Metaverse Shocker – “Worldwide Virtual Anti-Fur Protest”
by Pixeleen Mistral on 27/06/07 at 10:09 pm
More anti-furry discrimination on the way?
by Pixeleen Mistral, National Affairs desk
Worldwide protest against Second Life furs?
Last week’s /b/ furry death camp could have been only the start of widespread discrimination against one class of metaverse citizens – anthropomorphic cats, dogs, foxes, squirrels, and others known in-world as furs. In a press release sent to the Herald today by Rivers Run Red, it was announced that “Stella McCartney and PETA will co-host on Second Life® the first worldwide virtual anti-fur protest, from July 12th for a week”. Does being “virtual anti-fur” mean that real life fur suiters are OK, but metaverse furries are bad?
We can only speculate about what prompted this protest in SL and wonder if any of the players involved realize the largest group of non-human metaverse citizens are known as furs. Is Ms. McCartney courting a Linden ban for broadly offensive behavior? Intolerance is frowned upon by the Linden game gods, who are known to ban for “any reason or no reason”. Let us hope this does not end in tears for Ms. McCartney.
The mood in Luskwood and Furnation sims – both furry enclaves – was somber tonight, in striking contrast to comments by PETA President Ingrid Newkirk who said, “Stella’s Second Life fur protest is a light-hearted way to draw attention to a very serious issue”. While furries are generally accepted by longtime SL residents, some privately express anti-fur sentiments, and suggest that various criminal elements are over-represented in the furry population – such as underage players and those into extreme role play. Acceptance of the furry community may be less prevalent among the newer real-life-in-second-life partisans, and may account for the unfortunate tone of the planned protest.
A number of furs the Herald contacted wished to remain nameless for fear of reprisals – but viewed this as still another form of harassment, wondering why Ms. Newkirk and McCartney have chosen to align themselves with the anti-furry goon and griefer elements in the metaverse. Several furries in Furnation Prime sim when informed of the anti-fur protests considered an anti-anti-fur protest – with rusty hatchets, cruxs and hyenas.
According to the announcement, the Stella McCartney / PETA Island will be open on Second Life® from 12th-29th July, with a contest for the best anti-fur slogan. It was unclear if the organizers understand the sorts of slogans to be expected from the various griefers and anti-fur goons in-world. According to the event organizers, “the best 3 slogans will win Stella McCartney prizes. First prize: 2 tickets to the Spring Summer 2008 fashion show in Paris in October”. Sloganeering furry-haters in Paris – does it get any better?
Isn’t this community worth engaging?
Reading further into the press release we find that Rivers Run Red have been busy “working to develop virtual worlds as a new channel to engage in communities, reach consumers, and build brand experiences”. Having heard of bad experiences with gay hermaphrodite foxes, I can understand some concerns, but is the entire fur community to be written off as no longer worth engaging? Wouldn’t a more furry-friendly slogan have been appropriate for the PETA hypervent?
The press release concludes by noting that “Linden Lab employs a senior team bringing together deep expertise in physics, 3D graphics and networking”. There was no mention of Linden Lab expertise in social issues, governance, or community.
Sn4X15
Jun 27th, 2007
I love you
Tizzers Foxchase
Jun 27th, 2007
In before 9000 comments. >:3
Hazim Gazov
Jun 27th, 2007
I’m there.
nimrod yaffle
Jun 27th, 2007
Just type in “PETA sucks” and “PETA fraud” into google… here is just one link you will get: http://www.rajuabju.com/literature/peta.htm
nimrod Yaffle
Jun 27th, 2007
“I think it would be great if all of the fast-food outlets, slaughterhouses, these laboratories and the banks that fund them exploded tomorrow.” -PETA Vice President Bruce Friedrich
PeTA co-founder Ingrid Newkirk once said even if animal research resulted in a cure for AIDS, “we’d be against it.”
“Arson, property destruction, burglary and theft are ‘acceptable crimes’ when used for the animal cause.” -Alex Pacheco, Director, PeTA
“We feel that animals have the same rights as retarded children.” -Alex Pacheco, Director, PeTA,
“To those people who say, `My father is alive because of animal experimentation,’ I say `Yeah, well, good for you. This dog died so your father could live.’ Sorry, but I am just not behind that kind of trade off.” -Bill Maher, PeTA celebrity spokesman
“Six million Jews died in concentration camps, but six billion broiler chickens will die this year in slaughter houses.” -Ingrid Newkirk, President, PeTA,
“The life of an ant and that of my child should be granted equal consideration.” -Michael W. Fox, Vice President, The Human Society
Regan when asked which he would save, a dog or a baby, if a boat capsized in the ocean: “If it were a retarded baby and a bright dog, I’d save the dog.” -Tom Regan
nimrod yaffle
Jun 27th, 2007
Sorry for spamming! One last one: http://www.peta-sucks.com/
Csven Concord
Jun 27th, 2007
Sounds pro-furry to me. Aren’t there people who’d like to skin the furries in SL? Seems like Stella has a beef with *them*.
nimrod yaffle
Jun 27th, 2007
hmm, actually if you read the press release, it’s more anti-fur than anti-furry: http://www.peta.org/mc/NewsItem.asp?id=9970
Aloe Stradling
Jun 27th, 2007
Babbling PETA hate has 0 to do with the issue.
