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Dungeons & Draggets #19 - reminder that these stream SUNDAY @7pm on YouTube…
reminder that these stream SUNDAY @7pm on YouTube if you would like to join the chat! Here's the vid of it on Youtube = youtu.be/7DFg5LdIlMQ for all things Dragget: www.draggetshow.com Our Patreon w/ great new rewards! www.patreon.com/thedraggetshow Telegram Chat: t.me/draggetshow Dungeons & Draggets #19 - reminder that these stream SUNDAY @7pm on YouTube…
Dungeons & Draggets #18 - reminder that these stream SUNDAY @7pm on YouTube…
reminder that these stream SUNDAY @7pm on YouTube if you would like to join the chat! Here's the vid of it on Youtube = youtu.be/7DFg5LdIlMQ for all things Dragget: www.draggetshow.com Our Patreon w/ great new rewards! www.patreon.com/thedraggetshow Telegram Chat: t.me/draggetshow Dungeons & Draggets #18 - reminder that these stream SUNDAY @7pm on YouTube…
Furry Awakenings
Where do furries come from? Here’s how ones who answered were zapped. Below: A picture is worth 1000 words. Classics & nostalgia (blame the 80’s!) Born This Way. Self Discovery and forbidden curiosity. A community or even family, and a fascinating hobby. – Patch
A picture is worth 1000 words
— Sir Fox (@DemonBob_Badman) August 1, 2018 — Benny-G (@bengoodridge) August 1, 2018One word: Weregarurumon pic.twitter.com/39Qgt49Lxh
—
@SpookyBiscuits@mastodon.social (@SpookyBiscuits) August 1, 2018
Classics & nostalgia
OOH yeaaah pic.twitter.com/zN1qCmO4ci
— Dogpatch Press (@DogpatchPress) August 1, 2018But before then, I was pretty into the Two Jungle Books by Kipling, that was around 1975.
— Rainbow Ark (@Rainbow_Ark) August 1, 2018Release year for this pic.twitter.com/w8qJZyu7y0
— The Over-opinionated Ebony Gorilla (@EbonyGorilla) August 1, 2018i blame the 80s. i got a box of old comics from a cousin and one of them was called Captain Carrot and the Zoo Crew, all furry superheroes.
Born This Way
I would be more surprised if a furry said they *didn't* play dogs/wolves/etc. as a kid. Born this way 
Lee-troit: Become Human 
(@HRHSherlock) August 1, 2018
This was the first thing I ever watched and from then on I loved animal toys and ponies and OH MY GOD I WAS BORN A FURRY pic.twitter.com/h6PZsdssWb
—
SonicFox Stan (@Steggydon) August 1, 2018
I watched Disney’s Robin Hood A TON as a kid, so much so that my mom helped me write and illustrate a little homemade book about my first day of kindergarten where all the characters were animals.
I got an incredibly early start; I was two years old when my mother brought home the soundtrack to Cats. I grew up absolutely obsessed with it; my brother and I could practically perform the entire musical for most of our childhoods…
Was 13 when people always told I acted like a bear. I started to represent myself as one for years. Until someone told me “Wait are you a furry ?” One internet search later, I realized there was already a ton of furry related books and show that I loved. So I kinda just gave in.
I think I made animals an aesthetic of mine in middle school, cosplaying as Geoffrey St. John from the Sonic comics, and I was bullied for being a furry before I really knew what furries were. And I decided on a whim to look up BC Furries and there happened to be forums :v
Always enjoyed any animal cartoons, moreso cats. Enjoyed Heathcliff & the Cadillac Cats cartoon 2much (drew a life-size Cleo on my mom's classroom blkboard. Her students loved it that they didn't want it erased) & then Thundercats happened. I get the subtext of that sword now. pic.twitter.com/yNrf33nYQQ
— Redcap Goblin
(@kayfey) August 2, 2018
Redecorating my living room with wildlife art & son asked me if I was furry. Reflected back on: Robin Hood, Lion King (yes, *that* scene), werewolves, 80s comic book series Xanadu, fursuit pix, and came to one inescapable conclusion: Yes, I am furry.
— Varek ManeyFox (@VarekWolf) August 1, 2018Self Discovery
Then a huge pattern of things like reading every werewolf erotica I could find as a teenager and loving the animal nickname my husband gave me came into SUPER SHARP FOCUS. 
When I was 13 I was watching terrible slideshow videos of couples late at night because teenager. Then one came up with gay furry couples and within 10 seconds I discovered interesting things about myself.
Back when the Internet was still new to me, I ran an Ask Jeeves (Yes, that was a thing) search for StarFox. I found Yerf. It was both my gay and furry awakening all at once.
