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Happiness in the Fandom (reblog)
10 years ago
I don't usually reblog things from others but this tumblr post by Dakota Wuffsky is so good I just have to.
http://dakotawuffsky.tumblr.com/pos.....e-furry-fandom
One big lesson that I learned in this fandom is to do things you. Whatever your interests are, whatever your hobbies are, whatever keeps you here in this strange little fandom filled with amazing people, do it for you.
Yes, I realize that this sounds incredibly selfish, but let me explain.
If you want to make a thing, make a thing! If you want to dance, dance! If you want to draw, draw! If you want to build fursuits, build fursuits! If you want to write a book, write a book! If you want to just run around at conventions as a fluffy critter, do it!
Do it for your passion. Do it for your interests!
If people toss money at you for it, awesome! If not, there’s no need to guilt them over it. Really. There isn’t. If you start threatening that you won’t make something or do something anymore because you don’t have a certain amount of money flowing in because of it, then I think you might want to reevaluate why you are doing it in the first place.*
Don’t do something for watches/faves/retweets/popularity/followers.
Don’t do something for numbers.
You’re most likely not going to find happiness that way.
There’s ALWAYS going to be someone more popular than you are. There is always going to be someone more talented than you.
That’s okay!
That’s life!
You can only strive to be the very best YOU!
Now you can do a couple of things with this information. You can either accept it, give a big shrug, appreciate your friends and fans that do love you and admire your creativity, and use that as your drive
or
You can complain about how you’re not popular enough and put a lot of wasted energy into seething jealousy. How dare so-and-so be better than me, how dare so-and-so draw better than me, why are you giving so-and-so your money and not me, how dare so-and-so dance better than me, this contest is rigged, this site is rigged, this community hates me, screw this convention, screw that convention, I’m leaving.
That’s not the way to go about it. It’s exhausting, it fills you with negativity, and you’re going to end up hating the fandom pretty quickly.
It is possible to break out of that cycle, though.
Jealousy and envy, while toxic, can end up being a tool to your advantage. Once you realize you’re envious of someone else (by the fact that you’re admiring something they have or do that you do not), you can use that to work on strengthening your weaknesses. If someone draws better than you, see what you can do to improve your drawing. If someone dances better than you, maybe see how you can improve. If someone performs better than you, maybe see if you can chat with them and see if they’ll be willing to give you some tips.
Change your perspective! It’s not easy, but it’s absolutely worth it.
Just don’t let the small things in life get you down. Don’t do things for numbers. Do it for the joy you bring out in others.
DO WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY.
http://dakotawuffsky.tumblr.com/pos.....e-furry-fandom
One big lesson that I learned in this fandom is to do things you. Whatever your interests are, whatever your hobbies are, whatever keeps you here in this strange little fandom filled with amazing people, do it for you.
Yes, I realize that this sounds incredibly selfish, but let me explain.
If you want to make a thing, make a thing! If you want to dance, dance! If you want to draw, draw! If you want to build fursuits, build fursuits! If you want to write a book, write a book! If you want to just run around at conventions as a fluffy critter, do it!
Do it for your passion. Do it for your interests!
If people toss money at you for it, awesome! If not, there’s no need to guilt them over it. Really. There isn’t. If you start threatening that you won’t make something or do something anymore because you don’t have a certain amount of money flowing in because of it, then I think you might want to reevaluate why you are doing it in the first place.*
Don’t do something for watches/faves/retweets/popularity/followers.
Don’t do something for numbers.
You’re most likely not going to find happiness that way.
There’s ALWAYS going to be someone more popular than you are. There is always going to be someone more talented than you.
That’s okay!
That’s life!
You can only strive to be the very best YOU!
Now you can do a couple of things with this information. You can either accept it, give a big shrug, appreciate your friends and fans that do love you and admire your creativity, and use that as your drive
or
You can complain about how you’re not popular enough and put a lot of wasted energy into seething jealousy. How dare so-and-so be better than me, how dare so-and-so draw better than me, why are you giving so-and-so your money and not me, how dare so-and-so dance better than me, this contest is rigged, this site is rigged, this community hates me, screw this convention, screw that convention, I’m leaving.
That’s not the way to go about it. It’s exhausting, it fills you with negativity, and you’re going to end up hating the fandom pretty quickly.
It is possible to break out of that cycle, though.
Jealousy and envy, while toxic, can end up being a tool to your advantage. Once you realize you’re envious of someone else (by the fact that you’re admiring something they have or do that you do not), you can use that to work on strengthening your weaknesses. If someone draws better than you, see what you can do to improve your drawing. If someone dances better than you, maybe see how you can improve. If someone performs better than you, maybe see if you can chat with them and see if they’ll be willing to give you some tips.
Change your perspective! It’s not easy, but it’s absolutely worth it.
Just don’t let the small things in life get you down. Don’t do things for numbers. Do it for the joy you bring out in others.
DO WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY.
The other side that is not mentioned is 'attitude'. Many artists (or musicians, writers, dancers, etc) may actually be excellent at what they do and maybe even better than some others BUT if they have a bad attitude about it no one will support them. I remember one artist that used to tell people at cons, "If you are not buying, then get away from my table." He wondered why he was not making sales or getting the number of hits that "lesser" artists were getting. If you are going to bash your fellow artist or rag and complain about your fans, you are not going to make sales an in the end you will not be happy.
I learned from day 1 that the fandom is all about the symbiotic relationship between the creators and the fans. You would have neither without the others. So treat your fellow furry as you would like to be treated whether they are artists or fans. THIS will also help bring happiness in the fandom.
Now, my work is starting (but only just starting) to get attention outside the fandom, but if it ever takes off I have everyone who ever read, reviewed, bought, or published my work to thank. That's about 90% furries.