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general furry discussion => furries on furry => Topic started by: Literate Lycan on June 20, 2016, 03:52:32 am
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(Moderators: This may have been an old forum topic. I want to start a new discussion thread)
At what age is a fan considered a greymuzzle?
Poll numbers from various furry research studies put the average greymuzzle threshold at 42. I've heard others suggest lower ages, all the way down to 30.
My opinion is that 30 is far too young. There's a substantial segment of the fandom in their 30s and I wouldn't consider any of them a furry version of old age pensioner. I would suggest the oldest 10% of the fandom, which would put the greymuzzle age somewhere in the early 40s. I'm good friends with a group of furs who are between 30 and 45 and I *might* consider the oldest one (at 45) a greymuzzle. I know and have met fans who are in their 50s and even older.
In the interests of disclosure: I'm 58. A greymuzzle by any standard. Less than 1 year in active fandom though I've probably been an unacknowledged furry for several years. And I'm a fursuiter. But never too old for the fandom.
I'd love to hear what others say...thanks!
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Back when I started in the fandom in 2003, I think the greymuzzle age was about 30-35. But as the years go by and the demographics and culture of the furry fandom change, that greymuzzle age can go higher or lower. I think an "average" greymuzzle age should be 40 or 45.
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I'm 53. Been furry all my life. But only known about the fandom for about 5 years now. I feel to young to be a grey muzzle. And I've never been to old to sit or hang around with anyone at any of the cons i've been to. If grey muzzle is a tittle given to someone who's been in the fandom for a long time than I don't count. If ti's age I'll concede.
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If grey muzzle is a tittle given to someone who's been in the fandom for a long time
Yeah, that's another thing. Some people tend to argue or think that a person has to be in the fandom for a certain period of time to be a greymuzzle. But I really don't know what this length of time should be.
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So i guess grey muzzle is like furry. It's there but hard to define.
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So i guess grey muzzle is like furry. It's there but hard to define.
Exactly. ;) As the old saying goes: Furry is what you make of it. The same could equally be said of greymuzzles.
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I'm 31, and compared to the younger set of furry fans, I am a greymuzzle (I even have the white hair growing in to prove it!). But compared to the greymuzzles that are in their 50s, I am still a young'un. I would like to say greymuzzles are definitely the furry fans who have been in the fandom for many years.
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The issue what is is a definition what is a grey muzzle lays in demographics. According to the furry survey the average age of the fandom is 23 with a peak of 19.
(http://www.adjectivespecies.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/38-age-1024x709.png)
http://www.adjectivespecies.com/2015/08/24/furry-demographics/
Note there a sharp drop off after the peak.
With is in mind There are two often sited definitions what is a geymuzzle is:
a. A furry 30 years old or older.
b. A furry that been in the fandom a long time (usually 10 year or more)
The problem with (b) is a person who finds the fandom at 10 can be in the fandom for ten years but still in the fandom.
The way I look at it is the point where one find the self outside both culturally and socially the younger average demo.
http://www.adjectivespecies.com/2015/08/24/furry-demographics/
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By Acton's definition a) I would not be a greymuzzle. By definition b) I would be a greymuzzle twice over. But as pointed out, that's not a great way to define it as you could well have people half the age of others being considered greymuzzle due to time spent in the fandom.
However, I generally consider a greymuzzle to be anyone who is significantly older than the local furry crowd (by at least 15 years), or in general someone at least 45-50 years old. Frankly there's too many furries I find that are in their 30s or close to it to consider that a greymuzzle. The poll may show that furries are younger, but how many of those stay furries? I find it more likely a large portion of those '19-23' range will not be furries in another few years as interests drift.
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I think it's fairly personal as to if you call yourself a greymuzzle or not. Do you feel old or older? Do you feel like you've been in the fandom a long time? If so then sure, call yourself one, but I'm not sure there is (or should be) any fixed definition.
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I think it's fairly personal as to if you call yourself a greymuzzle or not. Do you feel old or older? Do you feel like you've been in the fandom a long time? If so then sure, call yourself one, but I'm not sure there is (or should be) any fixed definition.
I think this makes the most sense. I call myself a greymuzzle, but I don't consider myself "old" (so long as I ignore a few arthritic joints). If anything, the fandom has made me feel younger and more active than I've been in a long time.
I'm still interested in others' opinions, so please feel free to chime in.
Thanks!
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I think it's a bit of a loose term like furry in the way of: there's no real right way to define it and it comes to every person's choice to define it.
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I think it's fairly personal as to if you call yourself a greymuzzle or not. Do you feel old or older? Do you feel like you've been in the fandom a long time? If so then sure, call yourself one, but I'm not sure there is (or should be) any fixed definition.
I agree with Loc. I first started drawing furry characters over 30 years ago, but I don't feel
any older other than being a little stiff in a few joints.
At 69 I can probably call most of you furs young pups, but one is as young or old you as you
feel. I see no reason to feel it's childish to have fun and enjoy fantasy stories of anthro animasls
and dragons. I imagine some women still like to fantasize being a princess saved by a knight in
shining armor. Some might say I am in my second childhood, but if that's the case I never left
it. :D I have enjoyed reading and seeing anthro animal character stories since I was a little kid.
I think it's sad for people to think they should leave fantasy or dreams to the young, We live to
short a life to give up fun and fantasy. Not to say we shouldn't be responsible, but enjoy your
dreams. As long as they don't hurt others it should be fine in spite of those old stuffed shirts out
there who think we are foolish.
So greymuzzle or not I plan to be a furry as long as I can. Even it's just reading or listening to
stories about it. :orbunny:
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I consider myself a greymuzzle, being 36 currently. I've been in the community since the start of Furcadia. I still consider myself young as a person, but I look at how long one has been in the fandom as being a better qualifier than just physical age alone.
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I have been a cartoon fan since about age 3 and my Mom said that I thought Bugs Bunny was a real person. When Bugs turned 50 and all the books and compilation videos were released--it turned out that many people actually wrote him fan mail. Some of the early Hanna-Barbera cartoons showed characters getting into animal costumes. I thought it would be great to have a full-body costume and be a living cartoon character. That was over a half-century ago. I seem to be realizing that childhood wish today--thanks to the internet--and the fandom.
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Not a gray muzzle until the muzzle is gray. I'd say a couple of strands here and there doesn't qualify.
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I'm going to toss another apple in the pie here.
If a person's fursona is elderly does that make them a greymuzzle?
Someone's fursona is an elderly grand master of a skill that is important to their story line. Or an old and wise wizard.
If this is an acceptable qualification then a graymuzzle could be,
The amount of time spent in the fandom.
Physical age of the fandom member.
Chosen age of the fursona.
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I consider myself a greymuzzle at nearly 33, purely because I am literally starting to (just about) get a grey muzzle! The ol' "wisdom hairs" are starting to poke through in the beard.... so that's good enough for me!
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I once thought that I might be the oldest fursuiter in the fandom. Then I was approached on FA by two others who are older still. One will be a GOH at AnthrOhio. Wish I could meet these guys in person.