I was trawling around the internet in 2000 and stumbled across an odd website called Furry Pleasures. Seeing a blurry jpg of two wolves kissing in the banner, it was like a switch got flipped.
For whatever reason I do remember my first fictional crush was Lord Kass from Neopets, even though I didn’t actually play Neopets or really know anything about it that didn’t involve him >.>
— Thorn the Virus (@CyberContagion) August 1, 2018Sonic was my first furry crush but Sally Acorn was the first time I felt feelings for girls. pic.twitter.com/m5sP7l11C8
— Mama's Moving MANIA (@WolfDrawingDesk) August 1, 2018Anon:
I dont think it’s the same “awakening” others have. Though at the same time I hope it goes on to help someone.
I was abused. When you live in a very religious family, sometimes they mean well but you become subject to abuses to try and force you to become what you are not. I went to a “pray the gay away” camp and had to endure many sufferings. I wasn’t allowed to be myself. I wasn’t allowed to be a lesbian. I wasn’t allowed to like certain types of toys as a child. I wasn’t allowed many things, including my own freedom. When I was 18 I moved away from my family. I was living in a town all alone, and didn’t have any friends close by. My girlfriend at the time knew I loved gargoyles and anime. I had been fascinated by Bronx the most and had really started to get into animal based characters and art. She mentioned that near me in my new town there was a meet up for people that liked these kind of things, she called them furries. I went to my first meet and not only found animal based awesome, but the freedom to be myself in all respects. That’s when I knew I was a furry.
I found the fandom while stuck in a mental hospital back in high school (2006) and after a few years of soul searching found my fursona in 2012. It’s quite a bizarre adventure, but it’s changed me as a human being a considerable amount.
Forbidden curiosity
Was 1994. I saw The Lion King and knew teenage boys weren’t supposed to obsess about Disney lions. So after exhausting everything on AOL, I landed in Usenet, http://alt.fan .lion-king. That lead to http://alt.fan .furry and FurryMUCK and awesomeness.
I accidentally found Lucario Yiff when I was 13, and was “traumatized”. I then remembered it 5 years later, tried to do some “research” and I’ve been a furry since. Started writing shortly after that.
THOSE eyes
— Dogpatch Press (@DogpatchPress) August 1, 2018For me it was going online at 16 and seeing a picture of star wolf smiling with CFM eyes at a cafe. I don’t remember who did it, I just remember it was on deviant art lmao. I kept going back to look at it and thinking “he’s cute but I don’t think he’d actually wanna date me”
FURRIES HAVE COOTIES!
Someone in high school I knew started complaining about furries and told me to look it up when I asked. His big mistake!
I actually heard a friend of mine talking about how much he hated “fucking furfags” back in 2012 and I decided to look them up and form my own opinion about them rather than take his word for it. I liked what i saw and I signed up on FurNation just a few days later!
2004, freshman in college. My artist friend was talking shit about how much she hates furries. I was like “what’s a furry” and she was like “it’s gross people who like to pretend they’re animals” and I was like “OWO WHAT’S THIS” and immediately went to my dorm room and found YERF
i used to be that kid on ifunny who would go on furry profiles and say shit like “kys drink bleach!!1!!” but i realized i enjoyed the art deep down then march 2016 my close friend who’s a furry showed me her art & brought me into it lmao
A community or even a family
Mine was more of a slow-roll. Crushes on cartoon mice in the 80's. TMNT RPGs and Usagi Yojimbo in the 90's.
Once I discovered the "Anthropomorphic" comic section, I was hooked. By the time we got the internet around '93-94 I was actively searching for others like me.
I read a shit ton of furry webcomics and ended up making friends with a lot of furries on kik. I still claimed I wasn’t a furry. They rightly found that hilarious. Finally I accepted that I “probably” was one and they immediately helped me come up with a fursona 
Played Okami, loved the art style, went on DeviantArt to find fanart to use as a desktop wallpaper, discovered sparkledogs XD. Later found out my good friend was a furry and hid it from me. I insisted to go to a con w/him. Thus I am now anthro but still a little sparkly.
To finish the story off, I basically was swept up at some point by the brony community and around the time I learned what a furry is, so that pretty much wraps that up.
