so.. being at a furry con... gives you the right to cheat, rape, and lie? O.o ohmy.... awesome picture tho :3

As powerful as the story is, perhaps the image should have been of a human? As a nod to the events that transpired.

oh no no no no no no no...

Dear Jesus that's terrible :( I feel horrible for even being apart of the fandom now just a little bit more after reading that. I'm sorry for your friend, and those who did this should be punished severely. Those are the kind of people who push people away from the fandom and give it a bad light just to get whatever the hell they want. My best regards to those affected.

Yeah, some people are really sick in their minds to think and act like that.

Thats the dark side of the people who get this fandom into a real place. Thats why I only act online. As soon my PC is down I not being that person as I am online. Purely digital. Such things have no place in reality in my oppinion. At least not in that degree.

Such things have noi place reallity for sure. Nothing legitimates to rape somebody.

This is so not how i remember conventions o__o,,

Because such stuff happens in the background and it is not mentioned. I was at a Open Air Festival, with concerts and stuff. a week after the end of the Festival I heard that a girl was raped in her area of the Festival place.

This is never sopposed to happen, but sadly such things take place. And talking it down or trying to make it look less terrible with pittyful excuses is no option.

Does any of it get resolved with police involvement ever? I would understand if a victim is too traumatized to report it... but I haven't heard much of these sorts of things being dealt with properly afterwards..

In case of the Festival, the guy got caught by a number of her friends on the festival ground. The Staff of the Festival was holding him until the Police arrived and arrested him.

He was lucky that the Skins & Punks on the Festival did not kill him.

Hah thanks for the news then.
That at makes me a bit happier.. that there are still people, who don't even know the victim, who will stick up for and fight to defend them.

I have ear of stories and such and other kind of dramaand horrors but really, why do these things happen?

I been sharing the last my conventions with a girl, we even sleeped next to each other, i have shared before with other girls and boys and everyone was civilised and normal*, i would brake someone arm or worst if someone tried touch me or anyone else in the room without mine or their concent, its just sick.

Such things should never happen, but being silent about it just hurts the victim. And in my case, a broken arm would the smallest of the persons problems.

A lot of times, victims are silent because they want to hurry and get past what happened and forget it. Being assaulted makes you feel tainted, dirty, scarred, ruined. Folks don't like flaunting that publicly.

Sure, I was talking about those who know about it. Those people who remain silent to protect the Conventions from bad publicity.

the fact, that really happened to someone at a con, makes me sad. >:

I want to fave because of the great pic, but I dont want to fave because of the sad story ;-; hopefully your friend wont have any STDs from the rape

I've never heard anyone hide behind the idea that "it's what all furries do" to try to justify raping someone else. Though I wouldn't be at all surprised that there are people who would try it. I have, however, heard of far too many people who have been raped and abused at 'cons and furry gatherings of various kinds, and it always makes me sick. Yes, this fandom is heavy into sex. Yes, there's loads of porn on FA and other sites, and I'm sure there are people who go to 'cons with the express purpose of getting laid. But there are no excuses for raping anyone, and anyone who does so, or tries to defend the rapist(s), are the most vile sort of monsters imaginable.

"James" and "Andrew" deserve to get tied to the back of a truck with a pianowire around their testes and dragged across a path of gravel, salt and broken glass.

Seconded.

Better yet. Have a Cannibal Slowly gut them and scar them and rip there hearts out while they still beat. And leave the Guted, butialized remains in the woods where the rodents pick'em clean

Or even better: Chloroform them, staple their nuts to the floor of their house, then light the house on fire and wake them up to inform them that they now have a decision to make.

thats just a plain SAW idea haha

"you can wait here as the flames slowly consume your life. Or you can rip your balls off, find a key, disarm the bomb ans turn off the gas line if you want to live"

2 hours south, are fields of prickly pear cactus. Endless fields, mile after mile after mile. You don't even need to take their clothes off.

The fact that itw as planned from before the con makes it even more horrible for me, and shows how the bf really felt for the girl...

I didnt see anything that said it was a girl that was raped, I thought it was a guy. Am I wrong?

Thats horrible. ;____; I am so sorry that person had an experience such as this.

"saying that most of the fandom is based of sexual concepts, pleasures and activities."
reading that, Its not true. only 33% of the fandom do that. But honestly this made me stay even more away from the "yiff" the Freak balls do/draw. I hope your friend is ok.

Because clearly a pevert cannot be a gentleman and a feminist, all at the same time!

I hope you forgive the outburst, but stuff like this makes us "Freakballs" feel bad, too--Furry is supposed to be fun for people, not traumatize people for life.

Liking adult artwork doesn't mean you are a sexual deviant and a rapist. How many porn shops exist on the side of the road.. does that mean every single person that buys from Frederick's or one of those shops is inherently a rapist?

That’s completely disgusting… I know how it feels, to be used for sex. :/
Extremely powerful drawing, as usual. One of my favorites too, because of the story…

Holy crap, I hope my first convention goes better than this. I'm so sorry to hear what happened to your friend.

If you keep your wits about you, you should be fine. I don't think you'd have much to worry about if you stayed away from alcohol and kept around close friends that you implicitly trust. I have been in a situation where sex was an issue but thankfully he respected my wishes and it only went so far, but I have heard of worse. Know who you're with at all times and accept that bad things can happen even at or even especially at conventions or other public festivals (everyones guard is down. They become easier targets, and it is easy to disappear in a crowd). Bad people = everywhere, but letting that stop you from enjoying something means they automatically win.

I was planning on wandering the con alone, but reading this I'm thinking maybe I should contact my one irl furry friend (who fortunately is a trustworthy person) and ask if I can tag along with him. Thanks for the advice.

