(Cross-Posted from FurAffinity)
I've noticed that people identify with names. Several artists that I've admired have said that the feeling was mutual, but only after they realized who I was: JenkatGD (VCL) or just "Jenkat"
Because I changed my name to "TehSean" for FA since.. that's my name.. barring the TEH of course.. Lots of people didn't reckognize me and I don't really, really have a definite personal style.
Also, I've noticed that it's hard to get people to know you when they're popular. These things do occur on some level:
Perspective of Recipient
**The Testing Stage***:
You're given a chance because you're not pure evil and I'm not a _complete_ jackass, though some may have called me that in the past. So, I'll let you dominate the conversation and see if what you say is a)Worth Responding to; b)Fanboy or Fangirl spatter; c)Intelligible, but uninteresting
**Actually Communicating***:
Begin saying things other than acknowledgements (IE: Nodding, saying "Okay" and adding punctuation and capitialization to make it seem like your monosyllabic responses have effort put into them. These are no longer used.)
You actually begin engaging in the conversation thoughtfully, but you are still looking for quirks that might lead you to believe that this person is a mere source of headaches.
Judgement***
You won't let them know what you actually think of them. You want to avoid the possibility of anyone spreading rumors about you since.. If all the fans you have followed _your_ bullshit, then you can only imagine how blind and foolish the people who hate you must be.
a) Congratulations, you won't be dodging this person. Perhaps it was something materialistic (Ability to create Artwork) that helped motivate your interest in this person. Maybe it was because they knew someone you'd like to meet eventually, but for the sake of not appearing shallow, will let that happen naturally or after a few months, inquire about that person's location.
b) They're either trying too hard and not letting the realy 'them' come out, or worse.. This IS the real 'them' and they're just another drooling fan hoping to get some pornography out of you and give you their undying, to-the-point-of-self-sacrifice loyalty and hundreds of empty comments in the near future.
c)They're nice to chat with, but you'd certainly not tell them your real first name, much less your gender. They contact you. You never contact them.
After a certain barrier has been crossed, you begin to get extremists from Fans and Haters. The overload of Empty Commentary from either side sends you into a state of reclusion. You fade from the public eye and friendship from you is seen as a Gold Card from the Fans and Elitism from the Haters. No matter what you say or do, you can't appeal to everyone and make them believe that they'd do the same thing if put in their shoes. This is other side of the blade to being well-known.
By merely communicating, you are either waving this blade, this force of popularity gracefully, to be truly admired... Or you are brandishing it, painting an image of yourself for the sole reason to put people off, to make the fans back away. This only amplifies Hater sentiment toward you, but you don't really care because if you can become less known, perhaps you can come out of reclusion and UnLearn the Popularity syndrome that's long tainted your mind.
_______________________________________
So, I certainly won't be in denial that I do these things. The only unnatural or evil thing about this quick analysis is that I made it a little more public, and if there is one thing that I've noticed about the MAJORITY of the Furry Community, it's that they don't like to hear dissenting opinion or truth or jabs at their fetishes. They only like to GIVE dissenting opinion and only when they have a mob of people who agree with them to make some shallow point seem all that more important because of sheer number and not because of.. oh... REASON.
This is more of a jab at what popularity can do to the thought process than anything else. Especially on Furbid is this syndrome true and please remember that all people succumb to it in some manner eventually. Artists and Fans and Haters are all victims. On Furbid, if you are not well-known, if you are not a big name. Even if your talent and expression exceeds that of the Big-Name, you WILL be shunned for a long period until you cave in to the need to be popular just to get the attention that some artists.. really just don't deserve!
Please notice that I've continued to satirize even in my freaking disclaimer.
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