The Washington Examiner turned a molehill into a mountain based on a single word in a RNCC Tweet. One can ask was necessary for the NRCC to throw out the furry word. Still this much ado about nothing. I find the Washington Examiner more at fault by twisting the RNCC post. Second the Examiner paints a distorted and inaccurate overused media statement that Furries area subculture that dress up in animal costumes and for twisting of the Fur Science 2011 data out of context.
“A number of studies have demonstrated that some of those interested in furry fandom view the subculture as a sexual fetish as well. According to a 2011 study by the Anthropomorphic Research Project, one-third of furries interviewed said that “sexual attraction to the content in the fandom is an important part of their furry participation.” The author of the story gave a poor attempt of a apology on Twitter.
Better would be the 2018 statement on sexuality
“This is in line with several other findings from past studies suggesting that, despite the perception by many of furry as a fetish, for most furries this is not the case, though furries may themselves be prone to erroneously believing this stereotype about other furries. It should also be noted that this is not to say that there are not furries for whom the fandom is a fetish – prior research suggests that this is likely the case for about 5-10% of the furry fandom. Nor is there anything wrong with furry being a fetish for these folks. Instead, we are simply pointing out that it would be inaccurate to categorize furries as a group as being fetish-based, as it would be describing the group as a whole based on a minority within the group.” 1.
If anything good, the mainstream press has ignored this story.
I still find fault with RNCC. There are very good reasons to oppose Beto O Rouke, why bring up furry and twist him wearing a mask as part of a band.
Now let say for the record, I became a Furry during the peak of my involvement with the Republican Party (i.e. before Trump). My Fursona is a more conservative than I am, and a Republican Black Bear. I often joke around wanting to be the highest ranking elected Furry Republican and my favorite comic strip is Mallard Fillmore a comic about an anthropomorphic conservative Duck. I see this as just silliness to bring up furry as something negative.
- Anthrocon 2018 study
