The Heads Off Issue
Jun. 7th, 2013 07:38 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
slycatAs Twitter isn't really the place to get all my thoughts across on the matter, I thought I'd write an entry about the subject.
Basically there's a lot of drama about regarding people taking their fursuit heads off in public space at the recent Confuzzled to socialise and there's been a lot of arguments on both sides so I thought I'd throw in my 2 pence.
There are situations where fursuiters may need to take their head off in an emergency, for example due to overheating, breathing issues, etc and that's absolutely fine. Obviously it'd be mad to expect people to put themselves into serious discomfort just to maintain the character, but of course the flip side to this is that any budding fursuiter should learn their limits and know when it is time to find a fan to stand in front of or go to the headless lounge or their hotel room to cool off.
I did witness one instance where it seemed plain that at least one person actively disliked wearing the fursuit head and so would take their head off at any opportune moment during the Fursuit Fiasco games at Confuzzled. If you don't like wearing the head, especially at a public event like that, perhaps fursuiting isn't for you, or at least the event wasn't for you. I know that I can get out of breath from being overly active in suit as I'm not of the best fitness so I don't tend to participate in events like fursuit games. Doing so makes for worse photos and video for those trying to record the event.
Obviously everyone in furry these days figures they need a fursuit of their character to feel part of the fandom, but many of these people aren't familiar with the basics of fursuiting (despite there normally being events held at conventions to teach such things) and just treat fursuits like they would kigurumis or whatever. In my opinion, fursuiting is a form of performance. You're representing the character you're wearing, be it a toony cat or a realistic looking wolf. However it seems the new generation of furs don't care claiming that we all know we're people in costumes, but I feel that's missing the point somewhat. Sadly I don't think it's possible to change the opinion of people who think like that.
With regards to talking in suit which also came up at one point, at conventions, I don't really care if you want to talk in suit. It obviously works better if you work it into the character but normally fursuit performance is better when you remain mute.
Anyway, I could go on but I think much of what I think has been said quite a few times. Ultimately however, the heads off thing doesn't really annoy me as people are free to do what they like but it would be nice for more people who want to get into fursuiting to do it well rather than just treat it as a piece of clothing.
Basically there's a lot of drama about regarding people taking their fursuit heads off in public space at the recent Confuzzled to socialise and there's been a lot of arguments on both sides so I thought I'd throw in my 2 pence.
There are situations where fursuiters may need to take their head off in an emergency, for example due to overheating, breathing issues, etc and that's absolutely fine. Obviously it'd be mad to expect people to put themselves into serious discomfort just to maintain the character, but of course the flip side to this is that any budding fursuiter should learn their limits and know when it is time to find a fan to stand in front of or go to the headless lounge or their hotel room to cool off.
I did witness one instance where it seemed plain that at least one person actively disliked wearing the fursuit head and so would take their head off at any opportune moment during the Fursuit Fiasco games at Confuzzled. If you don't like wearing the head, especially at a public event like that, perhaps fursuiting isn't for you, or at least the event wasn't for you. I know that I can get out of breath from being overly active in suit as I'm not of the best fitness so I don't tend to participate in events like fursuit games. Doing so makes for worse photos and video for those trying to record the event.
Obviously everyone in furry these days figures they need a fursuit of their character to feel part of the fandom, but many of these people aren't familiar with the basics of fursuiting (despite there normally being events held at conventions to teach such things) and just treat fursuits like they would kigurumis or whatever. In my opinion, fursuiting is a form of performance. You're representing the character you're wearing, be it a toony cat or a realistic looking wolf. However it seems the new generation of furs don't care claiming that we all know we're people in costumes, but I feel that's missing the point somewhat. Sadly I don't think it's possible to change the opinion of people who think like that.
With regards to talking in suit which also came up at one point, at conventions, I don't really care if you want to talk in suit. It obviously works better if you work it into the character but normally fursuit performance is better when you remain mute.
Anyway, I could go on but I think much of what I think has been said quite a few times. Ultimately however, the heads off thing doesn't really annoy me as people are free to do what they like but it would be nice for more people who want to get into fursuiting to do it well rather than just treat it as a piece of clothing.
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no subject
Date: 2013-06-07 08:00 pm (UTC)I can be a little forgiving with cons as its not really a majorly public environment, however certain areas and events at them are a must.
I also cant also see the point of spending $$$ on something which is supposed to make you look like an animal and then carrying it under your arm all day!
I suspect that lots of the newer fur don't really give a crap if the fandom is about animals or empty coke bottles.
The fact that the internet generation has found a place to fit in with whatever social hangup they have self diagnosed themselves with, where everyone accepts all regardless, will not help the situation going forward.
no subject
Date: 2013-06-07 08:03 pm (UTC)As for private mascots.. Since you are the owner and conceptor of the character, you can apply a voice that you want to the character, and thus I have no issue with someone talking in suit. It does however work better if they had an articulated jaw, so mouth movement comes with the speech.
As for the Furry mascots that don't speak, it's mostly for the fun of Miming all the time, but I really don't think there is a rule against talking.
As for heads off tho.. I agree.. maybe you take a head off in a private room party, or a small panel room where maybe you are discussing fursuiting, almost like a headless lounge..
But going to a major event, like a parade, games, masquerade, dance.. I feel one should stay in character when performing for the audiance around.
no subject
Date: 2013-06-08 10:51 am (UTC)Talking - mm, I'm not too bothered. An articulated jaw certainly helps, but it's difficult to not sound thoroughly enclosed, especially with a foam head. ^_^; (That'd be quite an interesting challenge, really - how to extend the jaw and make the resulting voice not sound muffled. I suspect prosthetics would be the best way, paying attention not just to the outside shape, but the inner volume as well. But that's not an area I've yet experimented with)
no subject
Date: 2013-08-23 05:48 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-01-10 05:03 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-01-10 05:09 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-01-10 05:11 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-01-10 05:07 pm (UTC)A bit more difficult for me.. though, I suppose if the ears were flexible enough, I could tuck them down my back..
(At some point, I’m pretty sure I’ve got to bring my SL self into RL =:)
no subject
Date: 2014-01-10 05:09 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-06-09 05:55 pm (UTC)I don't get why people spend huge amounts of money buying or time making a suit and then not want it to look its absolute best the whole time.
I just think suiters with their heads off look naff. They may as well be walking around without pants on.
no subject
Date: 2013-06-26 07:45 pm (UTC)One reason might be that people don't know their limits or think ahead a little bit. I heard someone saying that he was hour in pawpet show queue and "of course it was hot and I had to take my head off". Uh oh, well maybe going to queue and long show in fursuit isn't the best idea in first place. It is expected to get hot and uncomfy.
Partially reason is surely that lot of new furries seems to think that fursuit is required. I've heard people asking are they welcome to small furmeets even though they don't have any fursuit. Maybe as result of this, lot of people are buying as cheap as possible suit, maybe second hand, that have nothing to do with their fursona. This kind of suits are of course more easily considered just as clothes.
But still, there was lot of people with quite professional looking fursuits and they spend hours in bar or outside. Surely at least most of them know that they annoy other people. So this feels simply that "I can do whatever I want, others just must deal with it" attitude.
Personally, if I ever get my own fursuit, I'd never take my head off public. Why on earth I'd like to ruin my own character with human face. Disaster if someone would even get photo of that. But clearly less and less people think this way.