By now, you have all heard about the demise of Rocky Mountain Fur Con, and the circumstances surrounding it's closure. I would like to start this journal by thanking the staff, volunteers and vendors who have made that con happen over the years. Running a convention is no small feat, and it's always sad to see someone's hard work go to waste.

I want to make it perfectly clear that there were no winners in this situation. We all lose when we're at each other's throats and working to undermine one another. The great thing about this fandom is that, unlike Trekkies or anime folks, we come together at cons to celebrate each other. The work of the furry fandom is largely completely original. We celebrate each other's creations and characters, and we can freely rub shoulders with the artists, musicians and writers that enrich our lives.

To rescue what someone saw as what this fandom should be, they turned the fandom into exactly what they claimed to despise. Old hatchets were dug up, and those who were different were shouted down and humiliated. A troll group we were supposed to deny attention suddenly came into everyone's crosshairs.

To make things worse, we started hating each other all over again. This fandom needs more love, and less pettiness driving us apart. We need to get back to celebrating each other, and realizing that this fandom is supposed to enrich our lives, not BECOME our lives. We will have troll groups and controversies as long as were here, and elections will come and go.

We're a diverse and tolerant group, and that's what makes us so great. When that diversity and tolerance is used as a weapon, we have to take stock. Stop being assholes to each other. Life is way too short and way too awesome to be miserable all the time. Just love each other, and you'll find this whole furry thing becomes so much more fun.