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Now, whenever I hear furries talk about their media portrayal, it's usually in a negative sense.  So I'm wondering, what would you like to see in a furry documentary or news article that would be up to your standards as a furry?  I don't want to hear something like, "To portray the fandom in a positive light..."  I know that's what every furry wants.  I want to know what specifically about the fandom you want people to know about...  So in other words, when you hear of a furry documentary or news article, how do you want it to be?

Got the idea when I read TWP's post here.

About fursuiting, the roleplays, fursonas, all the basic information on furries. It would most likely help those struggling with the furreh to learn and expand their knowledge.

I actually want them to talk about how people get into the fandom more. I know there are a ton of furries who are here because they were suicidal or depressed. The fandom has saved many lives, mine included, that I dont think many people know about. I wish more people knew, I guess, just how essential the fandom is to some people's well beings....

the article that i participated in only just brushed the fringes of what i'd like a full 'story' done on.

i'd like to see more about the artwork in all its forms that it inspires, how it helps people with real life problems (as jet has stated), how it can change people for the better (curb bad habits), how it can help break up a less interesting persons lifestyle (wake eat work sleep = daily routine.

we need to be open about how we are, yeah sure some of us are even by my standards 'different' (otherkin for example) but i'll never discriminate against it and to be honest, it's so much fun talking to people with vast personality differences.

being able to describe how and why we like what we do in a positive light, we need to relate it to a subject that the general public would understand and relate to. this helps them understand the fun that we have.

paws

I actually want them to talk about how people get into the fandom more. I know there are a ton of furries who are here because they were suicidal or depressed. The fandom has saved many lives, mine included, that I dont think many people know about. I wish more people knew, I guess, just how essential the fandom is to some people's well beings....

Im with Jet, thats the same way i got into the fandom. Also show the people the charity work we do 

Id like to see the media talking about more then just the sexual side of the fandom. actualy teaching about the clean art works and how people get into this life style. Everytime the news ever reportes something thats furry related it always ends up being about dirty role-playing or something along those lines.

Id like to see the media talking about more then just the sexual side of the fandom. actualy teaching about the clean art works and how people get into this life style. Everytime the news ever reportes something thats furry related it always ends up being about dirty role-playing or something along those lines.

being able to describe how and why we like what we do in a positive light, we need to relate it to a subject that the general public would understand and relate to.

I pulled up both these quotes because I feel they answer each other and most people dont notice this. Like Typing said, people need to connect what we do to something they already know about to understand and label it. People like to label things. Now to JakeWolf, the reason for this is simple. People understand, or think they understand, sexual deviance. They connect our fandom as a whole to that thing that they already know about because the biggest part of our fandom is art. And where do most people nowadays find art? The internet. And on the internet, what type of art is looked at a lot by a lot of people. And when certain types of art are looked at more often, what happens to said art? Right! It multiplies and spreads like wildfire. Its gotten to the point where you cant even look up the word "Furry" in Google images without seeing a sexual image before the first lines are done. I bet there is a sexual picture of a furry before you hit the fifth picture on the list, huh? And when people look something up, they use Google mostly. So there's where that comes in a lot of the time. People hear Furry, look it up, see the images, connect it immediately, and label us as such. After all, a first impression is a lasting impression....

Id like to see the media talking about more then just the sexual side of the fandom. actualy teaching about the clean art works and how people get into this life style. Everytime the news ever reportes something thats furry related it always ends up being about dirty role-playing or something along those lines.

I happen to be an "owned" fur as it was. My owner doesn't see me as a fur in the sexual sense (although we are together as a couple as well). Me as a fur to him is actually really innocent, things that people would be able to see in public and just think - aww that's cute... Kinda way. But I do know that when I wore my collar around my neck, even my own mother, instantly jumped to thinking bdsm, so I think that is also another issue that may need to be addressed in public as well.

And like some others, being a fur has helped me overcome depression. I think these points should be pointed out.

I know that this has been said over and over but I really wish that they would start playing down the sexuality of the fandom. People have sex, it's just human nature, and it's really no one's business how two people decide they want to have at it.

Another thing that would be nice is if they would recognize the artist and other people in the fandom. I am a fursuiter too, but I'd much rather be known for my artwork. It just isn't fair to overlook the other parts of the fandom that make us a whole. They need to focus on the people of the fandom, and let it be shown that we ARE people.

The charity work, and the loving nature of furries. THIS one needs to be talked about more. I know that with the Fernandos cafe being kept open thanks to us that we are starting to get publicity for that. However, it just isn't enough. We are a family, and it needs to show.

If we were talking a documentary then I'd want it to go over everything: from the people who just like anthro art/film/literature, to fursonas, fursuits, and lifestylers, to the weirdest imaginable porn that makes no sense to most people whether they're furry or not. People who think of it as a pleasant fiction, people who try to live it out, people who think they have the misplaced soul of a wolf... whatever. Basically, I'd just want them to go over the whole thing, "good" or not.

I think the perception that it's some dark secret adds more to the belief that it's all about sex than actually seeing that bit explained along with everything else would. Actively trying to play that stuff down or avoid mentioning it will only make people more suspicious.