Walking around the Con alone is fine, it's more parties and room situations that you have to worry about. So you don't have to worry about having to stick around someone the entire time (though you want to keep a hawk's eye on your things. People will try to steal unattended items).

It's cheaper and easier to room with someone (the more people to a room even cheaper), and chances are, finding an empty room is a pain at some point after pre-registration opens up for a convention. Hotels fill fast. Some people actually go a Con and find someone to room with after they get there, regardless of whether or not they know said people when they do.

My mates and I split up during the Con and do the things/ hang out with the people we want to and then meet up afterwards, and for dinner.

Ah ok. I'm not planning on getting a room, as I live close enough to where Anthrocon will be that I can take public transit there each day.

I usualy don't mind things like that as long as it just some pictures and/or story... Well, as long as it's just "furry art". But earing that kind of real story really make me sad.
It's not because someone draw a rape scene that all the viewers can do the same thing, there is a huge difference between fiction and real life. -__-;

It's sad, but it's also an awareness thing. It is, in a way, an important announcement as well to those who attend cons/want to attend cons.

You should find some really trustworthy friends to go with, and for your first time, maybe just refrain from drinking or using any drugs and just sit back and relax/talk/explore/whatever.

Yes; in this story the ex and ex's friend admit to setting this up, but who is to say it couldn't happen outside the con? The con was only used as a lame excuse to explain an unforgivable act to someone who doesn't know much about it.

Be strong and support your friends at these cons. Protect them as you would in any situation.

Sadly this happens at a lot of conventions, not just the furry ones... anime, fantasy, etc.

I think part of it also steams from the insane partying people do, I have seen the nicest people go bat-shit crazy at cons when booze is mixed in... but then again I will also say that doesn't excuse their behavior

I concur.

He said 'that at this type of conventions, friends and other furries are allowed to have sex with anyone, even friends and couples. Its all part of being a furry'. He said its a custom and everyone in the convention does it.

My face when I read that part. http://i2.kym-cdn.com/photos/images.....59/943/694.png

Seriously, that's horrible! It's a shame to think there are people like that around that gives the fandom a bad name. I mean I may enjoy the sexual aspects of the fandom but that just completely crosses the line for me. To think that when I went to Furfright last there, there were a good amount of furs that I encountered that I could assume had personalities like James and Andrew just by overheard conversations between others. And many outside the fandom stereotype us as lowlife perverts.

that's.....

This pisses me off but to be honest I'm not surprised that crap like this happens.

I'm so sorry this happened to someone you know. D: I'd also like to point out something about rape that doesn't get spread around much: Many websites and rumors and stereotypes revolve around heterosexual rape towards women. Heck, I even got caught in that trap too, just reading the story and glancing at the picture. It wasn't until i looked closer that I realized no pronouns were used, and the picture looks more male.

But rape happens to men too, and they shouldn't be ashamed to speak up about it. I just wanted to put that out there, because it doesn't get talked about as much as it should. :/

Be aware, and if you see a friend hurting, or being hurt by this, talk to them and get them help. This sort of thing should not get swept under the rug.

Thank you for saying that... most men will never admit to it (at least 85% from the last estimate) and those that do usually aren't taken seriously... so thank you

Well shit

Events like these should at the very least be reported to the con staff and get the perpetrators asses banned from ever attending a con again. These people bring all of us a bad name.

And they should also be reported to the police, for rape. Because that's what this is, plain and simple.

Yes, but the problem is, getting the courage to tell staff, who are likely strangers to you.. what happened, as well as the courage to directly point the finger at who did it.

Yes, but letting it slide only makes things worse. People need to stand up for themselves.

Tell that to the court systems that let the majority slide through their fingers then, not the poor victims that are then too scared to speak up and point fingers.

So people should just lay down and take it then? Things don't change unless people stand up for themselves. People standing up for themselves is why women and african americans are allowed to vote. If people didn't stand up against things that are wrong, even when the system itself is against them, things never change.

OH, on the contrary. I don't think people should lay down and take it.. reporting it is the best thing to do, to prevent others from being hurt as well.. and the best hope of finding justice against those wronging people and the law. I'm sorry if I came off otherwise.. I was just saying it might be that, depending on the situation and the person, they might be too hurt/upset/humiliated to come right out saying something to a staffer. Of course, in that event, one can always use the anonymity of an email, even go so far as to make an email just for that.. and let the staffers and/or hotel/con/etc know what happened as well as the name of the attacker, if they know it. In this story, obviously they do.. but in many, the victim doesn't.. which may in turn make them feel even more helpless.

I understand. It's a difficult situation and one I hope nobody I know ever has to experience.

And yes, rape destroys a person's confidence in themselves and makes them feel worthless, that's part of why it's such a heinous crime.

I will say this, if I EVER hear anyone saying they've done something like this, or have experienced it, I definitely will get any and all authorities involved as soon as possible.

This story in particular just angers me because it happened at a furry convention, which to me, has been the HAPPIEST experiences of my life. Seeing it ruined for someone like that just makes me very angry.

Now there I disagree with you. If the victim doesn't want to take it to court right away.. that is their choice. They just had their freewill taken from them.. why would you do it again by forcing them to go through all the public humiliation? Most victims don't even want to be looked at or touched by those they love, let alone a complete stranger afterwards.. and that's precisely what they'd have to do at the hospital to do the swab for DNA and test for evidence of rape/assault. That absolutely should be the victim's choice, and to call the police against their wishes would be to force more contact, etc.

