ALL OF US SUCK. [Discussion :p]

[Kazrek Skypeak]

[[Before anyone gets offended, i've been a fur for 7 years, and these are just hard thought opinions]]


Have you ever been criticized for having fur, or paws, or scales, or whatever alternative style of phalanges you have designated?

Now, reflect on that honey.

Now look at us.

We are too goofy to be taken seriously by anyone.

We prance about in meadows and fields while the whole world spins about around us. i feel as though if we are ever going to stop all the hate that befalls us, we have to change our image a little bit.

As far as i can see, there are three main segments[or factions] of my fur-kin out there.

the first group are general furries, to whom all that matters in the world boils down to a hand full of ex at a rave and the next flower-adorned knob. [I prefer male furs for the record.]     Now the second group, which i find terribly amusing is the whole dark fantasy antihero fur group. Trench coats leather jackets KITANAS. You know, the furs that in a bar are in the corner waiting for the next person to kill because the darkness in his heart commands him to. Grow up. That's not cool to anyone.  And the thrid group of furries is the militant wing, or the war-furs, of which i like to think of myself a part. We are about conflict, aggression, military history/world history, progression of the times, and blowing things up in the name of fluffy cats. [and bears]

So tell me, do you think, as i do, that if all of us just learned a little bit from each other, we might just be better as a whole?

love ya babies!

[Nrein]

Both individually and as a whole, I can't say that I see any of the fandom as such.

It's not that it's everyone trying to put off that the fandom is any of those things, it's just that the majority of the fandom might be people who are like that, thus that's all you see. Trying to get everyone like that to change our image, even a little bit, would hardly help at all, nor probably work at all either. Trying to hide what we are is the same as saying we aren't proud of being who we are, which is more a step backward than forward. Not to mention, if no one takes us seriously now, changing our image a little bit won't help much since we're still an odd group of people.

In all honesty, the more time we spend worrying about how the rest of the people in the world think about us, the more we just won't be able to enjoy being who we are in the first place. I don't care of a hundred some-odd people think it's weird I'll parade about saying I'm an otter, because at least I'm having fun doing so.

[NovaAurora]

I agree that our image is not one that most people see as "normal" or even in many cases "acceptable." However, in my opinion you don't need the public's validation to maintain your dignity, nor do you need to adhere to a certain subdivision of the culture. (While I don't deny that the 3 factions you mention exist, I do think there are countless different types of people involved in the fandom.)


As long as we stick to what we believe in and are willing to express ourselves freely, then we've accomplished all we're obligated to accomplish as a culture. There's also always gonna be weirdos and perverts and guys who fantasize about killing or have a "the whole world is against me" attitude, but you get them everywhere. I think the problem with furries, that is inherent in our nature, is we are a very visual group. We like to make artwork and show off fursuits, we like to express our personalities through a viewable character. I love that part of it; many people unfamiliar do not. But who are they to judge, and who are we to accept their judgement as analysis of who we really are?

[Midnight Madness]

When it comes to being "too goofy to be taken seriously," that would simply be something of a problem for the other party, rather than us. The fact they cannot look beyond the silliness to see us as we are, just people with a differing interest, is purely foolish in itself. Like Nic said, where's the fun in it if we cannot be who we are by nature?

I will say one thing, however. We do need to change our image, but not in the way you mean. I would say we have to change our image in the effect of what people consider us primarily. We all know the stereotypes and discrimination against furries, and why people do it. Really, we just need to beat that stereotype into the dirt. But that's so much easier said than done; the bad always shine out over the positive. And that is why we aren't taken seriously when trying to inform people. That controversy will always rise, and even then, we cannot defeat hate in itself. There's always going to be someone, and there will always be more who follow that someone in belief.

The main point is that we should remain true to who we are, provided it brings us joy and harms no one. Screw what society thinks of me, I love who I am, and other people do too. That is absolutely all that matters to me, and that is all that really has mattered to me.

[Nrein]

To sorta add to what Sytex said, in my own opinion, I'd say that if we make any, or too many, drastic or big changes, it'd seem more like a loss for us than a gain. Sure, being more easily/widely accepted would be a great thing, but having to conform to the image that people would like to see us as, is just the same as not even bothering to be as we are in the first place.

If we can change the "definition" of how people see us, like I believe Sytex is saying, then that's something that'll be great. But if we start trying to essentially alienate those who do give us a bad name, then that'll make us no better than the people who hate on the fandom as a whole.

[anoni]

I dunno, I personally don't agree with your classification.

