"The Furry Elite"

[lupestripe]

At Eurofurence, I heard this phrase mentioned for the first time.

Does a furry elite exist or is it merely a perception?

Does it consist of furs who just happen to be good at what they do - be it performing, drawing or writing - and who are appreciated because of it?

Or is it just a term made up by some who are slightly envious of their current situation and who are desperate to be appreciated themselves?

Comments

[foxb.livejournal.com]

Probably a little bit of both.

[rustyfox.livejournal.com]

I've used that term before. It exists as a perception sometimes, I doubt it actually exists intentionally (ie, people who genuinely consider themselves in some way better or a more qualified fur than others - but who knows, maybe it does).

I've noticed having a [good] fursuit seems to open doors to a world somewhat shut off to suitless-furs. Not necessarily an inherently "bad" thing, but certainly something that can be perceived as elitism.

Sometimes folk who just happen to be everywhere - at all the meets, on all the IRC channels, have a thousand fanboys praising their every last inane one-liner LJ post - could also be perceived an elite (although that sort of thing's a fine line between elitism and general cock).

[ember-komodog.livejournal.com]

bit of both really; you get those who ARE elitst, and those who are accused of elitism by those who are jealous of popularity.

[shep-shepherd.livejournal.com]

I think that the 'furry elite' is by and large something made up by the jealous...

[r-a-blackpaws.livejournal.com]

I think it's a mix of ego (by those who feel they ARE the elite) and jealousy (from those who want to BE the elite).

[enteirah]

If you heard it mentioned at EF (and I'm amazed if that's the first time you've heard it XD), did you ask what *they* meant by it? Would have been interesting to know before launching into the questions. =;)

Generally I've always treat The Furry Elite to be a more perceptual grouping term applied to individual people matching certain characteristics, without being a proper fixed entity or group. Not necessarily someone who is good at a certain thing, but rather someone who thinks and acts as though they are above others because they *believe* themselves to be good at something (and more often than not such people actually aren't =:P).

The jealousy part I've always found tends to come more as a perception thing from the individual. Furries who tend to act complete cocks but have a large groups of fanbois following invariably close their eyes to their own faults (why agree the sky is blue, when 10 other people will agree with your assertion that it's pink?), thus put any criticism down to jealousy as it avoids the need to do much needed self-analysis.

[londonwolf.livejournal.com]

There are those who see themselves as elite, and those who are perceived to be elite.

I truly hope I fall into neither category.

[schnee.livejournal.com]

I don't think it exists in any "official" way, but there certainly are some who think themselves better than others and who scoff at others' efforts.

I noticed this during one of the panels with the guests at EF14, for example. There was a discussion about writing, and someone - from the audience, I think, not one of the guests - remarked that while YiffStar had a hundred thousand stories, 99999 of them were crap, and the remaining one was stolen. There was some more talk along those lines, too - about how there were many people on FA as well who thought they were writers but - in the opinion of whoever said that - weren't actually.

If that's not elitism, I don't know what is.

But it's something that generally seems to be limited to a minority of folks.

[toumal.livejournal.com]

A furry elite?



:P

Joking aside, r_a_blackpaws probably said it best, there's little to add.

[godzuki.livejournal.com]

Your not cleared for that.

[tungro.livejournal.com]

The way I see it is there are those people that are elitist because although they may have reasons for being "popular" (say they're excellent artists, storywriters, fursuit performers etc), that particular group is seen as closed. I think for a group to be elitist they have to turn their backs to the "lesser beings". They're exclusive, rather than inclusive.

[xaviervonrottie.livejournal.com]

I know of a few I call part of this group. I really hate to see it also! I never shun anyone. I tell everyone that wants to talk to me or hug me in my suit or what ever. Come on up and dont be shy. Now I don't remember everyone often but I can not help that. ;)