Do you think that Midwest Fur Fest (MFF) will happen this year?
Posted by Cassidy Civet on Wed 17 Jun 2020 - 04:36 — Edited by Sonious as of Thu 16 Jul 2020 - 07:07
Yes
15% (17 votes)
No
46% (53 votes)
I won't go to any cons until there's a vaccine/better testing.
39% (44 votes)
Votes: 114
Comments
The third choice needs to be the subject of its own separate agree/disagree poll. As it stands, it's impossible to sort out whether people are answering with regard to MFF specifically or cons in general.
You might also poll a question about whether people would go to cons where social distancing is strictly enforced. I, for one, would refuse to attend any convention where masks are mandatory, 2 metre interpersonal distances are required, and elevator occupancy, room party attendance and dances are restricted. A con without hugs, and smiles hidden by masks? Hard pass on that!
Oh, no, masks at a furry convention, that never happens.
Could work well for a post-apocalyptic theme, everyone gets their own as part of the con pack.
I mean, yeah, there are furs who constantly complain about free voluntary HIV testing at MFF...
So in hindsight the people in the general populous complaining about wearing masks shouldn't be too surprising.
I suspect that's more down to the implication to some that MFF (or furry fandom generally) is a promiscuous sexual environment - and also a homosexual one, given the gay community's historical association with AIDS. Both assertions have a kernel of truth, though perhaps not more than any other fur con… or even other events of similar demographics. Still, should we assume that is the case, it seems appropriate to provide testing, condoms, etc. as attendees are unlikely to change behaviour or orientation. Provision of testing is a symptom, not a cause.
Y'all are deflecting, and ignoring the most troubling implication of this poll. FORTY PERCENT are saying they have decided to stop attending conventions – the sustaining life blood of the fandom – and they have placed conditions on their return which may never be met. That's a staggering nosedive in RL fandom participation. And just how do you propose to get those fearful furs back? Create social distanced cons where people have to stay 6 feet apart, can't hug their friends or suiters, can't meet up in groups for pictures, table games, panels, room parties, dances? What would be left for us to DO at a con like that? Stand around all day in 6-foot circles on the floor staring at other people standing in their own 6-foot circle? Yeah. That really sounds like a shit-ton of fun worth spending a couple thousand on, for sure.
The point is, social distancing is inimical to the whole concept of a furry convention, which is to bring people TOGETHER. Create cons that do the opposite, and I guarantee you, no one who attends one where they're required to stay physically separated from their friends is ever going to want to attend another like it.
This is a big elephant in the room that people seem to be trying their best to ignore, but it's not going away anytime soon. Maybe not ever.
Some perspective here:
It's not O, I'll tell you that!
Furry fandom existed for years before furry conventions, and it can survive without them. Certainly, we're looking forward to the return of fan events, but I imagine we're as well-placed as almost any group to weather out this storm. And there are plenty of fun things to do at a con that don't involve being close. My biggest concern there is actually that they might not be financially viable if people can't pack into rooms so much. (You can spend a lot less than a couple of thousand on a con, too.)
Remember, this is a community based around the concept of "wouldn't it be cool if animals were people?" That concept hasn't gone anywhere, any more than science-fiction has. And take it from me; the art sites are as busy as ever, if not moreso because people are stuck at home all day. We've been spinning up more image caches to share the load. Online roleplaying haunts are busy, too - F-list just launched a closed beta for a new release.
Fursuit-builders may be one of the hardest-hit segments, given that most people do want to show those off in person, and they're big-ticket items - except that the good builders have such a long backlog I doubt they'll be done before we have a vaccine.
Don't get me wrong, conventions being off this year is a big deal, and there may be unexpected consequences. But I don't expect them to fundamentally change the nature or viability of the fandom. Frankly, it could be a chance for it to get back to its roots.
This vastly overemphasises the importance of conventions to the fandom. They really are just optional events that many furs have never even been to.
"If all mankind minus one, were of one opinion, and only one person were of the contrary opinion, mankind would be no more justified in silencing that one person, than he, if he had the power, would be justified in silencing mankind."
~John Stuart Mill~
I would obviously agree with the introverts above being on myself, but I can understand why extroverts are freaking out over this situation.
At this point it's yet to be seen if The Fandom documentary will be just a note of growth in the fandom or a "remember when we had these kind of gatherings" kind of thing.
We did get through the 1918 flu, we'll get through this one with time and patience. Hopefully we keep on the later, particularly our governments otherwise we may have some bigger problems at hand.
I think most governments (other than a certain massive outlier) are slowly getting things under control.
"If all mankind minus one, were of one opinion, and only one person were of the contrary opinion, mankind would be no more justified in silencing that one person, than he, if he had the power, would be justified in silencing mankind."
~John Stuart Mill~
Hey man, you say you like freedom all the time. Sometimes that means that you get stupid people making stupid decisions (or saying stupid things) that impact smarter people in the community negatively.
I expect there will be a workable vaccine within the next year. How effective it will be is up in the air, but any major lessening in the chance of getting it will be worthwhile. The real implication hasn't hit anyone. Once a vaccine is available, I could easily see conventions requiring proof of vaccination or an antibody test showing immunity to register. I'd personally be fine with that. I'm sure there are antivaxxers in the fandom (stupid and uneducated as they are) who'll scream and flail if that happens though.
Poll's Closed as this has a correct answer now.
I'd say congratulations to those that said "no", but there is no prizes :(
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