A lot of furs don't actually take the whole furry fandom as seriously as you might take it, some people do actually just come for the art, they don't necessarily make stories, they don't necessarily have personalities like the ones you've mentioned, well I've only been a fur for almost a year but from the people I've met they're not much like you've said. However, as for the point of us being too goofy, well, I'm not going to say that everyone else is at fault here, no I'm not.

  I'm just gonna ask what the problem with being goofy is I mean, yeah some people might complain, they might hate on us, whatever, but that's what being a furry is about. A furry, more than anything, is about being yourself, being who you can't be anywhere else in a community that will accept you with open arms. Honestly, of course when you're being so strongly personal people are going to make fun of you, whether it be online or offline, but that's ok, that's expected with any group where you'd do the same thing. I don't like this idea of "trying to build up our image" because then we're really not being ourselves, the reason we're being hated on is because we're are not caring about current social stigma, we change, we're different! Or at least, we are different to common accepted society. Now, if we try to build our image, to act less goofy, then well we're kind of sucking all the fun out of being a furry, we're just starting to become like any other social group, you want a good image? Go hang with the Battlefield 3 "hardcore" gamers, people like that who spend so much time trying to build up a good image on themselves that it becomes ridiculous.

  Being a furry is about not happening to build up an image of yourself, relaxing and having a community that accepts you anyway for it! I really don't think we should sacrifice that just for the approval of some other group that, quite frankly, should not have their opinions taken seriously anyway.

  That's my 2c

[Kazrek Skypeak]

All of the above are fantastic points.  Ahhh the beauty of discussion.

I was very curious to see what others might have to offer on the subject as it comes of on second life a great deal, what with it being a direct buffer between humans and furs. In fact, one of the most fascinating aspects of being a furry for me is to observe the relationship we have with the non-furry community.

The main goal for me being that at one point we may understand one another to an extent that way may get along at 100%. My point in posting that if one party makes strides to accomodate for the other, everyone feels more comfortable. in theory, anyway.

It's all for peace, friends. 

[Marcus]

"How about, we take the Furry Fandom, and PUSH IT SOMEWHERE ELSE!"
^Spongebob ref. If you get it, digital cookies for you.


I don't even attempt to organize Furries.

But to add onto changing the fandom, it will most likely bring no good. Just today one of my friends learned I was a Furry, she could not believe it. My response to her questions? The truth. Yeah, there are disturbing and just plain weird areas of the fandom, but that is what makes Furries, Furries. To be as cushy as possible, we're creepy to the general populace. And all we can do is tell them that everyone in the fandom is different, and not all the fandom is good OR bad.

Sure I love being a Furry and all that mushy stuff, but I try my hardest to keep my religious, political, and general attitude out of it. I'm here to have fun, hug random people, and just simply enjoy the like-minded people I have the fine pleasure of conversing with.

It's a good place, let us not ruin it with rules telling people how to think and act.

[Nrein]

I miss the older Spongebobs. So much fun ;~;

That episode kinda fits what you're saying, since once they move it, it gets crushed anyway.

At any rate, I agree that if we just try to change things, it really wouldn't be for the best. I'd especially be a bit worried about who would be the one to take the reigns in assuring it'd get done in the first place.

[Sij]

Truthfully to go out of our way to change the fandom in order to be more accepted in a way would be counter productive. Because in its essence, being a furry is about being goofy, having a good time, and really being yourself. Or at least for me it's that way, an expression with my cute side, as well as an expression of my connection to animals. I'm not looking to change anything about myself in order to be accepted, that's why I like being a furry, I don't need to change anything in order to be accepted. At all. I don't need to put up a front, or lie. And it is very possibly that way for a lot of people.

[Scout the Fox]

I do agree with Flarei.
Obviously there are some different kinds of furries in the fandom, but the cool part about it is that new groups of furs or even a single fur is unique in some way. Really, there are endless possibilities to our fandom, which is by far one of the most creative things I've ever been a part of. The entire point of this fandom is to express yourself in a completely different way. I try to keep my personal views and such out of it.
That was the whole reason why I joined the fandom. It brings out another side of me that never existed before. And I think that all the people out there that think we're disgusting and I quote "a waste of human dna" are just jealous of our creative nature.

[Byracka]

Wow, it has been really touching reading all your reasons and the discussion as a whole. For me, the most important thing regarding being a furry. Is that I can say to myself, 'yes, this is silly, yes this is wierd, yes this is often pointless. But so what?' The moment those last two words 'so what' enters my mind it all feels great.