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Your con-trotting ed-otter did not get a chance to attend the Disney Comics panel at San Diego Comic Con, but he found out some interesting news from people who did. Drew Taylor of Oh My Disney writes, “Yesterday at San Diego Comic Con, there was a fascinating panel centering on The Dynamic World of Disney Comics. The panel was moderated by Gianfranco Cordara, Publisher for Global Magazines and Comics for Disney Publishing Worldwide and included Daron Nefcy, creator of Star vs. the Forces of Evil, Mike Siglain, creative director, Lucasfilm at Disney Publishing, and Roberto Santillo, Director, Art Development and Academia Disney. Attendees got an inside look at how fan-favorite stories, characters, and films are adapted for modern comic book audiences.” So what’s the big deal? Simply put: It appears that Disney plans on putting out a new comic book series based on Zootopia, which will continue the story from the end of the film as well as introducing new characters and new environments.  When, you ask?? No precise date was given but it was hinted it could be as early as next year. Follow the link over to Oh My Disney to check out the complete article.  We promise: You’ll learn more when we do!

image c. 2016 Walt Disney Animation

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Hello Papa.

I don't know what to say or think any longer... Not long ago, I accepted atheism as my worldview even though I desperately want to believe in more spiritualistic worldviews. The main problem is that atheists claim that their beliefs are rational and all other beliefs are not; it sounds right, but I don't agree with their militant behaviour and disrespect.

I'm so confused and don't know what to do, it's a huge dilemma :'(

Please help!!

Aurel (age 15)

* * *

Dear Aurel,
 
Religion, God, Life, Death have all been very much on my mind lately, so your letter is timely. I thoroughly enjoy discussing philosophy and spirituality with my readers. I will write more soon, but if you don't mind I want to send you a link to a PDF that you might find fascinating (a little academic, hope you don't mind): http://www.cogsci.uci.edu/~ddhoff/ConsciousRealism2.pdf
 
I'm not sure which atheists you are talking to. My sister is an atheist, and she's a very kind and wonderful person. Not in your face at all. That said, I do believe in more than just the physical world. 
 
How about you ask me a few specific questions about spirituality or other "Big Questions" and I will write you back? Now, these answers are based on my personal beliefs, so take them with a grain of salt (they are worth the price you pay for them). I will tell you that I am not a Christian, Muslim, or Jew. I am also not an atheist, Satanist, or Wiccan (although I respect Wiccans). 
 
Cheers,
Papabear

* * *

Thank you for your time but I'm not in the mood for ... anything, let alone philosophy, religion and spirituality. It's just.... I don't know, the whole atheist worldview isn't what I'm comfortable with in the slightest. I know that you once said that we have to stick with a view that we are comfortable with, and that's spirituality, but I'm always afraid that they might be right. Maybe the physical world is the only world? Maybe there is nothing after death? I don't agree with any of that since I do believe that there's something out there and that the universe simply cannot be a product of randomness and chance.
Sorry, I didn't mean ALL atheists, just the militant, in your face ones like professor Richard Dawkins. You know, the ones that don't respect other religious beliefs and that think religious and spiritual people, people different than themselves, are deluded and in a way crazy. I want to be kind and respect people different than myself and I don't think that spirituality and religion is just stupidity and delusion.

I'm not in the mood for anything because I don't think that the physical world is the only world but if I do think otherwise, I'm not rational and intelligent (judging by what many anti-theists say). And then there's death. Many atheists say that their decision to become atheist was the best thing that happened to them but I don't think that's true. They say that they appreciate and enjoy their lives more due to the fact that this is the only life they have. They say that they are generally more joy-filled and happier than when they were religious/spiritual. I don't agree, since the only emotions I could experience since I "decided" (unwillingly) to "become atheist" are sadness, fear and anger. I don't find my hobbies more enjoyable, my sex drive is almost gone, I don't have anything to wake up for and I have trouble getting asleep (I cried myself to sleep this night and had woken up two times unable to sleep). Without spirituality, everything loses its soul. Love doesn't make sense anymore if it's just a chemical reaction, and that sex is just a drive to reproduce. Nature isn't beautiful like it used to be, I don't feel like exercising, I don't find art interesting... Ironically, Dawkins (recently I watched a lot of his documentaries) said that this is more beautiful and interesting than "poverty-stricken religious views.”

I don't want to believe that we are just biological computers, I don't want to believe that there's no purpose to life. I refuse to believe that religious people are stupid and that religion and spirituality should just die.

I refuse to believe that this is "reality." I really, really don't.

I used to be optimistic... Now I just don't know. I would love to be spiritual again, to not worry about death every other minute...

I don't know anymore. If this is supposed to be rationality and reality, then I'll gladly chose ignorance.

I'm going on vacation tomorrow morning and I will possibly be home from said vacation in 10-11 days. Here are some specific things I wish to know, from your perspective.

1) God
2) Heaven/Hell
3) Life after death?
4) Did you follow more than two religions in your lifetime?
5) Were you indoctrinated and or baptized into Christianity?

Feel free to write back while I'm on vacation, thank you for reading my letter. You're a great guy!
 
* * *

Dear Aurel,

If you’ve read my column, you probably have seen me write that I feel that anyone espousing a religion and asserting that they “know” their religion is right and is the only correct way to believe is either lying or deluding themselves.

But the same goes for atheists. To say, “We know for a fact that there is nothing beyond what the scientific world can explain and that all we are is biological beings and death is the final word” is also an exercise in hubris.
NOBODY knows what life, death, the universe, God/Not God are. NOBODY knows their true nature. In that spirit (pun intended) I will tell you here and now that Papabear doesn’t know, either. I have my theories, my conclusions, my beliefs that I have come to after 50 years of thinking about such things (even as a little child my thoughts were on this matter), but all of them could be wrong or just partially right, or right but only in a limited way.
To answer your questions, I’ll start with the less philosophical ones and work my way up.

• Was I indoctrinated and/or baptized into Christianity? I have never been baptized, which is a little ironic because I was raised Southern Baptist. This is to say, my father took the family to Southern Baptist churches, but he never forced me to be sprinkled with water or dunked; he married an agnostic, and this tempered my gullibility quite a bit. I will always remember my mother losing it one Sunday when the minister declared that “Jesus wants the church to have a new red rug.” That was the beginning of my understanding of what a tax-free racket religion is in this country.
• Have I followed more than one religions in my lifetime? Well, I was raised Christian, as I said, but quickly became agnostic, after my mother. Even so, I craved a spiritual grounding of some sort. I briefly turned back to Christianity in my college days (I went to a college associated with the Methodist church and we had a very kind and loving minister named Jon Powers who restored my faith in Christians quite a bit, and then when I had my first real job in Detroit I met a couple other very good Christians). I’ve read my Bible (I own three, actually), but over time began to see how much in the Bible is contradictory or just plain incorrect, which made me doubt that it could genuinely be the work of an infallible God. I started looking around at other faiths (my best friend is Jewish, and the Jews I’ve met are wonderful people; but it’s always seemed a rather exclusive club to me); I find some very good things in the Qu’ran (I own a copy), especially how Islam keeps things very simple compared to the ridiculously complicated beliefs and rites of the Catholic Church, for example. However, as with the Bible, the God of Islam is too violent for my tastes. I believe that if there is a God, then God would be superior in every way to Man, which means he would not have the failings of Man, such as hate and a desire for vengeance or to punish people. I mean, if little ol’ me can have a heart and forgiveness and love, then wouldn’t a Superior Being be a billion times more compassionate and loving than I?

