Steampunk Convention...and comments about Furry
Had a blast yesterday at a new Steampunk event in Daytona. I put together a little outfit with some things that I already had...nothing elaborate, and certainly not anything expensive...created a character that was, for lack of a better idea, a dirigible attendant. White shirt, black vest with my silver pocketwatch, khaki slacks, and black shoes with a fire red necktie. Perhaps I wasn't the most in depth character, but it was fun. I'll look forward to more steampunk events int he future.
While there, I attended a few shows, including a Burlesque show, a magic show, costume panel, and a few other things. I couldn't afford the extra ticket for the high tea, but did get to go to the Abney Park concert. Also, I passed out a few Megaplex fliers, and talked to folks about it. There were a few smirks, as expected, but on the whole...people seemed curious, interested, and downright friendly about it. Ended talking with a few people about perceptions and things while there...and commentary from conversations last night. It was pretty insightful
First thing, many people don't actually have a problem with "furry" per se. It's not the costumes, and it's not the art, or even the events that people have issue with. It's certain people's behavior. Now before anyone goes..."Yup, I could have told you that!"...let me tell you it's not the kind of behavior you'd think people would comment about. While I was there, I talked with several people...and when the subject of furry conventions came up (and that there was one going on in Detroit right now)...there was a comment that really summed it all up. "Let me guess..they only go to see their friends...right?" That took me back, because I've heard it many times. But it's really something that people outside of the furry fandom have heard furries say. Yes, that is a stereotype of furries - socially awkward because they want to lock themselves in up small groups away from the convention space. While I was in the main event room at this convention..it seemed like almost everyone was there, either for the concert or to socialize. The alcohol from the bar was flowing freely, and people were mixing and talking all over the place. From another conversation that happened last night, it was remarked that furries don't attend other kinds of alternate fandom/costuming events. People at this event easily talked about pirates, steampunk, renaissance festivals,sci-fi conventions and a host of other kinds of events...but people didn't seem to ever see many furries about. Not that they expect to see fursuits around everyplace...but they just have the impression that furries can't interact with people outside the furry fandom. What the big point seemed to be was...people at these events go to the shows and panels to socialize and meet new people en masse. They very easily walk around and talk to new folks and make new friends. I found myself doing the same thing last night. But these folk think furries are just not capable of doing that. Ask yourself how many times you've heard people say "I'm going to a party in X's room...and you can see that it's really not an inaccurate portrayal of the way things go down at furry conventions.
Second thing that came up, it's been very noticed that there are people within the furry fandom, that like to put other furries down a LOT. People commented that they hear the term "Oh Furries!" and "Furries Ruin Everything" from people within the fandom itself. It was actually a running joke that the people that are the most "furry" aren't the fursuiters...it's the furries that insult other furries (she called the "Furies..as in furious at themselves for being part of the fandom). That was because, as this lady told me, people who do all the insulting are, in their eyes, the most socially inept people there. If they are there, but can't fit in...they dog it (no pun intended). I had to admit....this surprised me, because I do see a lot of folks I think of as friends exhibiting this behavior. But from the outside looking in...I see where this lady was coming from. It really does look like the school bully...someone who's embarrassed about being there..just being insulting so he can feel better about himself. If it's done in jest between friends, I can see it as an inside joke. But when done publicly around those who aren't in the know, well, hate to break it to you, but these folks think YOU are a big furry stereotype. The lady I was talking to actually did attend a furry convention in Atlanta (I'm presuming FWA) and was invited to a private party in an upstairs room. She said she heard the host making fun of people downstairs, and thought he was ridiculous, because (in her eyes) he's exactly the same as those folks...so she left.
There were a lot of comments and thoughts that were given to me last night. I must be truthful, they really hit the nail right on the head on almost every single observation. Some of it was insightful, some was rather disappointing. All in all, there were not a lot of bad comments about furry fandom. Really people seemed to see it as something fun and interesting...if not always something for them. The one lady that squealed "Oooh..I love the fuzzies!" showed how open minded a lot of other fandoms are with furry. I don't know that there is a way to internally change things...since it's become so entrenched in a lot of people's behavior. Just think about what you see, hear, and do at conventions. People running off to private rooms to get drunk, people only hanging out with the small same groups that they always do, people claiming that they don't need to go into the convention space since they are only there for their friends, and people thinking they are above others and knocking them down to attain some type of social status. Ask yourself how many times you've done this at conventions. Because if you have, congratulate yourself for being what other fandoms see as the furry stereotype.
