Oh goodie, this again... the fact that no one seems able to find any scientifically-acceptable evidence either way makes it hard to argue either way on this. I have to lean opposite of your friend though, "art is fantasy" is a bullshit way of trying to escape the implications. Art has been successfully used in psychiatric practices, both to analyze the mind of the disturbed as well as help them make peace with their demons. And what we prefer to fantasize about says a lot about us. It's more complex then the asshats make it out to be of course, most of them tend to forget to take symbolism into account.

For example with vore, is it a display of power by showing ultimate dominance? Is it an expression of love, two bodies permanently fusing into one? Or is it a form of commentary where the artist/writer is making a statement about how the actions of certain individuals make them unworthy to be considered anything other then food? (Ever notice the vore stories I'm comfortable posting usually feature rapists and other narcissistic little fucks as the prey? And how the predator usually goes off to be a plump Cuddlebot 6000 after they're done digesting dinner?) Further compounding this problem is that furries DO NOT THINK CRITICALLY! No one can be fucking arsed to read between the lines or mull over every single implication of the worlds we create. Myself included.

tl:dr- Without hard data, this debate is going to be spinning its wheels. While the people ranted against are often scientifically illiterate tools lacking the education to make a proper analysis, dismissing the idea just because it's being waved around by utter morons is similarly stupid.

PS: I confess that I am indeed a flawed mortal and do it as much as anyone else. My particular grudge happens to be against the Damsel in Distress subgenre of BDSM. I've had a long history with them and not a pleasant one. And while I had to reexamine some of the conclusions I originally drew, when you dealt with a fair number of them you invariably see patterns start to form...

Well yeah, no art is ever meaningless. If that were true it would never get created! I agree that the "art is fantasy" argument misses that point.

The general discussion going on in that post is: "Are [X] artists and fans bad people for liking [X]?", and I feel that the answer is no. Especially in the case you describe here, using [X] symbolically to make a statement or explore deeper meaning behind some aspect of life.

It's true, not a lot of actual research has been done to figure out the psychological underpinnings of various fetishes, or even if they have any. I think most people are generally decent, despite what they may fantasize about or find erotic.

I don't have much experience with BDSM given that it doesn't excite me, so I'll have to take your word for it...but surely not everyone you met in that scene were tards?

-Well, to be fair, the problem with "art is fantasy" is that it's not fantasy. It's YOUR fantasy. And like everything else in your life, what your fantasy is does say something about you.

-Like I've been saying, it depends. What we draw/write/commission is a look into our minds but at the same time each individual submission is only a glimpse taken through a keyhole. You need to look through multiple keyholes and supplement it with other views before the picture starts becoming clear. Is liking [X] bad? Possibly, I really can't say either way. But is it indicative of certain personality traits that may or may not be desirable? My experiences make me inclined to say yes to the second question.

-Eh, like I said, the lack of hard data does not prove or disprove either side. It only proves that no one is interested enough to write a paper on it. That being said, I've been disappointed too many times to share your optimism for people.

-I'm kind of like you I suppose, if I want to feel pain I'll just go outside and live life. My path generally doesn't intersect with that community except through superhero furs. I could elaborate on how that happened and how it became a sore point for me but to answer your question... the amount of tards compared to otherwise reasonable people has been revoltingly high in my experience.

Can I just...laugh a moment...oh...humans. Never endingly disappointing.

Thanks for sharing. An interesting topic which should be discussed rationally. I myself have never liked vore but my own likes seems very niche which very few understand. Other fetishes/likes of which has been depicted by art/writing are still confusing to me, but I just shrug my shoulders and move on. Each to their own.

Question: Is liking or commissioning someone a question like/fetish a cry for help or just as the author of the journal is saying, an expression to let off steam?

Logically, I understand the difference between fantasy and reality. I have a few weird things myself that I enjoy fantasizing about and posting on my FA, the recent Draenei clone transformation and brainwashing ones being the most noteworthy. I know it's morally grey and that I'd never actually do anything close in real life if it was even possible in the first place. That being said, despite my logical mind knowing the difference between fantasy and reality, I still get a visceral gut feeling of complete horror and revulsion at vore. Even when when vore fans tell me "It's magically non fatal! They're just inside without being hurt", which is all a part of the fantasy, my emotional side screams much louder into my mind's ear "DANGER DANGER! HANNIBAL LECTER DETECTED!"

I've tried for years to reconcile the fact that vore is just another weird fantasy but my emotional brain refuses to listen. So it's easier for everyone involved if I just unwatch people who post it and don't meddle in their affairs. I don't bother them since it'd be hypocritical of me to judge their fantasies outwardly, but I'm sure as hell going to go out of my way to never ever look at what they post.