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submitted by mishapsmajor
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Some words of unwarning: this article is not about plushophilia, at least not in the sexual sense.

I like to mention sex in the first few sentences of my [adjective][species] articles when I can. I think it provides an engaging hook, something to help keep the reader enthusiastic while they wade through a convoluted premise, or parse paragraphs of statistics. (I sometimes even imply that an article has salacious content when it doesn’t.)

Plushophilia, in the sexual sense, does exist within furry but it’s marginal, at around 8% of furries according to the Furry Survey (ref). My guess is that stuffed animals are a true paraphilia (i.e. sexual fetish) for a small subset of this small fraction. In furry’s first wave, media coverage would often look to equate furry with plushophilia, in a clumsy attempt to explain our community as an entirely sexual phenomenon. It’s safe to say that any conflation of furry with plushophilia is wrong, and that the collective furry groan whenever someone refers to us as ‘plushies’ is thoroughly justified.

A lot of furries, of course, own stuffed animals. It’s one of the ways that the furry identity manifests itself in the physical world. And it’s normal for furries to have an emotional attachment to their stuffed animals, without the sexual objectification associated with paraphilia.

I’m an example: I’m a competent adult who owns a dozen or so stuffed animals, and I’m emotionally attached to them. I like having them around: I have a stuffed zebra with me at the moment to ‘help’ me write this article. He provides a faint presence, social but without any social requirements. He is a substitute for quiet company.

A different person might like to have the TV on in the background at a low volume. The illusion of motion and life is equally unreal, but it provides enough of a reminder of a real presence to make us feel warm and appreciative, preventing a room from feeling cold and unwelcoming. It’s a phantom of a human connection, just enough to work on a subconscious level.

I also like to take a stuffed animal when travelling, especially when travelling solo. They make me feel less isolated.

Happily for me, we live in a world where it is mostly okay for a grown man to discreetly carry a stuffed animal around. They are not a societal norm in most non-furry spaces, so I don’t openly display them, but I don’t actively hide them either. If one of my stuffed animals were to be revealed in the presence of, say, a work colleague, I wouldn’t expect a negative reaction. It would be a minor eccentricity, nothing more.

There are some objects where it is completely socially acceptable to reveal an emotional attachment. Such objects are often said to have ‘sentimental value’, an indication that an emotional attachment makes the object worth more to the owner than to a disinterested third party. Examples might include a childhood teddybear, or a motor vehicle, or sports memorabilia.

On the other hand, some objects are not socially acceptable. One example, one that parallels with furry in some ways, is the ‘reborn’ subculture. This group, largely made up of post-menopausal conservative women in the United States, own and care for ultra-realistic baby dolls.

Image from Rebecca Martinez’s Pretenders series, click through to gallery

Like furry, the reborn subculture is occasionally profiled in the mainstream press. They receive a common reaction, and an interesting one: people find it creepy.

Creepy. Disturbing. Repulsive. Yet no harm is being done. Clearly, these dolls are providing their owners with an emotional need. So why are people – possibly including you, dear reader – reacting negatively to something which is unambiguously positive?

Outside of some internet-savvy groups, furries sometimes receive a similar reaction. This reaction is the reason why furries are regularly asked to appear on freakshow/reality TV shows: the producers know that the viewers will have a strong, visceral reaction. (Such TV shows and media often play up the sexual component of furry for the same reason.) Like members of the reborn subculture, we furries are harmless, pursuing an unusual interest because it makes us happy.

So why the negative reaction?

Given that the reaction is automatic, this suggests it is a normal feature of human social behaviour. My guess is that people innately react negatively to people who are ‘different’, and that this has an evolutionary biological explanation. People with unusual emotional needs may be less socially able, perhaps where this is sign of mental dysfunction. Unusual behaviour can weaken, or even destabilize, social groups. The negative group reaction, therefore, may act as a social countermeasure, to ‘normalize’ the outlying individual. Some outlying individuals will successfully moderate their behaviour within the constraints of whatever the social group considers normal, while those that fail to normalize are outcast.

Gay people faced this problem in most parts of the world throughout the 20th century. Society has become more accepting over time, however it is still a problem in some parts of the world. It’s a component of racism. It’s an ongoing problem for many people with unusual sexual identities.