— Pheonix (@PheonixFyr) August 1, 2018Road Rovers was my favorite show as a little kid. It only aired one season but I never forgot it. Years later I Googled it for nostalgia's sake and discovered a whole community of fans of animal people. pic.twitter.com/yZRptDW0zq
— Kasyl (@kasylwolf) August 1, 2018It was my whole life through middle and high school I had a hard time fitting in and making friends so I found comfort in the fandom and my small moonbloods family i hope wherever rain and dusty are they’re doing well I’ll always love them. This is shiver today Thanks for reading pic.twitter.com/pnJiqydyTP
— Nash bean (@NashSuxx) August 1, 2018
A fascinating hobby
I blame video games. I was a fan of Pokémon so I started reading Pokémon webcomics. I discovered Kemonomimi art from Touhou so I tried searching for Kemonomimi webcomics. Search results showed really good furry art that gave me a newfound appreciation for the community.
These are some of the video games I played growing up that made me what I am, yes. A furry.
One of the first game I ever played was Pokemon Blue. I’ve always had a fascination with pokemon ever since, but Blue, Phew. On my very first playthrough, I had an entire female team. Female Charizard, Totodile, Drowzee, Venusaur, and Ratata. Now, I’m not saying the influence of my team in this game got me addicted to anthropomorphic animals, no. That comes later.
The next game that pulled me a little further was Hey You, Pikachu on the N64. Being able to talk to my favorite pokemon was the best thing to ever exist in my childhood.
Next up, Star Fox Adventures and Assault, Gamecube. Wow. Anthro Fox, Wolf, Hawk (I believe, Falco Lombardi), and Hare. Being able to play as an Anthro animal kicking a** in a virtual galaxy was another thing that brought me one step closer. Next on my list is Digimon Rumble Arena 2. That game is the first game where I encountered Renamon. Another star in the Fandom’s roster.
My next games bring up the handheld generation. First up: Pokemon Mystery Dungeon for the DS. Being able to play as a pokemon and help other pokemon? Sign me up! Dream world, helping Pokemon out of tough situations!
Next up, Pokemon Ranger Shadows of Almia. Most of the Pokemon games are having to capture the creatures and fight them against others, but in Pokemon Ranger, you do capture pokemon, but you and the pokemon work together to help people in trouble, much like Mystery Dungeon. Most of the Pokemon series brought me up, and helped me find my place with a lot of fandoms. Anime, Pokemon, Video games, and yes, Furries.
Next up, Dust: An Elysian Tail. I first found this gem on the Xbox 360 Marketplace back in 2013. It’s a side scrolling platformer with Anthropomorphic creatures. That game really brought my feelings for the fandom and it’s associated creatures way up the scale. Ever since that game, I’ve been a furry.
I have been playing games with Anthropomorphic animals since, and it continues to strike my heart as why I joined: the love of Anthro creatures.
So I just
And this pic.twitter.com/xGgYTUhR02
Furpoc 
(@WarszawaScream) August 1, 2018
Like the article? It takes a lot of effort to share these. Please consider supporting Dogpatch Press on Patreon. You can access exclusive stuff for just $1, or get Con*Tact Caffeine Soap as a reward. They’re a popular furry business seen in dealer dens. Be an extra-perky patron – or just order direct from Con*Tact.
Little Dino Lost
The June/July issue of Animation Magazine features a huge list of upcoming animated films in production all over the world. Including one from Poland: “Human Ark, one of Poland’s leading animation studios, has launched a new animation test for its new animated feature comedy Diplodocus. The movie is a family comedy inspired by classic 1980s comic books by the cult Polish author Tadeusz Baranowski, which have sold over 2.5 million copies. It tells the epic adventure of a little dinosaur, who has to find his missing parents and discovers that he actually lives inside of a comic book. The project is the second feature-length animated film by Wojtek Wawszczyk (George the Hedgehog), who also wrote the script in collaboration with Mark Palmer (The Penguins of Madagascar, Monsters vs. Aliens, and Kim Possible). Set for completion in 2020, the movie is the biggest 3D CGI production for children ever produced in Poland.” The article in Animation features several illustrations from the film, and Human Ark has also produced a promo clip on Vimeo.
image c. 2018 Human Ark
Godzilla: King of the Monsters
I should assume everybody has seen this, but in case somebody has been under a rock I give you some Kaiju action.
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FA 105 Choosing Your Values - Choosing your values; what are values, where do they come from, and how do we choose the values that will support what we most want to experience in life?
Introduction topic
Rebooting the show
Update on what’s been happening during the hiatus
Explaining the new format
Topic
What Are Values?
“a person's principles or standards of behavior; one's judgment of what is important in life” - Google Dictionary
We use our values to make judgements, particularly judgements of good and bad or right and wrong
Chase’s perspective on values
Personal constitution or bill of rights
Values (In Combination with Morals and Ethics) form a personal doctrine by which to live
Affects all decisions in Life
Much like Laws, can be changed but it is a difficult process
Where Do Our Values Come From?
