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I know I'm not the only one of us who constantly gets stopped on the street by the locals and asked "So what's going on down there? What's furry all about?" I don't mind explaining it now and then but I have to do it alot, on the street or in the stores. I've come up with a safe PC explaination of furry and the con to feed people, but I often wonder what other people are telling the locals who ask.
So I thought it would be nice if the con staff could come up with their own explaination of "what's going on" and post it in a way that we could print it off and have it on hand so when we got the question, we could simply hand them a slip of paper and keep moving.
As a pessimist, I'm pretty good at trouble shooting and I can already see some problems with this idea. Folks just walking around handing them out without being asked or leaving them here or there. Handing them out might be seen as a invitation to our other wise private convention thus making it seem its open to the public (the reason that we do not allow any signage outside of the convention.) The litter caused by people dropping them, ect.
But it was a thought.
You could instead attend the panel "Presenting Furry Fandom To The Public." Handouts are an interesting idea, but (1) it does create a litter problem, and (2) it's rather impersonal. If I came across a parade or some other spectacle and said, "say, what's going on here?" I think I'd be a little put off if someone just shoved a piece of paper at me and grunted, "Read it for yourself."
Furries are friendlier than that.
I'll add to this by saying it's also downright creepy. To be prepared with a pre-made packet is nothing short of religious cult in terms of making folks uncomfortable. It's a social fandom, make it work for ya.
Or maybe we could open a multi-million dollar "wellness center" in Florida and California and invite celeb-...
This would also be my concern. There's a very fine line between informing and proselytizing where dogmas are concerned.
>"Presenting Furry Fandom To The Public."
Really? I didn't know there was a panel on that subject. Was it in the schedule?
Honestly my thought on it was to make sure every one was on the same page when explaining what furry was. You have some folks saying "Its like disney cartoons." and others saying "We're all writers and artists and web designers." and others saying other things.
I usualy "de-fur" myself when I go outside, tucking my badge down my shirt but I still hear the question as I walk around. We've been in Pitt for a few years now but they still are clueless about us it seems. A few of the businesses I stopped by didn't even know we were in town which I find odd since thsoe stores are some which we are more likely to go to and we do bring millions to the city every year. The only reason I could imagine they didn't know (other then no one telling them in person) is that those stores are in the dock district and thus not included in our con maps of pitt. I'm speaking of the costume store that's like 4 blocks away and the novelty store about the same distance on the other side of the street. I'm sure alot of furs would check them out, specially since we all show up on thursday now with little to do other then wait 2-3 hours n the reg line.
I work in customer service or sorts and I'm used to babbling on to people about things but after you've had to stop and give a long explaination of what it is that's going on (I hate saying "Well its a gathering of artists/writers/web designers who specialise in anthropomorphics... Basicly Disney characters." and walking away) it would be nice to just say "The furries are back in town to dump 3 mill into your economy and incase you've missed the news the past 3 years, here's a flier with a better description and some web sites you can check out if you are really interested."
I think it's much better that we take the minute or two and give people a concise, polite explanation. If one needs to hurry, a capsule summary followed by "I could go on all day, but I'm about to miss A Big Event- if you want to learn more, come to the convention center and buy a day pass!"
I do understand, though. About five times over the course of the convention I gave the "What Anthrocon is about" speech to folks, in durations from thirty seconds on the elevator to twenty minutes on Monday.
I was asked that question a couple times, one when I had to take a cab ride, the other when in the Rite-Aid. Both I gave simple explanations that I read off of the "What is furry?" on this website. Amazingly, it went over well for both people I spoke to, as I also mentioned the CSI: episode we all know and said it was just a lot of bunk. I enjoyed how I was at least listened to when I gave the clear side to everything. 
I also mentioned the CSI: episode we all know
A tip that was given to me by a person in PR once was the following: don't bring up negative publicity, talk about the positive stuff instead.
While we can't control what others may say about us, we can control what *we* say about us. Let's make the most of it.
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My LiveJournal - My Website - See what I'm doing on Twitter
True, but at times if you mention it correctly, it can work well. Like "Unlike bad publicity where some places will show it as a dirty side when it's really the exact opposite". Course, I am the kind of person that tends to give both sides of a story to ensure no one is left out of the dark.
But then again, it's not like I'm in PR so...I'll remember that for next time. 
Until the other person asks, "What *sort* of bad publicity?" Then you're kinda obligated to tell them. 
That's why I do not care to even discuss negative topics unless the other party broaches the subject first.
[Edit: I can understand the wanting to give both sides of the story angle, though.]
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My LiveJournal - My Website - See what I'm doing on Twitter
Yeah, I can see it from your side about it. Next time I'll just focus on the good stuff, since there is a good chance a lot of people never saw bad publicity. ^^
Exactly. There's no need to even mention any negatives unless the other party brings it up first. Rigel put it extremely well: "Don't try to define us by what we are not."
Credit to Xydexx for that, not me.
Karl Xydexx Jorgensen, Publications Director
ANTHROCON * June 24-27, 2010 in Pittsburgh, PA * Modern Stone-Age Furries!
It is kinda sad that the episode of CSI seems to be a pretty big link between the public and the fandom. While I was in the lobby, one of the regular guests in passing mentioned to the concierge something to the degree of, "You watch CSI? Those guys were on it." At least he didn't seem put off by the large numbers of fursuiters standing within 5 feet of him.