PETA does not protect furries, nor do they care.
What it all boils down to is the, forgeive the term, here, non humans:
MY tastes are normal. YOURS are degenerate perversions.
I have no room in my heart for furry hate. It’s too full of wanting to skin and acid bathe random freaks who come up, as human as can be, or, at least, close to, and uttering a charming ‘U want 2 fukk, baybee?’
I may be wrong, but, furries aren’t a problem, grid wise. They all, or most of them, have to pay or build to customize their selves, unlike those who wear the starter gear all the time, and never seem to care. ((Not to say all newcomers or those w/o stuff are bad, I never say that, but, I’m jsut saying, many, many people deserve your hate.
A good many of them may well be furries.
But, hate the because they’re a hate-worthy person, not because their avatar is different.
Thank you.
Anonymous
Jun 27th, 2007
Hey Mr. Yaffle, has it occurred to you that PETA is a nonprofit organization that fights (and sometimes seriously hurts) extremely rich and powerful corporations? Most of the garbage you quoted here is from the smear campaigns they’re running against PETA. Big whoop. Look up your sources, dude, and especially “The Center for Consumer Freedom” who’s behind most of the anti-PETA websites out there (yeah, your idiotic “EAT MEAT EAT MEAT EAT MEAT” sites are merely quoting stuff from the CCF). You have just served the food, tobacco, and alcohol industries. Proud yet? At least Rick Berman from the CCF gets paid millions of $$$ to make PETA look bad. You are so stupid, you’ve been doing it for free!
Doubledown Tandino
Jun 27th, 2007
PETA would step on two cats to save a bug
MorriLeFay
Jun 27th, 2007
I am REALLY hoping that you all realize this is a “joke” post and that you would know that an organization like PETA, love em or hate em, would care absolutely 0 about furries. The fur they are talking about is RL fur used on clothing, coats, and the like. Please tell me you all realize that and don’t really think this is an anti-furry protest … please?
mootykips
Jun 27th, 2007
Ahahahah at NOBODY here getting the satirical point of the article.
nessa
Jun 28th, 2007
I think this is horrible. PETA is a horrid organization. They say they are fighting for the animals yet the send threats to non-profit animal rescue who save animals. Our reptile rescue has even received threats from PETA member saying if we do not shut down our rescue they will blow us up. They should not be able to do this, and this should not be supported even if you do not like furries.
Artemis Fate
Jun 28th, 2007
If I show up in a virtual fur coat, will they be outraged? I think I might.
Jessica Holyoke
Jun 28th, 2007
here’s what I like. An obvious tongue in cheek article followed by rows of PETA, anti-PETA, contra-anti PETA remarks.
But there is a balance. There is animal experimentation that is spraying cosmetics into an animal’s eyes. There is also animal experimentation that is done in a humane manner. (although human tissue is the best research tissue, that’s a whole other topic.)
And you can look at the difference between free range and horribly treated chickens. PETA may be more extreme, but if they pull up agricultural and research practices from cruel to humane, isn’t that a worthy cause?
Why Bother
Jun 28th, 2007
In before the massive /b/tard/PN spam and hijacking of the comments.
Alex Fitzsimmons
Jun 28th, 2007
“At least Rick Berman from the CCF gets paid millions of $$$ to make PETA look bad. You are so stupid, you’ve been doing it for free!”
Well, unless the above news story is a lie, PETA doesn’t need any help making themselves look bad. They’re apparently capable of revealing themselves as jackasses without any outside assistance whatsoever.
The Anti-WUT? Superstar
Jun 28th, 2007
LOL I love this. Your world is crumbling piece by piece. So sweeeet.
Alex Fitzsimmons
Jun 28th, 2007
Ah, I take it back. After checking it out, I found that it’s just an “anti-fur” protest that has nothing to do with FURRIES.
I knew the Herald could get a little out there at times, but this is pathetic and deceptive to the point of genuinely pissing me off. I don’t think I’ll bother reading any more stories here.
humanoid
Jun 28th, 2007
I’ve dealt with PETA/SPCA types in the past. Never confront a PETA member with logic or facts in person unless you’re prepared to have a violent confrontation. They don’t like it when their agenda is questioned.
Luca V
Jun 28th, 2007
Upcoming holocaust in SL; Catch it here at SLH!