Parents
Peers
Friends
Relationship partners
Society
Society at large
Subcultures we participate in
Types of Values
Fear-based values
Values based on fear are those that cause you to take action in order to avoid something
Think “have to”
Common fear-based values
Safety / Security
Absence of pain
Avoidance of conflict/confrontation
Physical appearance
Power/Control
Privacy
Religousity (fear of hell)
Recognition / Respect
Knowledge (based in fear of the unknown)
Consciousness-based values
What do we mean by consciousness?
Consciousness is your awareness of who you *really* are, as opposed to the “you” that you believe yourself to be, or the you that you were taught you were supposed to be
Consciousness-based values are those that cause you to take action to bring something desirable into your world
Think “want to”
Common consciousness-based values:
Pleasure/sensuality (as opposed to absence of pain)
Freedom (as opposed to security)
“Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.” - Ben Franklin
Achievement
Vs recognition (internal to self)
Leadership
Vs. control/management
(lead self before leading others)
Adventure/novelty
Autonomy
Spirituality (vs. religiousity, internal/external)
Chase Wolf: Notes on his experiences growing up in a religious household and finding spirituality outside of that setting.
Personal growth
Intimacy (vs privacy)
Community
A metavalue; valuing others who share your values
Important to know what your values are and what those of your community are to know whether it’s a good fit
If a conflict in values are present:
Accept paying the “price of admission” to be part of the community and tolerate the difference
Examine your values, and decide whether yours should change
Choose not to be a part of the community, and find a community that is a better fit for you
Chase Wolf: Notes on changes in the Gamer Community values and the impacts thereof.
Self-expression
Fulfillment
Truth
Justice
Knowledge (based in curiosity, as opposed to fear of the unknown)
Chase Wolf: Notes on his curiosity in understanding the ABDL/Baby-Fur community allowing a shift in opinion
Having fear-based values is not necessarily a bad thing, but as a general rule, happier people tend to hold more consciousness-based values than fear-based values
Chase Wolf: Often, fear-based values are those instilled in us by friends, family, and society.
Choosing Your Values
Think of each new moment as a fresh opportunity to decide who you want to be; the greatest freedom is the freedom of choice
“It is better to follow the voice inside and be at war with the whole world, than to follow the ways of the world and be at war with your deepest self” - Counselor and educator Michael Pastore
What are your values?
What situations or conflicts make you highly emotional, either positively or negatively?
Think about what value was respected in the situations that made you feel positively
Think about what value was not respected in the situations that made you feel negatively
Empowering questions to ask yourself:
What am I unwilling to tolerate?
What am I unwilling to give up?
What recharges my batteries?
What really makes me feel excited?
What experiences or activities have the most meaning for me?
Why do I “need” the things I tell myself I need?
When do I compromise my values? Why?
What keeps me going when times get tough?
Where is there a gap between who I am and who I really know myself to be?
Why choose new values?
When different values conflict with one another
Reconciling values with a relationship partner or a community
When acting according to a certain value just doesn’t feel right
When you realize a value is coming from outside, and isn’t something you really care about
When a particular value is constantly transgressed, to the point that it is draining your energy and emotional bandwidth
When failing to live up to a value is causing you great deals of shame, guilt, anger, anxiety, or fear
How Chase changed his values to serve him better
How changes in Chase’s values allowed him to overcome issues in his life
Values Assessment Tool
https://www.dropbox.com/s/qg8hegtswsullwk/Values%20Assessment.doc?dl=0
Feedback
None for this week
Question(s)
Subject: Mates now metamours
My two mates recently broke up with each other leaving me in the middle. One mate is desperately clinging to me and the other is constantly offering advice on how to keep my other relationship healthy. How do I just let things happen without the other thinking they had a hand in it?
Received via contact form (anonymous)
Closer
Contact info
Contact Viro:
t.me/viroscicollie
twitter.com/viroscicollie
Contact Chase:
twitter.com/Chase_WolfBTG
wolf4life.bandcamp.com
Feral Attraction Twitter:
twitter.com/feralattractfm
Feral Attraction Facebook:
facebook.com/feralattractfm
Feral Attraction Contact Page:
feralattraction.com/contact
Coaching Services now available!
As our audience has grown, many of our listeners and advice column readers have asked to speak with Viro or Metriko in a one-on-one setting so as to get help with resolving relationship issues or overcoming stumbling blocks that can trip us up on life's journey. Until now, it was not possible to offer such one-on-one attention, simply because of time constraints. Fortunately, Viro is now offering this kind of individualized attention as a service!
