kitdrago

[kitdrago]

Forgot to post this hear. T-Shirt design I made and is being marketed by thatcorgitude.com

Made it because I didn’t feel quite right with “I’m your mom” or “i’m your dad” now shirts.

[kitdrago]

But it wasn’t like that....

First off, as always, my opinions are my own only and do not necessarily reflect to any of the groups or organizations I am involved with. If you don’t like my opinion, thats ok.  We can talk about it, but leave them out of it. ---------------- Lately Ive been seeing a lot of posts about how “X” wasn’t like that when it started, or during the <insert years> or whatever. The most recent was a comment along the lines of “Furry didn’t start out as LGBT, so it shouldn’t be about that now.  Stop making furry political”

Which to me reads  “I’m LGBTQuiltbag-phobic and I want them to go away from furry”  Maybe the person meant that, maybe they didn't.   The statement above is about as insensitive and incorrect as saying “Professional football didn’t start out with black players, so it shouldn't have them now.”   Both statements are wholly incorrect and extremely inappropriate.

So lets take a look at this.

First of all... Furry has never been about politics.  People are political and congratulations you just roped furry into your political (for lack of a nicer term) opinion.  Furry STILL isn’t it itself political, but the people in it are and because a predominance of us are LGTBQuiltbag in some way or another, we kinda have to be whether we like it or not. Who we are as participants in the fandom is under attack, (not to mention out in the real world) and to sit by and not say anything or trying to erase it from your view of what a fandom should be is EXACTLY why we have to be.

I’m one of the lucky ones.  Im Poly^2  (polysexual / polyamourous) i can consciously make the decision to present myself as heterosexual only, but I need to stand by my family and friends who don’t have that option and speak loudly.

Secondly:  Lets assume for just a moment that the person is ACTUALLY old enough to have been alive and active in the fandom 30-40 years ago.  (its more likely this is a 15-25 yr old).   The fact is that the furry fandom itself had to exist in the “subculture in a shadow” bubble until sometime in the last 10 years.  Oh sure, we had our conventions and gatherings, but predominantly they were viewed externally as “the weirdos in animal costumes are getting together for sex again”.  So negatively that we outright banned news media from even entering the convention space, let alone to talk to people out of fear of them twisting the truth to fit the narrative of the “sexual deviants in animal costumes”. Considering what the fandom itself had to do in a time period where homophobia and (what we thought was) high levels of hatred for all things not hetero-normative white male. Most of us would have kept our rainbow flags and interactions predominantly hidden to hotel rooms and known-safe room parties.

Now, I don’t know this from direct experience because I was still finding myself and hadn't really found the furry fandom until 15-20 years after that.  When I found it, we were still kinda hiding, pissed off at CSI, but very VERY much known to be LGBTQ.  We exist in a fandom where only 20-30% of its members describe themselves as exclusively hetereosexual (1).  So like it or not, LGBTQ is very much a part of the furry fabric.

The reality of the statement whether that person realizes it or not, is that it is an attempt to try and erase at the very least the history of the fandom.  At the worst, the existence of 70-80% of its participants.

So what should be learned here:   All things evolve, and all things change.  Even if we pretend that at the very beginning of the fandom that LGBTQ was not in any way shape or form a part of the fabric of furry, it IS a part of it now.   There is no going “back”.  You can’t argue something that is so interwoven into the fabric needs to be pulled out without completely unraveling and destroying it.  The fandom has and continues to evolve into (hopefully) better forms. 

It ok if you don’t like it, and its ok to have a discussion about what you don’t like. Until you try to “Make Furry Great Again”, or try to erase that which furry is now.  At that point, you can either make a conscious decision to learn and better yourself, or you need to decide if this fandom is the right place for you and step out of the way.    

There’s no going back

(1) http://furscience.com/research-findings/

[kitdrago]

It’s wrong. That’s ok.

So you made a decision. Well, not one decision, several. Now as you watch on the news you realize what a horrible thing this has become, Every day seems to get more ludicrous and more dysfunctional. Still, when your friends and Co-workers look at you with disproving eyes and the “your fault” stares you can’t help but defend your decision. Anyone would do that right?

It’s wrong, but that's ok.