So, I started exploring other beliefs. Some, such as Hinduism and Zoroastrianism, seem too tied up in mythologies. When I found out about Wicca, though, I found much to appeal to me. Wicca doesn’t judge people and believes in kindness to others and to Earth. This is all great stuff, and I did some reading about it and considered myself a Wiccan for a short time, but I just couldn’t get into the ideas they have about “magic.” I don’t think there is such a thing as magic, really (again, I could be wrong), but I do admire that Wiccans make very clear that black magic—magic to harm others—is forbidden and if you practice it you will be harmed seven times over.

Next, I got into Shamanism, especially that of the Native American people. Even consulted regularly with a friend in Oklahoma named Blackbear Bright (wonderful person). I love the interconnectedness to the natural world that Shamanism has (similar to Wicca, which is a form of shamanism, really), but I still felt it was not exactly for me. I haven’t abandoned it, but now I flavor it with my pursuit of Buddhism. Buddhism is not a religion, of course, but it is a philosophy that is very spiritual in nature. So I guess you could say I’m into Shamanism/Buddhism but I also add to this my interest in quantum physics, which has become like a third religion to me.

• Heaven/Hell: I can cover this briefly by saying that traditional views of Heaven and Hell are created by religions as models for a punishment/reward system to control their flocks. Be good and do what we say and you will go to Heaven. Be bad and God (who’s such a bitch on these matters) will make you burn in Hell forever and ever with no hope of every escaping. So, I call bullshit.
• Life/Death: As you may know, I lost my love, Jim (Yogi), last October very suddenly when a pulmonary embolism killed him. Now, the topic of life and death has always interested me, but now it is at the forefront of my thoughts. I have been terrified (like you) by the notion that when we die that is it. Everything that we were is lost (except for those who remember us, but it is really lost when they die, too), and our consciousness dissipates as well. Death, following this model, is an absolute and there is no hope of escaping it. Some people find this comforting, I’ve heard, but I find it horrifying. For one thing, it means that Jim is truly gone and I will never see him again even after I die. For another thing, it means that everything we do in life is, ultimately, completely without meaning. Oh, sure, you can have a bit of fun in the present (and, actually, if you believe death is the final word why not just go have an orgy and commit crimes and eat anything you want and don’t worry about it?) but, in the end, nothing at all matters.

I can’t accept that. I can’t accept that all we are is an organ in our skulls and that we are, in essence, just machines that happen to be self-aware. There is increasing evidence that death is not the end. Some call it a transition, some a rebirth into a real world.

Aurel, you know that little voice inside your head? That’s not Jiminy Cricket—that’s your connection to your spiritual conscience. Pay attention to it. It is saying that although you don’t believe Christianity is your path, neither do you feel that atheism is the right choice because you feel in your heart that there is something more. Instead of ignoring or pushing away that feeling, make yourself more open to it. Listen to it. It is, in my opinion, your connection to the Godself.

• God: My conclusion has been that God is not a separate Being. Rather, God is literally EVERYTHING. God is omnipresent and omniscient because the universe is the body of God, and everything it contains, including you and me, is a part of God. Furthermore, evolution is more than biological, it is also spiritual—an awakening. Each of us has a bit of the Godself within them, and this includes the ability to create, imagine, and dream, but only if one has been awakened, not if one is consumed by the idea that the visible world is “reality.”

I believe that we are like eggs within the Womb of God. As we experience this life, we grow spiritually until we “die,” which is actually the release from the Womb when we are born into ourselves. Like eggs in a woman’s body, however, some of us do not become fertilized, so to speak, and are reabsorbed into the womb. Those eggs do not mature to the point where they are born. Those that do, become like baby gods, able to create their own reality that is based upon what they experienced in this life. Those that learned to be loving will create new, loving universes, and those that did not will create universes that are less than happy. I have a suspicion that we are in one of those less-than-perfect universes, but we have the power within us to overcome this rather ugly world and generate something much more beautiful.

Aurel, the key to finding happiness and hope again is to trust in your feelings that there is more to us than mere matter and energy. You are turned off by religions, I understand that completely; and I feel that you are also right not to trust the atheists, so certain in their denial of the spiritual.

We are each a piece of the Creator, gifted with the power to create new realities if we allow ourselves to awaken from the Womb and become born as our true selves.

And those are my conclusions … for now. Whether or not you believe them is certainly up to you, but what is more important is for you not to give up. Do not give into the hopelessness of the atheists, and do not be fooled by the dogma of the religious. In other words, while it is okay to listen to what others have to say, don’t let them dictate your beliefs but discover for yourself your own reality.
​
Hugs,
Papabear

Back from San Diego Comic Con 2016, and hoo wee is there a lot to talk about! Jeff Egli describes himself as “… a professional comic artist, illustrator and friend to all frogs.” He describes what he does as “Creating fan art for all and leaving no Fandom unexplored!” To that end he created fan art pieces by the hundreds and puts them on buttons — and other collectible items, but mostly lots of buttons. Favorite fannish subjects are cartoons and comic books, which means yes: Lots and lots of furry characters make their way into his work. Look over at Jeff’s shop on his web site to see a selection of his work. Want to see more? Look for Jeff’s booth (Fandom Flare) at a comic book convention near you.

image c. 2016 by Jeff Egli

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Reminder: We're on Patreon! If you could kick us a buck or two, we'd greatly appreciate it. www.patreon.com/thedraggetshow This time we're joined with friend of the show, Pandez! We reminisce about 80's/90's cartoons and stuff. Plus, your questions and stuff. we also did a live Periscope of the show, if you'd like to check out that video. https://www.periscope.tv/xandertheblue/1MnGnyWNmMmKO Don't forget to hang out in our telegram chat, now w/ over 100 members! telegram.me/draggetshow ep. 126 - Nostalgia with Pandez! - Reminder: We're on Patreon! If you could kick us …

Here’s headlines, links and little stories to make your tail wag.  Tips: patch.ofurr@gmail.com.

There hasn’t been a Newsdump in a long time, so have three updates packed with two months of stuff: 

1. Furries in the Media. 2. Fandom News. 3. Fur-friendly Culture.

Furscience.com releases ebook of furry research.

The International Anthropomorphic Research Project has a shiny new website since earlier this year.  Here’s a good reason to check it out – a 174-page ebook full of 5 years of data about furry fandom, for the low price of free.  Download it here.

Fred Patten interviewed by Yiffytimes.com.

“My interview with Fred Patten” by Ahmar Wolf and Greyflank. With Fred’s history as a founder of Furry (and anime) fandom, it’s really interesting to hear this:

“Q: Where do you see the Furry Fandom headed?

A: Furry fandom is already a lot different than it was in the 1980s. There is much more emphasis on wearing fursuits, adopting fursonas, and embracing and publicly exhibiting a furry identity. There is also a furry literary community now, which is what I’m active in. A few furry fans who are publishers or fursuit makers or artists are able to make their living in furry fandom instead of it only being a hobby for them.”

Furries at San Francisco Pride.

New furry Whup stepped up in a big way to organize a booth.  (He’s yellow dog in the first pic).  Apart from a big “Bay Area Furries” banner, it was a very informal base for breaks from the sun.  There was a huge crowd to prowl around with on a hot day.  Street Fursuiting is my favorite thing, and street fairs are my favorite place for it, and Pride in SF is one of the most fun and accepting times. (It’s far from the only one – a furry in Edmonton talks about their float full of furries in “A big thanks to the furries out in pride festivals this month!“)

Culturally F’d – LGBTQ + Furry. (The first 5 seconds are me being a fabulous Husky, aww thanks guys!)

Dogpatch Press article to become Culturally F’d Episode.