For more information, visit feralattraction.com/coaching.
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Patreon
Joel Kreissman is a published author of anthropomorphic science-fiction in his Para-Imperium universe. His first novel, The Pride of Parahumans, was published with Thurston Howl publications in 2017 and he has more free stories on his blog at https://paraimperium.wordpress.com/
FA 105 Choosing Your Values - Choosing your values; what are values, where do they come from, and how do we choose the values that will support what we most want to experience in life?Achoo
Nothing worse than being a dragon and having to deal with having a cold and jerks. "In ancient China, a little dragon who can't breathe fire will fight to overcome his weakness in order to take part in the New Year’s celebration."
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These Rabbits are Dynamite!
Here’s another project we found out about through Animation World Network: “Fox Family is prepping children’s book The Royal Rabbits of London as a hybrid CG-animation/live-action feature film, Variety reports. Screenwriter Will Davies, whose credits include Flushed Away, Puss and Boots, How to Train Your Dragon, and the forthcoming Abominable, has been hired to write the script. The Royal Rabbits of London is based on the 2016 children’s book written by husband-and-wife team Santa Montefiore and Simon Sebag Montefiore… There’s no word yet on where the animation will be produced. The story introduces the Royal Rabbits of London, who have secretly protected England’s Royal Family for centuries. When a small country rabbit uncovers an devious plot against the royals, he travels to London to warn the protective order.” Not to leave it out: The book was illustrated by Kate Hindley and it’s available at Barnes & Noble.
image c. 2018 Aladdin Publishers
Longtails: The Storms of Spring, by Jaysen Headley
Ok, hear me out. Imagine Redwall mixed with Game of Thrones mixed with a healthy dose of Phil Geusz' post-apocalyptic science fiction. That's what you're getting with Jaysen Headley's newest book, Longtails: The Storms of Spring.In a mildly futuristic Earth, society is comprised of anthropomorphic animals who use swords and magic alongside super-advanced technology. Of course, "science fantasy" is an emerging genre still, and it's great to see this in a furry book. We follow the main mousetagonist Del Hatherhorne who is claimed to be a nobody much like Harry Potter who naturally finds himself to be born with certain special talents, namely the ability to use multiple elements of magic.Part of the more metaphorical magic of this book is the amount of worldbuilding the author put into this work. It is such a rich and advanced world with history, lore, literature, and politics. It is such a unique world.However, I'd hesitate to give the book a full five stars. The tone is at such odds with itself, mostly being a very young adult style—similar to Harry Potter (the early books) or the Redwall series—but then having bloody scenes that are sharp, shocking, visceral, and grotesque. It reminds me of Kurtis Jobling's young adult animal fantasy series because of that contrast in audience.At times, the dialogue comes off as incredibly choppy and unrealistic. We have this amazing world to explore, but it's hard to want to explore it with fairly simple characters who are generally hard to bond with. When it comes to plot, the narrative is fairly straightforward as a young adult fantasy.However, if you are an avid devourer of fantasy literature, then please check this out. The worldbuilding is delightful. Its pacing may seem pedantic at points, especially the beginning, but it does get better. And you will find yourself asking where you would fit in this society if given the choice.I also want to commend the book as a product itself. The cover is stunning considering this isn't done by one of the "major houses," and the interior layout is likewise impressive.Would I join the Longtails? Hells yeah. A Cat For Our Times
So Animation Magazine lead us to discover Krocchi the Street Cat, a new animated character brought to us by Nurue in Japan. Here’s what they say: “Krocchi is a tough cat who’s seen a lot, a new type of hero for children who teaches them to have a strong heart that never gives up, no matter how bad things get. Through this series children will learn creativity, and how to invent games with natural materials like grass and plants. And by dancing with Krocchi, they can have fun exercising too.” Besides the animated series for preschoolers, Nurue has also created a line of Krocchi artwork and plush toys. Currently they’re seeking international distribution, and they’ve had some success in Asia.
image c. 2018 Nurue, Inc.
Night Crew
We just don't get enough young rat representation, thankfully Nicktoons can provide us that here.
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TigerTails Radio Season 11 Episode 14
A look at furry business with a $17,017 record fursuit auction price, July 2018
(There are many reasons to give this thoughtful discussion and avoid knee-jerk reaction about cost – it will happen, but please read on! – Patch)
MixedCandy gets fandom’s current highest auction price at The Dealer’s Den.
Congrats to MixedCandy for their successful auction. One of the fandom’s highest-powered creative stars has also raised attention for The Dealer’s Den, an online marketplace for this special niche.