Then the time comes, the moment when you could change your mind, choose someone else. That moment when you could maybe see the possibility of trying a different path. Except, that's when it starts. The comments about not being stupid this time. The blaming of “maybe if you make the “right” decision this time. The stares and the threats. All of which make you feel like you have to defend your original decision. So what do you do? You double down, and make the same decision you did last time.

Why? Would it have hurt to try a new path? To see if someone else could do better? Was it the comfort of familiarity of the known vs the unknown? Or was it just the fact that they just had to stress you out with blaming you. Who knows, but you made your decision, you doubled down, and now? Well now you REALLY have to defend your decision. Once could surely be a mistake, but doing it again? That’s a deliberate choice.

Your friends and family stare at you in disbelief. How could you? How could you have made that decision yet again. The cycle repeats itself year after year, until you’ve convinced yourself that you’re truly doing the right thing. That you’re truly in favor of the results of your decisions. Every angry message, every friend who walks away just reinforces that feeling of defense and the need to double down again and justify yourself.

It’s still wrong... and that’s ok.

This is the reality of our political system these days. Our reality is our own to control, but is reinforced and molded at the borders by those around us. Most people when faced with opposition will lean towards the idea of defending themselves to the point of just being stubborn on obstinate.  I should know, I often do it myself even on trivial things like whether or not something I heard on the new is true or not.  I was still wrong, and that's ok. The problem right now is that not only are people making horrible decisions regarding political figures or even how to live their life and then doubling down on those decisions, even though they would never, ever consider supporting some of the decisions being made; but also that there are groups of people out there capitalizing on the fact that people are being ostracized and vilified for their incorrect choices.  Our opinions of each other have become so polarized that we don’t leave room to try and figure out where the compromise is, or more importantly to have the ability to forgive people for their wrong.

There are people who have been making the same bad decisions over and over for decades because they don’t want to, or can’t admit that the choice was bad.  It’s why we have had members of our government in office for decades even though they clearly are not acting in the best interest of the people.  It’s why our government is as non-functional as it is at this point.

In 1945 the US government published a film called “Don’t be a Sucker” to warn the US public about the dangers of people who utilize their “Free Speech” to sow discord and division into our society.  It was relevant then because of world war II.  It’s more horrifyingly relevant now in 2018.  Groups ranging from oligarchical businesses to white nationalist groups, to foreign powers want to see the United States become the Divided States.  If we can’t stand together for what we believe in as a society, then we will surely stand apart as the vultures of modern day society pick us apart bit by bit.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGAqYNFQdZ4

It doesn’t matter what your religious beliefs are, your societal beliefs are, or anything else.  What matters is understanding that the other person has values, beliefs, and needs that must inevitably be accounted for in the process.  Hostility, harassment, badgering or pressuring them to abandon or compromise their needs and values only leads them to double down on the things they feel are right.  You’ve left no room for them to think otherwise.  You’ve given them no opportunity to explore that other path.

It leaves that person feeling outside, unwelcome, hated, and hurt.  It leads them to people who make them believe that what they value is important and reinforces the error of right.  You inevitably play them right into the hands of the very people you don’t want them to be involved with.  It gives groups like White Nationalist, neo-nazi, radical muslim, and radical christian groups the foothold into their psyche to be able to convert them into something even worse than they were before.

Once someone is involved with those groups the hatred and vitriol that is spewed by the public reinforces their position and gives the groups more ammunition to keep the person in place.  Even when someone realizes that they made a horrible mistake, they find themselves unable to leave because people wont forgive them.  So even when they step away from the wrong choice and try to make amends, they are met with hatred and the wrong choice goes “See, they will NEVER accept you, but we will”

We’re all wrong... and that’s ok.

The thing no one realizes, is that for every thing you feel is right, someone else feels its wrong.  Obviously, there are some things that should be universally wrong, but until that can be acknowledged and understood by those who think they’re right, they wont change.

More importantly, until YOU can look at someone who has made a bad decision and made you angry and can say “It’s wrong, but thats ok.” You are part of the problem that reinforces whats wrong.

Let’s talk

Hate cannot be fought with hate.  Like a flood of water, sending your own flood will only multiply the problem into a larger flood.  Instead, you must build a flood break.  In order to break the flood of hate, you must combat it with love.