I would love for every victim to be strong enough to come step forward and be tested and do every measure they can to prosecute these scumbags.. maybe if there were a strong stretch of prosecution, slimewads would think twice before doing crap like this.

Oh yea, cause it's totally just that easy.

And my lady friend from Kentucky wonders why it's taken me so fucking long to take the first steps towards going to a con. Cash and transportation were never the problem, trusting a bunch of shits into raping dicknipple hermaphrodites or whatever to behave themselves always was.

A-fucking-men.

If one could only fave comments...

Don't you or the other guy above get me wrong, she's a peach and I love her (in a purely platonic/friendship sort of way.) But at the same time the girl could stand to get some cynicism injected in her veins.
And I... I've been in the fandom for nearly ten years now. I can't claim to have seen everything but God/Allah/Fill in the Blank knows I've seen more then enough to make trust in my peers wanting. Met some good people now and again, some folks I would love to meet in person, but let's see... there was the rape fantasy guy who I still hold a grudge against for godmodding one of my early games to satisfy his Conan fantasies, then there was the snuff addict I'm glad I only met twice, and my third favorite, this narcisstic misgyonist who... fuck everything. The thought of running into any of them terrifies me. I mean imagine how they must behave in real space?

You'd be surprised how easy it is to hide evil from the world. Frightened, even. There's a reason serial killers take a while to catch. They've practiced "looking normal", and even low-level scum like these two can manage to be socially adept.

Oh yes, something I try to not think about but then if they weren't such slippery bastards then they wouldn't make such a compelling topic for police dramas.
Other then that there are three of them (the rape freak, the snuff looney, and the narcissitic fuck are all different people,) I wouldn't be surprised if you were right.

It's all lying by omission. I have personal experience in this. So long as you don't give any obvious warning signs, and mind your manners, most people will assume the best about you. That's probably how "James" convinced this person to go. Showing off all the great stuff about the fandom (though I'm not sure I'd include porn in that), and then charming the person into attending a con. And who would suspect a friend who's going along for the ride? "Andrew" was nice too.

That's the key. Give them no reason to think something's wrong, and you can get away with damn near anything. Even turning an entire country into hell on earth. Because once you start, it's too late. They're not prepared, they're off their guard... and no one comes to save them.

For a Christian, I have a little too much knowledge about how evil works for my own comfort. I can only hope I can use it to make a positive influence on the world. The alternative... heh.

Slip on a certain mask in my psyche and never come back...

Evil wears many masks and lying by omission is indeed the most insidious form of misdirection. After all, if they don't give you any reason to ask why would you make the effort to find out?

Oh yes, we must always be the change we wish to see in the world.

Thanks. Funny thing is though, I actually made my first trip to Anthrocon since that comment. Was awesome, definitely will have to make plans for either AC 2013 or FA United 2013... and make sure to suck it up and pay for my own hotel room.

Thats how I go, alone.

Yeah, seems to be the only safe way to travel.

To me, whether it's real or fantasy.

Rape is NEVER EVER FUNNY!!

This just reminds me once more of why I hate some folks in this or any other fandom.

Thank you for doing this picture and presenting this story to people. Thanks also to your friend for allowing it to be posted; that took a lot of courage. I... feel like I want to apologise to them on behalf of the fandom for being subjected to something like that in our name. The con should have been something joyful and fun, and it got twisted into abomination by two nasty little people who apparently couldn't think with anything above their own waistlines.

My very best wishes to your friend. I'm so, so sorry.

D.F.

that is aweful! T~T Just aweful!

I will punch in the face anyone planning this kind of thing :c

minority ruin it for the majority it seems.

Amen to that.

i've been to ac myself and nothing was tried with me (though i am 6'2" and big in general) i heard about things happening but it really was a true minority while everyone else was simply happy to be there and enjoy themselves yet the very few ruin it for us all (i for one keep getting the CSI Episode mentioned to me >.>)

Yeah. Frankly, the 20% that ruin it for the other 80% should simply be dragged out into the street and shot.

no because then there are witnesses you ock them in a container and drop it in the ocean =p

*nods sagely*

^This, always this unfortunately.

i know

Alcohol or no. Rape is still rape and he can be held accountable by the law. No means no. ALWAYS.

No still means no. Typing in all caps doesn't change the fact that someone forced an act of violence against a person against their will; there is a law against that.

Consent laws follow the rule that if you are under the influence of any substance, you cannot legally give consent. Technically, any sex between intoxicated parties can be considered rape by this... but i'd rather the definition be too loose than have some rapes slip through the system unclassified.

Agreed. The courts weed out far too many, in my opinion.

And honestly it's mentality like that which gives sexual deviants and rapists the courage to pull off things like this. It's wrong. Doesn't matter if he or she was sprawled naked in the bed, half drunk with heavy lidded eyes.. if he/she said no, it means no. neither nudity, nor drugs, equates to consent.

Are you fucking kidding me. How about a source that says this? Because I have heard the exact fucking opposite my entire life. It's common sense even that whether you drink or not, it all comes down to "consent" not "level of how smashed you are".

So no, this isn't a debate because you don't have a damn clue.

*Facepalm* Would you say that fif it were a story about someone getting raped at a party? Or a concert? How about if it were an Anime or Videogame convention? In every crowd of people, you will find an asshole. Like the comments section of this image/story, for instance.

What it does is raise the issue of a very real problem, consequently warning people to do what they can to protect themselves and provoking discussion about how the problem should be addressed.

If you'd rather keep the issue under wraps in order to protect the reputation of the fandom, then you need to take a long, hard look at your priorities.

