"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

[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).

[lupestripe.livejournal.com]

I can't disagree with any of that, that's true.

Fanboys are always going to exist and I guess this is where the perception of the elite comes from. I guess it's whatever floats your boat though as some of the revered furs, I cannot see why people revere them so much. Yet others, who do other things, I have more appreciation for. However, I wonder if there is an aspect of institutional elitism going on as the same names do seem to crop up at all Furry Cons etc.

[rustyfox.livejournal.com]

It's subjective but using furry cons as an example, one can normally tell the difference between people who genuinely want to perform a service to "the fandom", and people who want the kudos for doing so.

The former individuals lurk in the shadows. Things just happen. You never know who made events work out - or only pick up bits on the grapevine.

The latter persistently make a song and dance about what they are doing for or at a particular function.

(Of course this is just human nature - everything that happens in "the fandom" is ordinary human nature and no different to any other group of people, which is why I always wince a little when I find myself referencing "the fandom". We're no different to any other bunch of people and we shouldn't really reference ourselves as if to infer we're anything otherwise).