandom then Fetish and Sex.
Just...it is a big part of it. Because people love porn to the point its all thats really seen, sexy and sexual Animals.
I think at this point its impossible to make outsiders new to the fandom, or those with warped mindsets about Furry and Anthro Art think differently. Even with the numbe rof people who try to introduce it in a possitive light, completly away from the Fetish.

There are so many positive things about the fandom I wish the general public could see. Like the wonderful people, friendly, diverse groups of people and all the art and ideas that it spawns. The fandom isn't a fetish, the fetish is part of the fandom.

Porn is just fun! It's just not we're all about.

It makes me wonder if the sexuality in the furry fandom is more present than it is in others or if it's just perceived that way. It sure seems that way on places like FA where 8 out of 10 pictures are adult. But, it's the internet. It feels way different when walking a convention floor.

there is a naughty or "dark side" to every fandom the "dark side" of steampunk for instance is called Steamkink

Ha! I was totally unaware there was such a thing!

Yeah, it seems like everything has a sexualized version of itself. We are human after all.

Well, there's no avoiding it - my porn account (this one) has eclipsed my straight account in just a fraction of the time.

The draw to porn is way stronger than it is for clean stuff. As an artist you can get your name out there by doing adult pieces but then you always have that aspect attached to yourself. It seems like it's very difficult to get people to appreciate your own original ideas.
I've seen some stuff here that I think are fantastic but since the artist doesn't do adult they don't have as many pageviews or follows which I always find discouraging. But, the people who do make it seems to have a very strong fanbase.

The furry fandom (though not always a wide spread thing) has existed since the Time of Pharohs. Charles Darwin can be considered the first mainstream Furry, and then there was that book in the 80's that truly gave birth to the fandom. Yes we have sexual assets, but do people comment on what their video game characters look like? or the fandom related to that? Not really, and the media barely touch it. But as soon as a heinous act like this is committed, instantly we are branded freaks, when the assailant could target a school next.

The discrimination against furries is by all definition Racism. We are openly targeted, publicly incriminated for acts that are untrue, and in some countries this hate is state sponsored because of the Fandoms association with Homosexuality,Transgender, Transsexual, and even gay rights. It is like the dark ages, furries are viewed as purely freaks, inhuman, and greatly distrusted. But like many should know, a fandom is not without its faults, a fandom will have adult content, and it will have it's oddballs (who make it all the more enjoyable mind you)But to say, we are only focused on one thing, such as sex or otherwise known as Yiffing. Is truly ignorant. Furries support Equal Rights, Animal rights, and for a good portion support research for currently deadly and incurable aliments, and we support our own when they are faced for example with currency issues and are on the verge of Poverty.

This radio host, is blind, and obviously did not do much research.

Like I said in a previous comment, I'm curious as to how the sexuality in this fandom stacks to others. It seems to be greater on online forums like this where porn is rampant. But I'm almost certain that just as many adult fanfics of Star Trek, Star Wars, and whatever else exist out there.

But, yeah. There so many positive things about the fandom that people don't see and wish that media would stop perpetuating ignorance. I suppose that is what they're good at.

Eh, CSI and MTV gave the fandom a bad wrap. Some of the recent events I've seen don't do much to dispel this. Ones in SF in particular.

The fandom to me is more about the art, media and historic influences and the celebration of those things. You can't escape the pornographic side of things but I see way more of that at Anime Cons compared to Furry Cons.

It raises the question: what's the difference between fursuiting and cosplaying? To me the only thing is that you are dressing up as something you came up with as apposed to some character someone else did. I believe that sexuality is just as present in other fandoms as it is in this one. It's all about how it's perceived.

People dont like us. Funny considering there are themeparks and film studios dedicated to anthro creatures.
Bugs bunny? Mickey mouse?
Just miniscule examples.
The fandom is kinda huge. But surprisingly under the radar.
I think that the sex misconception is such a big deal because, well, we have a lot of porn art.
But so does anime. And so does real life. AND SO DOES CLASICAL ART
But is that important? To some maybe but not to most.
Art is all we are. Fursuits? Foam and faux fur sculptures. All depictions are badically nice drawings.
Porn is just a subculture of a subculture to every form of art.

The biggest problem is that people just simply dont understand.
Its that simple.
Ignorance is an all too common disease.
If you wanna try to teach, be my guest, but many will respond like schoolchildren and ignore you.

But its worth a shot.

but bugs bunny or mickey mouse wasnt writting comments on furaffinity like "omg i totaly wanna be like that cumslut here in the picture"

I used them as examples. And you cant say they also havent been made into porn.
Rule 34 baby.

no one cares about the unofficial use
baby

Then why do pple complain about yiff?

because people always have to complain something and if you are a part of a fandom where most of users are horndogs gay sluts be prepared to be threaten like one
easy eh?

