On Artists and Entitlement

I'm pretty sure this post will go over like a lead balloon, but it's been heavily on my mind for a while, and I decided to get it off my chest.

There's been a tongue-in-cheek saying in furry for quite a few years that goes, "He who draws the cocks calls the shots." I'm not using this quote as a blanket condemnation of all furry artists; anyone who knows me at all knows that I've been a very strong supporter of furry art for 15 years now--and I have no intention of stopping that anytime soon. I count many furry artists among my friends.

But just from personal observation, and from what I've been hearing from fans and collectors over the last several months, the Prima Donna Syndrome has been kicking in big time with some big-name furry artists lately.

Trust me when I tell you that fame and prestige in the furry fandom has the shelf life of a carton of milk, and is worth just about as much. There are furry artists out there who, even though they are amazing creatively and graphically, are just downright assholes. They are counting on the mass fanboy mentality that states, "If I say or do something they don't like, they'll take my porn away."

Guess what? Fuckin' let 'em.

Here are two almost polar opposite truths about the furry fandom: it's big enough that a really good artist who markets themselves well can get a large following in a short period of time. BUT it's also small enough that if you're a douchebag, that reputation will get around in pretty short order. Treat your fan base like shit, and all that sweet fanboy money will start to dry up. And trust me: there's always someone just as talented as you perched to take your place within a moment's notice. Placing rude and unrealistic demands on potential customers will only drive them to seek out other talented artists who aren't drunk on their own PR.

Additionally, for every 50 cowering fanboys who hold their tongues and don't say a word about your abusive, selfish and mean behavior, there will always be someone like me who will call you out on your bullshit. Count on it.

It's true enough there are a lot of fanboys out there who treat artists like crap, too; they deserve being called out just as much. But your ability to draw dick does not make you God. Show a little fucking humility, and treat your fellow furs with some respect and dignity.