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Thoughts On the Fandom...
16 years ago
General
I apologize in advance for the length of this journal...I got on a roll and couldn't stop typing. If you get through all of it, I congratulate you. Oh, and if I get any of my facts, wrong, please feel free to let me know. Thanks!
Recently I've seen journals here on FA regarding the state of the fandom and furs questioning whether or not they should associate themselves with a subculture that has, in their eyes, degenerated into a cesspool of filth.
So, as I was inspired by these posts, I've decided to show my opinion of things.
First off, I am in no way the kind of furry to be proselytizing about a return of "purity" to the furry fandom. If I were to say anything against furry pr0nz, one look at the collection in my "Favorites" folder would give me a way as being a hypocrite. I do have my thoughts about the shadier aspects of the fandom, but before I go there...a bit of background is in order.
My first real exposure to what could be called the furry fandom came in the form of a chance finding. In 1996, I found a comic book in the pre-owned section of a gay bookstore called "Spike/Afterearth" by an artist currently known as
flatrat. I couldn't believe such art as this existed, and immediately purchased the book. (In later years, I'd throw it out as part of moving...and I regret giving it up to this day.) My interest piqued, I searched for other books like this...and from this search I stumbled upon "Associated Student Bodies." From there, I was introduced to the furry fandom. And the rest is history.
Now, in my mind, the furry fandom has always been "going downhill". Keep in mind that when I discovered ASB, the "Burned-Fur" movement was at its peak. Perhaps this was part of the reason why I remained hidden from the fandom during that time. Think about it...a gay male with an interest in gay male anthro art at a time when popular sentiment in the fandom was to wipe such purient interests as sex (of any kind) off of the furry map. Given the drama that the fandom is so famous for, it's really not too surprising that I didn't want any part of the argument.
As most people who have been involved with the furry fandom for a while know, the "Burned Furs" never really made any lasting impression on the fandom other than their reputation. Those who associated themselves with this movement couldn't really agree on where exactly the line in the sand should be drawn as far as "furry purity" goes. Infighting within the group on this matter ultimately caused the "Burned Fur" movement to collapse on itself. While it never really died completely (Hello? SA? CYD? lulz.net?), the stigma behind its name caused many who fundamentally disagree with the state of the contemporary furry fandom to reject branding themselves as a "burned fur".
Lately, news stories about people who associate themselves with the fandom in one degree or another have caused those in the fandom to take a look at their subculture and question what went wrong with it, where it went wrong, and when "Furry 2.0" will be created to replace the sad, sorry perversion of a fandom they once loved. Who can blame them? As we all know, the mainstream media will take any element of "weirdness" involved in the story and play it up to the max because, hey, it gets viewer's attention. Nobody in the fandom really likes it, but that's the reality we have to deal with.
Personally, however, I'm not convinced that such a thing as "Furry 2.0" (or whatever name can be dreamed for that movement) can ever exist. If the history of the "Burned Furs" movement is any indication, there's no real way that such an offshoot would last very long because sooner or later (usually sooner), a topic will be brought up that will polarize the community. Everybody involved in the fandom or any possible subgroup that might emerge from it has their own idea of what should be allowed and not allowed.
While many might look upon that as an organizational weakness, that's actually one of the things that has made the furry fandom so great in the first place. It always has been - as it continues to be today - a subculture that has allowed a kind of freedom of expression that is not afforded by modern-day society. The problem with this philosophy is that there are those who will abuse this to serve their own individual interests at the expense of everyone else's interests.
So...how do we change the fandom for the better? Is the creation of "Furry 2.0" really the answer (even with all the complications that could get involved), or is there something more we can do? Perhaps those of us who have been in the fandom for some time can take a moment to instruct those who are new to our community what is acceptable and what cannot be tolerated. One of the posts I've read regarding the state of the fandom suggested this, and frankly, I don't know of any other suggestion that could be more effective.
Bottom line: If we want to retain the "purity" in the fandom, it all starts with you and me. We in the fandom need to be held accountable for our actions, and serve as a positive model for those who are just coming on board. We need to have the integrity to stand up for what's right and applaud people for the great contributions they make to the fandom. Conversely, we also need to have the backbone to call people out who use the fandom in ways that do not serve anyone else within it except themselves and say, "YOU DON'T BELONG HERE AND WE WILL NOT ACCEPT YOU."
