Look, if I really didn't give a damn about people's feelings or their thoughts I wouldn't be writing this. Furthermore, I'm speaking for myself here, not in defense or support of Shawn or his actions. Shawn is my friend, but I'm not his apologist nor do I agree or take part in everything he does. Your willingness to lump me in with "these types of people" without the benefit of even discussing your problems with me shows the same kind of stereotyping and closemindedness that you complain Shawn's comic is guilty of with respect to the furries.
I don't know how you've reached the conclusion that I have some kind of hyprocritical hatred of furry art or costumes. I've made my living drawing animal characters and there's nothing I've drawn I haven't hung on my wall at work. I've also brought in my costumes to work. If I felt such distaste towards such things, I would stop going to furry conventions. I exhibited my art at Further Confusion this year and donated the sale of one piece to charity. I also spoke on a panel at FC several years ago on how to prepare a portfolio and, last year, I contributed to Toby Bluth and John Nunnemacher's animation panel. None of that seems to jibe with your contention that I somehow hold myself "above" other people in fandom.
What I *do* hate about furry fandom is the level of grade school politics and cliqueishness, which is amply demonstrated in this thread. If there's anything that makes me want to distance myself from the fandom, it's that and not the art or costumes.
You accusation that I don't respond to the other's posts is incorrect. I wrote to Furtech, Penh and Custer in e-mail because I think this is the sort of thing best discussed in private. I did not add them to any "list" for retribution. I tried to discuss the matter in a civil fashion and possibly resolve some misconceptions on both sides. Which is the whole point of asking your identity: I would like to try to do something contructive and lessen the amount of grief flying around, not increase it. If you're that frightened of some kind of asinine "revenge" scheme or you doubt my sincerity, fer chrissakes create a hotmail account or disguise your identity in some way. All I'm asking you to do is talk about what the problem is and see if there's some way of patching things up or at least reaching a point where finger-pointing and name-calling isn't necessary especially *years* after the fact.
I'm sorry that Shawn's comic hurt people. Some of those people like Tracy and Jimmy and Croc and Brian and Mitch I've spoken to. I have tried to offer enlightenment, as you call it, to the degree that's possible, but I can't excuse actions that were't mine or be held accountable for them. That's why I suggest if you want answers on what Shawn's done, you ask Shawn. I can only answer for myself and I'll be happy to address your specific problems with *me* and how I've hurt you. You ask me to explain myself effectively and I'm willing to do just that, but I can't respond let alone change based on vague, nebulous or false accusations. If you're unwilling to talk to me, even through a disguised address, we can talk here, although I don't think it's the best way to handle it (and Furtech would probably appreciate we take it somewhere other than his LiveJournal.)
If you have have no desire to do this, but prefer to cling to your antimosity, then this thread really isn't about being "mutually supportive" and "relaying [your] experiences with these types of people" is it? It's about continuing to blindly hate in the face of someone saying "hey, let's try to talk this out." And how does that make you any better than the people you berate?
Re: DaveDaveDave.
I don't know how you've reached the conclusion that I have some kind of hyprocritical hatred of furry art or costumes. I've made my living drawing animal characters and there's nothing I've drawn I haven't hung on my wall at work. I've also brought in my costumes to work. If I felt such distaste towards such things, I would stop going to furry conventions. I exhibited my art at Further Confusion this year and donated the sale of one piece to charity. I also spoke on a panel at FC several years ago on how to prepare a portfolio and, last year, I contributed to Toby Bluth and John Nunnemacher's animation panel. None of that seems to jibe with your contention that I somehow hold myself "above" other people in fandom.
What I *do* hate about furry fandom is the level of grade school politics and cliqueishness, which is amply demonstrated in this thread. If there's anything that makes me want to distance myself from the fandom, it's that and not the art or costumes.
You accusation that I don't respond to the other's posts is incorrect. I wrote to Furtech, Penh and Custer in e-mail because I think this is the sort of thing best discussed in private. I did not add them to any "list" for retribution. I tried to discuss the matter in a civil fashion and possibly resolve some misconceptions on both sides. Which is the whole point of asking your identity: I would like to try to do something contructive and lessen the amount of grief flying around, not increase it. If you're that frightened of some kind of asinine "revenge" scheme or you doubt my sincerity, fer chrissakes create a hotmail account or disguise your identity in some way. All I'm asking you to do is talk about what the problem is and see if there's some way of patching things up or at least reaching a point where finger-pointing and name-calling isn't necessary especially *years* after the fact.
I'm sorry that Shawn's comic hurt people. Some of those people like Tracy and Jimmy and Croc and Brian and Mitch I've spoken to. I have tried to offer enlightenment, as you call it, to the degree that's possible, but I can't excuse actions that were't mine or be held accountable for them. That's why I suggest if you want answers on what Shawn's done, you ask Shawn. I can only answer for myself and I'll be happy to address your specific problems with *me* and how I've hurt you. You ask me to explain myself effectively and I'm willing to do just that, but I can't respond let alone change based on vague, nebulous or false accusations. If you're unwilling to talk to me, even through a disguised address, we can talk here, although I don't think it's the best way to handle it (and Furtech would probably appreciate we take it somewhere other than his LiveJournal.)
If you have have no desire to do this, but prefer to cling to your antimosity, then this thread really isn't about being "mutually supportive" and "relaying [your] experiences with these types of people" is it? It's about continuing to blindly hate in the face of someone saying "hey, let's try to talk this out." And how does that make you any better than the people you berate?
-- Dave