Don’t get me wrong, that doesn’t mean that we should allow and tolerate things to go on the way they do.  What it means is that instead of backing the other person into the corner with anger, hatred, badgering, harassment, and so on.  We need to extend the olive branch and say “It’s wrong, but that's ok.  Let’s talk about it”.  Discuss with the person and explain to them your stance,  your feelings, your decision and give them an opportunity to discuss theirs.

That doesn’t mean you have to accept them, but it means to give them the chance to find a new path.  It also doesn’t mean that they will change their mind, but give them the opportunity.  Even if someone else has, shine your own light and try.  Belittling them because they chose one way or the other does not convince them that they should choose your way, it only reinforces WHY they were right to choose the way they did.

Telling someone they can never be redeemed when they realize their error only pushes them to stay within the error.  We’ve all said it at some point.  “If Im damned if I do, and damned if I don't; then screw it, I'm at least going to do things worthy of being damned.”

A recent meme said “If you have one nazi at a table and ten people talking to that nazi, then you have eleven nazis”.  That is an incredibly fatalistic view, and I dispute it.  What if one or more of the people at the table are trying to convince the one of their error and giving them the opportunity to change and make amends.

Our society has become so wrapped up in the paper cover on the book, that we fail to pull off the wrapper or read whats inside.  We judge people on appearances instead of actions.  We don’t  give them the opportunity to explain WHY they are doing what they are doing or offer them alternatives as a way to change.  We simply condemn them for all eternity with no chance to step off that path and pick a better one... ever.  

That doesn't mean we have to tolerate the issues, hate and the people that choose to stay with those decisions.  Nor do we have to tolerate the trolls who think its funny, comedic, or edgy to sit on that fringe trolling.  It means to take a breath and talk to the individual before you pronounce sentence on them as the social judge, jury, and executioner.

Learn why they voted the way they did, why they joined that group thats clearly about hate and division, why they do what they do.  Discuss with them how you feel, what your opinion is (nicely), and offer them a hand to step out of the mud and onto a better path.  Discuss and find compromises.  Although granted, some things can’t be compromised. 

More importantly, if someone is seeking a way out.  Help to light their way.  Show them the way back onto the path of humanity, be the example and set the shining beacon of what it means in pretty much every religion ever conceived to treat someone else, as you would hope to be treated.

[kitdrago]

“Shame on you... you evil third party voters!”

ah, today is the routine "were mad at politics, so lets shame the third party voters into submission" day.  

It comes about once every couple of months, and being a voter who will vote with his conscience regardless of party, I often dive headlong into those conversations because my general feeling is  "Who the fuck are you to try and shame me for exercising my free right."   Doing that shit to most people who don’t want to stand up and fight for their rights is demoralizing and hurtful.  You might as well accompany them to the polls, put a gun to their head and tell them who to vote, cuz thats the end result.  

"Well, if you wouldn’t be selfish and vote for X, then Y wouldn’t have won."    Which in almost every case has been proven to be false.  The argument always starts with the incorrect assumption that every third party voter would have voted for Y, but they wouldn’t.  Forced into a corner and told they have to vote for X or Y, its been proven over and over again that they would split in about the same statistical pattern as the rest of the country.  Meaning X still wins.

First of all, I’m an American.  That means that it is my unalienable right to vote for whomever I choose.  Who the hell are you to tell me otherwise just because I didn’t vote for your candidate, or because your candidate didn’t win? Yes, I know that our current political outcome sucks HUGE donkey balls and we have to for probably the first time every hide our heads in shame to the rest of the world, hide the fact that were american tourists overseas for fear of backlash, and just generally go “Were sorry for this” to everyone.  It sucks, and we all have to live it.  The problem is not the third party voters, it’s the fact that through a systematic campaign of marketing, money, corrupted officials drawing voting districts, and underhanded backroom deals that we have a predominantly two party system. The majority of the populace believes all that drivel about “you have to vote GOP or DNC.” and they sheeple their way right up to the polls ignoring their own good sense because “it wont count if I dont”.    There has not yet been a single vote where all the third party voters would have swung the vote if they had only picked a party.  However, for the first time since 1987 third party voters turned out in sufficient enough numbers that 40 states are now required to put the libertarian party on the ballot and allow them to participate in major debates.  It’s a start.