Article: If there was a Museum of Furry, theatrical “Panto-Animals” would be a major exhibit.  I’m honored that some cool furs liked it:

“This is Underbite from Culturally F’d. I’m currently in the process of writing a mini-series on mascots/fursuits. One of the episodes was pretty well intended to be taken straight from your article on pantomime. We will likely get you to review the scripts.

FURRIES: The Documentary, at Frameline film fest in San Francisco.

Earlier announced for Pride month, ‘Furries’ screened at Frameline, the oldest ongoing festival for LGBT cinema that draws as many as 80,000 people. Director Eric Risher (Ash) had many Bay Area Furries come to his movie screening.  He shares:

“I think it was a really great screening, and I’m really happy with how the film was received. I wanted to make sure I sent you a link to the photos that were taken at the event (they got some REALLY good ones). The full album can be found here.“

“Fursonas” director Dominic Rodriquez talks about Anthrocon:

Dom’s movie also screened at Frameline, but recognition was not so friendly in Pittsburgh. He was banned at Anthrocon for filming.  That didn’t stop his movie from screening at another venue during the biggest annual furball – a bit of a renegade happening! I asked Dom to talk about being a black sheep:

“The Friday night screening of Fursonas during Anthrocon did not have a big turnout–there were no more than a dozen people in the theater. But the Q&A afterwards ended up being one of the best ones we’ve had. The few furs and non-furs that did show were passionate about the ideas brought up in the film and discussed them at length with me and Boomer. One Anthrocon attendee that didn’t agree with everything in the movie was, nevertheless, enthusiastic about it. He told me that he was glad he actually watched the thing instead of basing his opinion on rumors about it.

I spent the majority of that weekend walking around downtown, hanging out in bars and hotel rooms, and talking to new and old friends. Most of what I do at cons is talk with friends, anyway. That’s not something that they have in the Programming, but I think it’s the most important part. And it’s not something they can ban you from. This was my best Anthrocon yet, and I wasn’t even there.”

German fursuiting video: “Mascot Fur Life” (Tip: Maily.)

It’s a teaser trailer for a bigger production. Maily covered this at his Austrian Furry News site, Furry Stammtische (story in English.)

“a 25 minute mockumentary mainly told with fursuiters. A mockumentary is a semi documentarty, which means, while the way of telling the story is obviously a serious documentary, the topic itself is clearly a fake one. It’s about Willion, a young mascot who dreams of more then just being an ordinary mascot. He wants to play in the big league…”

Weasyl went Open Source. From Reddit’s r/furry.

Dalmydog’s guide to leaving FA. “A step by step guide for artists looking to migrate away, or expand their reach beyond Furaffinity.”

Ferzu blows up. The “social network and dating site for furries” launched about a month ago and it already has over 12,000 users.

RIP to JBadger.

JBadger passed away on May 28, 2016. This greymuzzle attended sci-fi cons as long ago as the 1970’s, went to his first furry party in 1986, and staffed other cons. His real-life obituary prominently mentions his fursuiting that entertained many. A scan was posted to a Facebook group dedicated to his memory which has much furry content.

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AMAZING FURRY NEWS COMING SOON – Big Scandal For What The Fox Says In #7!

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Sea Captain Unsure Why Furries Keep Giggling While They Ask How Fast The Ship Goes

— Dogpatch Press (@DogpatchPress) November 5, 2015

Gawker Media Offers Huge Reward For Trix Rabbit Sextape - @GeneralMills @Gawker

— Dogpatch Press (@DogpatchPress) November 6, 2015

Offended Furs Say They Invited Themselves To Party At Dragoneer's House And He Just Kept Trying To Sell Them Amway Products

— Dogpatch Press (@DogpatchPress) November 6, 2015

Mayor Of Pittsburgh Wants Cool Mayors To Quit Prank Calling His Office And Meowing

— Dogpatch Press (@DogpatchPress) November 6, 2015

I Met Tony The Tiger On Tinder And Then He Frosted My Flakes

— Dogpatch Press (@DogpatchPress) November 7, 2015

Dinosaur Chef Sad That His Soufflé Deflates Every Time He Stomps In The Kitchen

— Dogpatch Press (@DogpatchPress) November 7, 2015

Submitted by Fred Patten

Sixes Wild: Echoes, by Tempe O’Kun. Illlustrated.
Dallas, TX, FurPlanet Productions, June 2016, trade paperback $15.95 (155 pages).

This is a mature content book.  Please ensure that you are of legal age to purchase this material in your state or region.

This short novel is a sequel to O’Kun’s Sixes Wild: Manifest Destiny, an anthropomorphic-animal Western published by Sofawolf Press in June 2011. That won the 2012 Cóyotl Award in the Best Mature Novel category, and was a nominee for the Western Writers of America’s Spur Award in the Best Short Novel category. (For the record, there has also been a promotional 8-page Sixes Wild: The Bluff comic book, illustrated by Sidian.)

Echoes begins where Manifest Destiny ended. The setting is White Rock, Arizona Territory, a stereotypical dusty early 20th-century Western town (they have newfangled electric lights) except that the townsfolk are all anthro animals – sort of. (I still haven’t figured out how a big-winged fruit bat sheriff who flies and hangs by his feet upside town in his sheriff’s office can ride a horse.) The main characters are Jordan Blake, the fruit bat sheriff, and Six Shooter, a rugged hare bounty hunter. What nobody knows (well, they pretty much do by now) is that Six is really a crossdressing female, and she and the sheriff are secret lovers. Very graphic lovers; this is a mature content book.

Manifest Destiny ends with Six going after Tanner Hayes, the arrogant lion mine-owner revealed to be a villain who goes on the run. Echoes begins with Six coming back to town empty-pawed.

“‘Thought you had a lion to run down.’

‘Hayes has gone to ground. Haven’t got mah gun back either.”” (p. 7)

Meanwhile, she’s heard a new rumor that interests her.

“She rests her paws on those revolvers, one a silver heirloom, the other a blue steel substitute. ‘A spot of treasure hunting.’

I look up from my bookkeeping to take account of Six. One never can tell how serious she takes her tomfoolery.

‘Ah’ve been hearin’ rumors.’ She brushes the dust from her fluffy tail. ‘Folk tell of a cliff-house with all manner of lost riches.’

With a sigh, I lean back in my chair, steeple my wings, and put away the pen with one foot. ‘I wouldn’t put much stock in saloon scuttlebutt.’

‘Nor would ah, but ah heard it from an old ‘yote traveling with the circus.’

My wing fingers interlace. I wish I knew her better, and not just because I’d like to know if she’s poking fun at me. ‘If he knew where all this treasure was, why was he traveling with a circus?’

‘He said it was cursed.’ Her dexterous paws dance theatrically. ‘Everybody who went lookin’ met a grisly end.’” (p. 8)

The rumored cliff-house, if true, means an abandoned, hidden ‘yote (native) settlement. It would explain why it had not been found long ago. Six returns for Blake because he’s her boy friend, and because he’s a bat who can fly up to explore the steep cliffs of canyons.

Their dialogue is full of risqué double-entendres.

“‘I saw a tumbledown entrance to a cliff dwelling. No stairs to speak of and it’s tucked away in a gully.’ My wings fold up with a flourish. ‘I can see why a non-flighted treasure hunter would miss it.’

‘Getting’ fonder a’ those wings all the time.’ Silken paws run up their membranes, against the grain of the fine hairs thee.

I shiver, then stretch my wings for another flight. ‘Give me a launch, would you?’

