Digging Up Positivity - August 2024
In this episode:
- A very squeaky expansion for Magic The Gathering
- So many furry charities!
- The new very creative and inclusive Winter Olympic mascots
- Results Pride Shirt Giveaway
- Cool animation news, and
- A lovely interview with Shrapnel Vagr, an amazing bean from Cardiff!
But first, the latest charity news from the fandom in this August edition of Digging Up Positivity!
Charity Updates
Papabarks raised $60,000
We are starting off strong with Papabarks. I was honoured to be a part of this amazing fundraiser for the ongoing fight against ALS. We all raised $60,000 during this yearly donation drive. In the past 5 years the Papabarks event raised $251,176.76 in total and they provided unforgettable moments that strengthens my faith in our wonderful community.
Pride and Kindness raised $1,769.31
The wonderful people behind Pride and Kindness are a yearly fundraiser around the time of Pride Month, and this year their raised funds for Queer Svit and Miłość Nie Wyklucza, both trying to make the world a better and safer place for our LGBTQ friends.
Aurawra raised $13,501.56
And down under the amazing critters of Aurawra raised $13,501.56 for Sydney Wildlife Rescue, a non profit organisation dedicated to the wildlife in the greater Sydney Metropolitan Area.
Anthro Irish raises $695
The wonderful critters from Ireland raised $695 for the Feed West Cork food bank, helping those who are struggling between paying the bills and providing food for themselves and their loved ones.
FurryDelphia raised $11,560.69
Back in the USA, in Philadelphia our friends from FurryDelphia managed to raise $11,560.69 for DanceSafe, an organisation dedicated to promote health and safety within music and nightlife communities.
FurAffinity raises $206,984
Many were saddened and shocked to hear about the passing of Dragoneer, the big force behind FurAffinity. No matter your opinion about him, that website has been a major player in the furry fandom for many years. However with his passing, it once more became painfully clear the US healthcare system can be quite expensive, and to ensure the continuity of the website people came together to raise money in Dragoneers’ honor. At the time of recording, the amount sits on $206,984 at the time of recording this video [sic].
Those left behind had little time to grief, as FurAffinity did go through a rough month. A big hacking attempt was made, but fortunately the site and its twitter account are available again and the absolute donut responsible has been identified. But that is a story for another time.
EAST raises $12,000
The good old Ringberg Hotel in Germany, once the home of Eurofurence, is now the hotel of choice for EAST! Where they raised $12,000 for Tierish Grenzelos, a lovely little shelter from Bamberg, dedicated to find our fluffy friends new forever homes!
When Furballs Strike raises $2,560
Over 382 furries, of which 274 bowlers came together for the worlds’ largest Furbowl: When Furballs Strike. Amongst the fun and games, they raised $2,560 for the Homeward Pet Adoption Center!
IndyFurCon raises $14,671.71
2030 critters came together at IndyFurCon and raised an impressive $14,671.71 together for Oinking Acres! A farm animal rescue in Indiana, dedicated to not just help those lovely farm animals but to educate people about them as well!
Team Dogbomb raises $2,114
Our friends from Team Dogbomb raised $2,114 during the Walk ALS Rhode Island. After all these years, they are still going strong, doing their part in the battle against this dreadful disease.
Breaking $1.2 million!
With all of this, I am proud to announce that with still 4 months to go, we have covered furries world wide raising a breath taking 1.2 million dollars raised in charity! And the furry fandom keeps on showing their lovely colours, as a little over 18% of this amount went to various LGBTQ causes! Which is over $232,000. Already a huge leap over the [$157,398.93]* raised for LGBTQ charities over the entirety of last year! Stay strong you amazing critters.
Other News
Tina & Milo
Okay, I am not known to be an Olympic sports channel, I am not a fast meerkat at all! However, the Olympic mascots Tina and Milo are just...*chef's kiss* Seriously, do check them out. They are 2 most adorable stoat siblings. Their names are
diminutives for the two host cities: Tina for Cortina and Milo for Milano and their characters are slightly different. Tina is a bit of a city stoat, a very outgoing type, where Milo is a bit of a dreamer who loves practical jokes. And despite being born without a paw, he learned to be just as nimble with his tail, representing his motto in life “Obstacles are trampolines”.