It only takes a few bad apples to spoil a bunch. I dispise the darker side of this fandom, dispise it with every fiber of my being. I just hope Mathew and Andrew got what they deserved in the future... a slow painful hanging, that's what I'd give them.

I can only hope and pray this aweful experience doesn't ruin her sight of the fandom permanently. But i can imagine that won't be the case, and I cannot really blame her. It's all fun and games till someone takes it too seriously and someone gets hurt.

Bastards.

She's brave for allowing you to post this. Perhaps she will see a good side of the fandom through you. I hope.

I hope she's alright now.

Terrible. I've had to deal with similar shit, and I hope that the real-life people involved realize what they've done, and accept whatever punishment comes their way.

It should be noted, though, that just because one is a pervert, it does not mean that they are evil. I hope people realize that, and move on.

Raping someone is not merely about being a pervert. When they cross that line and actually physically assault a person to get what they want.. they are something else. Not necessarily Evil, but.. it's no different than how Wanting more money isn't wrong necessarily, but stealing it, whether it be from a person or an entity(bank, store, etc) is wrong.

I would point to all the "perverts are bad" comments this piece drew.

There are a few.. most of them I see say "the few bad apples".. which leads me to believe they understand that most people in the fandom are good and decent people, adult artwork or no.

I hate so so very much that people get this kind of ignorant mentality at conventions. It's true; things like this happen, and folks blow it off. They either give it that "Las Vegas" mentality, or say that you know, you came to the convention; this stuff happens.. if you didn't like it, you shouldn't come. Seriously, that's just a disgusting way of thinking, and I think if it takes a major stir to change this mentality, I'm game for helping the movement. This sits in the same strain as all those idiots that chant and jeer "Can't rape the willing!" and other teasing way of using the term. It's NOT a joke. Not now, not ever; it's a very serious event and should not be belittled by random dweebs trying to get a laugh off it.

I'm sorry this happened to anyone, friend of yours, or even to a despised enemy of someone. Nobody deserves that sort of utter violation of self. I am glad your friend had the courage to talk to you about it; talking this sort of thing out with good close friends helps the healing process.. and I hope your friend is able to heal and move beyond what happened to her. I send positive energies her way.

Y'know, now that I think about it... you can rape the willing, can't you? Either you don't stop when they ask you to (even if it's in the middle of coitus), or you just manipulate their feelings and desires until they fall into bed with you. With enough skill, you could even get them into bed multiple times, or score an abusive relationship with yourself as the abuser. All depends on how much of a monster you want to be. I'm pretty sure there's a point where people stop being human and become... Something Else.

I'd say a more accurate phrase would be "Can't rape the strong", but that's a bit of a misnomer too, isn't it? Truth is, you can rape anyone provided you have the resources, the time and the luck to pull it off. Of course, they do usually target those smaller than themselves. Nobody wants to wake up to a 250 lbs. victim looking for some revenge.

This story really touched me, why do these kinds of things like this?

Erf, that was a bit hard to read through, and it makes me sad. It was hard and makes me sad based on so many terrible experiences that I've had over and over, and just knowing that this is how things are, and that it's true, and this all happens way more than it should. This was a really hard hitting piece you did, Alex. It's powerful. But hopefully it sends a message.

I hate hearing stories like this one because it is people like the two "experienced" furs that give furry cons a bad name. I am sure people only go to them for the sex and parties, but I do not. I go for friends and to fursuit and stuff. Hope more tales like this dont become true

Okay people, this is not okay and for those that think it is okay then shame on you all. I mean really this is why people out there think that we are a bunch people that "go to furry conventions and have sex with everyone there." (quote from 103.5 Kiss FM Chcicago about the furries at MFF) To tell the truth, I am a very sexual girl myself, being pansexual I get asked a lot of Qs about what the fandom is really about. I remember growing up pretending to be a fox from a far of galaxy in a time of war between planets. As a lover of space, military tech, philosophy and much much MUCH more, I fit in the fandom as one of those people that have come up with a very very elabrate story about my character. And if you wish I can tell you if you want to know.

But this stuff right here guys, I don't know about you but it hurts to be looped in with people that just fuck around. I have one mate, just one. And I love her very very much. I know that some of you will agree with me in the sense that it is a very scary fact that some people even hate us for what believe is just goo fun and a childhood thing that we all want to hold on to. Which is totally fine. But for those that go to cons just to have sex, is that really all there is to the fanfom for you? I am asking whole heartedly. I really would like to know. Like i said before, I am a very sexual, flirty girl. I admit it. I like to be me and I will not apologize for it. But I do not just sleep with random folk. In pansexuality, for those that don't know, it means you are in love with that person for who they are regardless of what they look like. LOVE, that is the key word there. I am in a relationship where I have two people I love, one of them I am strictly ina closed sexual relationship with, the other is strictly platonic. (not sure if I spelled that right.) But I am in love with them both and would do anything in the world for both of them even give my life.

I am asking those out there, NOT TRYING TO START A FIGHT OR ARGUEMENT, I want to know what it is that you see in this fandom. Is it a childhood dream come true, that you get to hold on to and have fun exploring and seeing that 'hey there are more people that feel the same way that I do?' or is it something you find just fun to have a swingers, fetish, or anything along those lines, kind of activity?

We all agree, rape is bad and for someone to say that it was okay for someone to have sex with someone without the others consent to it is RAPE. I hope that she is okay and knows that she should feel disgusted about herself. I am sure she is a very beautiful woman. But how can she trust us now, and yes I do say US as a fandom, after what happened. Its scary and I just want to know what everyone thinks about this fandom.

I love being who I am, a Blue Arctic Fox from the Northern Osea Territories of Calithyian Space, thats my fursona. And I know those of you that read this are uniquie in your own ways. What do you think about this, about those that come into the fandom just to fuck?