‘Surely will, lawbat.’ She crouches to let me hop on her shoulders. Once she has me at a disadvantage, her ears spring up against the front of my trousers. ‘You know ah’ll get ya up anytime.’” (pgs. 10-11)

They find an ancient cliff dwelling considerably richer than any humans know about:

“Exquisite murals run the walls, carvings of desert tortoises in fantastical scenarios. Some are emerging from the Earth, others are taking the shape of mountains. ‘This is truly fascinating. This tribe must have revered them for their ability to survive in the desert.’” (p. 12)

But the deeper into the dwelling they go, the more Indiana Jones-type deathtraps emerge:

“My first inkling that something’s amiss comes when those murals begin to change. Gone are the depictions of placid desert-dwelling tortoises; ominous looking snappers take their place, jagged maws gaping menacingly.

[…]

I spy a glimmer of metal in one of the lower alcoves. In the dim light, I see the faint outline of a tortoise statuette, about knee-high. With such dry air, it too appears untouched by time.

Her boot clomps down on a rounded bulge on the floor. The tile emits a soft click. The grind of stone reverberates from the wall.” (p. 13)

Manifest Destiny contains 26 short chapters, each narrated by a different character, mainly Six and Blake switching back and forth. I said in my review that it is “mildly annoying until the reader figures out who is talking.” Echoes is the same, although there are only 13 chapters and an epilogue.

Six hears faint echoes or whispers warning her of potential trouble, mostly from the guns she inherited from her father, but not always:

“The instant I touch the watch, whispers tease just at the edge of my hearing. Just like when I first examined it, I’m struck by an odd compulsion to tell the younger ferret to straighten his whiskers and brush his hat. The watch is about average, as echoes run. But even a quiet echo’s enough to make something a treasured heirloom. The unearthly whisper between the ticks urge me toward the scruffy ferret. They silence only when I drop it in his paws.” (p. 39)

Then she learns that others also hear the echoes, and they know more about them than she does. They only come from objects made from silvery ore from a local mine. Six and Blake cross the Arizona-California border to a ghost town where there is a trading store stocking such items:

“Holstering, I scoff at such theatrics. ‘Speakin’ of ghost towns, how do ya stay in business?’ My eyes dance over the wares and windows. ‘Not exactly bustling around here.’

‘Oh, I manage.’ The wolverine hauls another drag on her cigar. ‘Local elk tribes come down from their high desert plazas to stock up. You’d be surprised how happy they are to get their hooves on modern salt lick and antler ornaments. Want nothing to do with echoes, of course: ghost fear. Good weavers, though.’ She hooks a thumb claw at a row of fine cotton sheets, which are about the first thing I’d buy without a worry in the place.” (p. 56)

To give away a spoiler, little is resolved. The mystery of the echoes is cleared up, and Six’s real name is learned. Mostly, Sixes Wild: Echoes is about Six’s and Blake’s off-and-on romance, whenever Six visits White Rock from her roaming bounty- and treasure-hunting and, Blake fears, petty thievery. He wishes she’d settle down in White Rock with him, while she has mixed feelings about giving up her freedom. She does want to learn more about his people and back-East society:

“We hop a train to Texas, which the lawbat tells me is the nearest place we can catch a true flying fox opera. The clattering passenger car’s near to empty. The sheriff occupies himself reading a paperback somebody left on a seat. Some manner of weasel romance, he says, full of twists and furious action. Reminds him of a whole mess of stories I’ve never heard of.” (p. 73)

Six’s description of fruit bat Italian opera is not to be missed. Neither is her NSFW erotic pillow talk for adults. This is a mature-content book.

Sixes Wild: Echoes (cover by ShinigamiGirl) delivers Western action, often kinky explicit erotica, and an anthro-animal society:

“I walk my patrol, rather than flying, just to enjoy the night. […] With the streets awash in moonbeams, I scarcely need to echolocate. My occasional tongue-click keeps me from blundering into a tie-post. It does nothing to warn me about the ne’er-do-well watching me from the alley.” (p. 60)

There are six full-page illustrations by different artists, mostly of the erotic scenes. Sixes Wild: Echoes, an excellent furry novel, ends with a cliffhanger with at least one more book to come.

– Fred Patten

• Buy on Furplanet

We talk about how we made our friends in the fandom, and share some advice on how you can do the same.

Metadata and Credits How To Make Furry Friends

Runtime: 34:10m

Cast: KZorroFuego, Levi, Near, Wolfin

Editor: Levi

Format: 96kbps AAC Copyright: © 2016 WagzTail.com. Some Rights Reserved. This podcast is released by WagzTail.com as CC BY-ND 3.0.

How To Make Furry Friends - We talk about how we made our friends in the fandom, and share some advice on how you can do the same.

We talk about how we made our friends in the fandom, and share some advice on how you can do the same.

Metadata and Credits How To Make Furry Friends

Runtime: 34:10m

Cast: KZorroFuego, Levi, Near, Wolfin

Editor: Levi

Format: 96kbps AAC Copyright: © 2016 WagzTail.com. Some Rights Reserved. This podcast is released by WagzTail.com as CC BY-ND 3.0.

How To Make Furry Friends - We talk about how we made our friends in the fandom, and share some advice on how you can do the same.

Hello Everyone!

On tonight's show we open with a discussion on how women who are cheated on might win in the long run. While some might say the true victory is not being hitched with a cheating asshole, is it possible that the long-term effects of being cheated on might outweigh the short-term pain?

Our main topic is on resilience. Resilience is the quality to recover quickly from periods of difficulty and strain in your life, and it is a tool that many people lack as it is not innate but learned. Unfortunately, too many people equate resilience with being overly stoic, where you adopt a poker face and never have moments of vulnerability or weakness. In much the same way that bravery is standing in moments of fear, resilience is standing in moments of weakness. We discuss how to become more resilient, the benefits of resiliency, and why all of this is important for your relationships. 

We move on to a listener question on the friend zone. How can you stop being the best friend and become the boyfriend? (Spoiler: the friend zone is a myth). We discuss ways that you can exert your emotional bandwidth and employ direct, sensible communication. We also trash pick up artists a bit and make fun of negging.  

We close out the show with some feedback on whether or not the show should have opposing viewpoints and whether or not we, as hosts, exist in an echo chamber that is howling into the faceless void.

For more information, including a list of topics, see our Show Notes for this episode.

Thanks and, as always, be well!

FA 028 Resilience - Breakups can be good, resiliency is essential, the friend zone is a myth. All this and more on this week's episode!

Guest post by Huskyteer. Huskyteer writes stories and poems about talking animals. Most of these are published within the furry fandom, but sometimes one escapes into the wild. She enjoys motorcycle adventures, aviation museums, karate and cider.

It’s one of the most iconic moments in literature. Even if you haven’t read the books, or seen a TV or cinema adaptation, you’re probably familiar with the image of a little girl walking through the back of a wardrobe into a snowy forest lit by an old-fashioned streetlamp. Both the scene and the title of the book – The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe – are sufficiently recognisable to be used as shorthand and appear in parody.

If that scene is all you know, it’s worth delving deeper. As well as the wise and noble, but also slightly terrifying, Aslan – ‘not a tame lion’ – there are creatures ranging from sublime unicorns to ridiculous but heroic mice. Badgers, bears, moles, mice, not to mention non-humans like centaurs, fauns and dryads (the Narnian mythos tends towards the classical).

(A small confession here: despite the plethora of gorgeous talking animals Narnia offers, my own favourite character is Puddleglum, the pessimistic Marsh-wiggle of The Silver Chair.)

Then there’s the world of Narnia itself, introduced in the glorious, freewheeling fantasy of The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe, where Man may be no more than a myth. The four children, despite their credentials as Sons of Adam and Daughters of Eve, are intruders on this domain. Narnia was created by Aslan for the benefit of its nonhuman inhabitants; humans blunder in by accident, or are summoned by Aslan to undo the deliberate or accidental harm done by other humans.