The big question here is one that I'm not sure can be readily answered...how do we start?
And until that question gets addressed, we will continue to be a "fandom that is going downhill".
But that's just my thoughts on the matter...
Recently I've seen journals here on FA regarding the state of the fandom and furs questioning whether or not they should associate themselves with a subculture that has, in their eyes, degenerated into a cesspool of filth.
So, as I was inspired by these posts, I've decided to show my opinion of things.
First off, I am in no way the kind of furry to be proselytizing about a return of "purity" to the furry fandom. If I were to say anything against furry pr0nz, one look at the collection in my "Favorites" folder would give me a way as being a hypocrite. I do have my thoughts about the shadier aspects of the fandom, but before I go there...a bit of background is in order.
My first real exposure to what could be called the furry fandom came in the form of a chance finding. In 1996, I found a comic book in the pre-owned section of a gay bookstore called "Spike/Afterearth" by an artist currently known as
flatrat. I couldn't believe such art as this existed, and immediately purchased the book. (In later years, I'd throw it out as part of moving...and I regret giving it up to this day.) My interest piqued, I searched for other books like this...and from this search I stumbled upon "Associated Student Bodies." From there, I was introduced to the furry fandom. And the rest is history.Now, in my mind, the furry fandom has always been "going downhill". Keep in mind that when I discovered ASB, the "Burned-Fur" movement was at its peak. Perhaps this was part of the reason why I remained hidden from the fandom during that time. Think about it...a gay male with an interest in gay male anthro art at a time when popular sentiment in the fandom was to wipe such purient interests as sex (of any kind) off of the furry map. Given the drama that the fandom is so famous for, it's really not too surprising that I didn't want any part of the argument.
As most people who have been involved with the furry fandom for a while know, the "Burned Furs" never really made any lasting impression on the fandom other than their reputation. Those who associated themselves with this movement couldn't really agree on where exactly the line in the sand should be drawn as far as "furry purity" goes. Infighting within the group on this matter ultimately caused the "Burned Fur" movement to collapse on itself. While it never really died completely (Hello? SA? CYD? lulz.net?), the stigma behind its name caused many who fundamentally disagree with the state of the contemporary furry fandom to reject branding themselves as a "burned fur".
Lately, news stories about people who associate themselves with the fandom in one degree or another have caused those in the fandom to take a look at their subculture and question what went wrong with it, where it went wrong, and when "Furry 2.0" will be created to replace the sad, sorry perversion of a fandom they once loved. Who can blame them? As we all know, the mainstream media will take any element of "weirdness" involved in the story and play it up to the max because, hey, it gets viewer's attention. Nobody in the fandom really likes it, but that's the reality we have to deal with.
Personally, however, I'm not convinced that such a thing as "Furry 2.0" (or whatever name can be dreamed for that movement) can ever exist. If the history of the "Burned Furs" movement is any indication, there's no real way that such an offshoot would last very long because sooner or later (usually sooner), a topic will be brought up that will polarize the community. Everybody involved in the fandom or any possible subgroup that might emerge from it has their own idea of what should be allowed and not allowed.
While many might look upon that as an organizational weakness, that's actually one of the things that has made the furry fandom so great in the first place. It always has been - as it continues to be today - a subculture that has allowed a kind of freedom of expression that is not afforded by modern-day society. The problem with this philosophy is that there are those who will abuse this to serve their own individual interests at the expense of everyone else's interests.
So...how do we change the fandom for the better? Is the creation of "Furry 2.0" really the answer (even with all the complications that could get involved), or is there something more we can do? Perhaps those of us who have been in the fandom for some time can take a moment to instruct those who are new to our community what is acceptable and what cannot be tolerated. One of the posts I've read regarding the state of the fandom suggested this, and frankly, I don't know of any other suggestion that could be more effective.
