Basically....whats your opinion on this internet sub-culture/ gaggle of over enthusiastic anthro lovers?
As for me....
When I was a young pup, still wet behind the ears, surfing the net for Sonic sites, I would often come upon sites dedicated to this community, and quite frankly....IT DISGUSTED ME! However as i have grown I have realized, these people, although they may obsess with a certain type of fictional character more so then one would deem healthy, really arn't any worse then some of the more overzealous anime fans. So I would say overall, despite the fact they can be awkward to get into discussion with, really they arn't any worse then some of the otaku out there.
I will say this though, I do take some offense to them taking some of my favorite toons and drawing R34 of em, but hey thats just me.
And as another question, just like with any fanbase, what classifies someone as this. Again I've heard people call someone a furry mearly for liking series with anthromorphs in them, but that doesn't sound right to me, I mean what about all of us nerdy types who like Sonic & Thundercats, all the anime fans that like shows with Neko Gals in em? What about we Bronies & Pegasisters?
Overall I still take this just see this fanbase to be the U.S./EU equivlant of hardcore Otaku, people that get way to obsessed over something, not all bad and not all good, and i'm sure like with all other fanbases there's different levels.
But back to a serious note, thats my view on set fan base,whats yours?
P.S. this is just the 1st of what will hopefully be many thoughtful and well rounded discussions of the various fanbases of the interwebs, I just felt like starting with something that had a little bit of...spice to it.
Be it furries or any other 'controversial' part of a fandom, I'm more or less of a 'whatever works for you' mindset. 'You' being the people for it or against it. The only time I get annoyed with something like this is when someone either forces it down another's throat, or someone else downs on another for liking it.
For example, there was a discussion a while back on a TMNT board I semi-frequent. It was about the amount of Turtle x April (or Leo x Karai in some) pairings, and how a lot of people were disgusted by it. It got to the point that it was practically a witch hunt for the people that liked those pairings. I wasn't really for the pairings myself, but the amount of backlash received by those who were was horrible. That and, when I thought it over, it made more sense morally then one of them and a regular turtle, for obvious reasons.
But I digress - on the topic of furries themselves, it doesn't really 'work' for me. I like Sonic the Hedgehog characters, but none like 'that'. The closest I can think of (and I'm still contemplating on it) is Cheetarah in the new Thundercats...I won't lie, there's something pleasing to the eye there.
I"s: Reaching for a Dream - The Fandom Writer - My Collection
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"There are two kinds of folks who sit around thinking about how to kill people. Psychopaths, and mystery writers. I'm the kind that pays better."
@GYT: Yeah I hear Yeah, Cheetara has had many fanbase go ga-ga for her over the decades. But then again she's an not really just a furry character she's an anthropomorphic cat woman from another world, that really goes into sci-fi and with the new series anime (sorta) as well. It is indeed abit of a conundrum.
My view is basically the same with anything else, there's obviously nothing wrong with liking anthro characters, heck some o those gals (like Cheetara) are obviously meant to be sexy. But when you start getting obsessed with a character (just like with any other type of media/fanbase) then it can get arguably creepy.
And heck, as said i've grown up reading the Archie Sonic comic, I think some of the gals in the U.S. Sonic cannon are pretty nice,but I don't nerd out about em anymore so then I do gals in other comic books I read.
But yeah, it is pretty much a whatever floats your boat type thing, as long as they arn't shoving it down your throat, s'all good in the hood. But when they start going to far, just like with any other fanbase, you kinda....well sometimes you just wanna punch em, lol.
Isn't It Great To Different, Isn't It Great To Be Who You Are!? Once You Learn To Accept Yourself, You'll Become A Shining Star.
I don't really understand all the flak that furries tend to get in the internet community. I'm just mostly indifferent to it. I mean I don't "get" their obsession with the whole dressing up and what-have-you, but I can certainly see the appeal of the characters. I'd be hardpressed to argue the characters aren't attractive, they're obvioously designed that way. You know what they say: everybody's furry for Krystal/Holo/insert attractive anthro character here.
I love Twilight and RB, but I'm not in love with Twilight and RD. Though some of the humanized fanart I've seen is a different story...
Don't forget. Always, somewhere, someone is fighting for you.
As long as you remember Her, you are not alone.
Like GYT, at this point of time I just let people be who they want to be. As long as I am not forced to be a "furrie", I'm not really a hater on the subject.
@Renzo: Yeah, I gotta agree alot of the Anthro & Human fan art of the MLP chars is..well it's quite nice *stupid sexy fan artists, doh!*
As for the flack, pretty much the same reason you,me, and others give ecchi fans flack, sometimes they just do/say things that are...taken in a negative context by others.
Also on a personal note: Darn, I was hoping this would have bubbled into a big discussion by now, oh well, I'm a patient man.
*waits patiently sipping glass and throwing exploding chocolate milk at passerbys*
Isn't It Great To Different, Isn't It Great To Be Who You Are!? Once You Learn To Accept Yourself, You'll Become A Shining Star.
Give it time. I'm sure someone will come in with a radically different opinion soon enough.
I do like the idea of more serious...not really but kind of 'philosophical' thought threads based on various aspects of the fandom. Good on you Sound, good on you. *nods*
I"s: Reaching for a Dream - The Fandom Writer - My Collection
Want your work listed on 'Fandom Writer'? Let me know.
"There are two kinds of folks who sit around thinking about how to kill people. Psychopaths, and mystery writers. I'm the kind that pays better."
Unless your talking about EXTREME RADICALS towards [insert subject matter here] and talking [crap] & hateful things to those who disagree, I have nothing to say against fans towards whatever.
--@AgeTyree
I do have to say I find it really strange. Although, I'm in no place to tell others how to feel or what to do. However, it's just always kind of bothered me. I'm perfectly fine with cartoons like My Little Pony where you have talking animals. It's the anthropomorphic stuff I really don't care for. Also when there are anime girls with cat ears (and other features, on occasion), I, to be blunt, think that is incredibly stupid and it really makes me want to stop watching the anime.
So for me, talking animals is fine. However, when you try to anthropomorphize them, or put animal features on humans, it just is way too much for me personally.
~Known as Envy on the old forums~
@Radiant: understandable. Heres another fun question. How do you feel about the anthroficaion/toonification of anime and human characters in general. I ask because I found this on EQD. A ponyfied SoiFon. Personally, I think its awesome, but I would love to hear your takes on stuff like this
Here's the pic, no worries, its safe. http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8hns1fHk_pc/TzRPSS6IyrI/AAAAAAAAeQw/85BWMh_ySA8/s1600/128745+-+bleach+ponified+Pony_UnTastic+Soi_Fon.png
Isn't It Great To Different, Isn't It Great To Be Who You Are!? Once You Learn To Accept Yourself, You'll Become A Shining Star.
As long as they stay true to the cartoon's style of pony (as opposed to becoming more anthropomorphic) I am not bothered. In fact, I really like the design of the MLP:FiM ponies and I have actually made one of me.
~Known as Envy on the old forums~