I cannot be the only reader who found Narnia less appealing in the later books, when the map has expanded and there are humans all over the place in Calormen, Archenland and the rest.

There’s a sense throughout the series that animals and semi-animals are more consistent than humans, with simpler desires and morality; a lion might eat you, but he’ll be honest about it. This ties in nicely with the idealism that goes with creating a fursona to be a better version of oneself, free of homo sapiens’s nastier traits.

Although humans come in various hues of morality, non-human characters are more likely to be evil the more they resemble humans, as is specifically called out by Mr Beaver’s warning not to trust anything that looks human but isn’t; see the giants of The Silver Chair for a good example.

Much of Lewis’s philosophy lines up nicely with a furry way of thinking. Cruelty to animals, for instance, is a sure sign of evil. There’s an early indicator that the eponymous magician of The Magician’s Nephew is a bit of a bounder in his callous indifference to the guinea pigs he uses in his research: “Some of them only died. Some exploded like little bombs…” The young protagonist, and the reader, are rightly disgusted.

Lewis neatly tackles the problem of feeding a world’s anthropomorphic carnivores: there are Talking beasts, from bloodlines uplifted by Aslan at the creation of Narnia, and there are the ordinary sort, who are, quite literally, fair game. Consuming a sentient being is taboo, and the diner, if a Narnian native and the right sort, is likely to feel as if they have eaten a baby.

The author’s gifts to the furry community just keep on giving. As well as the inhabitants of Narnia, Lewis offers us a race of cute, anthropomorphic aliens, the otterlike hrossa of Mars in Out of the Silent Planet (the first book in the science fiction Cosmic Trilogy). I’m surprised that these creatures aren’t better known and loved in the fandom.

Then there’s this quote from the essay On Three Ways of Writing for Children:

“When I was ten, I read fairy tales in secret and would have been ashamed if I had been found doing so. Now that I am fifty I read them openly. When I became a man I put away childish things, including the fear of childishness and the desire to be very grown up.”

I feel all furries should aim to be courageous adults, maturing without letting go of the most magical things about childhood.

First and foremost, though, and right at the start of his series, C. S. Lewis offered countless children the possibility of a door into another world where magic is real, animals talk, and adventure awaits. As furries, many or most of us are still searching and hoping for that door. Like many such portals, it is supposed to close at childhood’s end, but surely there can be exceptions…

So, do the Chronicles of Narnia belong in the furry canon? Let’s check those three criteria again.

Quality: Famously, C. S. Lewis read the first few pages of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe aloud to a friend at Oxford and enquired whether it was worth going on with. He received an emphatic yes, and went on for seven books.

These are well-written, often funny, and moral in a way that’s inspiring rather than preachy (who in their right mind would want to be like Eustace Clarence Scrubb, who almost deserved a name like that?), with page-turning plots and memorable characters. They don’t talk down to children, and they’re realistic about how an ordinary person might actually feel when called upon to perform heroics in a magical world.

Longevity: The postwar years saw a huge boom in children’s literature, with the newly-established Puffin Books, an imprint of Penguin, supplying quality works both fantastic and realistic at affordable prices. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, first published in 1950, was one of the books that helped cement Puffin’s reputation.

Many of the Puffins which were praised on publication for their relevance and modernity now feel dated, yet Narnia’s popularity never seems to diminish. There have been Disney movies, stage plays, and a much-loved 1980s BBC series, but it is the source material, Lewis’s words and Pauline Baynes’s illustrations, that goes on and on, unchanging like the White Witch’s beautiful, endless winter (which I always found a much more striking image than Aslan’s spring).

Relevancy: Sadly, this is where the Chronicles of Narnia fall down. Although I know plenty of furs who have read and loved the books, the context is almost always that of a childhood favourite, rather than a gateway into the fandom. I’ve never heard anyone say that they were inspired to create a fursona by Reepicheep, or Maugrim. I have never – and if it’s out there please don’t tell me – encountered Aslan/Lucy slash.

Perhaps the problem is the religious themes that run through the books. This is the most common complaint to be thrown at the Chronicles, and, according to Furry Survey data, a high proportion of furs identify as atheist or agnostic.

I, as a longtime atheist, find that Lewis, perhaps more than any other human being, makes me feel favourably disposed towards religion, by imbuing it not only with sound reason but with joy, wonder and awe. And, while the Chronicles can be read as a series of parables, it is the plots and characters that shine through. The religious tail never wags the dog of the story.

Then again, maybe it’s the way wolves are always baddies that turns the furry reader off.

I don’t think the Chronicles of Narnia belong in the furry canon. But I do think that furries can get a lot out of the books, and that you’re missing out on something wonderful if you dismiss them because they’re religious or aimed at children.

Here’s headlines, links and little stories to make your tail wag.  Tips: patch.ofurr@gmail.com.

There hasn’t been a Newsdump in a long time, so expect three updates packed with two months of stuff: 

1. Furries in the Media. 2. Fandom News. 3. Fur-friendly Culture.

Pic: Luke Thor Travis, PGH City Paper

The media gave warm and fuzzy vibes for Anthrocon.

• Smart Business Pittsburgh: “Furry Fandom” (two-page spread with video).
• WTAE video: Fursuit parade vid
• WTAE photos: 2016 Anthrocon fursuit parade.
• PGH City Paper: Furries show off their finest ‘fursuits’ to the public in Anthrocon’s annual Fursuit Parade
• PGH City Paper: Pittsburgh gives the furries its annual warm welcome
• NEXTpittsburgh: Anthrocon turns 20, Fursuit Parade open to public
• Post-Gazette – The ‘Roaring Twenty’: Furries celebrate 20th anniversary of Anthrocon
• Palm Beach Post: Furries are back! Anthrocon is underway in Pittsburgh
• WPXI News: Anthrocon is underway in downtown Pittsburgh
• CBSPittsburgh: Furries Take Over KDKA Morning News
• Triblive.com: Furries expected to be financial boon to Pittsburgh during convention
• Hastings Tribune: Furries hold 20th annual Anthrocon Convention in Pittsburgh

A few worth seeing after the con:

• WTAE video: The Making Of a Furry. “Daisy Ruth set the scene outside the Convention Center with April, a local fursuiter who created her own suit, and Camille of CF Studios, an artist who creates and sells creature and fursuits.”
• WTAE – Beyond the Suit: The World of Furries.  “Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 reporter Beau Berman sat down with ‘Clumzy’ to find out what it’s all about.”

Rika and Rusty.

Anthrocon news topic – Pets.

PGH City Paper: “It probably comes as no surprise, but furries love their pets“.  Four furs are interviewed.  “Some furries say that getting involved in the community that celebrates anthropomorphized animal personas has helped them become more aware of the needs of shelter animals; understand the emotions of their pets; and strengthen their love of our four-legged friends.”

Anthrocon news topic – “Fursonas” movie.

Post-Gazette: ‘Fursonas’ director takes his Anthrocon ban in stride.

Dominic Rodriguez was banned for breaking Anthrocon’s media policy (filming without permission) in pursuit of unvarnished truth that couldn’t be officially filmed for a documentary.  “Fursonas” showed parts that many furries take very personally or feel shouldn’t be suppressed.  It was divisive.  Some took his movie as undermining good work of the con.  Others took his ban as a politicized penalty for PR control that may be stuck in the past. But furry fandom have been around for decades now and it keeps growing.  When will sensitivities loosen up?