1, I was pushed out of Sci Fi because when I entered at age 19, I hadn't read the right books and I didn't know the right names. Yeah, the old guard made me feel like a piece of excrement. So I left scifi fandom to rot. After finding furry though, I discovered not only a fandom that's a lot of fun, has adult and child sides, and has no entrance exam, but is actually RECREATING the golden age of sci fi, with their own cons and their own books and comics and websites and videos and movies and... you get the picture. IN one stroke I not only reconnected with my fandom families, but got the chance to relive something legendary that had faded long before I was even born.

2, I love the creativity and fun we all have together. The art. The stories (I"m a writer). The music and the films and the artistic inventiveness. Find another place in the world where the fans make their own materials for everyone to purchase. Not even Anime is fan-made.

3, It is just plain fun!! I even have fun staffing cons, though after every one I am so drained that I swear I won't do it anymore. Somehow, I always recharge and continue doing it.

I won't say that furry is full of perfect people. We have our diamonds and our dog turds the same as any other group of people. Furry Cons are no more an excuse to behave badly than "Tailhook" was an excuse for navy pilots to go whoring. There will always be troublemakers in a group -- they do NOT however define the group, even if the troublemakers SAY that they do.

I forget who said it, but I remember a quote from another furry that puts it in perspective:

"You have all these wonderful, fantastic human-animal creatures... and all you can think of to do with them is take their clothes off?"

I remember what got me into this fandom. Cute, fun art of fuzzy critters that attracted my interest for some unknown reason. It wasn't porn or smut or any sort of sex. Okay, maybe some of the sexual stuff drew me in, but it wasn't my "first love" when it comes to furry. I won't insist on banning porn or other things, yet I really think we should promote the cleaner stuff. I long to see the fandom produce some real, good, clean stuff. If sex is part of a relationship, that's fine, so long as it's not the be-all and end-all of the story. When it is, it either turns into vapid porno or it takes on a rather disturbing Stepford Smiler feel.

But y'know the frustrating thing? I'm not sure I can even advocate for that without someone, somewhere labeling me a "Burned Fur". Nice to know the fandom isn't an exception to the human race, isn't it?

LOL I am sorry that I am responding to this so late but I have to agree with you. It is so very comforting that we aren't a step above anyone cause we aren't I am glad that you feel the same way that I do. ^__^ And I agree with you too shockwave77598 it is good to hear that from both of you.

I have read up on it a bit. The group kinda burned each other, and the leader might've been a little too tyrannical. Right now, I'm not even sure if I want to call myself a furry anymore, not if it's to be associated with things I disagree with. And few, if any, of my local furs share my views on religion or politics. I'm not real sure how to make friends, especially with those who keep saying "that wasn't real socialism" when I protest about Bernie Sanders being President. Just seems like there's no shared values, not between us, and I'm tired of getting ads for the local drag shows plastered in my face. The hell does that have to do with "furry"? Just a bunch of men and women dressing like the opposite sex. Half of 'em ain't even that attractive when they do it, not to me! But I know I can't voice my opinion because I'll be called a bad person and shamed for it. It's tiresome. I don't even want to try.

I may just leave the group outright and find some new folks to hang out with in town. At least maybe some I can trust not to try and seduce me or get into my pants. Nor call me names just because I disagree with them.

I just feel like the furry fandom is sick. And I don't know if it's worth bringing more people into it until it's cured.

(i just moved my account here, just to say )

Hmm i think the opposite, you are pretty brave on denouncing all this, unfortunately the majority of the fandom is for the political correctness and stuff like that, and if you are against that you get labeled as a Burned Fur, Furry Raider, Furzi etc etc

Alas, poor fandom

Yeah, no kidding. All I can do is choose who I associate with and try to be a good influence on others. Maybe make a name for myself and show people a better way to live, and a better way to be furry. Or that you can just appreciate "furry" stuff and not be part of the fandom. You don't have to go to cons or change your way of life to be into it.

And I'd rather keep others away from the furries who are more predatory, including those who don't realize they're being predatory. Furry is not a religion; we don't need to convert people. Yeah, some people might be in denial, but they don't need to be thrust (oy, that sounds dirty) into this hedonistic, BDSM-heavy lifestyle that so many call "furry". It's just club culture wearing a fursuit. Or a pup hood when it gets lazy. And I'm tired of it.

Maybe I should speak out more. I just wish I knew how to do that.

Negative comments, i have quite a few. The queston is what kind fo negative comments you mean. I think it was wrong to 'set things up' in that way to soneone you were going out with. I can't say just how much of this situation just screams abuse and the attitude of someone who abuses. She was so much the victem here,a nd it can even have longer and wider ranging consequences. I think she was right to break things off completely.

As a furry who has been one ffor a very long time, i do not think this is the norm. I know that sometimes it happens, but then I've heard of similar things at trekkie conventions. Asshats will be asshats no matter where they go or who they hang out with. Heck, I've heard of this happening during 'buisiness trips' and 'office bonding;.

James and Andrew sound like sociopaths, so it's not surprising they're without a conscience. It's wrong to exploit innocence like that, and lord knows I've known people in this poor guy/girl's place (how it makes me sick), it still happens regularly in life. This event really didn't have much of anything to do with furry and it's got nothing to do with being perverted -- they saw an opportunity to take what they wanted and don't care about who they hurt. I'm sorry that was such an awful experience for your friend, but its unfortunately life, and at least your friend wasn't killed by the degenerates after Andrew was done. Much like someone raped with an everyday object, however, the association when the fandom comes up in conversation is going to be just awful :/

sounds like a lame excuse by a bunch of guys who want an excuse to boff anything that moves. I'm now an old guard fur, and I've been to cons that don't exist anymore. I've seen the good and the bad of it.