While there, I attended a few shows, including a Burlesque show, a magic show, costume panel, and a few other things. I couldn't afford the extra ticket for the high tea, but did get to go to the Abney Park concert. Also, I passed out a few Megaplex fliers, and talked to folks about it. There were a few smirks, as expected, but on the whole...people seemed curious, interested, and downright friendly about it. Ended talking with a few people about perceptions and things while there...and commentary from conversations last night. It was pretty insightful
First thing, many people don't actually have a problem with "furry" per se. It's not the costumes, and it's not the art, or even the events that people have issue with. It's certain people's behavior. Now before anyone goes..."Yup, I could have told you that!"...let me tell you it's not the kind of behavior you'd think people would comment about. While I was there, I talked with several people...and when the subject of furry conventions came up (and that there was one going on in Detroit right now)...there was a comment that really summed it all up. "Let me guess..they only go to see their friends...right?" That took me back, because I've heard it many times. But it's really something that people outside of the furry fandom have heard furries say. Yes, that is a stereotype of furries - socially awkward because they want to lock themselves in up small groups away from the convention space. While I was in the main event room at this convention..it seemed like almost everyone was there, either for the concert or to socialize. The alcohol from the bar was flowing freely, and people were mixing and talking all over the place. From another conversation that happened last night, it was remarked that furries don't attend other kinds of alternate fandom/costuming events. People at this event easily talked about pirates, steampunk, renaissance festivals,sci-fi conventions and a host of other kinds of events...but people didn't seem to ever see many furries about. Not that they expect to see fursuits around everyplace...but they just have the impression that furries can't interact with people outside the furry fandom. What the big point seemed to be was...people at these events go to the shows and panels to socialize and meet new people en masse. They very easily walk around and talk to new folks and make new friends. I found myself doing the same thing last night. But these folk think furries are just not capable of doing that. Ask yourself how many times you've heard people say "I'm going to a party in X's room...and you can see that it's really not an inaccurate portrayal of the way things go down at furry conventions.
Second thing that came up, it's been very noticed that there are people within the furry fandom, that like to put other furries down a LOT. People commented that they hear the term "Oh Furries!" and "Furries Ruin Everything" from people within the fandom itself. It was actually a running joke that the people that are the most "furry" aren't the fursuiters...it's the furries that insult other furries (she called the "Furies..as in furious at themselves for being part of the fandom). That was because, as this lady told me, people who do all the insulting are, in their eyes, the most socially inept people there. If they are there, but can't fit in...they dog it (no pun intended). I had to admit....this surprised me, because I do see a lot of folks I think of as friends exhibiting this behavior. But from the outside looking in...I see where this lady was coming from. It really does look like the school bully...someone who's embarrassed about being there..just being insulting so he can feel better about himself. If it's done in jest between friends, I can see it as an inside joke. But when done publicly around those who aren't in the know, well, hate to break it to you, but these folks think YOU are a big furry stereotype. The lady I was talking to actually did attend a furry convention in Atlanta (I'm presuming FWA) and was invited to a private party in an upstairs room. She said she heard the host making fun of people downstairs, and thought he was ridiculous, because (in her eyes) he's exactly the same as those folks...so she left.
There were a lot of comments and thoughts that were given to me last night. I must be truthful, they really hit the nail right on the head on almost every single observation. Some of it was insightful, some was rather disappointing. All in all, there were not a lot of bad comments about furry fandom. Really people seemed to see it as something fun and interesting...if not always something for them. The one lady that squealed "Oooh..I love the fuzzies!" showed how open minded a lot of other fandoms are with furry. I don't know that there is a way to internally change things...since it's become so entrenched in a lot of people's behavior. Just think about what you see, hear, and do at conventions. People running off to private rooms to get drunk, people only hanging out with the small same groups that they always do, people claiming that they don't need to go into the convention space since they are only there for their friends, and people thinking they are above others and knocking them down to attain some type of social status. Ask yourself how many times you've done this at conventions. Because if you have, congratulate yourself for being what other fandoms see as the furry stereotype.