“Fursonas” screened at an independent venue during the con.  I asked Dom if he’s interested in doing a guest post about it. Before his trip, he told me:

“Although I’m banned, I have a feeling this is going to be my best Anthrocon yet. I spent the evening hanging out at the bar across the street and then going over to the river to hang with new and old friends. I go to these things mostly to meet people and have cool conversations. I think that’s more fun than anything they have in the convention schedule, anyway.

Anthrocon news topic – Public Image.

WESA (local NPR affiliate): Furry Community Grapples With Identity As Anthrocon Grows.  Dominic may have been banned, but he was a go-to voice about the community at large:

“There’s the idea that we have a nice thing going, and any attempt to go out and show ourselves in the media is only going to be bad for us,” Rodriguez said. “But I’m more optimistic about that. And I think that the world is changing and different lifestyles are becoming more accepted.”

VICE covers furries.

At BLFC: Photos of the Fastest Growing Furry Convention in America.  And interviews with 5 furs: Furries Explain How They Developed Their ‘Fursonas’.

South America’s Columbiafurs in the Bogata Post.

Seven years of fluff in the city: “The movement gained momentum in Colombia in 2009, when a group of furries met online and began to meet up and socialise in person… there are about 500 furries in Colombia today, and this number continues to grow… Being a furry is all about socialising, dancing and enjoying life.”

INVERSE: What Furries Can Teach Us About Sex in the Kinky, Avatar-Filled Virtual Future.

Headline changed to: Furries Are Having Future Sex.  “What happens when you use a borrowed body to take someone to bed?” Actually not a bad or trashy article. (Author Emily Gaudette previously wrote ‘Disney Prepares to Cash In on the Furry Demographic with “Zootopia”‘.)

“I adore furry porn,” says The Dog. “I much prefer it to images of real life humans. I think it’s worth mentioning that furry porn tends to have more humanity than a lot of ‘regular’ porn. Since it’s a drawing, the artist has to bring emotion and humanity into the image in order to make it relatable on some level.” Furry porn endeavors toward emotional narratives, and most mainstream pornographic films still don’t employ that strategy.

“Fur Sure: Furry Calls Into Kojo Nnamdi Show To Talk Fashion”.  

Story on DCist blog. “In a radio segment exploring whether D.C. takes enough sartorial risks, one listener called the Kojo Nnamdi Show with a particularly hairy comment on his personal style.”

“Good afternoon, Kojo! I am a furry,” said Alexander of Herndon, Va. “I routinely go downtown looking like a giant walking plush toy. I am a tiger-striped skunk.”

Furry arrested for shooting at driver.

You might call him one of the “black sheep” of the fandom.  WILDWULF/DangerDoberman has been in deep trouble with the law before.  Now he’s in the news for shooting at a driver in Arizona.  His passenger, known as Pokeypony, had his own dramatic allegations involving Bad Dragon.

Trashy gossip: “Nick Jonas Talks Sex Fetishes — Is He Into Getting Spanked, “Furries” & Being Tied Up?!”

At Toofab.com.  “What about “furries,” which is having sex with someone while wearing a furry animal costume? Surprisingly, Nick didn’t turn it down…”

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AMAZING FURRY NEWS COMING SOON – Fursecution Declared Hate Crime In #7!

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Doorman At Furry Club Rejects Lame Visitors With Clip On Bunny Ears

— Dogpatch Press (@DogpatchPress) October 30, 2015

5 Words That Mean Dirty Things To Furries But You Can Put Them On A License Plate

— Dogpatch Press (@DogpatchPress) October 30, 2015

6 Things You Should Never Do While High On Catnip

— Dogpatch Press (@DogpatchPress) October 30, 2015

Top 12 Underrepresented Animal Dicks In Furry Art

— Dogpatch Press (@DogpatchPress) October 30, 2015

7 Shocking Things That Furries Do When Nobody's Looking

— Dogpatch Press (@DogpatchPress) November 2, 2015

Hotels Hate This Weird Trick That Helps You Crash Free At The Con!

— Dogpatch Press (@DogpatchPress) November 2, 2015

Not really anthropomorphic per ce, but certainly a fine specimen of animal art. Magnetic Press have released the latest edition of the European hardcover graphic novel series of wildlife adventures called Love. The latest, Love Volume 3, is about The Lion. (Following Volume 1: The Tiger and Volume 2: The Fox.) “The third volume in the lavishly illustrated series of wildlife graphic novels, each following a single central animal through an adventurous day in their natural environment. This exciting tale, written by Frederic Brremaud, is told without narration or dialogue, conveyed entirely through the beautiful illustrations of Federico Bertolucci. Both heartwarming and heartbreaking, this volume focuses on a solitary Lion as it wanders the plains of Africa, handling the daily hunt, and vicious rivalry, without a Pride of its own. The circle of Life takes center stage in a world where predator and prey trade places on a regular basis, and family is something worth fighting – and dying – for.” Ha! We see what you did there! Order it now at Comixology. [Off to San Diego! We’ll see you all next week.]

image c. 2016 Magnetic Press

Submitted by Fred Patten, Furry’s favorite historian and reviewer.  Fred writes: “A few reviews of furry books that I wrote in 2003 or 2004 have vanished from the Internet.  I wrote them for the first version of Watts Martin’s Claw & Quill site, which he has apparently taken down. Here they are back online.”

No Time Like Show Time: A Hermux Tantamoq Adventure, by Michael Hoeye.
NYC, G. P. Putnam’s Sons, September 2004, hardcover $14.99 (277 pages).

Hoeye’s Hermux Tantamoq novels are one of the major publishing-industry success stories of the decade. His first was rejected by all major publishers. So he self-published it and its sequel, sent free copies to dozens of libraries and reviewers, and got so many rave reviews that the big publishers quickly changed their minds. Time Stops for No Mouse (2000) and The Sands of Time (2001) were reprinted by Putnam in 2002.

Hermux Tantamoq is a young watchmaker in the mouse city of Pinchester who lives alone with his pet ladybug, Terfle. In the first novel, daring aviatrix-explorer Linka Perflinger brings her watch to his shop for repair. When she disappears and a shady rat tries to claim it, Hermux investigates and is drawn into an old-fashioned pulp-thriller adventure to save her. The Sands of Time is a similar adventure in which Hermux, Linka, and an old chipmunk explorer search a distant desert for the buried ruins of a forgotten cat civilization while being hunted by mouse-supremacist assassins who want to suppress the knowledge that there was ever a pre-mouse empire.

Hermux got into those adventures mostly by accident. He was happy to fade back into anonymity in his watch shop at their end. But he got enough publicity that when theatrical impresario Fluster Varmint starts receiving death threats, he misremembers Hermux as a famous detective and calls on him to investigate. Hermux is reluctant until he discovers that his least-favorite Pinchester celebrity, arrogant cosmetics tycoon Tucka Mertslin, is plotting to take over the city’s historic palace-theater, now the Folies-type Varmint Variety Theater, and turn it into a garish cosmetics office-showroom.

“[Hermux] rushed through the doors of the Varmint Variety Theater, barely pausing to appreciate the workmanship of their pumpkin-vine hinges and matching wrought-iron doorknobs. He was in such a hurry that he scooted right through the historic grove of artificial aspen trees with their hand-blown Spiffany glass leaves. Crossing the lobby to the box office, Hermux scarcely gave the exquisite floor a glance. […] The box office occupied a rustic hut that sat beside an authentic reproduction of a waterfall. […]” (pgs. 13-14)

Hermux will do anything to save the lovely building. But he is only one mouse, and Mertslin has the support of Pinchester’s Weekly Squeak (she is one of its leading advertisers). When Mertslin learns that Varmint’s ownership of the Theater is challengeable (he bought it long ago with a massive loan from the Theater’s then-leading star, who disappeared after a mysterious tragedy so Varmint has not been able to repay the loan), she hires lots of lawyers to try to get the missing Nurella Pinch declared the legal owner of the Theater, then legally dead with herself as the executrix of Pinch’s estate. Meanwhile, things are more dangerous than either suspect, because the hoodlum that Mertslin uses to scare Varmint decides that it is to his advantage to really start murdering people to gain a blackmail hold over Mertslin.