Here’s news for you, if you’re “different” in SL, you’re going to get flakked. If you are; Furry, scaley, young, old, green, blue, red, black, asian, pro war, anti war, gangsta, christian, muslim, hindu, sikh, jain, jewish, buddhist, uniformed, a /b/tard… you’re going to get flakked.
We’ve not grown up or learned a thing about prejudice, even if things are “for the lulz”, the idea of treating any minority differently is sickening.
PETA suck
Jun 28th, 2007
PETA has it’s head screwed on backwards.
Jim Schack
Jun 28th, 2007
If PETA Comes to town, you can bet I will be staging protests on my spare time there. Who’s with me?
“Sometimes the only kind act for some animals, is to put them asleep forever.” Ingrid Newkirk
Yes, PETA kills animals!
Jim Schack
Jun 28th, 2007
Hey Nameless, there is no legitimate or moral use of terrorism PERIOD.
Unless…
How about I start a Vegetable Liberation Front, break in your home and free your vegetables in your fridge and set your house on fire? That’ll show the evil agro-corps for killing millions of plants every year with their “Eat 5 A Day” propaganda! How dare you kill the precious lives of plants who’s done no harm to you and murder them so you can be “healthy” and fuel the monstrous agriculture corporation ‘s CEOs with more bio-fuel powered cars!
BEET IS MURDER!
(see how stupid you sound?)
Jim Schack
Jun 28th, 2007
Then when no one is looking we can kill broccoli that noone wants to adopt and throw it in a supermarket dumpster and hope we don’t get caught like PETA did with dogs and blame that people who believe the anti VLF propaganda is part of the corporate and is making corporations and RICHER. You falling for the corporate scam man!
We are planning to get money from PETF (People for the Ethical Treatment of Foliage) for our next raid of Sunkist and liberate the citrus fruit of California then set it on fire then hide the payment deep into the tax forms of PETF by paying it to my father as a “loan” that we won’t pay back. It’s almost the perfect plan!
JOIN THE REVOLUTION!
Randy Vallely
Jun 28th, 2007
PETA, regardless of what type of fur they’re referring to, is nothing more then a bunch of hypocritical extremists that any rational person, upon reading their literature, will merely roll their eyes at.
I agree with the author, that they’ll most likely be flooded with anti-furry slogans by the various griefer groups… I find that mildly humorous and disturbing at the same time for various reasons.
I’m no friend of someone that abuses animals, but a lot of the idiocy I’ve heard come from their mouths and read in their literature only serves to prove, to me at least, that a vegan diet is bad for the brain.
Melissa Yeuxdoux
Jun 28th, 2007
Comedy is best left to professionals.
S. Gustafson
Jun 28th, 2007
The Herald is the MacGuyver of tabloids, able to assemble an alarmist article out of a misunderstanding, an undeserved persecution complex, and a wad of chewing gum.
Csven Concord
Jun 28th, 2007
I thought PETFV was for fruits and vegetables, and PETF was for furries. Guess not.
Well, I just want to know: will they have BBQ at the picnic or just cold cuts?
Pie Psaltery
Jun 28th, 2007
I would just like to say I predicted this a few weeks ago in this thread on the forums:
http://forums.secondlife.com/showthread.php?t=183657
“Do I even bother to consider what might happen to the furries when PETA gets complaints that people are making visual representations of animals being sexually abused? (“Does internet beastiality affect our children… shocking video of a practice called ‘yiffing’ from the online world, Second Life after the break.”)
”
… but my thread got closed because apparently I didn’t follow the Alex Trebec rule.
shockwave yareach
Jun 28th, 2007
I plan to wear my quadraped fox AV and run on all fours through their sim (awwww… cute) with a baby seal in my mouth. (AHHHH… not cute!)
Hey PETA babes, it’s nature. Foxes gotta eat, you know.
Vegas is taking bets on how many minutes I’ll last on their Sim before I get banned. Place your bets now.
Anonymous
Jun 28th, 2007
It’s a protest for not skinning animals to make fur coats, durr. It’s not anti-furries.
anon
Jun 28th, 2007
The last couple of article postings about SL animals is interesting.
I’m quite wondering if corporates are reading some of the dialog.
Especially those considering a serious marketing venture within SL and haven’t quite made the leap to a sim.
Is there seriously room in SL for an expansive marketing campaign by new corporate interests side by side with, ughm… what was it, /re/tards, a Navy, animal concentration play?
Just seems like some of the in-world activity would be a wake up call for the corporates to flee for their lives. Before they harm any part of their professional reputation. As more people become familiar as to just what Second Life does offer in-world, it just seems to me that you wouldn’t be able to pull up anchors fast enough.
Just a thought…
Bubbles LeVar
Jun 28th, 2007
This is a one joke article. You should have given up after the first sentence!
shockwave yareach
Jun 28th, 2007
anon:
Let them go then. Did we need them when we built the place? No. Do they do anything except pump money into the coffers of LL and its preferred companies like ESC? No. Do they build anything inworld that attracts people to their sims? No. What exactly is the average business doing in SL except driving up land prices?