So now what?   Now, the momentum has to be kept going if we are every going to break the stranglehold the two parties have on our country.   As someone pointed out to me before the thread got deleted, a third party candidate needs an infrastructure support in congress.  So YES!  Absolutely, I agree...  which is why people need to consider third party candidates in every race.   State senate, govenor, congress, every where.  Stop believing the sheeple marketing that you can only vote for Chocolate or Vanilla when theres all kinds of flavors available. 

Most importantly!   Don’t tell me what to do.  Its my damn vote, and my right to vote for who I choose.   Ive voted DNC,  Ive voted GOP, and Ive voted third party.   Instead of telling ME what to do... use your vote to tell your politicians to get their heads out of their asses.  Maybe YOU should consider NOT voting for the lesser of two evils.   When your favorite party stops being complete and utter douchbags and puts forth a candidate that will best serve the most people in the country... Ill gladly vote for them. 

[kitdrago]

Batman Ninja...  WTF?

Ok, before I start lets let you watch what I watched and get a couple things out of the way. 

1) It looks like it will be cool

2) The animation style, and music look good. 

3) Im not hating on this... its just... confusing. 

So with that said, heres the link. 

Ok, so I’m not against the idea that time travel has occurred and Batman and Joker have ended up in Feudal Japan.  Its just that theres a lot of confusing elements going on here that just make me go WTF!

So Joke and Batman are fighting and somehow end up in Feudal Japan.  Obviously at different points in time because by the time Batman shows up, Joker has somehow become a Feudal Lord... or maybe this was shortcut for the trailer and its actually built up over the course of the show.  Regardless, Joker is a feudal lord and Batman is a ... Ninja...  In samurai armor?  Ninja had a type of armor back then, but not like that.  

Batman completely immerses into cultural behaviors and mannerisms.  Sure, I get it, Bruce Wayne would of course respect a culture.  I guess I just don't see him acting like a feudal era Japanese citizen inside the confines of his “home”.  

Where did everyone else come from?!?!  In the trailer we see... Alfred, robin, nightwing, red hood, catwoman, gorilla grodd, harley quinn, poison ivy, penguin, twoface, and deathstroke.

So maybe the villains went back with Joker, but in the trailer we see Batman apparently confused as to how he got there.  Yet Alfred has been “waiting for him” and the rest of the Bat crew is there.

Batman, with all his scientific and engineering prowess, dresses up and plays samurai ninja guy, while the joker is fighting with giant robots.  Ok, ok. I get it,  good guys try to be best and theres probably something going to be said about “not changing the time line” by introducing technology.  I’m sure that cliché is totally whats going on here, but still.  GIANT FRACKING ROBOT...  guess what bats... the time line is broken and a new reality has been born.

I do like the look of the video.  It’s interesting to see our favorite characters stylized and put into a new environment.  The whole Ninja/Samurai look is really interesting and I enjoyed seeing it; and having an anime style show and plot line will bring a new interest into an eye grabbing visual style that will at least be fun to watch. 

Even if the trailer is just a giant ball of confusing “Look, its our classic Joker vs Batman battle!” montage.

[kitdrago]

Time to get it!

Registration opens TOMORROW!

Soon the cherry trees will blossom.  The temperature will warm, and we will all be getting together to await the arrival of Quoth to the area.    Registration opens at 10am Wednesday morning at https://www.furthemore.org/attend/registration/  We’re planning to make this our best year yet.  Our Guest of Honor Kalika is super excited, and were working on special guests and special events. 

Don’t Forget that the first 100 registrations will be entered into a drawing for a free one level upgrade to the next tier up to Elite Sponsor.

The hotel reservation block is expected to open next month.  #furmore18 

[kitdrago]

Don’t be Patriotic today (9/11)

Don’t be patriotic today.  Patriotism is a celebration of ones devotion and loyalty to their country.  Patriotism is about the idea that you are loyal.

Today is not about patriotism.  Today is about remembrance.   

If you want to display your pride in what happened on 9/11, specifically for the responders who were there; then go to your local firehouse and thank them for putting their lives on the line every day.   Give them a hug, bring them dinner.  Donate to your volunteer fire department, or volunteer yourself (you dont have to be a firefighter to volunteer).   Show them that you care about them whether their saving your life or not.   Show them that you remember their brothers and sisters who did not come back from New York that day.

