i dont understand some things...
im haveing a hard time with these...
1.why do some people call us perverts when not all of us furries enjoy "yiff" (like myself...I HATE YIFF)
2. does pre regestering and so one effect access in the con?
3.why do some people hate us furries alot as for others love us?
4.where is the best place to find fursuit parts (fur,foam,ect.ect)
5.whats the minimum price for artwork or other nic-naks
lucky greeting: hello 
whats up?
nightow greeting(and farewell): see you in the next life >:D
Once you have your registration badge, there's no way for anyone to tell if you preregistered or not.
Those who know at what number pre-reg ended probably could 
*whistles innocently*
Seriously, we're usually so busy in the weeks between Pre-Reg closing and opening Registration lines that I bet there are only a very few who actually know what the highest pre-reg number is... like Chiaroscuro. I know I personally have no clue. It's definitely a four-digit number. :-)
It was 3106. ..and I had to look it up.
Pre-Registration is very much the way to go, by the way; the lines are shorter and more more rapidly, and the cost will be somewhat lower. The only difference in 'access' for Pre-registration versus On-site registration is for Supersponsors; Only Pre-registered Supersponsors get access to the Luncheon.
--Chi
thanks! :3 but now i hate thinks like csi and others that lie bout us.... SELFISH "BAKAS" (baka=english translation= idiot)
but still...thank you lots!
kristian cook
good info,good layout...wow 
thanks ~wags tail~
lucky rokku
GREAT! more work! >:D talk show hosts,csi,ect...pack you bags! its YOUR turn to go to hell!
nightow rokku
lucky greeting: hello whats up?
nightow greeting(and farewell): see you in the next life >:D
I don't think you should take that one episode as a "lie". Think of a child who gets injured or killed using some kind of new toy. It may be perfectly safe in the hands of others, but to that child's parents, it's a horrible object that should be destroyed and never produced again. Another parent could tell them their child had no problems whatsoever, but to the first parent who actually experienced it, it's shocking and life-changing. And it makes for sensational news, the kind of "Your child may be at risk!" stories that get so much attention and breed fear.
Shows are supposed to be entertaining, and an episode about a group of fursuited weirdos having psychedelic orgies with each other sounds much more entertaining than "well, we sit around in a circle, compared things we paid other people to draw, and make really dated jokes about Monty Python".
CSI is fiction. By definition it's untrue. Strictly speaking it's not a "lie" in the sense of having the intent for someone to believe it to be true, but the producers don't mind if people start believeing elements in their stories to be true -- their main concern is to gather a big enough audience for the network to sell to advertisers, so that the network orders more shows from them. I've heard that some attorneys and judges are now asking potential jurors if they've watched CSI and may use that as a basis to consider dismissing them from the jury pool.
"Television is not the truth! Television is a goddamned amusement park, that's what television is! Television is a circus, a carnival, a travelling troupe of acrobats and story-tellers, singers and dancers, jugglers, side-show freaks, lion-tamers and football players. We're in the boredom-killing business! If you want truth, go to God, go to your guru, go to yourself because that's the only place you'll ever find any real truth! But, man, you're never going to get any truth from us. We'll tell you anything you want to hear. We lie like hell!" -- "Network" by Paddy Chayefsky
I'm not at all surprised to hear that, but I can't say I knew about any CSI-related dismissals. Interesting info. I never assume anything like that could happen on my own, I prefer personal experiences to obviously-dramatized programs.
wow...thats clever...so you saying that they just dont understand us?
kristian cook
oooh smart thinking :3
lucky rokku
...SO?!?
nightow rokku
lucky greeting: hello whats up?
nightow greeting(and farewell): see you in the next life >:D
Just to be sure...you're posting under the guise of multiple people, right? At first I thought you were responding to multiple peoples' remarks in one post.
yes...i am what? i like roleplay!
kristian
lucky greeting: hello whats up?
nightow greeting(and farewell): see you in the next life >:D
If you arrive at night after registration lines have closed, you can still go to con-ops andpick up your badge and attend the late-night functions if you preregistered. Otherwise, you'll have to go back to your hotel room and wait until the registration lines open in the morning. So definitely preregister!
I can give my thoughts on #1 and #3.