For we furries, societal pressures are a common consideration, especially in non-furry spaces. Some lucky furries with internet-centric lives, perhaps those with work in the IT sector, might be able to be completely open with no negative consequences: like my travelling stuffed zebra, it might be considered to be a harmless eccentricity. For most of us, furry is something best kept largely private, or perhaps shared only among close friends.

Many people in my living and working world would, I believe, find furry to be creepy. I like to have control over my outwards-facing facade, and so furry is something I wouldn’t choose to be a subject of gossip. Conversely, I’m completely open about my homosexuality – I’m lucky enough to live in a society where anyone reacting negatively would find themselves to be the outcast. So I’m ‘out’ as gay to everyone, but ‘out’ as a furry only to a few very close friends. Such compromises are a normal and necessary part of living in a social world.

I think it’s an important skill to give the impression of ‘fitting in’, without compromising those things that are internally important. As Kurt Vonnegut said in Mother Night: “We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be.” It’s not always an easy balance, although sometimes it’s just a matter of keeping your stuffed zebra in your luggage.

Just as importantly, we can notice and moderate our own natural negative reaction to outsiders. We can’t change our subconscious reaction, but we can control what we say and how we act. It’s the first step towards a more tolerant and accepting world.

submitted by VictoricRong
[link] [18 comments]

So just thought I'd put this here for people who don't religiously check our twitter or website.

The Westin offers discounted parking to Furry Weekend Atlanta Guests. The parking rate is $17/day for self parking and $27/day for valet parking. Valet parking offers in-and-out privileges. Self parking does not offer in-and-out privileges.

For a lower cost parking option, consider parking in the Long Term Parking lot at one of the many MARTA stations in the Atlanta area and riding to the Westin. Directions on how to get to the convention hotel using MARTA are available here.

Station Parking Rate Lindbergh Center $8/day Dunwoody $5/day Sandy Springs $5/day North Springs $8/day Lenox $5/day Brookhaven $5/day Doraville $5/day Kensington $5/day College Park $8/day

While FWA has attempted to secure discount parking at a nearby lot, we have been unable to. However, there are numerous surface lots in the vicinity of the hotel, but Furry Weekend Atlanta cannot be responsible for the safety of your vehicle or your person. Please be aware that many of these lots are inexpensive during the day but have a high overnight parking rate.

Edit: Forgot to highlight the last bit about extra costs for overnight.

submitted by DarkheroX
[link] [20 comments]

submitted by JoJoJoshua
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SPOTTED DELIGHT (Episode: 57)
A fun contest takes place at the PS, Hemms takes over the Den, and Haku shares his thoughts on spots. THANKS FOR SUBSCRIBING!!! LIKE US ON FACEBOOK: http://w... From: TheRaccoonsDen Views: 373 22 ratings Time: 08:59 More in Entertainment

submitted by Nerrnerr
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submitted by Arkanoid0
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Author: E-Mail Hidden Savrin and Fuzz have returned from the wilderness with tales beyond imagining! Rambling email tales of assholes, larp, and nonsense! Shiva has a severe case of Tetrisitis still and is MIA. This is a long one! Use our coupon code ‘knot’ at AdamEve.com for a great deal. Episode 212 – Derpsplosion (AAC; [...] KnotCast: Episode 212 – Derpsplosion

I've been here in Silverdale since Oct. And figured its time to send out my feelers and see if there are any furries in the Seattle/Kitsap county area. So are there any about?

submitted by furnatic
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submitted by Splatterpunk666
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submitted by evilsibe
[link] [12 comments]

Cave Story’s Daisuke “Pixel” Amaya has revealed his next gaming title, Gero Blaster. He's showing the game at BitSummit in Japan this weekend. Gero Blaster is the story of Kaeru, a frog, who is trying to find his girlfriend, a cat. It's a side-scrolling shooter that looks to make its way onto iOS and Nintendo 3DS.

The game has a planned release window of around May 2013. You can check out a trailer for the game below!

submitted by -Klappy-
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submitted by ReCat
[link] [4 comments]

submitted by SVenetor
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Dear Papabear,

You remember me, right? I sent you an email a few months ago about talking to my parents about my beliefs.

But anyway, I have a completely different question this time. It's about the furry fandom. 

I have been a member of the furry fandom since I was 13, but I don't consider myself to be a furry. I don't consider myself to be one only because I don't believe in labels. 