But saying that bedhopping is expected at furry cons? What, and the SCA is all about tenthopping too? I won't deny it happens in either place. But that is no more what Furry cons are about than an SCA war is about. The only difference is that furry doesn't have large men wielding swords to "correct" people who come in thinking they can get a quick lay there.

You know you're going to hell when you favorite a picture because of all the unintentionally hilarious comments. I'm not sure what was better: the deliciously impotent moral indignation or the comments about how this picture and story regarding rape "really touched them."

Harsh, and unfortunate this was based off an actual event.

Unfortunately, incidents like this when they become widely known seem to be what defines the social group as a whole to the general public, even if it isn't a common occurrence. I could see how there might be some pressure from inside the circle to keep a lid on it, too, as wrong as it is.

i feel bad for the boy/man who was violated he did not deserve such an end to what should have been a fun time in his life...

"Its all part of being a furry" "Most people here have fun with others in many ways than one. That just makes you a Furry now."
What a load of horseshit. I wouldn't put it past furs to have sex at a con, fair enough, but there's no justification for rape. Ever.
I guess it's just another facet of how when and where rape can occur... and it still sickens me.

Wow. Just wow. I am actually at a loss for words, though most of what I could say is probably already echoed above. All I can say is... this is why I refuse to go conning without my Big Bad Wuff in tow even though every year, if it looks like he might not be able to make it due to work, he tries to convince me (and a friend) to head up without him.

Wow. ~shakes head~

And this is why I never room with someone or go to room parties at the cons I go to.

Granted, the situation itself is not exclusive to the furry fandom, but it is unsettling that this kind of behavior is brushed off because, "this stuff happens at furry cons." -_- I'm reminded of the phrase, "Freedom is not a license for chaos."

I'm so sorry something like this happened to someone you know. =( I wouldn't blame anyone for giving up on the fandom after reading something like that. I hope that, by staying, the rest of us can set a better example and work towards preventing this from happening again.

I hope they do something stupid and get death row for it. Then they won't hurt anyone else.

your ex is a monster. Not all of us are like that. Not ven 1 percent of us are like that that was just the most disheartening thing ive heard about this fandom since i started in 1990 people are not all like that belive me

ok.... I'm Shocked... I had never think that something like this could happen at a con... o ________o

Leave room for more shockedness. This is not the first case I've heard of, by any means.. throughout various different types of conventions.

Things like this is what gives the majority of us a bad name. True, some aren't as open as friendly as I or my friends [to name a few], but a large deal of the fandom is. We have a word for 'furries' like those two, though I won't drop it here. I'd like to drop those two though. Right off a building.

I have a hard time believing this is normal anywhere. I haven't been to a convention, but I hope that this is representative of nothing more than two awful people who happen to be part of the fandom.

Your friend truly has my sympathies and prayers. This sort of thing should not happen ANYWHERE. Period.

Glad in the story she punched the guy in the face. Wish this hadn't happened. I was raped like this at a Burn (burning man regional event) and it is not ok. I don't care how much you party or even if it is carnivale in Rio. No is No is no, and if you are too drunk to understand that then you shouldn't drink. Here is wishing wiskey dick for life on that guy and happy jail butt raping. See Date rape the song by Sublime.

This is why we can't have nice people.

I went to my first con at MFF, just for a day, last year. I had a lot of fun and am really looking forward to attending AC this year.

That said, reading this sucks. I want everyone to have a good time like I did. This should never have happened to her. There aren't words to describe this.

I hope your friend gets better.

Even though I've never heard or experienced such during the cons I've been to I know that it does happen and makes me sick that people think that it's ok to do such things as well as make me glad that the times I've been to cons that I've always been with friends whom I trust and trust me to make sure they stay safe.

The thing is that rape isn't about sex, but about stealing power from another person. The sex is just the means by which the power is stolen. Other means could be used – threats, a gun, psychological manipulation, and so on – but sex has a disadvantage in that it's still seen as shameful by mainstream society. Therefore, not only has the victim suffered with the shame of losing power over themselves but by a means considered socially shameful. That the victim in this story punched out the rapist's lights and killed the relationship with the boyfriend shows he/she has guts. Unfortunately, he/she still has a ways to go before healing can finish. Loss of power via sex can be much like having one's soul eviscerated, especially when someone trusted is involved.

*pulls out a machete*

Find me the guy who this was inspired by and I will rain down swift justice on him.

beautifully emotional piece of work, and one of the reasons i dont like the fandom at all these days.

People have fun online and yiff-this yiff that...but then they take it offline too, and think they can do as they please.

Its rape and its wrong, very very wrong.

Im sure people have fun at cons but frankly, ive heard too much about incidents like this, or just general 'sexmongering' at cons that really, really puts me off going to one.

If it's not one fandom, it's another. Saying that "it's normal" is complete bullshit, and folks who laugh at something like this? There's something very, very, wrong with them. I'm pretty sure that any authorities if s/he explained this to would agree, that, no matter what you call this travesty of an event, is called rape. Plain and simple.

Sickening. Really.

Sadly, you'd be surprised at what authorities will do. There are numerous cases, especially in more rural areas --though the city is not exempt-- where men have gone to someone in authority saying they were raped, and people either A) don't believe them or B) make fun of them for it (you let someone rape you? what kind of man are you?)

This is why so few men report rape, because they want to avoid that intense, ridiculous shaming that occurs in our society. (I am talking about the US, so i'm not sure about how anywhere else reacts).