Its thinking like THAT that leads to people being so toxic to such a friendly fandom.
Porn is only PART of what some of us do.
I cant say im not a "horndog" but I will defend that not everyone is.

well yeah maybe you are right but the people dont give a fuck and you wont change it so deal with it and dont cry next time when someone in mass media will say the furries are retards and sex addicts

I said ignorance is a disease. Some have it worse than others.
And I cant fight ignorace alone.
so I cant fight YOU alone. I give up. I refuse to fight someone so close-minded.
I am trying to point out my opinion. If you dont like my opinion, dont talk to me.
And I dont count a couple of radio shows "mass media"
When this shit is all over fox and cnn then you call it as it is.

whatever

If you look up ukiyo-e art, you'll see that allot of it is pornographic. Today it's seen as classical. That'd be like if 400 years from now people put hentai in museums.

But, yeah. People never take the time to understand something before they decide to devote all their time and energy to try and wipe it from the face of the earth.

well porn has taken over as the dominant aspect in which the humanssssssss want to see. Adult artists dont really help by contirbuting more adult art....BUT! Its what the furry public wants. Then eventually it gets into public by a ill knowledged jack and assumes that this is all there is too see.

knowledge is key here to see ALL aspects. If the mainstream public doesn't want adult art...dont associate with adult like themes, folks, artists and such but seek out the ones who are the oppsite.

Exactly! The only problem is that people are quick to judge and will never take the time to understand something once their minds and morals have already dismissed as being godless and evil. From what I could see from the two Anthrocons I've been to, the adult part of it seemed to be slowly shrinking as more and more raw talent is being thrown into the mix.

Personally I'll probably keep doing adult images because I think it's fun and almost therapeutic.

well lets not get carried away here.

Its not ENTIRELY the publics fault....

Its a give and take system as i see it. i frankly wouldn't want to do adult art unless someone asked me to, but i wouldn't promote it.

Here's another fault as i see:
Yes the stupid sheeple of the retarded states of murica (and the world...) always buy into whatever bigger authority tells them to believe in.

Now here is where it gets tricky...you as part of the fandom, also have a small responsibility to SHOW AND TEACH the stupid that its not 100% sex crazed furs. if nobody speaks up or enlightens the public, the stereotypes of the furry fandom will continue to grow. The furry fandom will continue to get irritated. and nothing is solved. just growing tension.

but it doesn't exactly help either that adult furry images are helping from adult artists. As i see, they have more responsiblity to speak up on WHY they do it. sure they may have awesome style, technique or some other artistic quality. As per the main reason why I watch adult artists, but if one cannot convey that....well. The public will have a field day with you (indirect)

Its about balance. You can't appease everyone, but those that who will be appeased by reason, logic and understanding may (MAY!) have a different outlook.

People think a furry convention is like that (in)famous episode of CSI: Las Vegas. The episode was "Fur and Loathing in Las Vegas.

I haven't seen the episode personally. From what I've heard it seemed like a very inaccurate portrayal of the fandom as a whole.

It was. The first time it aired, there was one hell of an uproar over it in every way imaginable. When it aired as a repeat, everyone was a lot calmer and accepted that it was made by someone who really had no idea what a furry convention is really like. Furpiles in the common areas... Yeahno... Several furs got a chuckle out of the dude with the antennas giving a lecture on something (can't remember what it was, as the last and only time I saw the episode was back in 06 and ONLY by chance). Some people thought the use of Ipecac syrup (used to induce vomiting) was pretty cool. The fursuit worn by the murder victim (blue furred feline) was made by a very well known fursuit maker (again, can't remember who it was, given how long it's been since I've seen the episode).

i think the worst part is that somewhere it is implied people thought that the "intentional gas leak" was intended to be mustard gas, but ended up being a chlorine powder, slow-release.

Now, from chemist's point of view: how the hell do you screw up making mustard gas?! it's /incredibly/ simple!

otherwise, i must admit, after the last few years of threats happening for a few cons, seems someone got past simple threats...

Hopefully things don't escalate. I've been approached last Anthrocon by reporters asking about bomb threats. There are kids at these things and the last thing I'd want to see is a minor get hurt for the sake of ignorance.

yeah, the last major one i heard of was the AC bombthreat. thankfully the guy was caught well before Ac thanks to him ranting about it to a friend, who screencapped it and called the cops. he was eventually found, which all the materials and such, as well. he /really/ did seem to want to pipe-bomb it.

and serious! nobody thinks anymore. or they just dont care. Kids are there. not just adults. and particularly not adults of some perverted subculture. just normal people.

although i think the guy threatening AC this last time was a fur, and for some reason had it out with a some other furs, and essentially needed psych help because [anger > friends] !/ [pipebomb + con + innocents].

like literally. this is a freaking simple math/logic equation.

Now, i hear a number of other threats are just bigot, though. kind like the few hundred trans* people killed each year, listed at TDOR, or many gay people, or... errr.. ever notice it's often the minor groups that are killed?