When I saw this thread, it intrigued me on a few levels. So I thought I'd respond.
I should probably clarify that I am not what's called a furry, but rather joined the forums in an effort to figure furries out for myself instead of going off what the general internet buzz was about concerning them. I am not one to blindly believe anyone when they are speaking of others. I'd like the chance to get to know people themselves, not other's opinions of them. (And that may be a large factor in what my opinion concerning Dr. Phil and his answer to Jeff.)
One thing I'd like to caution the author of this thread on is not to assume anyone is anything. It's a way of passing judgement which, from what I have seen, is one of the things furries generally dislike being done to them. Jeff may just really like carebears and not be a furry at all --perhaps he's not have ever heard of them.
As for your questions :
1. Is it wrong to have so many stuffed animals?
Not if it's what you wish to own. Some people collect cars, some collect models, some collect metal lunchboxes. Jeff collects carebear...no biggie.
2. Is Dr. Phil right for calling it "infantile behavior"?
From what I gathered from the typed relay of the Phil response, he was referring to the act of role playing with the toys as infantile, not the actual owning itself. And perhaps, for some, a 20 year old male role playing with carebears is a bit odd. What really matters is that Jeff stop trying to get others to answer his questions for him and instead for him to examine how he feels about himself and his actions. If he's cool with it...he needs to learn to not care what other's think. It's his deal, his choice, his business.
3. At what point must we ourselves grow up and act our ages?
That too is an individual answer for everyone. I, myself, am thirty but feel no different then I did at 19 in most aspects of my life. Sure as you get older, you have more responsibility. But just because you are responsible doesn't mean you have to toss fun and childlike viewing of the world around you out the window. 'Acting your age" is generally something I was told while growing up when others did not have the patience to accept that I was seeing things or doing things differently then they did at that age. Did I listen? Not really. I'm 'me' and I like 'me', and if they don't, then they can take a hike. (Life is so much more fun when you stop worrying about what everyone thinks, and instead concentrate on those whom are closest to your heart.)
Dr. Phil is a TV character. One which would like us to beleive that he is exactly how he is everyday off camera like he is on camera. It's a nice idea, but I doubt it's true. After all, would a practicing psychologist really discuss his cases and the questions people come to ask him about their personal lives with an audience of thousands? Would they broadcast it on radio shows or television specials aimed at showing the world just how good of a doctor he is? I think not. TV is not reality -- even when 'reality' is in the title. Dr. Phil, plain and simple, is a guy wanting to make money. He does that by playing on the troubles of people and bringing it to the public eye so his ratings increase and then his paycheck gets fatter with bonuses from the network. Getting people to talk about his show is part of his job. And judging by the amount of replies on this thread, he's doing a great job of it. Just some food for thought... how many of you tuned into him prior to this thread... and how many have at least looked up information on him after reading this thread? Every hit on his website... every channel tuned into his show ... and every conversation involving him and his at times wacky notions and advice points to one thing. His opinion got you talking, got someone watching (whether it's his website or tv show), and got his bankroll a little thicker.
And another interesting thing about this topic which I noticed was the issue of whether or not one will 'grow out' of the furry fandom. It got me thinking on a few levels. I will start a new topic on it, so as not to overshadow the Phil/Carebear fan debate.
~Blessings,
River
