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The Drone community is largely the same way, generally hating AI generated stuff. Whether it's $35 from pieces from a hardware store and a spirit halloween or a $3,000 setup... we work really hard to make that happen. Stop stealing our stuff!

What's really interesting to note though, is that a lot of Linux communities are the same way. Literally, the Linux Mint subreddit has had a downvoted coloured and shaded 'AI' logo, and a few posts later a 50+ upvoted photo of a conceptual scribble. We also have trust issues with AI code too. :p

Legit, even if it’s sometimes a bit embarrassing to share, there’s always something cute and appealing to those flawed early pics. Sometimes you only get that vibe from the early stuff too

Yeah, furries tend to be very experienced commissioners and have a great understanding of the process, on average. I think true normies are the worst commissioners because they don't understand the nature of handmade work & revisions & don't appreciate what a good deal they're getting. :I

I wonder how many of the people who build custom costumes for Disney or American sports team mascots, got to the point they're at from being a hobbyist making fursuits. It's a skill and you have to practice it, and doing so without any income can be difficult given material costs.

The "last bastion" bit is something I've been thinking about a lot lately. Furry has problems, sure, but it's heartening to see them rally to defend art & support artists. The whole community--fursonas, fursuits, cons, comms, comics, & even the NSFW side is about creative collaboration & connection.

And there's nothing wrong with NSFW art of course, but the problem is that communities supporting other types of art & creative-social activities--webcomics, roleplay, worldbuilding--died off. Diversity suffers when you can't find your people & art suffers when you're not making it for yourself. :(

Back in the 90s when I first discovered online fan art communities, the sexual stuff was always a niche, but most of the content was more about emulating the draftsmanship of the professional artists. I see a lot less of that these days and much more OC offshoots. Which is fine I guess…

Don't let fear stop you from having fun!! 💕

I think it's worth learning! My wife never drew furry chars before we started working on a story together that took place in a furry setting, but she picked it up very fast. I like both human & furry chars roughly equally, but the furry community is much stronger and more passionate.

This is so real and I can’t tell you how impressed by the united front furries stand on against AI, one of the biggest champions in the resistance to Ai slop. It’s community keeping community safe and healthy and I respect it highly. 🐉 💕

I do like how "let them cook" has become a part of modern slang. The implication that letting [X] do their thing and trusting the process almost always results in a better end product than micromanaged bs is great to see being aknowledged culturally.

Yep, the OC thing is what really makes it irreplaceable & golden. Some other peeps in the comments brought up AI, but this wasn't even about that--it genuinely didn't cross my mind because it's incapable of participating in art stuff I care about (characters, stories, and the related community).

Im hopeful so i keep plugging away and post my comm info and links to galleries

This is one of my favorite parts of the furry fandom :D

especially when the furry representation for most non-furry artists boils down to the joke "haha furries will always pay me" not easy money - hardworking lifebloods tossing their disposable income @ artists, incl trusting new ones. my first commission with basically 0 followers was a furry

Absolutely! There are bad eggs in every group of course but by and large furries are awesome. I love that there is so much momentum and enthusiasm for shared creativity there.

Go for it! First time I went to a furry con I felt similar. Seeing how excited people get and all the cool art on display (not just vendors but fursuits, badges, people proudly displaying their beloved fursona/OC) melts away feelings of isolation and anxiety IMO. It's a great energy.

The most pressing thing, to me, is vocal engagement with art, stories, characters--I'm super grateful to everyone (European or otherwise!) who partakes in that vital human connection.

Only fandom to struggle with actual demonetization effort as well. Glad it's a fringe subculture and this makes it special to me.

I have characters with developed backstories and such, but so many OCs are just moods or kinks. The old thinking of "this fursona *is* me" is dying out, and you can even see it in how newer furries talk in the third person while older furries will speak in the first person.

Yep, I've been on both sides of the "starving artist selling commissions" deal and am currently enjoying being able to give back to the community that helped me out when I was younger. It can be such a vital lifeline, esp. to peeps who can't survive off "normal" jobs for whatever reason.

Exactly! I (almost) never feel guilty buying big comms cuz I know it'll go into the hands of someone who really needs it. Much better than buying something from a big company!

I am very glad to hear that. I still make them occasionally!

Absolutely. I've gone through periods of being put out with the fandom (like when I was young & found out an artist I liked was, uh... VERY BAD), but there's really nothing else like it. Being creative can feel tough right now but furries offer warmth, support, & camaraderie across generations.