A.R.M. ([info]kinkyturtle) wrote,
@ 2008-04-28 02:04:00
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The word "fursona"
http://inaki.livejournal.com/259122.html

Pfaugh, what's wrong with the word "fursona"? It's simply a portmanteau of "furry persona". What better, more concise term to describe what the word means?

Some people, some FURRIES even, seem to have some kind of hate-on for any furry slang whatsoever. Slang from other fandoms they'll gladly use, such as "slash", "otaku" or "con crud"; pejorative terms for furries made up by others they'll eagerly sling around, such as "fursecution"... but oh how DARE their fellow furries have the NERVE to invent neologisms of their own!

Another good example is "yiff". Man, some people complain about this word so hard it seems they'd rather have dental surgery without anaesthetic than ever hear the word "yiff" again. What would they rather we say? "Fuck"?

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How about "boink"? I like boink. It's a portmanteau of "buh oink". I think.
[info]masstreble
2008-04-28 08:51 am UTC (link)
I've never quite liked how the word "yiff" feels. It just doesn't roll in the mouth quite right, and I never feel satisfied having said it.

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Re: How about "boink"? I like boink. It's a portmanteau of "buh oink". I think.
[info]kinkyturtle
2008-04-28 09:09 am UTC (link)
You know how "yiff" feels to me? Fluffy. Which, of course, makes it perfect for furries!

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Re: How about "boink"? I like boink. It's a portmanteau of "buh oink". I think. - [info]babsbunny, 2008-04-28 11:04 pm UTC (Expand)

[info]mycroftb
2008-04-28 09:23 am UTC (link)
I guess like a lot of things, it's a matter of moderation. Going out of one's way to insert "fur" into normal words, like "furiends", might be cute once, but just annoying when overdone (like "the cake is a lie"). I'm sure to many, it's acceptable, and in certain social circles I'm sure it's encouraged.

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[info]kinkyturtle
2008-04-28 09:30 am UTC (link)
Yeah, but all I'm saying is, the people who don't like furry slang could use a bit of moderation too. :}

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[info]doujoux
2008-04-28 10:16 am UTC (link)
We used to have the word 'yiff' in English. It turned into 'if'.

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[info]haystack
2008-04-28 11:53 am UTC (link)
I should make a vixen on FurryMUCK and name her Y1FF to go with my bulldog pet, B1FF.

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[info]nefaria
2008-04-28 12:10 pm UTC (link)
I'm generally of the same opinion on all forms of slang: it's fine to use if and only if the person you're talking to knows what it means.

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[info]kiwihunter8
2008-04-28 12:48 pm UTC (link)
I've actually always like the "cuteness" of the word 'fursona'. But the word 'yiff' has always annoyed me. Maybe because it shows how overly sexually oriented the fandom is, if it needs it's only special word for sex. I mean, do the other fandoms have their own special words for having sex? It's just a little odd.

Nothing against sex or anything ;) but it automatically brings the fandom from an all ages perspective into R rated territory.

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[info]kinkyturtle
2008-04-28 05:40 pm UTC (link)
*ahem* Hentai. Yaoi. Yuri. Slash.

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(no subject) - [info]deckardcanine, 2008-04-28 07:12 pm UTC (Expand)
(no subject) - [info]kiwihunter8, 2008-04-28 08:42 pm UTC (Expand)

[info]orv
2008-04-28 09:12 pm UTC (link)
Yeah, well, it originated in America. Of course it's over-sexed. Our whole culture is over-sexed.

Really, though, I think it's silly for people to complain that the furry fandom contains adult themes. If it weren't targeted at adults it wouldn't be a "fandom." Kids can find stuff interesting without having to label it and turn it into a subculture; only adults feel the need for those trappings.

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(no subject) - [info]kiwihunter8, 2008-04-28 10:35 pm UTC (Expand)

[info]octan
2008-04-28 02:17 pm UTC (link)
I'm sort of with what Kiwihunter8 said. Mainly, I'm bothered that it's the most well-known furry slang word... I mean, besides the words that insert "fur" into other English words, what else is there? Try rattling off a list of furry slang to a non-fur sometime without making us sound like either uncreative morons or perverts. It can't be done, I tells ya!

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[info]crocodile
2008-04-28 03:19 pm UTC (link)
I stopped using yiff and yiffy a few years ago because I just feel dumber saying them. Fursona isn't bad, but sticking "fur" into any word that has a similar rhyming syllable just seems rather juvenile and overly cutesy.

If I want to be juvenile and cutesy, I'll put on a suit. It's more effective. :)

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[info]tracerj
2008-04-28 04:52 pm UTC (link)
Interestingly, the word "yiff" has reached beyond our little fandom, as has "fursecution". They haven't reached terribly far, but there you have it. I'm forced to wonder if the spread is because of use, or because of all the complaints about use that make them such attractive and memorable words.

I mean, who doesn't like to use words that hold extra power?

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(no subject) - [info]kinkyturtle, 2008-04-28 06:03 pm UTC (Expand)
(no subject) - [info]orv, 2008-04-28 09:12 pm UTC (Expand)
(no subject) - [info]xydexx, 2008-04-28 11:47 pm UTC (Expand)
(no subject) - [info]kinkyturtle, 2008-04-28 06:02 pm UTC (Expand)
(no subject) - [info]babsbunny, 2008-04-28 11:06 pm UTC (Expand)
(no subject) - [info]kinkyturtle, 2008-04-29 01:56 am UTC (Expand)

[info]deckardcanine
2008-04-28 03:36 pm UTC (link)
"Fursecution" is a pejorative for furries? I thought it was persecution of furries by non-furries.

