Destination: Pittsburgh
 Location: Texas, U.S.A.
Website: [Link]
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I have a suggestion for everyone here. For the whole Furry Fandom, really--anyone who wants to hear it and partake. I want to organize a mass migration to Pittsburgh. I think we should create a Furry District there, like how many cities have a Gay District. We should all live there--not just visit for a few days out of the year, but make Pittsburgh (and specifically, the area around where the convention takes place) our permenant home. I know, this sounds a bit outlandish for a lot of you. "You're expecting us all to just leave our jobs and our lives behind and just move en masse to Pittsburgh?" Well, yeah, actually. Of course, not everyone's going to want to or have the means to, but let me put it this way: There is no doubt that our world--the world and community of the Furry Fandom--exists largely online, almost exclusively so. But when I was able to be in the presence of over 3300 of my own kind a week ago--over 3300 other people who share the same interests and passions that I share, that has made me feel so socially secluded from the rest of the world for so long....the feeling of "home" had never been so palpable. And I know I'm not the only one who feels this way. Furry is already such a close-knit community online....imagine what we would become if we created a true, geographical epicenter for ourselves that existed beyond the scope of a few days out of the year. And why Pittsburgh? Why not? They have been terribly accepting of us these last few years for AnthroCon--they really love having us there, it seems. Also, with so many of us living there already, commuting to AC each year (accepting that it's still held in the Steel City each year) will be a snap for so many of us, which could also cut down on how many of us need to stay in the convention hotels, allowing for more people who are traveling from afar to make use of the limited hotel space. I know a lot of this sounds like the brainspawn of post-con blues, but I'm looking around and practically everyone I know seems upset at their own life situations right now. We were all so much happier when we were physically together at AC this year--why should we be denying ourselves that sort of happiness for the sake of some life we don't really enjoy? Why are we insistent that a more sour mood is what's supposed to be the norm for anyone? We love AnthroCon--we love being around other Furries, because we love that sense of freedom, that liberation to really be ourselves. Why must it be so fleeting? So, yeah. I say as many of us that can and want to move to Pittsburgh should ASAP. The more the merrier. Not everyone will be able to come right away, but I want to start building this. Who's with me? |
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Er... if you're going to have a furry district, couldn't it be somewhere a little colder? Pittsburgh was mighty rough on the fursuiters this AC outside the Westin/DLCC....
(Also, someplace a wee bit less polluted would be nice. Four days of inhaling heavy metals were enough for me!)
--
iSKUNK!
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permalinkWebsite: [Link]
That could certainly be considered. As for heat and pollution--you're talking to a guy who currently resides in Houston, TX. Pittsburgh was a dream in that regard.
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permalinkLocation: Norton, MA
Hmm, this seems to be of an interesting topic. I myself wouldn't mind a furry district in Pittsburgh, PA. It would certainly make getting to the Convention Center a lot more easier. =D But I see one minor flaw in the whole setup. As with everyone staying close together all sharing one idea, there's bound to be some that are going to grow a bit bored of the fandom and explore other types. All's I'm saying is that maybe too much of a good thing can wind up turning for the worst. Yes, it is a great idea, and there is much potential. With a little more thought, it might work with little, or no problems. ^^
"Don't be a wierd boy." ~ Exile, Road Rovers
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permalinkTaking over a district of a big city is difficult and expensive.
How about instead, taking over an abandoned town, an empty space or a deserted island, renovating buildings and have a real secret society.
Noy
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permalinkLocation: Detroit
An abandoned town? How about Centralia Pennsylvania?
Just mind the underground mine fire that is still burning to this day.
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permalinkWebsite: [Link]
Still better than Detroit?
Ba-zing!
/kidding!
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permalinkLocation: Detroit
Anything is better then Detroit my friend.
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permalinkThis sounds quite interesting...um...details please?
-There is no truth
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permalinkBlog: [Link]
Wikipedia is your friend.
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permalinkIt seems like an impractical idea, and I can think of quite a few issues with it...but I am seriously considering relocating to Pennsylvania anyway, so if there -was- going to be a furry district there, I'd have to think pretty seriously about being part of it.
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permalinkWebsite: [Link]
There are already hyperdense areas of furs in the country as is. See: Greater Boston/Eastern New England and Florida
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permalinkLocation: Northern VA
*cough* and Northern VA\Dc\MD
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permalinkWebsite: [Link]
NJ/MD is another one but I'm unfamiliar with the density. We've been known to have 60-person meets up here on a whim, so I'm judging by that. FL does the same thing with the OC furs. (Who are fantastic btw)
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permalinkNo problem, we're quite dense here.
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permalinkLocation: Finland, beyond civilisation
"we're quite dense here"
I had to laugh for the double meaning of that.
And anyways, for me, moving to America might be a little too big step, meh, nevermind.
I love toying with the idea though
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permalinkWebsite: [Link]
Hey- Don't count it out. I've got two Brit friends who are coming over within the next six months.
(Both into the NJ/MD area now that I think about it... You guys have a point...)
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permalinkWebsite: [Link]
Yes, I realized that there are many international Furries for whom this plan would be much more difficult. Believe me--I know practically first-paw about how ridiculous the red tape for legally migrating to the USA is. I have a mate who lives in England, and we tried to get him legally migrated here on a work visa, only to have the paperwork denied in the final stage because of an oversight...four years of planning, preparing, and waiting, only to be told "no" at the very end of it all. Needless to say, I have since become a strong advocate in immigration reform that would allow legal migration here to be much simpler.
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permalinkLocation: Walker, LA
Website: [Link]
For me these conventions are like Disney World. It's a great place to visit, but I wouldn't want to live there.
As for the location, the only place that would be cool enough for fursuiters year-round would be North Canada or Antarctica. If you're willing to just wear ears and tail year round, the South is not a bad place. Everyone here is friendly, and fairly well accepting of my decision to wear my ears everywhere, everyday, and there is still enough undeveloped area, that a specific community development would be much less expensive.
I still don't think this would work very well for very long. If you do manage to get enough support and Furries to do this, please let Dr. G (FurryStudy@NIAGARACC.SUNY.EDU) know, as this would be the great for her Furry study.
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permalinkLocation: Indiana, PA. USA.
Website: [Link]
i like the way you think
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permalinkLocation: Roseville, CA, USA
Well - first, there is the little factor of Earning a Living. Right now, Pennsylvania in general, and Pittsburgh in particular, are not the most blessed with job opportunities, or at least not for the skill sets that seem to possessed by Furry Fans. Many of us have nice established jobs, or professional positions, which do not translate well to the new location; I work for a railroad, for example. If I were to relocate, assuming that the local pike neds people in their communications department, I would have to throw away 20 years of seniority, and start at the bottom of the roster, with no job protections in case of job layoffs. And I've already tried to get a Train, Engine, Yard (TEY) position, eventually leading up to Locomotive Engineer - and been turned down for being too imaginative and intelligent. As a rough measure of financial security - did you notice the number of panhandlers and idle youth hanging around the public areas of Pittsburgh?
Believe it or not - there once was a very stignificant furry presence in Pittsburgh - the "Furry House in Squirrel Hill". It was sort of a "Prancing Skiltaire" for furry students attending Carnegie-Mellon University.
And...IF you are willing to believe in Werewolves...there are reputed to be two genuine packs in North America. One is on the backslope of the High Sierra Nevada in California, near the town of Bishop, rumored to include in tis territory a little alpine lake called Lake Sabrina...
...And the other one is reputed to be IN Pittsburgh.
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