1. As varied as human sexuality can be, there's a pretty hard line between "yep, JUST into other humans" and anything that could be conveyed as "sex with animals". The loudest of a group are the most easily heard, and once it gets out that a small portion of the fandom are open about their sexuality, it's easy (and entertaining) for the public to convey us as over-sexed zoophiles. Also, there's a blurred line between being able to wear something you enjoy, and wearing full-on BDSM gear out in public. Some people do use fursuits for sex, and once you know that, it's hard not to imagine the rest of them doing so as well.
Also, we're sexual creatures by nature. If you're alive, there's a good chance you have some kind of sex drive. And if you're at a furry fandom, there's a good change you harbor at least some kind of attraction to anthro characters (or maybe even animals, who knows). While Anthrocon doesn't exist as a purely sexual gathering, you can't just pretend it isn't there, or act like you're completely disgusted by it. I take "yiff" as anything sexual involving aspects or individuals considered furry in any way, and while I can respect the folks who have zero interest in anything sexual whatsoever, I'm pretty sure you're heavily outnumbered.
3. People don't always understand everything, it's part of life. Some people get scared of things they don't understand. Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate. Yes, I'm a dork for saying that. While I'm probably not the next furry messiah, bringing furry acceptance to the masses, I think everyone needs to keep in mind that you're in the public eye. I'm all for expressing yourself, being creative, and all-around weirdness, but keep in mind that you're around a lot of "normal" people as well. Before you get upset about "fursecution", try to imagine how you look to someone who has never heard of "furry", as vast a term as that can be.
No one truly hates furries. The people who say they do are either A: Simple trolls, or B: Hopeless followers of the trolls, trying to fit in.
By extension, they hate human psychology as a whole. Anthropomorphic critters are a basic archetype.
@MiltoniusPrime: Although I've made peace with them by now (and don't look at the most prurient materials), I sadly feel many kinks. How would I rid myself of them?
Straightening shampoo.
*rimshot*
you are a human being.
you're going to have a sexual interest in some things that are not the norm. everyone does. to think you can just turn that part of you off is naive and is only going to lead you to more problems down the road - repressing things isn't good.
all you need to do is not bother other people with those things, talk about them at inappropriate times, or impose your interests on them and you're good.
But going hog-wild over them isn´t smart either. Moderation is key.
You also have to take into account censorship laws and uptight relatives.
This was embarassing. I´d still like to downplay them a little, to not contribute to the stereotypes surrounding the fandom.
Then just...don't? Just because you're into something doesn't mean you have to share it with everyone around you, whether they want to see it or not. That's probably one of the reasons the public has such an odd image of the fandom, because a few members confuse "the ability to express yourself" with "dress me in bondage gear and ride me around a hotel lobby".
If it makes you feel better, I have been to every Anthrocon and have yet to see anything that I thought was objectionable. That isn't to say that there isn't some bad behavior going on (with the number of people who go odds are that there will be a drunk or two, or that kids will be kids (anyone less than around 25 from my perspective) and someone will do something stupid) but Anthrocon takes it reputation very seriously and such things are dealt with quickly and fairly. If you see anything that makes you uncomfortable you can always talk to staff or security but the chances of you having to do so are pretty small.
It kinda does, I allways knew that there will be a few if not alot of drunk people during the night protion of a con. I was a little worried that I might see something that I will never be able to unsee. Ive read the posts about someone did this and someone did that, I know most of it may be hearsay but I still have that worry for when I bring my mother so she can finally see what I have been raving about this whole time.
Simple solution to the "drunk people" problem? Go to bed at a reasonable hour. :-)
Seriously, really, the vast, vast, VAST majority of Con goers are just regular peeps with a job (or school) and a creative hobby. Stick with the general flow of the convention, and you really shouldn't have a problem. Several Congoers bring their parents (noteably Uncle Kage and Giza), and several congoers ARE parents (or grandparents)! It's not hard to find someone to talk to about regular everyday things... take a peek at some of the topics on here to see what kinds of jobs we hold, where we live, and what kind of other activities hold our interest.
Also, the one person streaking across the football field is talked about waaay more than the 20,000 fully clothed fans who just come to enjoy the game. For every "Listen to what THIS person did!" post, there are dozens, if not hundreds, of regular con-goers who go with the flow and have a good time without making headlines.