If you want to be patriotic today, thank a police officer that does good in your area.  Acknowledge that although there is bad cops making a bad name for them, that you know that there are also good cops, most of whom have their hands tied by the system because “ratting out” another cop will get them a lifetime of pain, or worse, a bullet in the back.   Show them that you remember the police officers who responded, and the ones who died on the line helping people that day. 

If you want to wave the flags today, wave them for the Military.  The members of the Coast Guard, National Guard, Reservists, and more that not only came to the response on that day, but continued to put their lives on the line and died for years afterwards in the “war on terror”.   Show them that their dedication is not in vain and that you will always remember. 

If you want to remember, then remember the dispatchers, sitting in their protected building, able only to pick up the phone and hear the anguish and pain on the other end.  Spending as long as it took to assure the caller that help was on the way, that they will not be left or forgotten.   Dieing a little bit every time the line went dead, or the person on the other end audibly expired while the dispatch wished their very will could transport them to someone that could help.    Listening on the radio as their comrades on the street were trying to get help... as their last words went out over the air...  “Mayday.... Mayday.... Mayday” experiencing all the pain and anguish of the day, and unable to do more than take a breath and answer the next call for help. 

Don’t be patriotic today. 

Be thankful.   Take the time to let them know you appreciate them. 

Set aside the hate, the anger, the racism, the stereotypes and just remember. 

Remember the day that for a little bit, we were united as a people, coming together as one to help each other through to the next day.  

Remember that day that we were truly the UNITED States of America, and not the petty groups at each others throats that we have become. Remember the countless lives that were lost because of hatred, racism, and religious intolerance. 

Remember....   and never let it happen again. 

Remember....  and STOP it now.

Remember.

[kitdrago]

Today I bring my first PS (pumpkin spice) Report:

Most of us like that fall flavor of “pumpkin spice” which on the surface means we “like pumpkin pie enough that we want lots of the taste of it”

Most PS products taste pretty good… some do not, and some should never ever have Pumpkin spice versions of them.

Last year, the @Starbucks Pumpkin spice latte was completely and utterly disgusting. It literally lacked any semblance of the “spice” part and just tasted like puréed pumpkin diluted by milk and coffee.

This year, I have to say it’s not much better. I would classify it as tolerable. It stills tastes like puréed pumpkin diluted by milk and coffee, but at least there’s a hint of the spice part that makes it that fall flavor we want. If you liked last years, I think you’ll love this years. If not, then you’re probably like me and won’t waste money buying another one. 🎃🎃 out of 5

My first food product was “Life Cereal: Pumpkin Spice Flavor”. To me this was really good, it still tasted like life cereal, but it had a light sprinkling of the classic PS flavor on it. Just enough to give a tasty hint without overwhelming the flavor of the cereal. 🎃🎃🎃🎃 out of 5

That’s all we have for now, I’ll update when I’ve tried more in the future.

[kitdrago]

The end or the beginning

Ill be getting back to my multi part op-ed about my opinion of “KEK” soon.  For today, I am living on the brink between a sadness that a significant part of my life has (kinda of) ended, and the optimism of a future where I can focus a little more on other priorities, like FurtheMore. 

Last night, after yet another round of vitriol, hatred, and comments designed to make me feel like shit and a complete failure...  the camels back broke.   Irime and myself both stepped down from being moderators in the MDfurs telegram chat.

This has NO EFFECT whatsoever on FurtheMore.  I will still be running that and trying to have fun and make a fun event for everyone.  I just... need space.

Now FIRST:  Irime has done as much if not more work than I in helping to keep things moving in MDFurs.  However, furries (humans) have a tendency to lump everything onto one person.  Kinda like how everyone lumps the success or failure of our government on the President and completely ignores the fact that really all the power of change is congress.   Irime did a tremendous amount though, and people just glossed over the fact that she was also resigning.  Which is partly my fault...  I should have taken a breath, and held my toungue for 24 hours to let her go first.  Sadly, my emotions got the best of me and I typed before my arms reacted by throwing my laptop across the room. 

So thank you Irime.  Thank you for being the leader that started the idea of bringing all the MDFurs fractured groups together under one banner.  Thank you for letting me be your foot soldier while you stood behind me and supported everything.  THANK YOU for allowing me to be the instrument of your love for the furries in this area.  I’m sorry they couldnt see you behind me, and I’m sorry that it resulted in you getting very little appreciation for what you do.