The main advantage of SL to a business is that of cheap teleconferencing and training. If a single Honda Civic is 21,000US$, you’d have to get all 50,000 actual users in SL to pony up 112L to equal the sale of a single car. And a single car to Honda is insignificant. So sales should not be the driving intent in SL.
A company can use SL as an advertising venue. But you have to do something fun and inventive with your build so people will come and learn your brand name. “If you build it they will come” has been pointedly disproven by Aloft, which might be a fine hotel both RL and SL. But it’s a very boring visit, which is why SL folks who are here on their recreation time haven’t cared to go there. If a company wants to get its name “out there” then give folks something fun to do when they visit. Watching the fireplace is only entertaining the first 2 minutes of someone’s first day in SL.
DaveOner
Jun 28th, 2007
You morons. You really think PETA knows what furries in SL are?! They’re protesting real fur and using SL because it’s hip right now. That’s what PETA’s about…being hip.
You know if so many furries didn’t spend so much time yelling about being discriminated against then they probably wouldn’t be discriminated against so often…if they even really are!
urizenus
Jun 28th, 2007
Pix, I thing we need to add some closed captioning for the irony impaired. Is this something Audrey could handle?
Ben
Jun 28th, 2007
Hey DaveOner, maybe ya should just chill, furries got the wrong info. We were told it was an anti furry campaign, then after comments were made, someof us did some digging to find out it wasn’t.
So the Herald once more exploited a group for a gag, big deal, it happens, slanted news sells.
flibbleflop foo
Jun 28th, 2007
Notice how nobody has come out in support of PETA.
They suck. Animals hunt each other, we used to, now we’ve gotten smarter, we dont need to hunt anymore. if we were dumber, we stil would chase them with sharp sticks, and peta would be fine with that?
If they’re not fine with that, are they against animals eating other animals? Do they persecute lions? Or pump them full of soya and tofu…..
Maybe PETA are aliens, and they’re not pro animal, they’re just anti human..
Harbl
Jun 28th, 2007
Someone should tell PETA that furries dress in the fure of slaughtered animals.
IntLibber Brautigan
Jun 28th, 2007
Don’t you all get it? Griefing helps the community, as it creates demands for Lindens and more objects.
Onder Skall
Jun 28th, 2007
Pix, you are a genius. That’s all I gotta say.
Kryss Wanweird
Jun 28th, 2007
Congrats to Stella MaCartney and PETA.
Will be there with furry av and slogan!
Anti-fur Furry,
KW
Jessica Holyoke
Jun 28th, 2007
Flibbleflop, I thought I sort of did support PETA. By stating that by PETA going to the extremes, the discourse brings conditions to a middle. We need to eat our chickens, but do we really need to stick mascara in the eyes of rabbits?
Maybe it was missed in all the discussion of Marxist governmental systems, the appropriate response to sighting real life child pornography and grapplin’.
Jessica Holyoke
Jun 28th, 2007
sorry about my last comment, I mixed up the marxist, child porn, grapplin thread over at “If you are going to San Francisco” with this one.
I apologize for the error.
Coincidental Avatar
Jun 28th, 2007
“Linden Lab employs a senior team bringing together deep expertise in physics, 3D graphics and networking”
Deep in there where the sun doesn’t shine.
“Griefing helps the community, as it creates demands for Lindens and more objects.”
For normal people: replace the verb “help” with the verb “abuse”.
Ragar
Jun 29th, 2007
The PETA are not against Secondlife Furries, the PETA are against wearing fur, wearing animal skins in REAL LIFE, look it up on there main site if you want to know more about it. But the PETA are by no means against furries and the furrie community.
Ragar
Chris Senior
Jun 29th, 2007
Human beings were designed to eat both meat and vegetables. Nature has naturally selected us to be omnivores.
The science: Herbivores such as cows have a long gut to aid in the digestion of vegetable matter. Predators such as wolves have a small gut to aid the digestion of meat.
What kind of gut do humans have? A medium sized gut designed to digest both plant matter as well as meat.
Therefore PETA hates science. They’re also huge dramawhores on the internet. I’ve trolled them numerous times on various forums. Hilarity always ensues. >:D
The ones I’ve met IRL always smell bad, btw. Sort of a mixture of ganja and stale body odor.
But enough of this. I’m gonna go have a politically incorrect dinner. A bacon cheeseburger and salad washed down with a beer followed by a cuban cigar sounds good.
*lols because of all the “vegetable liberation” jokes told by the anti-PETArds*
dsfargeg
Jun 30th, 2007
in after /b/ impersonating PETA to get some annoying article to cause more drama in the furry community (Nevar thought possible…think again)