Bottom line: If we want to retain the "purity" in the fandom, it all starts with you and me. We in the fandom need to be held accountable for our actions, and serve as a positive model for those who are just coming on board. We need to have the integrity to stand up for what's right and applaud people for the great contributions they make to the fandom. Conversely, we also need to have the backbone to call people out who use the fandom in ways that do not serve anyone else within it except themselves and say, "YOU DON'T BELONG HERE AND WE WILL NOT ACCEPT YOU."
The big question here is one that I'm not sure can be readily answered...how do we start?
And until that question gets addressed, we will continue to be a "fandom that is going downhill".
But that's just my thoughts on the matter...
How do you help change the fandom for the better? Well, for starters, you generally help change the fandom for the better by NOT LEAVING IT if you care about it. Caring for something means not abandoning it. There are a lot of quality people who participate in the very essence of everything that makes the fandom 'THE FANDOM', and makes the fandom Great in general. Granted, you will always have some troublesome bottom-feeders that are included in any population gets too large, but I have met FAR more awesome people than creepy people. The creepy ones just tend to make a lot more noise, and thus often tend to appear much more prevalent than they really are and often cause many 'problems' in the fandom to be hugely overstated. I suppose things might seem to get better if 'those' people would leave, but it has to be by their own choice, and hopefully that being forced by a feeling that don't feel they belong here and have nothing positive to contribute.
I've always been a proponent of "Furry is what Furry is" in the idea that 'Furry' is not so much a doctrine but rather a label. "Furry Fandom" should mean the state things are in right at this moment. Not yesterday. Not last year. Now. If people feel they want to help improve the "Furry Fandom" great! Do so by being a quality participant in it. Not by waiting around for v2.0, or going on hiatus while things cool down. Participate, damnit. Do unto others as you would have done unto you. Act the way would expect other people to act. Good or bad, better or worse, downhill or uphill, "Furry" will always describe what the fandom is in the absolute present.
Honestly, the fandom (and thus also DEFINITION of the fandom) IS very versatile for the reason that it is very unique and personal to each participant in it. "Furry" is a general, catch-all term, but it really describes something entirely based upon your own participation in it. It's a common love of things anthropomorphic, and beyond that, it's entirely personal. It's a place where you strongly feel you BELONG, and again, for very personal and unique reasons. Be proud to be a Furry, in the sense of what YOU believe the term means and should mean.
If people care enough to be concerned about the fandom, they will continue to participate and to Do Good™ For Great Justice because it's a reflection of how they feel things need to be. The fandom doesn't need an over-arching control structure and a "This is how it needs to be" attitude from some arbitrary members, because it's not any one person or group's creation to control - it is a community that exists solely due to the culmination of individuals participating. It is what we all want it to be on the whole. You cannot fix what is not yours to fix. Furry will always be Furry, no matter which direction (sh)it happens to be running on the day.
In short. the fandom gets better by individually choosing to MAKE it better in whatever way they personally can and feel they are capable of. Be awesome to each other. Help those who are just joining the fandom feel welcome. Get to know other people and show that you honestly care. Help out at conventions. Every little bit helps more than you realize.
One of the things I've noticed is the acceptance of behavior that would not be tolerated in a normal public setting. Wearing bondage gear at a con, uninhibited profanity, illicit and sometimes pornographic displays of affection. All in a place where minors are allowed to be. This and the mass quantities or pornography on the web attract a somewhat, shall we say, low class group of people. With no self she or respect and do not have a concept of the fandom as a whole and thus behave as they want to.
In that way we get the child molesters and zoophiles who appear in the news and for some reason make it known they call themselfs furry.
The other problem I notice is that since we are a closed door fandom, the public must use their imagination to decide what it is we do behind those doors. What would you think about a group of people dressing up as animals if you had no idea why? The default is that it is for sexual purposes.
Our PR needs to be better if our image is to change. The good side of the fandom needs to be louder than the not so good.
I guess I could have made this into a journal :p
another thing is those who are very kind and friendly get swepted aside by those who are complete jerks. i have been through this way too much. i try to befriend someone and talk to them, but someone that they know bashes me to them and they end up hating me. we need to stop that right now. if we dont we are going to continue to lose lots of furs that are loyal to the fandom.
but its like you said...how do we start?
more important...When do we start?