Second, were not going away.  We will still be around the chat, Im still functioning as “IT” to run the website, and for the time being to keep the MDfurs chat open because telegram has no way to transfer ownership.   We will also be going to meets and trying to have fun with everyone.  At least until I get shipped out to a new location outside of Maryland.  We've made a lot of great friends and acquaintances and we would rather not lose those.  The problem is, and the reason why we stepped down, is because we no longer have the spoons to deal with running the chat group along with everything else we do.  I have school, applications to the physician assistant program, three jobs, and Furthemore to worry about.  She has her job, crafting, and one of the hardest jobs in FurtheMore.  Never mind the other conventions I volunteer as staff for.

We also simply have run out of the emotional stamina to deal with the small groups of people that have decided that someone is a shitty person and shouldn't be in the group at all... let alone give them a chance to contribute.  Usually this involves a single person as a quarterback with a team of players around them ready to tackle anyone who disagrees.   Of course, theres an opposing team.

In 25 years of running online communities, I have only ever seen this level of political/personal discourse in a group one time.  Every other time, yeah... there was people who disliked each other, but they still worked together to make the group better because the group was more important than their personal vendettas.

So my view of what has been happening is like refereeing a football game.  No matter what decision you make, half of the stadium loves you, and half of the stadium hates you.  Eventually what happens is that both halves hate you because at some point in time you have made decisions against both teams, and so they all agree that youre a shitty referee because your impartial, unbiased, unemotionally affected decisions do not favor one side or the other.  (yeah I know the gif is wrestling, just go with it)

The mud and shit that starts flying from the bleachers at you starts small, but over time begins to be overwhelming.  You put on a rain jacket so it all slides off, but its one of those nylon jackets that stops it, but not completely.  So eventually some of it starts to seep in and make you feel like shit all over.  Finally, you reach a decision point where you have to decide if you are going to continue to stand there and let yourself get covered in shit while trying to make the best decisions possible, and you feel like you can do it.  Until that last few people.  They don't throw the shit,  they charge the field and run up to you and slam it in your face, rubbing it in while demanding that you not only smell and accept that shit, but that you will stand there and keep accepting that shit until you make a decision that appeases their wrath. Then it breaks... and you realize that you can turn away and walk calmly off the field, letting a new referee take over....  or you can let loose, and take all the shit thats piled up around you and cannon it back on everyone...  knowing that you'll not only hit the ones who probably deserve it, but also the ones that really don’t.

So you turn...  and walk way.  You can go into the box and be an instant replay ref, or just stop refereeing, but right then... at that moment, you just need to get off the field.

Thats what we felt like last night... and even as we walked off the field, some of the team fans tried to throw ropes and drag us back in... because after all... *we* started this shit, we weren’t allowed to just walk away.  A little tug on the rope, a little leak of the vomit that you were trying to hold in until you got off the field.  You're off...    it’s done... take a breath and figure out where to go from here.

So it’s sad.  After so much effort, and so much time put into things, we have to step away.  We have to step back and do whats important and healthy for us.  Theres hope though, theres optimism that we can still be around to participate.  Hell, Ill even give advice from my experience and such to those stepping up to the line to transition into a new future.   We still want to see the MDFurs community to succeed.  WE still want to see everyone statewide be able to work together and have great events.  Sure, MOST of the time people aren't going to go from eastern shores to attend a western Maryland event.  It doesn't matter.  What matters is being one community, by furries, for furries.   Regional distinctions are ok, just don't disconnect.  Dont remove yourself from the community because a few people get on your nerves. Live, love grow. We will still be around the area for at least a year, potentially up to three years.  I only hope that in 10 years or so when I am done with the military that I can come back and find a thriving, caring, cohesive community of furries still going strong. and come to Mid-Atlantic Fur-B-Que...  we feed you... lots! https://midanthro.regfox.com/fur-b-que-2017-you-autmn-rock-it    of course, come to FurtheMore, I still want to make that the regions best furry convention, and I need everyones involvement to do it, attendees and staff.  See you out there!

[kitdrago]

KEK:  The origin of a laugh, and the loss of it to politics… or worse. (Part 2)

KEK Mutation:  It’s not an X-Man.

