I think that shows where the lack of experience shows. Golf wouldn't care about documentaries as much because, as you noted, it's already a high-status hobby. The furry fandom is not high status and, particularly in the past, the times it did get mainstream attention it was mostly negative or focussed on more controversial aspects.
There was a lot of concern about the fandom's reputation as it was still struggling to grow and establish itself. There was a 2003 episode of CSI that focussed on the sexual aspect of the fandom which upset a lot of furs. It's 16 years later and you will still find furs that are upset about it. And was other backlash against furs who dared to talk to the media, whether well-intentioned or not. ChewFox appeared on the Tyra Banks show in 2009 and talked about fursuit sex. That got her a huge amount of hate and banned from FurAffinity. Those are the two big ones that I recall but there were many other, similar incidents.
Over time, the fandom's relationship with the media has improved and there are now more, and more accurate, portrayals of the fandom. And so furs who are new just think its normal to have the occasional documentary or interview on TV or whatever. That is a huge departure from how things used to be when there were, implicit and explicit, rules about not ever talking to the media about the furry fandom.
"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 think that shows where the lack of experience shows. Golf wouldn't care about documentaries as much because, as you noted, it's already a high-status hobby. The furry fandom is not high status and, particularly in the past, the times it did get mainstream attention it was mostly negative or focussed on more controversial aspects.
There was a lot of concern about the fandom's reputation as it was still struggling to grow and establish itself. There was a 2003 episode of CSI that focussed on the sexual aspect of the fandom which upset a lot of furs. It's 16 years later and you will still find furs that are upset about it. And was other backlash against furs who dared to talk to the media, whether well-intentioned or not. ChewFox appeared on the Tyra Banks show in 2009 and talked about fursuit sex. That got her a huge amount of hate and banned from FurAffinity. Those are the two big ones that I recall but there were many other, similar incidents.
Over time, the fandom's relationship with the media has improved and there are now more, and more accurate, portrayals of the fandom. And so furs who are new just think its normal to have the occasional documentary or interview on TV or whatever. That is a huge departure from how things used to be when there were, implicit and explicit, rules about not ever talking to the media about the furry fandom.
"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~