On the whole, things would be better if furries weren't looked at in such a stereotypical manner. In other words, it's clear to me that one episode from CSI, for example, would drive any furry crazy because it has already said that the furry fandom is 100% sexual. So let's abolish that stereotype together!

I honestly would just prefer to not be portrayed in the media at all.   o.o

I honestly would just prefer to not be portrayed in the media at all.   o.o

I think we can all agree with this. It's just that now we HAVE to deal with the media.

[ARE THE FURRIES THEMSELVES]

Taking a cue from this thread here:
http://forums.furtopia.org/index.php?topic=38095.msg735357;topicseen#msg735357

The only people that are making the fandom look bad and creating the negative press ARE THE FURRIES THEMSELVES, not the media! The more you whine and complain about what the media is doing to the fandom, and the more you "advertise" (talk and/or show) about any bad aspects within the fandom, then the more the media (or others) will pick up on that stuff and write about it. The media isn't to blame here, folks. It's us! We're the ones creating the drama and negativity. Need more proof? Just go look in a mirror sometime.

Simple. I don't want them to be portrayed in the media. If we're overlooked, we won't get publicity. By not getting publicity, we're avoiding internet riots.

[just don't care]

The initial public reaction to anything new or different is always bad, especially something like furry which manifests itself through art and behavior.

The simple fact is that most people just don't care about furries, unless they are furries themselves, consciously or unconsciously.

Being secretive and hiding from the world is not the right way, what do we have to be ashamed of? Now, we shouldn't be actively seeking recognition, that's called "attention whoring" but if someone wants to know something about furries or if a filmmaker wants to include furries in their documentary, we shouldn't say no or try to hide it, because the eyes of the world are not going to hurt us and people don't always judge us in a negative way because of who we are.

The media's been swinging towards good press lately.  I subscribe to the "Furries in the Media" LJ stream and the last year has seen a marked improvement in the tone of the articles and the length/degree of research done beforehand.  You see a lot more articles talking about art and writing and far less even mentioning Vanity Fair and CSI.

That said, I wish the TV presenters wouldn't be so high-handed about it.  American video journalists seem to believe that they have to be superior to everything and it shows.  This isn't specific to furries, they do it to everyone.

I would like for people to see that fursuiting isnt weird, collars arent just for bondadge, and that we are not zoophiles! This is one of the few things that make me mad!   Just because we are different doesnt mean we are weirdos. You could walk up to anyone of us one the street, and not notice we are furrys unless we are wearing something blatantly furry (collars,ears,fursuit,etc) or we tell you!

I wasnt saved from suicide or deppresion, but furry was a major pick me up. I care about the way i look now, am more active, try harder in school, etc. because of furry. Being furry is like therapy for me. I honestly think that both sides are to blame. Furries should ignore the negative comments. Nonfurries who hate us need to buzz off, we dont want your opinion, byebye.

There will always be someone with a negative opinion regardless of whatever interest you can name. Someone will always project some sort of bad/erotic intent on any activity. I've seen it with the shooting sports, auto enthusiasts, and even model building. Maybe someone isn't compensating for some defect. Maybe someone discovered a new fun activity/community in which to participate as their personal comfort level and budget permits. What is the harm in creating fantasy charaters, and maybe becoming them for an hour or so. It can be therapeutic, and some even earn a living at it.

Look at Renaissance Festivals and historic reenactment events. Civil War reenactors get bashed regularly on the local morning show here, and those folks spend as much on their costume and accessories as a dedicated fursuiter. What is so bad about turning yourself into a giant plush toy and making children laugh? Somewhere, some cynic will craft an elaborate response. But as "furry rocker"
Ted Nugent says (paraphrasing here), When you give the best you've got and get kicked in the head, give your best anyway.

I agree, but people automatically asume that there is something wrong with us. Not even just US, even other fandoms. Goths are satanists, blonds are dumb, californians are all surfer dudes, furries are pervs, etc.. Just basic stereotypes from people who arent that bright. They WANT something to be wronng with us to make themselves feel superior. I get some very unpostable insults from a guy at my school just because I am furry, and he insults you guys (whom he has never meet) based on assumptions and popular belifs. He doesnt even know what the fandom is but he cannot resist making rude jokes at its expense. He makes me very...displeased. 

I honestly would just prefer to not be portrayed in the media at all.   o.o

I think we can all agree with this. It's just that now we HAVE to deal with the media.

I like this, I like how furries are a pretty small, secretive fandom that really takes a special kind of person to find and join. I think if we were portrayed in the media, I don't think much good would come out of it. Sure it might get people to stop trolling us, but playing with trolls as haters is half the fun of the fandom xD

I honestly would just prefer to not be portrayed in the media at all.   o.o

I think we can all agree with this. It's just that now we HAVE to deal with the media.

I like this, I like how furries are a pretty small, secretive fandom that really takes a special kind of person to find and join. I think if we were portrayed in the media, I don't think much good would come out of it. Sure it might get people to stop trolling us, but playing with trolls as haters is half the fun of the fandom xD

Actually, I don't agree with this.  I've been very happy about the furry fandom since I found it.  And if it were more widely known about, I would have probably found it earlier.  And that would have been nice.