Source: http://www.ncvc.org/ncvc/main.aspx?dbName=DocumentViewer&DocumentID=32361%20

I know what you mean, I was raped myself, and was laughed out of the police station when I went to file a police report after I was gang raped. What hurt almost as much as my rape was what they told me, "Men never get raped, they only rape."

Sad to hear. Just because it "doesn't happen normally" doesn't mean it doesn't happen. If the authorities don't believe you, then what can a guy do? Yuch.

What is bad is that men who do get raped (whether by another male or even a female) rarely report the crime. This article: http://www.ncvc.org/ncvc/main.aspx?dbName=DocumentViewer&DocumentID=32361 that  ladyzizzle linked above lists some reasons why a vast majority of male rape victims don't report what happened. Even I was ridiculed when I tried to report what happened. It is because of that I have had a hard time finding proper counseling because I don't want to be subjected to that ridicule again..

Sometimes when normal people can't help, you can find solace in your friends. ... well, at least the ones who didn't screw with you.

I can honestly say that only my closest friends at the time knew what happened, and were mortified as they felt guilty for what happened to me (they took me to a dance club against my wishes knowing that I had a great dislike being in overly crowded locations).

I'm very sorry to hear that. Those police officers need publicly flogged for their stupidity.

I know, and that was 22 years ago, and it is just as bad today as it was back then. If you don't believe me, scour the news, as it happened to a gay man in LA when he tried reporting his rape.

....Dude. I honestly want to personally punch every cop at that station

So did I, and I got that response from two different police Departments, a civilian station and the military police (and this was in Germany btw)

People like that are the ones that give us all a bad wrap. Rape is still rape, plus or minus a convention.

I wish I could say This surprises me.

I can't, I have had to help people with issues like this.

It makes me sick with anger.

I pray your friend is ok.

Dear.

Fucking.

God.

And this is why I hate every kind of fandom now. Every single on. It seems it doesn't matter if a fandom is about furries, games, movies or cartoon ponies. Its all just drama, sexual perversion, flame wars and a reason for mentally retarded/disturbed people to interact with others, which ends almost always bad.

Respect for Humanity -1
Respect for Furries -1

I've always kept this fandom at arm's length because I suspected... rumors of groping, spiked drinks, and strange thing happening at 3 am... I just didn't want to believe it was true...

Don't hold this against ALL of us.. it's a minority that behave in this manner.. granted, a minority that need publicly flogged.. but a minority nonetheless. There are plenty of us good furs out there!

Don't worry, I've been around, or at least lurking, long enough to know furries are a diverse lot. But, every wrong in this world makes me lose faith in humanity just a tiny bit more... ~_~

this story makes me not want to go to a furry con even though i was thinking of trying one out. very powerful. especially since i have a friend that was raped at a party and nobody believed it happened.

I like your work, as always. <3 strong emotions.


I was drunk with a friend once... went to his friends hotel room and had some drinks. They wanted me and my friend to join in. I guess I was lucky I have always been able to keep enough control at times like that to get myself away.

I've thought that there might be people like this who would try to do the same thing if I went to a convention. x-x If I were to ever go. I would bring some pepper spray or something, and my boyfriend.

Most people I talk to about how you might act when drunk verses sober, or online verses offline.... they have said that "everyone acts differently online/drunk than they do offline/sober". I personally am only louder, and have a hard time keeping my thoughts in my head when drunk. otherwise... I haven't done anything I wouldn't sober. same for online verses offline. Things I do online I keep to things I would do offline as well.

That's just wrong. :\

Sadly, this is not a unique story.. but I have hard it form not just furry fandom, but Anime, Gaming, and even one Star Trek convention (form many years ago mind you).

=^.,.^=

rape is unacceptable no matter what, and the person that did that to your friend, i hope, is rotting in the ground or soon to be. If anyone did this to a friend of mine i would hunt them down and rip away whats most precious to them, make them watch. Crap like this just sets a fire under me like i can't describe

Being at a furry convention gives no excuse to rape and cheating... It sickens me so much to know there are people like this in the fandom. Then again, you can get this crap in any other case as well.

I really hope your friend is okay. And I hope those two are paying dearly for the scars they gave her. That is unacceptable.. it's disgusting.

I'm not surprised... people like that makes excuses for their actions (been there tho not convention related) and its not ok. You even have to be careful not to go anywhere alone...
I'm a 105lb 5'1" girl and I never go anywhere alone at a convention... the one time I had to go up to the room alone a guy followed me and tried to grab me to drag me down another hallway thankfully he was too messed up on something to put up much of a fight so I got to my room and my husband and I alerted con security who where fucking awesome in responding and getting the guy kicked out.

This is a horrible story, and that person should really be punished. That's NOT what Furry is about. That just really makes me sad that there are stupid people out there like that who will take advantage and just--that makes me sick. I'm sorry that happened to your friend. :( I hope things turn out better for her and maybe one day Furry could turn out to be positive for her.

To see and read this angers me in a strange way. Perhaps the biggest manner is that the circumstance in which the person involved not only feels betrayed most grievously but then has to suddenly deal with other stress of finding a way home or anyone they could trust.

I dearly wish for the person to whom this happened, I dearly wish for you to see this. No one should *_EVER_* think that any con is for sex, and No., it not 'ok' to have casual sex with strangers in such manners.

I do not know what more to say aside from how infuriating it is to hear of such actions getting excused so casually as if it doesn't matter. It does matter, it will always matter. Anyone who thinks otherwise is delusional/dangerous.