They even integrated his tail in the mascotte suits! Just check out the ’tail’. Very clever!
Magic the Gathering: Bloomburrow
If you say cardgames, many think of Magic The Gathering right away. As a wee little kit I played it at school during lunchbreak with my friends. But they now released their first all-animal plane: Bloomburrow. Which came with an animated trailer which honestly instantly reminded me of Redwall and the Secret of Nimh, that animation is just breathtaking! But it didn’t stop there! Hench and Scrap made one of the characters: Mabel, and the result is just amazing, just look at those details, that snoot! I just hope they will listen to their fans and make more animated shorts...or better yet, a movie!
Hazbin Hotel announces new seasons
One of the biggest complains I shared with many about Hazbin Hotel was the story being crammed into waaaay to little episodes. But this was understandable! They had no idea if they would even get a second season. However, they are currently working on that— But the fun does not end there! They have been greenlit for a 3rd and 4rd season! Looking forward to some amazing new episodes with a pacing they can properly control! I really wanna see how things continue with Sir Pentious!
Sonic 3
Finally, the new trailer of the much anticipated Sonic 3 dropped, showing more of Shadow the hedgehog, as voice by Keanu Reeves. But I was very surprised to see Jim Carrey returning as Dr.Robotnik, which really is doing a great job of hyping me
up for this movie. In the trailer we get a glympse of the backstory of Shadow but also his amazing power. The movie itself is scheduled for this December.
[Featurette with Shrapnel Vagr]
Thank You
Thank you so much for staying with us! As for this month, the winner of the Pride Tshirt goes to ....
Of course, you can visit my artworktee store anytime for the pride shirt or many other fun things. Or if you want to see me draw, I will be here and on twitch roughly every Monday from 8pm till 10pm but you can also support me on subscribe star, as a youtube member, or on patreon [also Twitch] like these amazing fuzzbutts.
From Subscribestar: Manick, Cosmik with a K, Taross, Hanzana. YouTube Members: LorekByrnison086, Longtooth, Wither. From Patreon: Tantroo McNally, Ishnula, Els Deckers. Twitch Subscribers (a special thanks to those who bought so many awesome critters gifted subs!): xgadget865, guzmazelos, arie1985, weareixxim, ajabuyeen, hanzanajanssen, koji_the_brave, kitevr, minadarsh, auringaming, voldrot, marcelcoppersa, roggebrea, truckthepolarbear, clofurs, raffjackalope, tanidraws, drbenben, lightnymf, jake_r_g, naoma, reynard_vise, evolvertv, bazbadger, swex_the_mischievous_fox, lighty_417, axletheelewolf, meatloaf7593, james_tgs, duwahli, tretronthedragon, falconeio, ladylyanne, vitacordes, tommywolf210, mienothebadger, drohan_star_bear, kodathewolffox17, soldier_024, icet0ast, maartenman1, cute_wolfynova, thegentlejester, gooseyx0, miesdocreations.
However, remember that a like and subscribe goes a long way as well. The next episode of Digging Up Positivity will be on September 28th, see you around and all the hugs!
*Video stated wrong amount here, script had correct amount at 157k, not 175k
About the author
Pegla (Danny) — read stories — contact (login required)a designer and Skunk from Hilversum, interested in stuff
Comments
Important to note that while there have been accusations going about the hacker being a particular person, most of these statements are self referential (some trolls just want 'cred), Fur Affinity itself wants to stave off speculation and allow investigations to continue into it:
Positivity? None to be found here.
"Debbie Downer"s like you are the reason this monthly article exists in the first place
Well, "Digging Up" is a very fitting diction for a series about trying to cherry-pick the few moments where the furry community isn't being a stochastic terror group.
I don't remember furries gassing an anime convention...
I do remember a furry shooting an elderly woman to death just for thinking that Black people shouldn't be extrajudicially executed, though. Strange how things work out.
I have done research on this. I can't find any proof for this article
He's referring to this situation: https://www.flayrah.com/8580/alt-right-furry-benjamin-polybun-smith-charged-murd...