This new record price was set 6 months after the previous one: $13,500 for a commission slot by Made Fur You, sold on The Dealer’s Den with 82 bids on 1/29/18. It was preceded by a record that stood for 3 years: $11,575 for Sniper Angeldragon by PhoenixWolf, sold on Furbuy with 187 bids on 2/14/15.
A few years ago, The Dealer’s Den looked like more or less a ghost town when I looked at its activity. Change of ownership to Vitai Slade brought healthy growth. It now roughly compares to the much longer established Furbuy, offering more options to the fandom. Both are free to use. At time of posting, both have around 350-500 active auctions and 1800 Twitter followers. The Dealer’s Den also has a Telegram group of 3,000 users advertising their goods, while Furbuy is doing in-person promotion with con panels and flyering. I’ve personally had good experiences with both.
A look at this auction and why it matters.
MixedCandy’s sale happened in 3 days time, shortly after the onslaught of mainstream media attention Anthrocon brings every year. I wouldn’t call that coincidental – timing an auction that way may be a great strategy! The bidding was most intense among 4 bidders who went way above usual market prices. I’d say $5000-6000 is still in a reasonable range of about double the usual cost of a full fursuit (it depends on features). Over that limit is where it really became a war.
I’m not surprised to see that happen with a character like Manuel Dog. I think he’s super handsome, with personality between fierce and cute. He seems made to make you run away in fear, but run up for a cuddle at the same time. He’s full of oodles of delicious fursuit crush power. I can’t wait to see him in action.
I will never get tired of adorable "were"wolves trying to look all scary but the only thing they succeed in is being cutie patooties :3
Werepups - @LibreWulf and @Dart_fur pic.twitter.com/RLlWwcwkjY
When there’s mainstream talk about movie box-office records, or Zootopia being a billion dollar blockbuster – the fandom equivalent is convention attendance or a fursuit price record. It may be just symbolic, but you can call this a marker for “furry industry”, fandom growth, and how its artists are valued.
If you liked Zootopia‘s success, this is the fandom’s. Fursuits (and massive gatherings of them) are where the subculture flexes creative muscle and visual showstopping power. A con’s group photo can be considered a money shot of the show. There’s a lot more going on with this subculture, and an outsider may only see the surface of it – but a picture is worth 1000 words. That’s part of Manuel’s appeal and price.
Paying that much for a suit is very subjective personal worth. Other hobbies can get way more expensive (like a flashy car nobody needs). This is skilled work, and a serious gallery piece by a painter, sculptor, or other professional can cost more. “You could have gotten something else” isn’t relevant to a unique piece (for pure cheapness, try Walmart.) But such sales aren’t an investment with “high culture” recognition. It’s also for using and participating for the love of it.
Perhaps fandom is catching a generational groove like in the 1980’s and 90’s, when comics crossed a line from disposable trash to massive collectibles. Superman #1 selling for a million didn’t mean you couldn’t enjoy comics. It did say a lot about adult geeks rediscovering nostalgia for things they loved but weren’t super free to enjoy as kids. Manuel is like a huggable toy and an adult inside too. Of course, you can’t print millions of Manuels; there’s just one of each.
A fursuit business isn’t a path to riches.
Does a high price mean success by itself?
From tips I’ve gotten, I’m not sure MixedCandy has had a smooth ride behind their high-demand customer queue. If that’s true, maybe this auction will help them breathe a little with relief. Cute art is Grown Up Business now, and sometimes that means Grown Up Problems.
My recent article: ArtworkTee issues and the heart of the furry economy looked at problems of indie business. For what seems like brilliant successes on the surface, there can be killer pressure from liabilities and debts or business backups. Look at Hollywood celebs or music stars saddled with massive tax debts, unpaid by bad contracts, or cheated by managers. I had a friend who took incoming calls for the IRS who helped counsel people on how to ease their burdens, who occasionally dealt with names you may know. One was a famous pop music singer whose finances were in shreds behind a long and lauded career. Creative business has had such issues forever.
Tips I was sent about MixedCandy came from an average fan looking into their business, who asked me to take it further. According to them in March 2018, they saw a Trello queue with a long backlog for commissions. It had to involve a lot of deposits. Turnaround time and outlook on catchup was questioned. But when I revisited the tip in July, they saw progress and counted the auction win as helpful for an upward trajectory. They commented that it could even inspire people with backlogs to overcome them, and wanted it to spread a hopeful message.
To research, I asked MixedCandy for their side, but didn’t get responses to share. Of course a potential customer of any business should do their own research.
