Well:

After 5 years, I think it's time I take down the whole "COVID-19" Discussion and put up something new.

I think it is time for this Grey muzzle to slowly just fade away.
I began when furry Fandom was in it's infancy. I met Mark Merlino (Sy Sable) and Rodney at my first Con at the John Wayne Airport, Orange County California (Circa 1984).

The fandom is not what it once was. One by one those I knew and respected Have either faded or, like my friend Mark, have passed to the rainbow bridge.

Susan VanCamp
J Hardiman
Xianjaguair
2 The Ranting Griffin
Commander Kitsune

It was a fun time where tolerance ruled, Creativity was unhindered, and "Con panels" featured talks such as "Furry Ergonomics", "Furry Vocabulary", and "The Logic of Furry Garments." and the Guests of Honor were new people every year.

Artists sat in "Artist Alley" for free.... swapping sketches to help each other with art and no one worried about AI, copyright or adult content. They just wanted their work out there and to inspire each other.

Unfortunately, This Griffin doesn't see the fandom the same anymore, maybe his eyesight is failing. Con's I have attended as late as 4 years ago have become dominated by "Fursuiters" The Gay and BDSM content, while always present seems to me to have become the focus.

Famous supporters like "Ranting Griffin" have been accused of being a "Nazi" and excluded, not by the base but by all the new comers and Guests of honor have dwindled to the same few Con organizers year after year having their travel, room and admission paid by the fan goers (not out of their pockets)

As the Highest (IRL) Ranking fur in the Fandom (I am a Colonel IRL) I had hoped...even vainly SUGGESTED that with my experience, knowledge and Rank I might make a refreshing Guest Of Honor in my own back yard... I don't think anyone even knew I made the suggestion.

Role play which used to be excitingly pushing boundaries and challenging writing Taboos, has, I think, been replaced by caution, content designed to offend NO one and often contain as much Hermaphroditic content as possible to maximize copulation acts, has replaced character development.

Fursonas which used to involve actually researching a favorite animal and INCORPORATING INTELLIGENCE into the limitations of that animal body / instincts, is replaced by a Human personality in a Human body with an animal head, tail and fur pattern.

The Last Con I went to (Motor City Furcon) I went in full dress Uniform.... To welcome the creativity of young furs into professions like the military, resulted in "anonymous" notes dropped on my tail excoriating me for having worn a uniform. The "Military Furs breakfast" once featured prominently on every con schedule, visited by the GOH and the Con organizers, is now a memory. If I ask about it, I am told I can set something up myself and it is only advertized by a crayon on some printer paper outside the restaurant the morning of the breakfast.

My Best friend in the whole world regularly attended..and was so "busy" that I never even got a phone call that he was in the area.

No... This griffin is no longer alpha. Things have changed. I am not...leaving, I am not boycotting....but daily I find it harder and harder to log on...only to sit for hours while everyone looks to indulge in their one (single) fetish. Plot devices; no plots. My Friends have proceeded me... I still have some younger Friends... but I didn't want to leave my Journal just with a contentious COVID-19 post.

The Griffin is here.... but is in his den. The Krrk, my mate, is gone. Roth, My Dragon is...moved on like Jackie Paper with Puff the Magic Dragon. You are welcome to Visit for as long as I draw breath... Which I hope to me 30 or 40 more years... Remember when you Visit a Griffin, bring a gift, a food offering...

I watch from my High perch above...wishing the fandom well... hoping for a return.

Yours in VR Lordgriffin