Jonathan Vair Duncan  🗡️ 🦁 🌞

You'll hear this from Uncle Kage when he's damage-controlling anti-furry sentiments in the press: Furries are rarely ever into zoo, but zoos get into furry in the same way that a necrophile may want to pursue mortuary sciences. He's right. I think of that quote often.

So, artists, is ignoring that animal bit correlation justifiable next time this comes up? Do you owe it to yourself to do a background check on animal bits? For ME, I must check every time. And w/my rep, thankfully, I get very few requests for that design trait.

You may find this hard to believe, but I have to do a background check on every single commission that I deem as sexually overt / pornographic. As a recovering sex addict, if I didn't do that, I'd be such a hypocrite. That's how broken my life was from my addiction.

Despite my brokenness, I have the humility to acknowledge my own dumb brain and choices don't represent all others. This is how I know for a fact that porn isn't objectively evil, that it can even be used for healing purposes.

If you look into the ABDL scene, you'll find a lot of consenting adults doing something about their difficult, stressed lives. That overlaps often w/babyfurs I've met. But if you draw/share cub, expect your pics WILL be bedfellows w/an abusive minority, despite your intention.

Say it's just fantasy, like art that was ageplay between you and your consenting adult partner—I can't police that. But I don't see how it's worth it to take that contained element and share it w/the public. The cost-benefit seems off to me, to share that fantasy w/o context.

I think it's worth it to share your true self with others, especially if you're a survivor. (Can't imagine zoo' applying here, FTR.) If your content is SUPER alt/extreme and you DON'T support abuse, you'd better damn well include some footnotes on your online platforms.

If I ever do this as a lecture, it won't be to gatekeep or wash out XXX alt stuff. It WILL be to stress the importance of all artists and social media users to consider the consequences of their actions. Especially if you have a big following.

If you are a fetish artist, esp. an extreme fetish, asking your client "Why do you like this?" will probably be the first time that person has ever questioned their intentions. I've seen that question change peoples lives. It's worth asking if it stops an evil seed from growing.