Most of the characters in Show Time are mice (Fluster Varmint is “a barrel-chested mouse with a big baritone”, while his daughter and manager Beulith is an attractive mouse with “two perfect front teeth — long, elegantly arched, and tinted a very pleasing pale yellow”), but there are also a flying-squirrel messenger boy, a hedgehog bookkeeper, such would-be actors as “A noisy group of prairie-dog impersonators wearing matching paisley boleros, toreador pants, and very high heels” and “A chipmunk dressed as a potato”, an otter fashion designer, a shrew ventriloquist, and other mostly-rodent-sized animals.

Hoeye has a fine eye for rodentine appearances:

“Fluster Varmint was a visionary. When he thought long tails were more elegant, showgirls grew longer tails. When he thought bushy tails were more provocative, they grew bushier tails. If Fluster thought hamsters made the funniest comedians, then suddenly everywhere hamsters were telling jokes and wearing peculiar hats.” (pg. 34)

When Hermux is calling on Linka, “he straightened his whiskers and fluffed out the fur in his ears.” (pg. 29)

Hermux’s third tale is a change of pace for him, being more of a Phantom of the Opera backstage mystery and courtroom drama than an Indiana Jones search for treasure in foreign jungles and deserts. Since it takes place in Pinchester, Hermux’s ladybug Terfle is able to emerge from her cage for the first time and accompany him in a faithful-dog role. No Time Like Show Time is clever old-fashioned detective comedy-suspense adventure that would not disappoint a fan of the 1930s Thin Man movies — with a furry cast.

– Fred Patten,

• Buy online

 

Furries, or so it seems to me, have a split in their views. When it comes to sex, we are all in favor for allowing two individuals to get up to whatever they want, so long as they both consent. However, when it comes to money, we suddenly become a lot more wary about letting others make their own decisions. Surveys done by [adjective][species] seem to agree with this; finding social liberalism much higher than economic liberalism. It would seem that attitudes are correct on the former, but these are contradicted by the latter. In this essay, I will attempt to show why capitalism, and a free-furry-market, are ultimately a huge boon for the fandom.

Before going on, I wish to address a criticism now – In this article, I will be talking about the “quality” of pieces that an artist can produce. It may be argued that the quality of art is purely subjective, and thus the quality of two pieces cannot be compared so objectively. To an extent, I would agree that taste comes into how much a person is willing to pay for artwork. When I use “quality” I am using it the sense of complexity – whether something is shaded, sketched, accurately represent what the artist wishes it to represent, etc… Whilst the artist style will obviously effect what a person is willing to pay, it is also clear that a fully coloured and shaded piece is of a higher quality than just a sketch.

A lot of furries wonder about the value of a piece of art, that is to say, how much an artist ought to be paid, and for what. One assumption I have seen is that there is a “true” value behind an artist time. Many furries will encourage artists to charge the “right amount” for their time, due to how valuable it is.
But this is missing out on what really determines the value of an artist time – how much people are willing to pay, and for what. A piece of work may take artist A hours upon hours to finish, and, at the end of the effort, that artist may have a decent quality piece. In the meantime, artist B, who is more experienced, produces two pieces, which are of equal standards to A’s. Artist C can also only produce a single piece in that time, but, unlike A and B, they have given it detailed backgrounds, shading, and other such things. If those three artist then sold their work, C would likely charge the highest, say, $90. A and B may then both sell their pieces for $40 each.

A – Decent quality – 1 piece, $40
B – Decent quality – 2 pieces, each $40
C – High quality – 1 piece, $90
1. Assuming all three artist sell their work for the prices they wished, C will make the most money, followed by B, and then A. Because B was able to create two pieces within the same time as A, and the market was willing to pay $40 for a decent quality work, they were able to make double what A made. C made more than either artist, but in the same time frame. The market does not care how long it took any of these artists; what matters is the quality of the work and the amount that each charge for that piece of work. The fact that A tried their hardest, yet still only made half of what B made just goes to show that markets do not care for the actual subjective effort required. An artist time is only worth as much as what they can produce, and what the market is willing to pay for.
To further prove this, let’s introduce artist D, who is still fairly new, but their work is of a marketable quality, though not nearly as good as A or B’s. If they then sold their work for $40, and it took them double the time to create that work, then they would make even less. If the market did not wish to pay $40, they would make nothing; and why should the market pay for lesser quality, when the same price will afford them A or B’s work? The truth of the matter is that, whilst D is a new artist, and of less skill, they may only be able to charge $5 to create a piece that would take the same time to create as A, B, or C.
Does that seem unfair? It may, since artist D tries extremely hard, but is only able to make a fraction of what C does, but consider the alternatives:

If nobody was allowed to charge for their work, then C would not be able to become rewarded for their time, and may lose what supports them financially. The inability to charge would also hurt D, as people would suddenly wonder why they should bother with them, when A, B, and C are all producing higher quality works. Before, D could gain attention by offering their work for cheaper, allowing them to earn something from their work whilst honing their skills. If they enjoy making art, then why should it matter that somebody else is making more? Is it fair to remove a small bonus to D’s artistic endeavors, simply because somebody more skilled is earning more? If D is happy just to be earning something, then what C is earning should not matter. As D gets better, demand for their art will increase, and, eventually, they will be able to charge more, but until that time, they have to start somewhere. Why try and tackle inequality by making everybody worse off?

Another suggestion might be to make all artist charge a minimum amount. This would mean that C can still charge $90, but it would also mean that D cannot be undercut for their time. If the minimum began at, say, $40 per piece, then it may seem at a first glance that D would be much better off. However, let us consider this more closely: If D charged $40 for a piece of their work, then they would suddenly be competing with both A and B. When D’s work is of a lesser quality than A or B’s, the market would simply decide to spend that $40 on the higher quality product. D would not be able to compete with that: the reason they were able to earn $5 a piece as they grew as an artist was because they were not competing with others, but instead occupying a slot in the market. Even though D may not be able to produce pieces of the same quality as A or B’s, people would still allow them to earn something purely by virtue of D being cheaper. Ultimately, if all artist were forced to charge a “minimum”, it would hurt newer artist the most. Sure, A and B would be protected from having to lower their prices to compete with another, but that problem can also be addressed.
If artist C improved in quality, and could produce three pieces of art of the same quality as A and B, but decided to sell each piece for $30, then that would seem to hurt both A and B, since the market would surely choose C instead of either of them. However, this is not necessarily so. Consider the perspective of C; they can see the market will pay $40 for their pieces, due to the success of A and B. If the market would willingly pay for this, then why would they suddenly decide to lower their prices? They could just as easily charge $40 per piece, and if A and B are successful, the market will pay that price. It would therefore not be in C’s interests to undercut A or B. If the market suddenly decided not to pay $40 for work of the quality of A, B, or C, then it would make sense for C to lower their prices, but it would also make sense for A and B to lower their prices as well, whether C existed or not. The “minimum” charge for a piece is not needed to protect A and B from being undercut, as it is not in anybody’s interest to undercut them for the same quality work as them.

