Re: Do bronies count as furries

>>> > What about all the pony conventions, do they even count as furry?

A quick answer is "yes, because it's about anthropomorphics".

Long ago someone at a furry convention asked
"who are they fans of?" "each other!"

I've been into furry fandom a long time.
A greymuzzle/silvermuzzle.

>> Brony's culture comes from a corporate owned studio.
>> Furry culture comes from within from individual creators.

Kinda, maybe, almost.
I'll agree that Furry Fandom is really about participation
and individual expression, not just a consumer product.

Furry fandom was always artist and creator-centric,
thus everyone making "fursonas".
Not everyone is an artist or writer.
We're furries too but we participate in other ways.
Some characters are created like RPG (role playing characters).
For those of us into "furry spirituality",
it's more like a Native American "vision quest"
where an animal totem clarifies aspects of yourself.

>The furry fandom originated from the anthropomorphic designs in older Disney
>cartoons. I don't think this is as strong an argument as you think it is.

Furry fandom is a river with many tributaries.

Anime, cartoons, comics, manga
all fuel interest in anthropomorphics,
most notably Zootopia, Disney's Robin Hood, Lion King,
Kimba, Wonder 3 ...

Unique critters (skiltaire, silkies)
were created for the "Other Suns" role playing system.
Protogen is the new "open source" fursuit creation.

Talking animals have been with us since forever,
thus Aesops Fables,
Japanese Choju Giga or Animal Scroll / The Animal Frolic ...

Puppetry, costumes/mascots/fursuits are so popular
that some folks think performing in fursuit
is mandatory to be considered a "real furry".
Part of me is pleased with the advance in fursuit detailing.
But I'm distressed by

1) the outrageous prices for the average fursuit,
placing them out of reach of so many.
I was lucky and got mine long ago when affordable.
I learned how to respect my character and PERFORM,
not just walk around.
I learned from the old school mascots - DO NOT TALK!

2) fursuiters who don't PERFORM. They just think wearing
an expensive "name brand fursuit" will make them wonderful

3) fursuiters who don't know how to respect their own character.
Partial fursuits are an interesting gray area.
They make us all look bad when they pop their head in public
or "poodle" (show bare skin, particularly bare arms).
That's why furry conventions specifically have the
"headless lounge" dressing room.

Sorry for the rant. It comes with the territory :"<

-- ferret!

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