URL: ftp://ftp.uu.net/usenet/control/alt/alt.lifestyle.furry.Z Date: Thu, 29 Aug 1996 17:01:35 +1000 For your newsgroup file: alt.lifestyle.furry Philosophical and social topics for 'furries' alt.lifestyle.furry was proposed on alt.config on 20th August 1996. Discussion has been supportive though limited, with no objections raised. Prior to this, a.l.f was a topic on alt.fan.furry since early July, with over 100 articles posted in discussion. CHARTER alt.lifestyle.furry is an un-moderated forum for the discussion and exploration of spiritual/lifestyle related furry issues, as distinct from fandom topics as addressed by alt.fan.furry. A subject will be considered on-topic where it arises from, relates to, or affects the individual's sense of themselves as a 'Furry', and where it does not meet any of the following criteria for off-topicness. . Commercial articles that are not directly related to a furry lifestyle theme . Articles crossposted to alt.fan.furry, and Furry Fandom specific subject matter (e.g.: comics), unless there is an obvious mutuality (conferences, furry stories). . Articles crossposted to more then 10 newsgroups. . Binary articles . Judgemental material on the personal lives of other subscribers. Note: within 'furrydom' (Furry Fandom) the noun 'furry' has two principle meanings. 1. A furry is an anthropomorphic animal character in film, art, literature, etc. The example normally given is the characters in Disney's film 'Robin Hood'. 2. A furry is a human who relates strongly, in any way, to anthropomorphic characters. For the purposes of this proposal, such a person is a 'fur'. Furry fandom has expanded steadily over time. As its membership has grown it has become clear that 'furries' fall into two broad categories; those whose interests are restricted to the artefacts / characters of the fandom (e.g.: fanzines), and those who consider their furriness to be an internal, spiritual state which informs their entire lifestyle. 'Furry lifestyle' as a definition encompasses a broad range of activities, interests and beliefs. Such topics include, but are not limited to animal identities, alter-ego's and spirit guides, the wearing and making of fursuits, collars and other furry clothing, plush toys, theriomorphosis, and general philosophical discussion - and to the personal experience of _being_ furry - socially, sexually, and psychologically. These latter concerns are related only tenuously to artwork, film and literature, and attempts to discuss lifestyle topics on alt.fan.furry have led to ongoing and frequently criticism. For the past several months the debates, and often outright flames on this subject have continued virtually without interruption. Furs interested in discussing lifestyle issues now acknowledge that a.f.f is not a suitable venue; indeed that 'lifestyle' and 'fandom' topics are so semantically distinct as to require seperate newsgroups. alt.lifestyle.furry has therefore been conceived, as an alternative furry forum. Although mailing lists exist for several of the lifestyle topics listed above, discussion on these lists is strictly confined to the specific subject matter thereof. ALF is a forum at which any of these specifics may be discussed /in the wider context of the individual's overall sense of furriness./ Selected audience information from related newsgroups and mailing lists: [Worldwide readership estimates are from June 1995 Arbitron, except for a.f.f (July 1995) Traffic estimates are current.] alt.fan.furry - Worldwide readership: 29,392 - ppd: 75 alt.horror.werewolves (theriomorphs) - readership: 32,854 - ppd: 70 alt.fan.dragon - ppd: 30 alt.sex.plushies - readership: 71,762 alt.tv.tiny-toon fandom - readership: 41,933 fursuit mailing list - subscribers: 100 plushie mailing list - subscribers: 100 OzFurry mailing list - subscribers: 40 Furry writers mailing list - subscribers: 40 -- Automatic posting done by -- notice of posting problems (headers, etc.) should be sent there. The Furry IntroPage! http://www.tigerden.com/infopage/furry/intro.html Just The FAQs: http://www.tigerden.com/infopage/furry/faqs.html This post: http://www.tigerden.com/infopage/furry/alf-charter.txt