I think it would be awesome if we had someone in the fandom with high level media ties. Might finally get a episode of some show that alleviates some of the negativity that has built up over the years.
As for explaining "What is furry," To the public, I have only had to do it a few times. I did not know there was a panel for it or I definitely would have gone. I always find myself at a loss when trying to get across what the fandom encompasses because it is just so broad. I usually tell them what I am into and then direct them to one of the many websites that explain it better than I ever could. I think pamphlets would be more of a headache than anything, and also it might make us look like more of a cult than a fandom XP. Dogma for you?
As for the CSI Episode, I generally don;t mention it. When it's brought up- as it often is- I just say the following.
"Oh jeez, that episode. Y'know that's a TV show and not a documentary, right?"
and then I politely explain differences between the show and reality.
Y'know, I'm going to have to keep that phrase in mind. Saves me the trouble of telling them it's all a load of crap in a long winded speech.
I think it would be awesome if we had someone in the fandom with high level media ties. Might finally get a episode of some show that alleviates some of the negativity that has built up over the years.
Yeah I did think it was pretty cool that they used "Anthrocon." I was like ,"hopefully they got permission for that or UncleKage is gonna sue someone." Overall I know the portrayal was just poking fun at us for the most part. I mean I suppose we are a pretty easy target, being amomng the most unconventional sane people out there. Sometimes I even question the sane part when it comes to certian instances XP.
I suppose we will just have to let our influence convert people's view. I mean we have some of the most talented people I have ever seen, not just in the arts, but also technical fields. Time will tell how that plays out, but I can tell we are moving in the right direction.
Fair use. Not actionable.
But then, I was more flattered than anything else that we are "big" enough in Pittsburgh to be included on the show!
Yep! And I think it's a sign of better things to come, too.
Just keep working hard at keeping this a "family-friendly" convention, and I think everything will go well from there. It's nice to have the biggest icon of the furry establishment be one of the most presentable to the public.
...just so long as they don't wander into the dealer's den. Then all bets are off.
-There is no truth
It was funny, I actually wondered if they contacted ya all for permission to use the name?
Anyway, I kind of enjoyed it. Found it to be light humor, and was poking more fun at the reporter for being a twit by making fun of people, rather than making fun of the fandom it's self - well IMO anyway.
The only downside was the crappy suits they rented for the segment heh.
Speaking of press tho, Kage, can we get more information on what NG was doing their piece on? Or is that something to be spoken of later?
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release the penguins
-Fairie's Aire and Death March
It is kinda sad that the episode of CSI seems to be a pretty big link between the public and the fandom.
I'm honest and open about being furry, and I rarely have to talk about CSI because it rarely ever comes up. Most people haven't seen the episode or more likely haven't heard of furries, so it gives me a blank slate to work with. I can usually sum it up in a 30-second "elevator speech."
As to what furry fandom is about: We're fans of anthropomorphic animals. (The only problem is most people have no idea what the word means, less how to spell it, so "cartoon animals" tends to be the shortest way to the finish line.)
Karl Xydexx Jorgensen
Publications Director
Karl Xydexx Jorgensen, Publications Director
ANTHROCON * June 24-27, 2010 in Pittsburgh, PA * Modern Stone-Age Furries!
I have a few of those fliers. I tried searching for it online and can't find it. Luckily, I still have a few left. They are very good and well written. I found them at a con, don't know witch one however. I think I copy a few off for the next con I go to.
You could use the tactic I used last time I was asked that question at a con (I now take off my badge whenever leaving the hotel) just point at Kage, and say "go ask him" But I just started taking off my badge whenever leaving the con and haven't been asked that question in 7 years.
Maybe it's time I made a web page for "presenting Furry Fandom to the public."
Couldn't hurt. I thought the section on the main page about "what is furry" was a bit ...well...vague and couched rather too neutrally. Maybe just a 1 paragraph blurb .. hell I donno I'm rambling here. But constancy is a good thing in my opinion. Even on the local network news segment there were people giving differing views of what furry is - to some folks it was a fun fandom with art, interesting people, Redwall books, and the chance to be silly in costume - to others it's "I feel this spiritual connection" and to a small group it is "I am my animal".
Mayhap instead of a section on the website, an short blurb in the 2009 con book?
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release the penguins
-Fairie's Aire and Death March
Furry is an elephant and we are all blind.
I tend to tell people, both online and offline, that furries are : Fans of an artform, in which the artist melds human and animal qualities and characteristics together. What a furrie is beyond that depends upon the kind of furrie you are dealing with.
Really, are any two furs exactly the same when it comes to what they are into and enjoy the most within a fandom that is so diverse? That is why any explanation should be as broad as possible without getting too specific.
Why not do this instead?
Have some handouts ready, but if someone does ask you what AC and the fandom are all about tell them that you can explain it and that you wouldn't mind, but it may or may not take a while. If the don't seem like they have the time, tell them that if they want, you could just give them a handout instead.
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The desire to dream is primordial. Some evolutionary process has instilled life on this planet with the ability to dream. It is essential to survival. Even dogs dream.
If your getting tired of being asked those questions all the time, take your badges etc off when your walking up the street =P
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The big blue husky, Blooski!
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