An additional factor to consider with art commissions is that they are not mass produced. If an artist has a truly unique, or very unusual, style, then they can control almost all of the supply for the demand. Because what anyone is willing to pay for any style of art is so determinate upon the buyer, it is very difficult to place an “ought” on what the buyer should pay. It may be believed that there is an objective price for any given piece, but somebody may take a liking to a particular style, and be willing to pay more for it. If there is a particular group of people who share the same liking of that style, then the artist who produces it will have found themselves a market. When somebody commissions them, it should be trusted that both parties – the commissioner and artist – have accepted the price being placed on the artist time. The commissioner knows how much they are willing to pay, knowing they can walk away, yet freely choose to pay. Meanwhile, the artist has decided for themselves what their time is worth.

Why can’t furries treat business like sex? Why is it that, during intercourse, we seem content to let others do whatever they wish with one another, so long as all parties give consent, and not with art? When it comes to financial agreements over art, I believe the same should apply. Instead of telling artist what their work is worth, why not simply allow them to decide exactly how much their time is worth? If an artist prices are too high, you do not need to tell them, simply do not buy from them, and if the market agrees, the lack of sales will be the most obvious sign of “you’re charging too much” that can be given. On the other hand, that same artist may keep their prices consistent, or even raise them due to high demand. There is no reason to tell them their prices are too high; people are buying from them, and those people are willingly giving money over to that artist. When you say that an artist “charges too much”, you’re not just insulting their judgment, but the judgment of that artist customers – both of whom seem perfectly happy with the transaction. There is nothing wrong with going elsewhere because you do not want to pay the asking price for something, in fact, that’s good, as it’s showing awareness of your role as an active consumer. But, if an artist is finding customers for what they value their work at, then there is no reason for them to drop their prices for anyone.

It is an artist’s right to charge whatever they want for their work. If they charge too much, the market will reject it. Yet, if they decide to charge a low price, then it is their choice to do so. They know how much they believe their time is worth, and whether you think they should be charging more or less, a free-market will send a better message than any individual ever could.

Ultimately, a free-market is the best way for the furry market to function. As it stands, the community is almost completely laissez-faire with it’s approach to commissions – with many artists able to live off their work, as new artists develop their skill whilst earning something from it – while providing a rich choice to those wishing to spend money on commissions. Not only that, but I believe that it is important to respect the artist’s judgment, and the ability for others to know what they value.

Aaron Galvin is young man who has already spent years as an actor (The Dark Knight), script writer, and stand-up comedian. Now he has added “book writer” to his resume’ thanks to several series of dark fantasy novels for young adults.  The series of particular note for furry fans is the Salted series, concerning a society of selkies (Celted were-seals, if you need a refresher). In the first book, Salted, a group of selkies travel to the surface, charged with retrieving an escaped human slave. Unfortunately, they soon discover that their mission is much more complicated than their leaders let on. In book two, Taken With A Grain Of Salt, a pair of teenage human slaves plot their own escape… but soon they learn that there are darker forces in the deep than selkie slavers. Both books were published by Create Space, and they’re available as signed paperback editions at Aaron’s web site.

image c. 2016 Aaron Galvin

Due to our blue fox getting trapped in a cage at the last minute Saturday night, we had to rescheduled this episode for Sunday night. So, returning to the studio Sunday after the quick improv Q&A show we ended up with Saturday (episode 239x,) we somehow managed to pump out a pretty packed show. A good episode to finish off with before a two week hiatus. Enjoy!

Download MP3

Watch Video Link Roundup:

• Alltime10s YouTube channel does Top 10 Weirdest Sex Toys, mentions Bad Dragon
• The First Computer Porn
• Ylvis, artist behind “What Does The Fox Say?”confirms at Webbys that foxes actually say “yiff”

News:

• Vitamins Are Useless, But There’s One You Could Probably Use
• [Dogpatch Press] Furry Corporate Structures
• Notorious ‘Nipple Man’ Nabbed After 3 Years As A Public Transit Pervert
• Stand-up Comedians Are More Likely To Die Prematurely, With The Funniest Most Likely To Go First
• Man Allegedly Scans Penis At Supermarket Checkout
• This Pastor Has Convinced Us: Pokemon Are Actually Cyber-Demons
• ‘Pokemon Go’ Leads Players To Find Naked Woman Vandalizing Church

Emails:

• Gladwin – “{short question} About younger furs”
• Gannon – “Some random shit”
• Jaxson Amber – “Fayroe’s Blueness”
• Otter – “Looking to move into the area”
• Michael the Fox – “Bit harsh on the minecraft porn”

FC-240 XXX-Files - Due to our blue fox getting trapped in a cage Saturday night, we rescheduled this episode for Sunday night. Returning a day later after some quick improv Q&A which became episode 239x, we somehow managed to pump out a pretty packed show.

Due to our blue fox getting trapped in a cage at the last minute Saturday night, we had to rescheduled this episode for Sunday night. So, returning to the studio Sunday after the quick improv Q&A show we ended up with Saturday (episode 239x,) we somehow managed to pump out a pretty packed show. A good episode to finish off with before a two week hiatus. Enjoy!

Download MP3

Watch Video Link Roundup:

• Alltime10s YouTube channel does Top 10 Weirdest Sex Toys, mentions Bad Dragon
• The First Computer Porn
• Ylvis, artist behind “What Does The Fox Say?”confirms at Webbys that foxes actually say “yiff”

News:

• Vitamins Are Useless, But There’s One You Could Probably Use
• [Dogpatch Press] Furry Corporate Structures
• Notorious ‘Nipple Man’ Nabbed After 3 Years As A Public Transit Pervert
• Stand-up Comedians Are More Likely To Die Prematurely, With The Funniest Most Likely To Go First
• Man Allegedly Scans Penis At Supermarket Checkout
• This Pastor Has Convinced Us: Pokemon Are Actually Cyber-Demons
• ‘Pokemon Go’ Leads Players To Find Naked Woman Vandalizing Church

Emails:

• Gladwin – “{short question} About younger furs”
• Gannon – “Some random shit”
• Jaxson Amber – “Fayroe’s Blueness”
• Otter – “Looking to move into the area”
• Michael the Fox – “Bit harsh on the minecraft porn”

FC-240 XXX-Files - Due to our blue fox getting trapped in a cage Saturday night, we rescheduled this episode for Sunday night. Returning a day later after some quick improv Q&A which became episode 239x, we somehow managed to pump out a pretty packed show.

Due to our blue fox getting trapped in a cage at the last minute Saturday night, we had to rescheduled this episode for Sunday night. So, returning to the studio Sunday after the quick improv Q&A show we ended up with Saturday (episode 239x,) we somehow managed to pump out a pretty packed show. A good episode to finish off with before a two week hiatus. Enjoy!

Download MP3

Link Roundup:

• Alltime10s YouTube channel does Top 10 Weirdest Sex Toys, mentions Bad Dragon
• The First Computer Porn
• Ylvis, artist behind “What Does The Fox Say?”confirms at Webbys that foxes actually say “yiff”

News:

• Vitamins Are Useless, But There’s One You Could Probably Use
• [Dogpatch Press] Furry Corporate Structures
• Notorious ‘Nipple Man’ Nabbed After 3 Years As A Public Transit Pervert
• Stand-up Comedians Are More Likely To Die Prematurely, With The Funniest Most Likely To Go First
• Man Allegedly Scans Penis At Supermarket Checkout
• This Pastor Has Convinced Us: Pokemon Are Actually Cyber-Demons
• ‘Pokemon Go’ Leads Players To Find Naked Woman Vandalizing Church

Emails:

• Gladwin – “{short question} About younger furs”
• Gannon – “Some random shit”
• Jaxson Amber – “Fayroe’s Blueness”
• Otter – “Looking to move into the area”
• Michael the Fox – “Bit harsh on the minecraft porn”

[Live] XXX-Files