MixedCandy clearly love what they do. No fursuit maker would be alone in having business issues. As long as fans want what they create, those issues will be balanced by fandom love over money. Rising from a hobby for the love of it to a reliable living and business is a real achievement.
Higher prices help risky business, and you don’t need “Name Brands” when a smaller maker is a great option.
I’ve casually tracked fursuit makers for years. They have a lot of turnover and full time ones work their tails off. Do you want them to stick around?
Furries put out so much trust to pay thousands, do the DTD thing, and wait years for a suit. On the other side, high labor goes in while some customers expect hobby prices for professional goods. It seems like a pincher.
Scaleup can hurt when a business takes on too many commitments, without charging enough to meet them. Another common problem is unforseen bills or runaway debt, like medical expense that can kneecap a business. A theft or illegitimate refund claim can compound problems. Burnout happens. At the small business level we’re discussing, going to court is unlikely. It just ends up being a mess for everyone. I think this is built in risk with fursuit making.
People who go to art school or come up the independent way may not be taught to plan for this like in business school. They just figure it out. It takes foresight to navigate the obstacles, and many don’t. This is why rising fursuit prices help.
There’s also no need to wait for years for a highly demanded maker… or complain about one auction beyond your budget. With new up-and-coming makers emerging all the time, don’t overlook a close relationship with a small, personal one hungry to get started. They’ll be grateful for support, and you may get a crazy deal with all the personal attention you could want. If you do, Tip Your Makers.
Like the article? It takes a lot of effort to share these. Please consider supporting Dogpatch Press on Patreon. You can access exclusive stuff for just $1, or get Con*Tact Caffeine Soap as a reward. They’re a popular furry business seen in dealer dens. Be an extra-perky patron – or just order direct from Con*Tact.
Art for the Endangered
Here’s what we learned at Comic Con: “Expedition Art is a team of artists who have joined together to raise awareness for wildlife and nature conservation initiatives through art.” To that end they have created the book In Danger, a collection of art designed to raise awareness (and funds!) for endangered species the world over. And what a collection! Black & white and color works from no less than 51 artists, including among them: Aaron Blaise, Bobby Chiu, Iain McCaig, Joe Weatherly, Terryl Whitlatch, and many many more. Visit their web site to find out how to order your own copy.
image c. 2018 Expedition Art
FC-302 Sky Daddy - To kick off, Alkali, Xander and Maci from The Dragget Show join us for silly shenanigans, followed by news, followed by a live DOS video game review. Gaia is a returning guest this week along with a first time guest, s0ph0s.
To kick off, Alkali, Xander and Maci from The Dragget Show join us for silly shenanigans, followed by news, followed by a live DOS video game review. Gaia is a returning guest this week along with a first time guest, s0ph0s.
Watch Video Improv Collab:Alkali, Xander and Maci from The Dragget Show join us for con stories, discussion of their latest Fox and Pepper Kickstarter livestream, along with crazy plans that are definitely getting us all banned from the next MFF.
Link Roundup:- Ash Coyote “Social anxiety and how fursuiting helped me conquer it”
- BBC Radio 1’s “Meet The Furries”
- Werewolf V Designs – Paradox’s Shirt
- Lion commercial
- Howlr App iOS version released
- Sparky gets to meet Rhett and Link
- Centaur-like robot designed for disaster response
- The Black Sarcophagus
- Oh Dear, There’s A Petition To Drink The Liquid From That Black Sarcophagus
- Some Rivers Are So Drug-Polluted, Their Eels Get High on Cocaine
- “I Saw Kink In God”: Dominatrixes And Their Orthodox Jewish Clients
[Live] Sky Daddy
To kick off, Alkali, Xander and Maci from The Dragget Show join us for silly shenanigans, followed by news, followed by a live DOS video game review. Gaia is a returning guest this week along with a first time guest, s0ph0s.
Improv Collab:Alkali, Xander and Maci from The Dragget Show join us for con stories, discussion of their latest Fox and Pepper Kickstarter livestream, along with crazy plans that are definitely getting us all banned from the next MFF.
Link Roundup:- Ash Coyote “Social anxiety and how fursuiting helped me conquer it”
- BBC Radio 1’s “Meet The Furries”
- Werewolf V Designs – Paradox’s Shirt
- Lion commercial
- Howlr App iOS version released
- Sparky gets to meet Rhett and Link
- Centaur-like robot designed for disaster response
- The Black Sarcophagus
- Oh Dear, There’s A Petition To Drink The Liquid From That Black Sarcophagus
- Some Rivers Are So Drug-Polluted, Their Eels Get High on Cocaine
- “I Saw Kink In God”: Dominatrixes And Their Orthodox Jewish Clients
Should He Stay in Romantic Relationship with a Woman If Sex Is Not Happening?
