To a great extent, that's very true.
If you let 'what' you are define you, rather then setting out to define yourself as a unique entity, then you're not only living a lie, but you're setting yourself up for failure and disappointment later.
I can't speak for everyone, but I would say that a lot of Furs pick their avatars because they see something in that entity that they wish to emulate. Whether it be wisdom, power, honor, independence, sexual prowess, cunning, or whatnot, they are trying to imbibe or associate themselves with some of that creature's traits. The other side of that is people who already have (or believe they have) certain traits and choose an avatar that they feel matches them already, rather then something they want to be.
I don't see anything inherently wrong with either of these choices, but as with all other things, they can be taken too far.
We've all heard about Mr. DarkWolf BloodMoon who can shag a woman for eight hours straight, has a 14' johnson, six-pack abs and will rip the throat out of anyone who looks at him funny; but is actually a 15yo sweaty fat kid with a pizza-face, no self-esteem, a chronic masturbation problem and has never touched a real woman his entire life.
Or Mr. StarBringer LightShine who believes they really are a Gryphon and doesn't have the time or desire to talk to "lesser" beings who can't possibly understand him.
I'm sure that archetypes within the fandom exist - but they're not universal. Most of the other Dragons that I know are generous, friendly people who I enjoy hanging out with. Some of the wolves I've had dealings with have been pretty shallow and self-centered, but there are a few who are very good friends of mine and are very valuable to me as such, and I won't take them for granted.
Foxes and Rabbits, Hybrids and unique creations, everyone chooses an avatar as the face they want to show the Furry world. How closely it resembles their "true" face is a discovery we all have to make on a case-by-case basis. Unless we want to try and segregate the species...
D.O.P.R
Eh. Lots of people want to be dragons because dragons are powerful.
But what you are doesn't give you power; it's who you are and what you
do. Pity them, because their power can be taken away, and many are
afraid of exactly that.
Also, some people let popularity go to their heads. They forget that
celebrity is something that happens to you, and it can stop happening
at any time. You can't let your power be something outside of you.
--
Zach Collins
_at_strikingdragon
"If code can be speech, then software can be art."
-----Original Message-----
From: Zach Collins (Siege) <siegemail_at_gmail.com>
To: SkunkworksAMA_at_yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sat, Mar 27, 2010 12:48 pm
Subject: Re: Group Exit (Was: Re: [SkunkworksAMA] furry communities minus drama lamas and freaks)
On Sat, Mar 27, 2010 at 2:29 PM, <spudugly_at_aol.com> wrote:
>
> I've heard quite a few people say that lately, and as a Dragon myself, it makes me sad.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: fgdg54gff <fgdg54gff_at_yahoo.com>
> To: SkunkworksAMA_at_yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Fri, Mar 26, 2010 12:04 am
> Subject: Group Exit (Was: Re: [SkunkworksAMA] furry communities minus drama lamas and freaks)
>
>
> enjoy that vacation scrapper. it sounds like you deserve it.
>
> you're probably the only dragon i know who isn't an asshole. just thought you would like to
> know. then again, i don't know many dragons.
Eh. Lots of people want to be dragons because dragons are powerful.
But what you are doesn't give you power; it's who you are and what you
do. Pity them, because their power can be taken away, and many are
afraid of exactly that.
Also, some people let popularity go to their heads. They forget that
celebrity is something that happens to you, and it can stop happening
at any time. You can't let your power be something outside of you.
--
Zach Collins
_at_strikingdragon
"If code can be speech, then software can be art."
Received on Sat Mar 27 2010 - 14:23:29 CDT