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.
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.