”A recent study by British hotel chain Travelodge has found that 25 percent of men take teddy bears on the road with them when they travel for business. These men report that their stuffed animals remind them of home and the significant others they have to leave behind. “ 

The study been going on for a while, I first heard about it in 2007.

Speaking of furrmets, I took the intuitive to start a Westside Metro Furmeet at Washington Square mall. I only get one or two furs but it is a start. My reasons are some furs cannot make to the cross-town meets and the Local group PDX Furs is dying a slow death. The problem with PDX furs was drama caused by a lack of leadership and displine when dealing it instigators with in the fandom. The local furs seen splits with many younger aligning with the PDX snark group and older furs attending the Tuesday afternoon lunch every week. While unemployed, I attend the Tuesday group as a way to get away for a few hours. The problem with Snark group is it a bit too young for me and tend to be more in you face and immature when dealing with the public. The next meet tentatively set for 14 Aug and may look at a bring you own food picnic.

Unlike some furs, I never had an early interest in anthropomorphic animals. To me something like Disney’s Robin Hood was a neat cartoon, I like Bugs Bunny and the whole Lonny tunes crowd better.

I was a big fan of the Animaniacs. I hug around the alt.tv.animaniacs during my usenet days and yes, it was like this

One day a debate was start asking if the Animaniacs were furry. Soon another forum some hater tried to tell us furries were a fetish where people have furry sex. What went though my mind was sex with hairy people. Somebody tried to correct me, say furry was animal sex. As somebody who was sympathetic to the religious right, I had a strong skepticism to think I heard in the news and on the net. I did my own research and became fascinated with the fandom due to a book The Future and it Enemies where at author Virginia Postrel explored her idea of Dynamism; the Idea society should be free to innovate. Furry fandom became an example of Dynamism in action; the freedom to create ones own subculture. Soon I forgot about furry fandom.

2004:

An episode of CSI Fur and Loathing lead me to the second encounter with the furry fandom. Unlike some I did not recoil in horror from the over the top portrayal of Furries as a kinky sexual fetish. I could not believe what I saw in the episode as a true portrayal of furry fandom but another example, liberals in Hollywood distorting a culture or group ,be it fundamentalist Christian, Furry or Conservative, for their own gain. I stated lurking the Fur Nation boards when the boards did not shut down and threatened to go away. The furry videos on YouTube had shown me a fandom that was having too much fun. I want to be a furry but there was one problem, I was a very legalist Baptist and worried what the church would think. The change happen in 2006 as I left the Baptist church and returned to my Anglican roots over doctrinal issues with revivalism, and the church growth movement. This also freed me from my self-imposed legalism. Not surprising the soon after I presented my letter of resignation to the church, I created an account on Furtopia and declared myself a furry.

Now about hello Kitty

My reason is I could not connect to much furry art and literature as an greymuzzle, too much twenty something rave stuff. One day I was looking at a Hello Kitty Plush left over from a successful liquidation to Ebay run, and thought why not Sanrio characters are 100% anthropomorphic and too cute. I bought my first Hello Kitty plushie and the rest is history. I feel I would not became a Hello Kitty fan* until I was a furry and comfortable having plushies around as an adult.

My reasons are

1. With $20,000 in bad debt, have no business going to a con

2, Furries have champagne taste; I do not.

3. Unemployed I need a job firsts.

This dovetail to Two Problematic F Words in the Fandom Other Than Fetish Part two: The word is Finances. (Part One here) With $2000.00 fursuits and four-star hotels, Furries have a champagne taste that bothers the hell out of me. Beside we are probably the one fandom that revolves around going to convention It is almost as if one cannot go to a convention one is not a furry.

 Listening to Dave Ramsey and the calls form bill collects have changed how I look at debt and the fandom.  If others and I finance con going with debt, we have no business gong to conventions. Another issue is furry conventions is not my normal mode of travel. I know the ways of the backpack, youth hostel, and the Lonely Planet. I would normal never pay more than 30 to 50 dollars a night for a room. Heck I heard that Further Confusion, one was pay around $199.0 a night when factoring in parking and other charges. Anthrocon is a better, but why the Westin. $199.00 can by me four days of lodging and food in Thailand and two day in the US with money to spare.

 Yes there is some sacrifices, include not having a quite space to go to.

I wish furry fandom change its focus from working itself up for the next big furry convention to cultivating local meets and participation local conventions including anime   and science fiction.   For me,  I will be sticking to local con and meet scene.

My name is Josh and I’m a producer in New York working on a tv documentary about furries and the furry fandom. And since everybody asks, no I’m not a bot, and yes I am a real person (you can google my name). I had a chance to check out your AWESOME video and I’d like to know if you still keep in touch with the fursuiters. I’m trying to find some suiters who would be willing to participate in the doc we’re producing.

I’m really looking forward to hearing from you. Many thanks in advance.

You can check the rest of conversation here.  Mr. Haygood has tires to MTV and it looks like another plushies furries hack job. This guy had been thown out of FA. Mr. Haygood I know the media, the fandom  has been burnt once by MTV twisting the fandom into a sick fetish; not this time John not this time.

The thing is I always felt Kage has a paternalistic streak to him I find annoying; When he speaks I get the impression he look down on us as children especially when dealing with the media. Now I feel Kage is showing messianic complex

1st Mini-meet and planning for future Westside Portland OR Furmeets
We will meat on the food court in the tables near or across (XXI store) the Sanrio store depending on which spot is quieter.
Buss transportation
Washing Square Transit center is served by the following busses:
45-Garden Home
76-Beaverton/Tualatin
78-Beaverton/Lake Oswego
Best to take Max or 54, 58 to Beaverton Transit center then transfer to the 76 or 78
62-Murray Blvd may work coming from the max.

Driving 26 or I5 to 217 then get off at following:
Southbound exits: 4A (progress) exit 4 (SW Scholls Ferry Rd) or exit 5 (at Greenberg).
Northbound exits: 4 (SW Scholls Ferry Rd) or exit 5 (at Greenberg).

Some mall food and free WIFI at mall. This will be an all public all ages meet so let’s keep it clean.
Map:
View Larger Map

For years the PDX furs is dying because of drama and frankly poor leadership. I figure its time for me to step up the plate and do thing resurrecting a furry community in Portland Oregon, as long I have time in Portland. I know I may be walking into a lions den and but head with two furries but I been in worst situations. It would shame to let thing die out.

Click for larger Image