I live in a barracks full of Marines, so drunk people aren't problem. I guess I cant really describe on what Im worried about seeing, other than what was descibed in MiltoniusPrime comment with people being confused with the ability of expressing yourself. That kinda gave me a scare considering I have never been to Anthrocon and nor has my mom. What would be considered the general flow of the convention and what are these jobs you speek of?
Wow. I never thought my playful prodding of furry social awkwardness might influence someone for or against coming to Anthrocon. And I'm not even on staff yet...(how early do you get the staff icon if you're going to be on it the following year?)
If you're worried your mom might see something objectionable, keep this in mind: Kage brings his grandmother. The guy who runs everything brings his immediate family, and I'm sure if anyone was to feel the brunt of all of this weirdness, it'd be him.
You're not going to accidentally walk into an orgy. If your mom is okay with you wearing tails, or seeing people in fursuits, or random public nerdiness, you're in the clear.
Im still fairly new to the whole convention thing so I dont know what to expect. I just want to make sure that my mom is comforable before I indulge in everything furry considering Im the one who asked her to come. I have heard Uncle Kage is a great person to be around, I even saw his youtube video about what he called a red huscky and a lepord cheetah guy if I can recall. I couldnt stop laughing. My mom is more than ok with tails and fursuits. She is the one who talked me into buying a fursuit. I had to talk her out of buying it for me and that I would buy it myself. Thank you I feel lot better about going and bring her along.
Kage can be a great person to be around but not usually at Anthrocon. There he has the responsibilities of being the Chairman and 'public face' of the con. He is constantly on the move to either be somewhere he needs to be or to handle a problem only he can deal with or... or... He's much more approachable at other furry cons, which seems odd but is understandable. Don't worry about 'objectionable behavior' in public at Anthrocon. The only 'public displays of affection' seen there are hugs and quick kisses. At least, that's the worst I've seen and I've attended most years since 1999. And, since I'll be 60 before the next Anthrocon, I'm probably older than your mother.
It would make sence that he is so busy at Anthrocon. Ill try not to worry about objectionable behavior, everybody has ensured me that I wont see anything like that so I feel alot better. Yes you are older than my mom she is only in her early 40's.
Greetings, Rashuko!
Ill try not to worry about objectionable behavior, everybody has ensured me that I wont see anything like that so I feel alot better.
At AnthroCon, "Objectional Behaviour" usually consists of:
1) Bored furry fans, waiting in long lines to register (because they didn't make the wise choice to pre-register), playing a game of Volley Ball with an inflated beach-ball, against the rules in the David Lawrence Convention Center (DLCC), and drawing down the wrath of the Dorsai Irregulars (Con Security). There is a video clip of this, somewhere.
2) Going up to the roof of the DLCC, near twilight on the First Day (which is pretty much spent on arriving and settling in, the official start of the convention is actually Friday), and - for the benefit of "improving" the composition of a photograph, going beyond the safety railings to get up someplace really hazardous and risking life and limb - enough so that the DLCC staff had to immediately close off all roof access and complain to AnthroCon's Chairman (Uncle Kage) about it. The details of this are a bit fuzzy, but be assured that the Chairman made it clear that he was Most Displeased with this, and made the guilty party essentially persona-non-grata for the duration of the convention by revoking his badge, and making him an object of public scorn, yet while maintaining that person's public anonymity, by simply referring to him as "Mr. 'H'". The point was made, and it is not soon likely to be a stunt repeated by anyone else.
3) For some strange reason - no one knows quite why - certain furry fans, when confronted with an elevator, seem to lose the upper reasoning faculties, and behave like a ferret confronted by a shiny ball of aluminum foil. When in this state they become prone to overload the elevator, or develop this insane desire to jump when the elevator starts moving, or to see if they can make the fault alarm ring or press all of the floor buttons whether they are going to those floors or not - in other words, "playing games" with the elevator, and drawing the ire of the other folks who are also riding in it. The Dorsai Irregulars have a special detail to handle this particular objectional behavior, partly to keep the elevators in good running order and efficiently moving the optimum number of people - and to keep the miscreants from being pummeled to a pulp by their fellows.