So in the previous post we learned about KEK’s innocent birth and origins.  It grew from its humble beginnings into a cute bit of slang, and then into a toddler of an internet meme.  As a teenager (in internet years), a 4chan user found another version of KEK in the form of an Egyptian God.  This form of Kek is an androgynous god that could appear in either male or female form.  Their origins displayed as either a frog or cat head as a female, and a serpant head as a male.  Later however, they were almost exclusively depicted with a frog head.    The God KEK was portrayed as the bringing of chaos and deception which gives you an inkling of where the internet was going to go with this and its first mutation.

If you recall, KEK was now heavily associated with memes, particularily on the 4chan boards.  When you coupled it with the idea of disorder and chaos.  KEK began to become the representation of a lot of internet trolls.    Trolls have been around forever.  Even before the internet, trolls existed.  For the confused or uninitiated, Trolls are individuals who enjoy sowing discord.  Typically done by presenting inflammatory topics or introducing controversial topics or arguments with people, with the intent to create an emotional response.  Until the birth of the internet they were typically self contained by the community they were in, and if they would pose themselves publicly, often would end up on the fringes of society seen as rude and typically labeled as bullies.

Once the internet came around, and the slight degree of initial anonymity it provided, trolls began seeking out online communities to “play with” and elicit a response.  As with the previous generation, the idea was to join a community, start arguments or upset people by posting inflammatory, extraneous, or off topic messages with the intent to provoke a response. Ive seen the response of trolls to getting banned from an area as both the ultimate reward (how fast can they be banned) and the challenge to try and get back in and continue.

Enter Pepe the Frog. Pepe the frog originated from a comic called “Boys Club” that started in 2005.  In one comic pepe was drawn with his pants down getting ready to urinate.   It was picked up by 4chan with the expression “feels good man”.    From 2008 until 2016 pepe the frog was used in a variety of meme’s that were no worse than any others.   Note that Pepe was never intended to represent anything racist, nor did he until after 2016.  I have looked extensively to find out where it began being associated as a racist symbol, against the creators wishes, and have found no previous references to 2016. Feel free to provide me with sources.  

In 2016, pepe the frog became connected to the Donald Trump campaign when trump retweeted a pepe meme representation of himself with a video called “You cant stump the trump, volume 4”  It was again later posted by Roger Stone and Donald Trump Jr as part of a parody movie poster of the expendables labeled “The Deplorables” in response to comments made by Hillary Clinton

So now we have all the ingredients of a mutation about to occur.  A slang term associated with Memes, and Egyptian god with a frog head that sows discord and chaos, a politically appropriated meme, and internet trolls.   The perfect storm was just about to begin.

[kitdrago]

KEK:  The origin of a laugh, and the loss of it to politics… or worse. (Part 1)

I recently had someone ask me why I felt bothered by the people who KEK.  After all, they’re just internet trolls out to get a laugh, right? Well to answer that, lets start with the origin of KEK and move through its nightmarish mutation into something I have issue with.  I’m probably going to break this into multiple posts, so lets just start with origins for now.

Part 1: Origin of KEK

The terms origins come from the Korean language in which a particular the onomatopoeia of a Korean symbol that Im unable to replicate here represented laughing and had the sound of a raspy “k” like stifled laughter.  In the Blizzard game StarCraft, they did not originally support the Korean language. So the phrase “HaHaHa” was written as “KeKeKe”.

KEK did not start to come into prominence on the net until 2004 when World of Warcraft was released. It was the result of the game systems translation of Alliance/Horde speak to the other faction.  By that, I mean that the two factions could not talk to each other.  They were considered to have different languages and thusly all one side would get if the other spoke was gibberish.  To convey that in text, the system had an algorithm that was based somewhat on Korean to create the cross faction results.  It was quickly learned that if one side typed LOL, the system would send KEK to the other side.  So in the gamer community KEK became an alternate way to express LOL.  By 2011, it was listed as internet slang for LOL.

In 2013 a brand of Turkish snack foods called “TopKek” started to be notable, and because of the inadvertent use of the term KEK in the name, it became a internet meme on the 4chan imageboard /s4s/.   Several videos in which a variety of internet meme’s were display predominantly with the TopKek meme were uploaded by users.  So then the term KEK and memes were married together.

At this point, the term really had only evolved into a full on internet meme and slang and was still predominantly associated with the idea of it representing a meme form of LOL. It really had not mutated into its current day form yet.  It was a 4chan poster that discovered another association of the word “KEK” that began its first mutations.

