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Recently at a convention outside of Chicago there was an attack against the members of the convention. It came in the form of chlorine, which was placed in a stairwell between two floors that a lot of the convention goers were on as part of the room block for the convention. Nineteen people were taken to local hospitals for dizziness and nausea. The hotel was evacuated because of the chemical threat leaving a lot of people outside in the cold not knowing when or if they would be let back in their rooms.
Any other time I think the concentration of coverage would have been on the attack but this was MidWest FurFest and a number of the convention goers were dressed as anthropomorphic animals or Furries so there were interesting visuals for the press and a number of jokes at their expense. The focus became about the weird people in the suits rather than someone had tried to inflict injury on a group of people.
If this had happened at say NYCC or SDCC or even a larger anime convention, the focus would be on the attack rather than those who were attacked and that’s a problem for me.
It could have been a meeting of model train fans or doll makers and again the focus would have been on the attack not the people attending the convention.
I know a number of Furries. Some are in the closet and some are out and proud. I know a number of artists who make a good living creating anthropomorphic art. I am good friends with some fur suit makers who also do a lot of mascot work for sports teams and businesses. They started by making fur suits and turned it into a decent living. They are incredible artists who can turn foam and fake fur into just about anything.
I have heard from friends who have friends who were there. The convention went on and everyone had fun.
They had over 1,000 people marching in the fur parade.
They raised 11,000 for a local animal charity.
They had programing and dances and all the things you would find at just about any science fiction convention or comic-con or anime-fest.
And they were singled out for an attack by person or persons unknown who has a problem with a group celebrating their common love for something.
Not right at all.
I am grateful that no one was seriously injured or killed.
Any other time I think the concentration of coverage would have been on the attack but this was MidWest FurFest and a number of the convention goers were dressed as anthropomorphic animals or Furries so there were interesting visuals for the press and a number of jokes at their expense. The focus became about the weird people in the suits rather than someone had tried to inflict injury on a group of people.
If this had happened at say NYCC or SDCC or even a larger anime convention, the focus would be on the attack rather than those who were attacked and that’s a problem for me.
It could have been a meeting of model train fans or doll makers and again the focus would have been on the attack not the people attending the convention.
I know a number of Furries. Some are in the closet and some are out and proud. I know a number of artists who make a good living creating anthropomorphic art. I am good friends with some fur suit makers who also do a lot of mascot work for sports teams and businesses. They started by making fur suits and turned it into a decent living. They are incredible artists who can turn foam and fake fur into just about anything.
I have heard from friends who have friends who were there. The convention went on and everyone had fun.
They had over 1,000 people marching in the fur parade.
They raised 11,000 for a local animal charity.
They had programing and dances and all the things you would find at just about any science fiction convention or comic-con or anime-fest.
And they were singled out for an attack by person or persons unknown who has a problem with a group celebrating their common love for something.
Not right at all.
I am grateful that no one was seriously injured or killed.