But, this person was acting in isolation and didn't act based on furry fanning, instead those who were about him noted he was listening and becoming radicalized by political "non-fiction" television shows. Furries certainly didn't promote or treat the situation with complying silence. Which is a requirement should this be evidence of stochastic terrorism.
Yeah, obviously Smith was acting in isolation. There was certainly no influence from the furry fandom's long history of racial prejudice – so far as being more white-dominated than the anime fandom per FurScience stats, and there's definitely no way he was emboldened by the various types of racist sentiments commonly expressed in the fandom (once again per FurScience, seen in various testimonials in their 2023 book). But no, it's all the TV's fault, and people like Eliaxy who "did research" but were still unable to find out about one of the most significant tragedies in furry history definitely aren't just adhering to confirmation bias.
And this is just an instance of the average furry escalating their virulent hatred to a physical level. If I were to touch on even a thousandth of a percent of the psychological harms folks like you have committed, it'd make War And Peace look like a brief afternoon read.
In about five years' time, you people will be taught in every sociology class as a case study of pinkwashing.
If you read the articles linked abut the Polybun situations you would have read that the few he was around in that apartment noted he grew increasing isolated and watched many different political shows on television and would quote such grievances constantly. It not really the "Television" that did is as you note, as the television can only share the thoughts and feelings of those utilizing the medium. The technology is but a tool, it is those that wielded it in such a way that fanned a fire they could not see or did not care to see.
But he wasn't really watching furries on television, but sadly more mainstream belief systems that do create those harmful situations you denote. Are there furries who fall within those ideological groups? Sure. They're mentioned in the article.
Which is why it's important to not see someone being a furry as an insinuation on their feelings or beliefs around tolerance and minority groups. You can encourage a gardener to weed out ideals of bigotry, egocentrism, and harmful exploitation from the community at large, but weeding takes effort and even if those in the main groups can keep those weeds at bay, they'll find somewhere in the world to grow and fester. Into the darkness and out of the light.
I hope no one has harmed you and you ranting is not the results of said pricker-bushes (I suspect this due to the second paragraph). We're just a fandom of anthroporphism, and we live within a world of people who hate one another for the dumbest reasons. Some fall victim to that sway, others keep their head down to get their work done, others fight against it. Hopefully as time goes one, the percentage will move further to the last item of that list.
Listen I don't know where you're hearing this bull-crap. We are not a "stochastic terror group."
The language is usually tied to groups like libs of tik-tok who when they cover an institution usually results in threats being called into those organizations. So the term "Stochastic terror group" refers to an organization whose fans act in such a way where the leaders may not terrorize a group directly, but whose fans will do such actions and not be criticized by the leadership for acting in a terroristic manner on behalf of the group.
Usually if someone uses a term incorrectly its that they had heard the term used against a group they care for and just echo it in a similar way that a child would say "I know you are but what am I?" So the guess is Saint is a fan of Libs of TikTok based on this behavior.
Of course. Of course you have the absolute gall to insinuate that any person who criticizes you for being a cryptofascist is somehow the real fascist. Is there some other terminology you'd prefer I use for a decentralized community that regularly spreads vitriol against racial and gender minorities, culminating in physical violence? Or would you prefer I just shut up and allow your pals to be bigoted with no accountability?
Nazifur is a pleonasm.
Rest assured, you are the first and only person in the history of my nearly four decades of existence to label me as a cryptofacist. You're creating strawmen using words of vitriol developed in the back alleyways of the interweb and chasing shadows.
Furry is a large enough community where it is possible to never interact with another member who has put themselves into the fandom. So seeing it all as one group and that we're all pals with another is a falacy. I never interacted with Polybun personally, for instance.
It's "fallacy" not "falacy"
But you *ARE* all pals.
When last did you work a dog's g-spot?
So, you guys not sign up for enough class hours your freshman year and are bored now, or what?
Yes, you shutting up would be awesome.
Well it's also possible, I suppose, to find a positive spin on anything including beastiality/zoophilia.
How about y'all shut up?
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