Let me start off by saying this weighs heavily on me, and has for a time.
When I was 17 I came out as gay, and through the next couple of years after growing up with my sexuality I started leaning more towards bi, with a strong preference for men.
In 2012 I met my current girlfriend, we met on pounced and had the best conversations. We were, and still are, best friends. But the problem is me still struggling with my sexuality. I guess the way to explain it is I have a strong sexual/romantic attraction to men, while its mostly a romantic attraction to women.
So now my sex life has dwindled to nothing, and I find myself resenting even getting into this relationship in the first place. Which is completely unfair to my mate, but I stay with her either out of being scared of being alone or for the fact I cling to some small hope I can fix it/change myself.
It's worth putting in that we have an open relationship, but when I brought up that I would like to start seeing guys she shot the idea down saying that it was selfish of me to want to date men while our sex life together is near dead. And I completely agree with her that it was selfish for me to consider it. But I might need the help of a little blue pill with her, or even men for that matter, due to my problems.
I'm sorry for spilling that on you and I'm not even sure how to formulate a question out of this, except what do you think I should do? She is a dear and beloved friend, but the problem is that she feels more like a friend than a mate. And that's my fault, since the sex died with my arrousal issues, I put her in the friend category
Kreed (age 29)
* * *
Dear Kreed,
News flash: if she is telling you that you can't see people then you are not in an open relationship. Not sure what her definition of "open relationship" is, but that ain't it. Therefore, you are in a monogamous relationship with a woman and you are not sexually attracted to women, only romantically so. The second thing you have incorrect is that you need "fixing." There is nothing wrong with you and you don't need to fix anything. You are sexually attracted to men and that is how you are. VERY unlikely that will change at the age of 29 and beyond. Finally, you are guilting yourself into staying in this relationship because you don't want to hurt her feelings. Wrong again. You are doing your friend a disservice by giving her false hope that you can force yourself to have sex with her, perhaps even resorting to pills. At the same time, this is causing resentment to build inside you. The longer you keep it inside, the more likely it is that it will explode in a hurtful way to both of you. Not healthy.
It is NOT your fault that you don't want sex with her. What IS your fault is that you are continuing to lead her on in a relationship that is almost certainly going to end in disappointment for you both.
This is a wake-up call for you, Kreed. Take out the garbage that is this guilt of yours and show her that you respect her and care enough about her enough to tell her the truth that a romantic relationship that includes sex is off the table. What you need to do is recognize that this can be a wonderful friendship, but that it ends there. This is not a bad thing. Great friendships are to be cherished, but the longer you string her along, the more resentment will build, and the more likely it is you won't even be friends anymore, and you don't want to lose that, do you?
Tell her the truth of how you feel and do whatever you can to preserve your friendship. Now would be a good time.
Hugs,
Papabear
Big Dino, Little Dinos
Here’s a new TV series we found out about through Animation magazine: Gigantosaurus, produced by Cyber Group Studios. “Growing up in the Cretaceous is no mean feat for kids! New volcanoes popping up all the time, long-necked brachiosauruses, meteor showers, enormous triceratopses and… the big bad Gigantosaurus, as the kids would say. Gigantosaurus isn’t actually very well-known but the mere mention of his name is enough to conjure up a range of (conflicting) emotions in our four young (dinosaur) friends: Fear (Bill), fascination (Rocky), laughter (Tiny), and scientific interest (Mazu). In short, Gigantosaurus represents four different ways of finding out more about the world when you’re between 4 and 6 years old.” According to their web site it’s all “based on a book written by the multi-awarded children novelist Jonny Duddle”. Gigantosaurus has already been sold to Disney Junior for worldwide distribution, and it’s in production now. And as you can see from their site, Cyber Group Studios have several other shows of furry fan interest in production as well.
image c. 2018 Cyber Group Studios
Public Suiting at Santa Cruz
Life is Hard and Then You Die
Thanks to a friend we came across The Gnoll Credo, a novel by J. Stanton. Here’s what the author has to say about it: “There are no such things as gnolls, they never kill and eat people, and they can’t read or write — much less write something so stark, so raw, so beautifully bleak. Right? Because if there were, someone might have risked a violent and painful death to find them, study them, and bring back this book. Then you might read it.” So here is a story about someone from the outside world visiting these famously ruthless giant hyena-like warriors… and learning more about them they either side ever thought possible. You can find the book in paperback over at Barnes & Noble.
image c. 2018 Forgotten Realms