I appreciate "fursona" for its compactness. I appreciate "furvert" as a way to distinguish the pervs of the fandom from the more decent members (sure beats the ambiguous and misleading "furry"). I think "yiff" is a bit pointless, except maybe as a semi-euphemism, but I don't get angry about it.

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(no subject) - [info]tracerj, 2008-04-28 04:50 pm UTC (Expand)
(no subject) - [info]deckardcanine, 2008-04-28 07:08 pm UTC (Expand)
(no subject) - [info]tracerj, 2008-04-28 07:36 pm UTC (Expand)
(no subject) - [info]deckardcanine, 2008-04-28 09:40 pm UTC (Expand)
(no subject) - [info]xydexx, 2008-04-28 05:44 pm UTC (Expand)
(no subject) - [info]kinkyturtle, 2008-04-28 05:50 pm UTC (Expand)
(no subject) - [info]deckardcanine, 2008-04-28 07:09 pm UTC (Expand)
(no subject) - [info]kinkyturtle, 2008-04-28 05:48 pm UTC (Expand)

[info]doodlesthegreat
2008-04-28 05:34 pm UTC (link)
What would they rather we say? "Fuck"?

Fuck yes. =};-3

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[info]giza
2008-04-28 05:37 pm UTC (link)

1) I believe that "fursona" comes from the word "persona" that was used by the SCA people. It's just a play on a word.

2) Seeing someone talking trash about a service that they just happen to be (or will soon be) competing with comes off as a bit of a dick move. But maybe that's just me.

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(no subject) - [info]kinkyturtle, 2008-04-28 05:59 pm UTC (Expand)

[info]xydexx
2008-04-28 05:51 pm UTC (link)
I like MyFursona. It's like MySpace without all the extra annoying crap.

And I agree with [info]giza above. If someone's just dumping on MyFursona because they're going to be competing with them, that's pretty poor form.

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(no subject) - [info]orv, 2008-04-28 09:15 pm UTC (Expand)
(no subject) - [info]babsbunny, 2008-04-28 11:09 pm UTC (Expand)
(no subject) - [info]xydexx, 2008-04-28 11:56 pm UTC (Expand)

[info]wildbilltx
2008-04-28 06:02 pm UTC (link)
The only time I hear these words are at cons or online, so they don't bother me. They're mostly fan slang than anything else.

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[info]mycroftb
2008-04-28 07:11 pm UTC (link)
I don't see what the big deal is about "yiff" either. It seems nicer (and as you pointed out, fluffier) than the ruder "fuck". Plus it has many uses that you can't just use blanket direct substitution for. It can refer to actual sex or cybersex interchangeably. It's usually limited to anthropomorphic or furry-like creatures. I've never heard it used to "swear" (What the yiff was that? You're out of your yiffing mind! I've had it with these yiffing snakes on this yiffing plane!). It's just a word that has its uses, nothing more.

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(no subject) - [info]thecanuckguy, 2008-04-29 10:42 pm UTC (Expand)

[info]octan
2008-04-28 07:17 pm UTC (link)
I just now realized that the person who posted that rant is on the staff of Art Spots, and, by extension, YiffIt.

GEE, HYPOCRISY MUCH? *roll*

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(no subject) - [info]octan, 2008-04-28 07:32 pm UTC (Expand)

[info]typographer
2008-04-28 09:06 pm UTC (link)
Well, my guess would be that most of the people who object don't know what a portmanteau is...

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[info]orv
2008-04-28 09:09 pm UTC (link)
Mostly I just think the whole "fur" pun is annoyingly overused. "Califurnia," "Confurence," "furson"...yeah, we get it already. It's a tired old joke at this point.

I think words like "yiff" get hated on mostly by people who are desperate to have the fandom Taken Seriously. Which of course is never going to happen anyway. They might as well just give up and admit the whole thing is silly and cute.

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[info]rigelkitty
2008-04-28 10:50 pm UTC (link)
"Fursona", while a bit overused and leaking unbidden into the media (who misuse it half the time), hasn't been worn out nearly as much as "yiff". I don't think I've ever used it in general conversation, even with furries. It has so many negative connotations now, people lose points with me instantly if it's part of their conversational vocabulary. It's ridiculous - I nearly bust out laughing.

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[info]babsbunny
2008-04-28 11:13 pm UTC (link)
I personally (or would that be "fursonally") have no problem with all the furry terminology floating around out there. I use it by habit, though only around other furs. I think the only issues I do have is when people try too hard to the point where they go "anti-nonfurry", and feel that have to give EVERYTHING a furry spin. Like people who say "Dog", rather than "God" (e.g. Thank Dog things are okay".)

I also ruffle a little whenever I run across the term fursecution, because the only times I've come across it has been by furs whining about how much they're picked on and how the world hates them. >.

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(no subject) - [info]orv, 2008-04-29 12:29 am UTC (Expand)
(no subject) - [info]kinkyturtle, 2008-04-29 02:08 am UTC (Expand)
Perhaps it is a furban legend. -=) - [info]xydexx, 2008-04-29 04:57 am UTC (Expand)

[info]kaysho
2008-05-07 10:30 pm UTC (link)
I've always rather liked "yiff". It's cute, and furry is hardly alone as a sub-culture / fandom in having a private word for private activities. Heck, science fiction fandom back in the 1970s had "skiffy".

And the lady at the DMV really liked it when I ordered my licence plate. She said it was so cute! :)

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