Now onto my question. I was wondering if the real life furry fandom is anything like the Internet fandom. I have never been to a furry convention, and I've never met a furry in real life. I know there are furries in my area, but I just don't know where to find them. It seems like on the Internet, very much of the artwork is yiff, or fetish related. Even if it isn't fetish art or yiff, many more seem to have some type of sexual overtone. 

People drawing yiff/fetish art is more than okay with me. It just seems like it dominates the Internet fandom. Just look at furaffinity; 75% of the website disappears with the mature content filter on. 

To recap, I was just wondering if the real life fandom is like this. People tell me it isn't, but I just wanted to hear the opinion of an active member in the fandom. 

Sincerely, 

Steve. 

* * *

Dear Steve,

There is a big difference between virtual reality and reality, and, since you don’t like labels, that’s true not only of the furry fandom but of all things. Yes, online there is a LOT of yiffy art, animations, and screwing around in RPGs and virtual worlds like SecondLife.

I have been to seven furcons now, and Califur this June will make eight. I have also been to a number of furmeets, and I can tell you that these gatherings are very different from the online world. At furmeets and cons, furries chat, fursuit, eat, go bowling, play games, that sort of thing. If you go to a con, yes, you could probably find a room where there is sex going on (true of ANY convention of ANY kind—my sister is a Ph.D. and has been to academic conventions where professors act very... unacademic, shall we say), but most of what goes on is very G to PG. Even moreso with furmeets, which are even more public than furcons and people need to behave themselves.

But it’s not just because these events are in public; it’s because they are REAL. When someone is at a keyboard, hiding behind a digital shield, their inhibitions are dropped because they can be anything or anyone. I mean, if you wanted to, you can be a dragon with three hyperpenises that can have multiple orgasms. In real life, if you have to expose yourself in a bedroom, self-consciousness and shyness kick in big time for many people. Many furries are young, inexperienced, and awkward in the bedroom—many are virgins—and so they shy away from real sex (and good for them for not recklessly jumping into the fray). But there are some, too, who are yiffy IRL as well as online, and some of those don’t play safe.

They key is, Steve, that you can make of the fandom what you will. If you want to do the X-rated thing, you can certainly find people who will be willing to do that. But if you want to have the Family Experience with the fandom, it’s very easy to do that, too. I guess what I’m saying is that you shouldn’t be afraid of going to a furcon, furmeet, or just meeting some local furries. It’s not like we’re all sex-crazed freaks who are going to rip your clothes off and pounce you when you walk into a room. Most of my friends are furries and my experiences with them have been very tame and friendly.

It’s all about the furiends you pick. That will determine your experience in the fandom in real life. I hope you make the leap from the virtual world of furries to the real one. I have found it to be well worth it.

Bear Hugs,

Papabear

submitted by QueasyDolphin
[link] [2 comments]

Savrin and Fuzz have returned from the wilderness with tales beyond imagining! Rambling email tales of assholes, larp, and nonsense! Shiva has a severe case of Tetrisitis still and is MIA. This is a long one! Use our coupon code 'knot' at AdamEve.com for a great deal. Episode 212 - Derpsplosion

How would you design a furry convention? We here at WagzTail give it a shot in today’s episode, sharing what we would most like to see and what venue it would take. So come on, share your thoughts below!

Metadata and Credits

WagzTail Podcast 2.0 Episode 57
Runtime: 30m
Cast: Crimson X, Levi, Wolfin
Editor: Silent
Format: 128kbps ABR split-stereo MP3
Copyright: © 2013 WagzTail.com. Some Rights Reserved. This podcast is released by WagzTail.com as CC BY-ND 3.0. If distributed with a facility that has an existing agreement in place with a Professional Rights Organisation (PRO), file a cue sheet for 30:00 to Fabien Renoult (BMI) 1.67%, Josquin des Pres (BMI) 1.67%, WagzTail.com 96.67%. Rights have been acquired to all content for national and international broadcast and web release with no royalties due. Podcast image belongs to Levi Wolstrom, used with permission.

Episode 57 – Furry Convention - How would you design a furry convention? We here at WagzTail give it a shot in today's episode, sharing what we would most like to see and what venue it would take. So come on, share your thoughts below!