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Ventyish - My thoughts on the Furry Community
11 years ago
I've been seeing a few things concerning the furry fandom lately that really bother me. I'm new here for the most part and I didn't know much about the community until I started being more active here.
The first thing that hit me really hard was the events that went down at MWFF, and the unprofessional new reporters who couldn't even keep a straight face while describing the convention and what it was about. The comments I read following that Youtube clip were so devastating, I had all I could do not to start bawling on the spot. I didn't realize how much criticism the furry community suffers because people just don't take the time to understand what it is about. Instead they like to dwell on the really off beat members on the community whose tastes are definitely not the majority. To the artists saying they were appalled by the fandom and some of its tastes? If you don't want to draw something, don't draw it! The community certainly is not all about underage sex and obscure fetishes. Does it exist? Sure, but it is not the majority, and if you don't like it, don't look.
Second instance was just recently, I read a journal by a dA user saying they had left FA because furries are just dumb and they can't handle the stupidity. So this person has dealt with how many people that gave them that impression? 1? 3? More? Regardless, not all furries should be lumped under the same roof! I'm a big believer in how you act attracts similar kinds of people.
I guess my main gripe is just that people don't seem to take the time to understand furries at all. From my point of view in the limited time I have been here I have felt more warmth and genuine caring than I have in a long time. This community seems very open, accepting, and everywhere I go I see friendships, connections, loyalties, and love shown. I have been fortunate to not have had any negative experiences, and if that is to ever happen, I know that one instance does not define an entire group of people. This community has been wonderful, inspiring, and I'm so glad to have taken the plunge into drawing anthro. I've loved animals forever, and seeing people dressed up in fur suits makes me happy, makes me think of times that were simpler and less complicated. So to dive into this lush world of fantasy and combine my love of pretty ladies and animals, well it is a great opportunity for greater creativity and expression. I'll do my best to support this fandom!
The first thing that hit me really hard was the events that went down at MWFF, and the unprofessional new reporters who couldn't even keep a straight face while describing the convention and what it was about. The comments I read following that Youtube clip were so devastating, I had all I could do not to start bawling on the spot. I didn't realize how much criticism the furry community suffers because people just don't take the time to understand what it is about. Instead they like to dwell on the really off beat members on the community whose tastes are definitely not the majority. To the artists saying they were appalled by the fandom and some of its tastes? If you don't want to draw something, don't draw it! The community certainly is not all about underage sex and obscure fetishes. Does it exist? Sure, but it is not the majority, and if you don't like it, don't look.
Second instance was just recently, I read a journal by a dA user saying they had left FA because furries are just dumb and they can't handle the stupidity. So this person has dealt with how many people that gave them that impression? 1? 3? More? Regardless, not all furries should be lumped under the same roof! I'm a big believer in how you act attracts similar kinds of people.
I guess my main gripe is just that people don't seem to take the time to understand furries at all. From my point of view in the limited time I have been here I have felt more warmth and genuine caring than I have in a long time. This community seems very open, accepting, and everywhere I go I see friendships, connections, loyalties, and love shown. I have been fortunate to not have had any negative experiences, and if that is to ever happen, I know that one instance does not define an entire group of people. This community has been wonderful, inspiring, and I'm so glad to have taken the plunge into drawing anthro. I've loved animals forever, and seeing people dressed up in fur suits makes me happy, makes me think of times that were simpler and less complicated. So to dive into this lush world of fantasy and combine my love of pretty ladies and animals, well it is a great opportunity for greater creativity and expression. I'll do my best to support this fandom!
//smooches and loves//
I'll always support you
FA offers a lot more love and connections to people who actually care. I'm guessing I don't have irl friends because the people in the community ARE my friends. Sure, I don't see them in person, but what matters most is how you treat one another. I've had the pleasure of meeting some awesome people both here and irl who stem from FA. Some I even feel a personal connection. It's like the game Presentable Liberty. You may not see who's writing to you, but you become emotionally attached. Even if they're just words in a comment, note, or shout, it's the thought that people take the time to get to know you.
All in all, you're right about people not understanding the community. I can't tell you how many times I had to explain to other students that not all furs were perverts.
I wish more people wouldn't be so close minded and just delve a little deeper instead of just dismissing things, but I guess that is their loss in the end. This has been a wonderful group of people so far and I can see myself making connections here as well as bringing existing friends into the fold as well. I guess I'll try to spread the word to those who are questioning when the time arises, at least I'll be able to speak from experience. :)
you said it ^W^
yes there are times where there is large amounts of drama and there are times of extreme strange behavior but its like that in any community of fandoms , cultures , religions and everyday life.
its nothing all too new. its mostly because people don't take the time to learn about what a furry truly is and only goes by what television and the majority thinks of what we represent which leads to tons of bad situations uncomfortable lives and furs being made fun of.
I agree, all communities have their fair share of drama and eccentricities, but that is to be expected.
It just gets me fired up when people can be so hateful and disrespectful to something they don't know anything
about. But that happens everywhere, at least I know that that community is much different than the mainstream
presents it.
In my brief time on FA, I've found only the opposite. Yes, there is a considerable number of people preoccupied with sexual displays via fanart and other displays of sexual gratification, but the people on this website have been exemplary in their kindness, acceptance of others, and comradery. Few web-based communities are as accepting and as sweet as people on FA.
All I can say is this: Let the mainstream audience think what they will. I know where I stand - if I enjoy a particular hobby and others who participate in this community enjoy the same, then I'm content. It's easy to vilify gamers as being predisposed to violent tendencies and other niches as being of questionable mindspace. But, quite frankly, I'd rather enjoy the welcome arms of an FA member any day of the week than anyone who consumes Fox News reports and lives in avid fear of those significantly different from themselves.
Anyway, yeah. Long story short, let's all just accept the differences and similarities of others and pass binary judgment on those of us who pass the borders of accepted moral absolutism. As it stands, let us so-called "freaks" be freaks and just enjoy the hobbies/passions that we find interest. Everyone else can go watch sitcoms and be content to enjoy what they do enjoy. Just let us, at worst, be in peace and, at worst, let us be the fringe culture we are.
And let no one ever make you feel less than what you're worth, be it as of your fandom or due to other reasons. The only thing that should ever matter is that you go to bed at the end of the day being happy to be who you are and to live a life of purpose that you find comfort in.
Salut!
- RD
Hope to one day share the love and do commissions for people they'll appreciate.
jfc screw humans and their judgmental attitude, im gonna be a dinosaur, instead |D;;;
What you do is awesome and you make so many people happy and it is even better that you enjoy it while making money! You create amazing, adult, sexy fun and I love that! ^,^ <33
there are things on youtube i like and stuff i could do without seeing on there. but what can you do? ^^;;
I was told from another FA user that in the late '90s, the fury community was actually pretty bad. Some of the negativity towards the current day fury community can probably be derived from then.
And, as humans, we tend not to want to learn. As a result, negative views tend to stick around for a while.
Now, I was born in '94, so I have no memory of anything first hand. As well, I wasn't introduced to the furry community until about 2008 or '09, and didn't get really involved until around 2012. So I'm still learning what's what.