4) Furry fans are a friendly and accepting lot, and - at least when in the company of a few thousand fellow fen - are likely to stop at the moment they see any acquaintances whom they haven't seen or talked with since the last convention which they all attended. Unfortunately, this might occur at the very top (or the very bottom) of the escalator, in the stairwell of the Fire Escape, in the middle of aisles of the Dealers' Den, or right in front of the doorway leading there; and before you know it, the passage is blocked by a knot of furry fans. When this happens while waiting in line to get into a popular event like the Masquerade or "2's Rant" or "Uncle Kage's Story Hour", what is supposed to be an orderly line devolves into a large amorphous gaggle of people, all talking animatedly and loudly, making as much noise as a rookery of seagulls and sealions, and making the Fire Marshal nervous. Again, the Dorsai Irregulars are compelled to step in and restore order from the chaos.
5) Some furry fans will ignore the warnings to not use a Debit Card to reserve and pay for their hotel rooms, and will then find that their funds for the convention are frozen. This sort of behaviour is self-correcting, however, and sadder-but-wiser furry fans who fall victim to it rarely ever do the same thing again.
6) AnthroCon attendees have been able to establish good relations with some of the local merchants and purveyors of food, such as the local pizzarias, the chinese buffets, Corey's, and the now hallowed eatery known during AnthroCon as FURnando's. However - every so often - some miserable wretch will have the temerity to stand in line at Corey's, and order a cheesesteak sandwich with Swiss Cheese. There are some acts which are truly intolerable, and such people are beyond redemption and the Angels shall Weep for them.
You are a Marine - highly disciplined and equipped both mentally and physically for High-Intensity conflict of short duration*. I think that you can Handle It, and I seriously question whether our typical "objectional behaviour" is likely to draw more than a sharp "tsk, tsk!" of rebuke from the Mother of a Marine.
Semper Fi!
*Note: That is - if you want it to be decisive and of short duration...you send in the Marines.
Thank you very much. It was both funny and very informative. I just wanted to make sure that none of that stuff would happen because I know that not everything can be policed and there are some blind spots were security or the Dorsai are not, but after reading this I have the up most confidence that she will not see anything objectionable. I have tried to keep her blind to the more darker part of the furry fandom and I was hoping to keep it that way. Thank you for the motivational words.
Oorah, Semper Fi do or die, death before dishonor
I don't get it... Is there something wrong with swiss cheese?
It's a Philly thing: you wouldn't understand. 
As an ex-Philadelphian (born, lived there until I was 27), there are certain Philadelphia... idiosyncrasies... that are set in stone. The Philly Cheesesteak has some of those odd limits. The acceptable cheeses are Provolone, American (yellow by preference, although white is okay) and Cheese Whiz (which I personally find repulsive). Swiss cheese is simply... unacceptable. The 'fancier' the cheese, the more unacceptable it is. Brie or Gorgonzola might actually get you attacked as a heretic.
I don't get it... Is there something wrong with swiss cheese?
Oh, no - there is nothing wrong with Swiss Cheese per se. But to ask for it in a Philly Cheesesteak Sandwich? It just isn't done.
It's like putting Katsup in your morning cup of coffee. Or requesting a Dill Pickle in your Chocolate Eclair. Or putting Grey Poupon mustard on your stack of flapjacks. Or topping off a Hot Fudge Sundae with Vinegar instead of hot fudge.
To order a cheesesteak and ask for it with Swiss Cheese is the absolute quickest way to declare that You're not from around Here...(ARE you, Stranger...?) It draws unwanted attention; people will stop what they are doing and utter a gasp as they stare at you and whisper among themselves, little children will laugh and point and throw rocks at you, dogs will nip at your heels.
...Or at least, that's what would likely happen in Philadelphia (known as "the City of Brotherly Love", and whose Chamber of Commerce motto declares itself as "The City that Loves You Back"). In Pittsburgh people are just likely to fall into a stunned silence and ladies will come close to swooning dead away, with a fit of The Vapours. In either case, it's best to not risk it, and go with the Provolone instead!