I wouldn't just automatically assume said story is true, however... anyone female that goes to a convention where there's thousands of teen / young aged males that have likely been sex-deprived for many years... and then adds alcohol to the mix and just assume nothing bad is going to happen... where's their common sense? Regardless of wither or not it ever actually happened, I will never understand why any semi-smart female would even put themselves in that situation in the first place.

Use your brain... if you're going to a group outing.. either don't drink, or if you do, only room with people you really know and trust, or better off.. room by yourself.

That's victim-blaming. Rape is never the fault of anyone BUT the rapist. Any semi-smart male would see a female who is vulnerable and wouldn't touch her. The thought that men are such beasts that they can't control themselves is an insult to men as well.

on that note, any woman who takes advantage of vulnerable males is just as sick, and just as common. it's just not as talked-about. men get victim-blamed just as much as the females, and when they voice that they were taken advantage of, are told that they probably liked it because they're a guy, and therefore it's not rape or being taken advantage of and it's never taken seriously.

victim blaming is a serious problem though, and really needs to be stopped. i do think that common sense is key when it comes to drinking, but only because any time a mind altering substance enters the body you do lose control of your ability to reason and function, and you can't trust others to just plain do the right thing. human beings constantly take advantage of those they see vulnerable in some way, be it sexually, financially, emotionally or what have you... but even so, it's not their fault if they do get raped, and the rapists should always be made to pay for what they've done. i just know i don't plan to shack with any strangers or do any drinking at any cons i go to, because i'm deathly afraid of what could happen. well that and i dont really drink very often and like to be in a secure location like my house or a close friends' house when i do, in case anything happens (though ive never gotten drunk, i just like to be safe).

she should definitely have a right to drink and have fun without having to worry about being taken advantage of, though, i agree. i just wish people in general were more trustworthy...

sadly i've heard this sort of story too many times in my life... it makes me angry that rapists get away with this sort of thing so often, leaving people feeling broken, used, violeted, tainted, dirty, alienated, scared and alone... once someone's been through an event like this, their life is never the same. some people have even committed suicide simply due to how they felt after being raped. it's a horrible situation and i wish that more would be done by it by police and/or anyone else, instead of saying 'he/she was probably asking for it... maybe they shouldnt have dressed so scantily... maybe they were giving mixed signals...' no, this is rediculous and all the victim-blaming arguments are quite invalid. it makes me sick that this kind of thing happens so often... i hope your friend can recover at least a good portion of the way from such a horrid event.

also this isnt just a problem with the fandom, it's just something we hear of a lot more because a lot of people use the guise of being a furry to get what they want out of others. i'm a bit of a porn junky and all and some of that is furry porn, but my existance in the fandom isnt due to my sexuality, i just enjoy having a furry character to use in art, rp's, stories and the like that represents a part of me, and is symbolic of part of my personality. it's all in good fun...

and anyone who would tell their girlfriend that this sort of thing is 'just what happens at conventions' is an idiot, a charlitain and someone who needs to be neutered. I mean he also slept with 2 other furs behind his girlfriend's back? he KNEW she was going to get raped and he ALLOWED it?! He shames the name of furries. Of human beings... Both him and his friend are nothing but scum. I wish she would have reported them to the police because both of them, if the police would have listened, would have been in deep shit. Some people... really have issues.

I've heard of it happening quite often at anime cons as well. :(

yes, QUITE often.

There are few things in the world that can draw such a degree of fury from my heart. The greatest one is Rape, followed by betrayal. This story contains both. A warning to all, should I find out one of has done this, pray to whatever deity you have that the police find you before I. Some have come to me broken from this kind of thing, and I'm the one that has to put them back together, but it is never the same, there is always a piece missing. I'm not a violent person, many times have passed when someone should have gotten a good facepunch. However, like I said, when infuriated to that level, I will not hesitate to Rukopashnii Boi you. Then you will end up more broken than your victim. I must say that there are few artists that can draw emotions like you.

Douchebags will stay douchebags, no matter which fandom, institution, company, religious, or any social group they're in. The two bastards just used 'furry' to hide their intentions.

She should've informed the police, or at least con security. But here's a cure: transparency. Post James' and Andrew's identities. Give evidence. Make their lives a living hell.

People can be so terrible - what a horrible thing to have happen, especially if your partner is complacent in it...

But..But thats not what furry conventions are always about, its about having fun(not sex) with others you associate with and enjoy time you have with other that wont judge you for who you are, it a time to share art and pieces people have done, its most certainly not a place to fuck, cheat and rape..that terrible that happened to your friend, and I cant believe that someone made up such a dumb and horrible excuse just because they couldnt keep it in their pants..

If a "friend" of mine ever had the gall to suggest the idea of me letting him have his way with my gf/mate at a con just because "it's a furry thing to do." He would find himself waking up in a deserted warehouse somewhere strapped into a machine that would very slowly slice him into little pieces.

I hope those skuzzballs get whats coming to them down the road.

read this and want to vomit. never have I been so sickened by a story...I want to say to the victim im so sorry...wish there was a way to fix something like this

damn, I've never been to any of the expressed "furry" conventions myself, after reading that though not sure if I'd want to go. <.<;

I like your art btw, the soft feel and subtle curves just make it seem so . . . I hate to use the word perfect but I'm hard pressed for a proper term. It's a very aesthetically pleasing style to look at.

I feel sorry for this poor woman, she didn't deserve this crap. Hopefully, she did the right thing and tell con ops who, hopefully, will do the right thing and ban the people who thought they could get a cheap thrill from stuff like this. Most conventions, particularly the big ones, care enormously for their members.

People like James & Andrew make my blood boil.