Heh. You know, I tried to write something like this in high school, but they refused to let me. They said I'd get an automatic 'F' if I did.

Are you serious? That's f**cking censorship there!

Yup. They told my that 'furry' was all about sex, and that they wouldn't let me write about something like that.
I told them that it wasn't, and they turned their heads.

I'm actually really surprised that anyone at your school even knew about furry enough to forbid you to write about it! That's not good news...

Some teacher must be a CSI fan.

Ugh. Probably.



...I now hate that show. :(

I won't watch the show either. They really hit some personal nerves...

*nods* I hear ya.
I personally have never seen the episode in question (and never intend to), but after I heard about it I began to completely boycott the show. I won't watch it anymore.

I'm with marymouse - how the hell would an english teacher know about the furry fandom? :)

...Through the CSI episode? *shrugs* How the hell would I know? Mybey she had a furry relative or something who was into the "CSI" side of the fandom.

*maybe

Well written, and nicely handled. You were pretty fair in your discussion of both the adult and non-adult side of the fandom.

Just a personal observation of furries in the media from myself... I'm a cynic. I believe things will only get worse. Every time I see a news story or depiction of furs in the media, it is ALWAYS centered on sexual aspects, or at the very least the weirdos of the fandom. Now, we're all pretty weird here (grin) but I mean the REAL winners... :P

Media is there to get viewers, to make money. Not to report the truth. They will exploit us till we are widely known, and being known as a furry will be as well known as someone who is called a Trekkie.

I generally keep my furry side away from any coworkers and family. However, my mom has come to see me at the past 2 Anthrocons, to see what I do. I try to show the best side of the fandom. I don't plan on leaving anytime soon and 'd like to stay proud of at least that part of my life. :)

I am glad that CSI did one good thing... ha ha... it inadvertently brought you into the fandom! :)

Ah...actually, I never connected that show with the furry fandom until after I performed research on the furry fandom. It'd be pretty embarrassing to be attracted to what CSI showed...*shivers*

Ah yes, true. :)

Cute - you're like the Scott McCloud of the furry fandom :). Always nice to have more of these manifestoes on why being furry can be (and often is) about more than yiffing.

Yeah...strangely enough I look kind of like McCloud, and am making a comic strip.

But I do loath the occasion when someone finds out I'm furry, and immediately thinks of yiff, or fursuits, or whatever.

Bravo! Eloquently put! I certainly hope you got a high grade on this one.

~GR

I liked this. A very well written essay, that hopefully got ya a good grade. If only others could read and believe this. But alas, what non-fur (other than your teacher) would read something that might make them re-think something? Then again, I might show this to my mom and my best friend if their interested. Keep up the good work now.

Thanks a bunch. Also, you have my permission to spam anybody and everybody you'd like to notify about your furriness about this essay.

Plus, my teacher, a bunch of Facebook friends, and a Residential Councilor at my college, have read it. They like it, and now have a new look on the fandom.

Thats a good step forward...but still more to do

Ah, yes. Beautifully done! I was a little worried that I wouldn't be able to view it, but AppleWorks saved the day!

Hmm...I'm guessing you're using a MAC. In that case, I should probably post a URL to the my LiveJournal that has the essay written out as an entry.
Its added up at the top...

Ah..found the link here off one of the facebook groups you mentioned. Well written overall and a pretty informative read. The only thing I could think to possibly add (though I know you've handed this in) is relating how different aspects on the interpretation of the furry fandom correlate to how other social groups are interpreted. The biggest one I think of is gay culture.

When some people hear the word, they immediately think of the thin, girly looking boy who goes to a club all night and just has sex. The reality though is that there are varying degrees of gay culture and varying lifestyles as well.

So yea..I'm sure there's other parts of society that fall into this category as well, but just thought I'd throw in my 2 cents! Thanks fer writing :3 *tosses 2 pennies*

*afraid of copper poisoning* OOOH hope those are 1981 pennies :o

Well, I take the approach of the furry fandom as being only a group of people interested in art. I feel that if I compare the fandom to the gay culture, people might interpret me comparing one sexual orientation to another, and that's the last thing I want running through peoples' minds. Though I am still revising this essay for my final portfolio (ITS DEW THURSDAY!!! BWAH!!!), and I'll add stuff and take away stuff. Though thanks for the suggestion. I'll see if I can't find something to compare the complexity of the fandom to.

Thanks for the fav, also

Excellent work!