******
EDIT: All right, perhaps we may be slightly exaggerating the effects here; Corey's is a fine dining establishment, and the staff do wish to please their customers. If you really, really want to order a Philly Cheesteak Sandwich with Swiss Cheese, they will, in all probability, make it that way, just for you - but the man at the cash register will look you in the eye and ask if that is really how you want it, glance at Corey, who will nod his approval, then nod to the grill man, who will make your steak sandwich on a spot well away from all the other stuff on the grill, all the while muttering to himself; and the server will then wrap it while discreetly shaking his head; put it in a bag, and immediately hand it to you - and as soon as you are out the door, the grillman will start to decontaminate the corner of the grill where he cooked your sandwich, and the server will thoroughly wipe down his cutting board and prep space.
Good Luck!
I`ve always considered Provolone to be the quintessential cheese in a cheesesteak but then I grew up in Pittsburgh not Philly.
Well, in that case, I always love upsetting the status quo when it is as ridiculous as all that.
And I'm not even on staff yet...(how early do you get the staff icon if you're going to be on it the following year?)
If you bounce a quick note to giza, he'll take care of the matter when he's got a spare moment. He probably just didn't know that you'd been staff-ified.
If you're worried your mom might see something objectionable, keep this in mind: Kage brings his grandmother.
Technically, it's his mom (he's old enough that he's probably run out of grandparents by now), and she is familiar with some wildness; legend has it she was a biker, back in the day. Neverhteless, the point stands. Some members of the board bring their parents, and--even more telling--several long-time members of the security team, who have to deal with the problems when they arise, bring their kids and grandkids.
You're not going to accidentally walk into an orgy. If your mom is okay with you wearing tails, or seeing people in fursuits, or random public nerdiness, you're in the clear.
Agreed. Most dorsai i've spoken to have said the same thing i that i already thought--furries are herd and pack animals for the most part, and (despite colorful vocabularies) they're usually pretty well socialized, so it's really not so hard to keep them in line. In general, my experience is that if something sketchy is going on, it's probably in someone's private hotel room and there will be some indication of what you're about to walk into. You and your mom will be fine.
...what are these jobs you speek of?
Let me just list a few...
Chemist, Chef, Military personnel, Computer techs of all stripes, Auto mechanic, Website designer, Artist, Retail workers of all types, Musician, Personnel manager, Customer service, Truck driver, Teacher, uhhhh... my brain is frying.
Oh, and can't forget Band Instrument Repair Tech. *winks*
I see you ment jobs outside of the con, kinda threw me for a loop ther.
Also doctors, lawyers, office managers, biologists, puppeteers, postal workers, authors, veterenary students...
You name it, we've probably got one around somewhere.
That was one of my points. But I stated myself poorly. You're right. Thank you for the guidance (despite the misunderstandings).
It will go away in a while. Anthropomorphic characters are simply another form of cultural expression (however low-level alot, but not all, of the material may be). If it keeps growing the way it does, the furry fandom's fiercest critics are going to end up like Luddites of the artistic and media worlds. Their mostly unfounded claims become entirely null when you just choose what you like, and you stick to the friendliest hobbyist communities.
1, 3: For some, i think it's easier to write off what they don't understand than it is to find out if there really is anything to be concerned about. And subconsciously, i think some others like having someone to look down their noses at.
Also, a lot of media (not news, mind you--media, like talk show hosts) have found that we're easy pay dirt, because we already have a sketchy rep and some of our folks aren't cagey enough to avoid giving fodder to them. If something looks like it'll pull in easy ratings, that's always attractive, whether it messes with a lot of people's lives or not.
2: You'll need to either preregister or register to access designated convention spaces, so compared to doing nothing, it affects your access a lot. But for you the attender, the only difference between preregistering and registering is whether you stand in line for up to a couple of hours waiting to register and get your badge. Once you have your registration badge, there's no way for anyone to tell if you preregistered or not.
4: I'll let the experienced fursuit makers tackle this one, but i'd start with a good fabric store. They'll have fur, needles, strong thread...
5: Different artists sell their work at different prices. In the art show, i believe the absolute minimum starting bid anyone can allow is $1, but that's just off the top of my head; i don't have the paperwork handy to check. I will say that in the dealer's room, it's rare to comission an art badge for less than $10 or find a print of an existing artwork for less than $5 (though synnabar sometimes sells her irregulars for less).