The Furry Fandom; Friend or Foe? Part 2
By Paul Dohse, TANC Publishing
In this second part, we are still focusing on the basics. The Fandom, at least according to what we can ascertain presently, is not a cult. A cult is the combination of religion and authority. Any spiritual movement that claims authority from God is a cult. The Fandom is not a cult.
The following pertains to the Fandom’s arsenal of red herrings: it’s not a fun tradition, like say, Halloween. Neither is it a hobby, another Fandom red herring. Being a Trekker or Trekking involves dressing up, but that’s a hobby. The Furry Fandom is a lifestyle known as “fursuiting” or being a “fursuiter.” It is a subculture with its own lifestyle. It is thousands of people worldwide (if not millions) united and connected by an idea that involves a modus operandi lifestyle.
It is a lifestyle that serves various personal needs. That’s the key to remember; what personal needs are being served? This is a defining question that ultimately defines the Fandom.
In addition, Fandom is not an institution which also involves authority. Fursuiters are united and follow suit (no pun intended) according to its lifestyle principles, but after that, pretty much anything goes. These liberties also fall under various perceived personal needs. There are cottage businesses that profit from Fandom, like those who make the costumes, but there is no central authority. Organizing is through volunteers and event driven. The fulfilment of personal need is everyone’s payment.
That is a Segway into the cardinal point of this particular post. Many who research this movement as detractors refer to it as the perfect storm of deception. Let’s start with the costumes. In defense of Fandom against a CSI television episode, one Fursuiter complained about the style of fursuits represented by the TV episode. The complaint is valid. Fandom uses a mascot style costume. The image projected by this particular suit is that of a harmless happy-go-lucky fun lover who wants to give everyone a hug and is inherently INNOCENT. The characters portrayed by the costumes are Disney-like. Even clown costumes can be creepy, but not these. Due to this, many argue that the main thrust of the movement is child-grooming, but much more on that later.
Secondly, initial exposure to the group will usually result in it being dismissed as some sort of fun tradition like Halloween—Halloween is not a lifestyle. Other deflections are, “It’s a little weird, but oh well, a lot of people are a little weird, but there is nothing harmful here” and the idea that it is merely a “hobby.” When suspicion rises above that, deep investigation is thwarted by, “There is a bad apple in every bunch” and opinions about the movement being, “all over the map, so who knows?”
Lastly on that point, even in the discussion of Fandom’s dark issues, the language by its advocates belittle the concerns with a frivolous Dukes of Hazard worldview. For example, criticism concerning the group’s decadent behavior at a 2015 conference was described as “fursecution.”
The fact is, Fandom is a lifestyle that fulfills personal needs, and the movement must be evaluated according to the fulfillment of those needs. Future posts will begin to paint the picture of Fandom according to that criteria.
paul
Paul's Passing Thoughts 
I think this is funny. You basically rewrote you first article. And yea. There are guidelines, but you dont have them right.
General Code of Conduct:
Ask before you Make any kind of contact with both suiters and non suiters.
Do not force Furthe contact after engagement
No touching or encouraging to touch privates
Disengage with children or adults if any discomfort if felt. If someone is curious, proceed with caution.
Be welcoming and friendly.
Ask for pictures
Those are pretty standard at both conventions and in other public areas. Most places have other codes added. Some explicitly forbidding any sexual activity including yiff
Also Starwars IS a cult and a way for some. Jediism exists. Some people really do believe in the force. And it is also HIGHLY HIGHLY sexualized. And they have multiple conventions just for starwars. If anything it is worse
And fursuiting is a hobby. Most live normal day to day lives working normal jobs and only suit up at meets. It can be a lifestyle. Most people it’s not. It’s like dressing up at renfair.
And yea, people make money off of ot. There are tons of local and small businesses in the fandom. That a good thing. People can profit off of anything so that not specific. AMD it sounds like your discouraging small business.
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LOL! Why would such guidelines be necessary to begin with?
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Again. You are writing this article because you tried to use being a furry as a reason to get someone’s kid taken away and you lost. Get over it and quit attacking an entire group of people because of a personal loss/argument
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Sounds like someone was in it for the competition. Sad.
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Your petty
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Again, that’s you’re (you are) petty not “your.”
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And Segway is a powered scooter, segue is a transition. Such a specious counter discredits you. Again, judge not, lest ye be judged.
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The article isn’t about music. Desperate for an argument much? The use of “Segway” in a sentence is what we call a “metaphor.” Like, “That’s only putting a Band-Aid on the problem.” Band-Aid is a brand that is used commonly for “bandage” so you capitalize it. Segue is a seamless musical transition while a transition of subject in literature is not necessarily seamless. Those who argue that Segway can’t be used to refer to a transition in a sentence have way too much time on their hands. It’s not wrong anymore than, “We are going to jet over to Bob’s house.” Get a life; specifically, a moral one, it will make you feel better. That’s a judgement based on the fact that you come here to defend pedophiles and people who have sex with roadkill.
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Your a joke
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That’s “you’re” not “your” a joke. You made the same mistake here several times today. If you are going to criticize my academic credentials, at least write properly.
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Perhaps, but at least I know how to write a contraction.
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I’m glad you were able to make some solid points in this article and gland furries could help.
From someone peer reviewed so highly I was excited to read your opinions and findings… but it seems you just attacked those furries who also seemed interested. Who just wanted to know what you had to say.
By no regard am I a furry. Heck no one I know is a furry either. But reading two articles now I can see this is only opinion based.
One “Dragon” just asked you to cite information and you gave them seven points being real defensive. I guess you are getting views though. Like they matter here at all. I hope your findings are sounds but no one can know for certain because you are lashing out to some people pointing out some basic items.
So far, with basic research easily fact checked, I already found a furry Christian fellowship offering insight to a mix of religion and their “fandom”. At least they are citing and being responsive.
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Good grief Paul! What in the world kind of crazy can have you opened?
I was aware of this subculture, but seeing 48 comments on the first post tells me a lot of what I already knew.
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I know, right?
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Your comment does not address any specific points in the post, but only attacks the author with baseless criticism. This is a common method used by those who have no argument for their ideology, and therefore adds nothing to the conversation. Hence, your comment is not posted because it fails to meet our moderation standards.
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