FA+
Shop
DISCUSSION: Should Furry be Mainstream?
7 years ago
Hearken to me, my subjects!
OOC
After the last journal, and reading your reactions, and speaking with some furry friends, I got to thinking - yes, it does appear to be true that the public is becoming more accepting of furry. In conversations, "normies" will joke and say "Oh he's just a furry," and "Did you get your flare today?" (etc) just to poke fun, but after a little playful banter, being a fur is a non-issue.
To a large degree, I think that this is because furry has become more mainstream. Everywhere you go on YouTube or Twitter you will find Pony and Furry avatars discussing topics unrelated to furry. The days of dismissing these furs out-of-hand (paw?) seem to have sunset. There are respectable representations of furry now in the public-eye that demonstrate that furries are (mostly) normal people, and cast the horror stories of shameful convention incidents and disgusting habits as outliers.
This is a good thing... or is it? I can't help but wonder if we've lost something of ourselves along the way. I feel like Furry has become more... not quite "commercial"... but perhaps "trendy" or "fashionable"? There is something about stigma that keeps the fandom pure. When you risk social backlash in order to join a fandom, it tends to keep disingenuous people and trenders away, leaving just the "real" furries in a smaller and more intimate fandom. Today, furry is crowded and anonymous, and filled with people who accept the mantle of "furry" just to be unique. They go to a few cons, maybe buy a suit, but are gone within a few years. That is to say: as furry seems to become more popular and publicly-accepted, it also seems to be ever-more superficial and disposable.
Just some thoughts that I've had. What are your thoughts? Comment below!
Thanks for reading,
~ Lord Etheras
OOC
After the last journal, and reading your reactions, and speaking with some furry friends, I got to thinking - yes, it does appear to be true that the public is becoming more accepting of furry. In conversations, "normies" will joke and say "Oh he's just a furry," and "Did you get your flare today?" (etc) just to poke fun, but after a little playful banter, being a fur is a non-issue.
To a large degree, I think that this is because furry has become more mainstream. Everywhere you go on YouTube or Twitter you will find Pony and Furry avatars discussing topics unrelated to furry. The days of dismissing these furs out-of-hand (paw?) seem to have sunset. There are respectable representations of furry now in the public-eye that demonstrate that furries are (mostly) normal people, and cast the horror stories of shameful convention incidents and disgusting habits as outliers.
This is a good thing... or is it? I can't help but wonder if we've lost something of ourselves along the way. I feel like Furry has become more... not quite "commercial"... but perhaps "trendy" or "fashionable"? There is something about stigma that keeps the fandom pure. When you risk social backlash in order to join a fandom, it tends to keep disingenuous people and trenders away, leaving just the "real" furries in a smaller and more intimate fandom. Today, furry is crowded and anonymous, and filled with people who accept the mantle of "furry" just to be unique. They go to a few cons, maybe buy a suit, but are gone within a few years. That is to say: as furry seems to become more popular and publicly-accepted, it also seems to be ever-more superficial and disposable.
Just some thoughts that I've had. What are your thoughts? Comment below!
Thanks for reading,
~ Lord Etheras
But more in focus with the question I feel like it's becoming as mainstream as other fandoms. You do have the people who look down on it as you do the people who are fine with it but you'd find that with anything that had a following e.g. Star Trek fans being considered losers who spend time in their parents basements vs people who are inspired by the lessons taught in the series.
I feel it is becoming more mainstream it's just given its reputation it'll have a rocky start that could lead to a better outcome.
I don't see being less special as a negative, it general seen as special is more of a problem. From both sides. No one is better than others just because they are furry or no furry. Thinking like that would be a step backwards in my eyes. To be honest those who join or hate the furry fandom just so they can be different and don't have any other reason for it are in the wrong. Instead we should be proud of who we are no matter in or outside the fandom. The furry fandom is slowly turning into a everyday lifestyle just like all other lifestyles too and I think that is a good thing.
And for conventions some people just don't live in good areas to attend one or have the time. I'd love to go to one especially if i get to see our Overlord there (lol), but the closest ones here in Georgia are either 3 hours away or farther and i'm so busy with working and juggling money to pay the bills feed myself and if there's any left over get some art done to go to any even if i had the chance to. And one fursuit even a partial is about 2 months rent if not more so that's not feasible for some people either.
just like the gothic lifestyle and others, the furry fandom will be known and normal. and in the end accepted by the most. with mainstream more knowledge spreads, and false ideas will become less present. and everyday things will be less scary.
those hating furries are mostly only those missinformed, scared, upset and older generations. the missinformed will be less common and the old generations will slowly fade away from caring about us. and being upset and scared will be less accepted too and it will lose it's power.
people are still living in the past and that will sure change with the future generations.