We’ll cover that in Part 2: KEK Mutation:  It’s not an X-Man.

[kitdrago]

Maybe DC will realize that besides the advancement of what should be basic human values, people WANT to have hope.  They want to believe that people are genuinely good, and that given the resources will act in such a way as to benefit people in general.   More importantly, they want to see their heroes be HEROES.  Altruistic almost to a fault.  Even Batman whose primary motivation is essentially a blanket revenge on crime due to the death of his parents, originally espoused the ideas of good and pure motives.  Even the worst of criminals were never deliberately hurt, and he certainly didn't destroy half of Gotham do do it, and definitely not the mama duck and her ducklings.  Unlike the modern batman... Director Zack Snyder seems to be hung up on the idea that theres no such thing as doing good for the sake of doing good, and its been reflected in his films.  The idea that fundamentally everyone is selfish, even a hero.  They wont do something unless they are going to get something out of it.  So much so, that it made his versions of our heroes cold, and damn near heartless.   Don’t get me wrong, theres nothing wrong with showing that our heroes are fallible.  Nothing wrong with seeing Superman, hurt by loss renounce his powers, get drunk on the New York city streets, and then get the crap beat out of him.  (Superman II, 1980)  Eventually though, he realizes that in doing so, he has betrayed what makes him a hero.  The desire to help others because they need help.  So maybe DC will have learned two things from the Wonder Woman movie.  1) Women can be heroes, and we love it and support it. 2) We like our heroes to be the beacon of hope.  The representation of everything bad and wrong in our world.  The pinnacle of what we should strive to become. (Movie Man voice) “In a world where evil and corruption are growing.  One movie studio finally got it right and showed their hero in a way we could all love.  Only time will tell if they've truly learned their lesson.... or if they will continue to burn the masses with demigod beings more focused on showing their superiority and wanting us to worship them than helping those in need” SMH

[kitdrago]

Conventions, Staffing, and things to do.  Part 2 - Where’s the staff?

One of the amazing things that fan conventions seem to bring out is a lot of that volunteer spirit. Most conventions have an overabundance of people willing to come and donate their time to the event purely for ensuring that the event happens.  Conventions depend on it, survive on it.  That’s one of many reasons why most of them exist as non-profits in some format or another. I can honestly say that every convention I have every volunteered for would not exist if they had to hire staff as contractors or employees.  However, it’s a double-edged sword.  While many of a volunteer staff do it simply for seeing the event succeed; most, if not all, do want some sort of benefit in return for their service.

This benefit could be as simple as just getting free access to the event, all the way to a free room & board.  Regardless of what their looking for, they deserve it!  The question is can the event support it financially.  My own event has a shoe string budget, but as mentioned previously, I will always ensure that every staff member has no-excuse to not be fed and hydrated over the weekend.  One way or another, I will fit that into the budget.  It would blow, but I’d rather have a little less lighting or effects in main events, a couple less rooms in the hotel, or ask the leaders of the event to give up a perk to make sure everyone has food.

So how do you find staff for your event, and how to you get them to join?  Most of the “repeat staffers” will tell you that they got asked by someone, enjoyed it, so they just keep coming back.  They might also tell you that they’re masochists because they keep coming back every year, sometimes several times a year, to endure the stress, abuse by attendees, and 20-60 hours’ worth of work in one weekend so they can walk away feeling a self-gratifying sense of satisfaction at accomplishing a successful event.  I myself at one point in time staffed a convention just about once every month.  

So, Step 1 – Just Ask!   Look around you at your friends and associates.  If you see someone that you feel has the experience or know-how to fill an open role in your event, ask them.  Tell them all about the event, what it’s about, what it does, and why you think they would be good for it.  A little word of warning though; if they are your friends, make sure they understand that if the event is causing distress and straining the friendship, they always have the right to back out.  Also make sure to maintain a strict separation between friendship and “business”.  No matter how difficult it might get inside the organization, remember its business and don’t take it into the friendship.   I have at least two friendships that are a little strained right now, but I keep reminding them that no matter what happens, outside of the event, they’re still my friend first and foremost.  Inside the event though, I am their Manager/Supervisor and ultimately that needs to be remembered.

You can also tell them that it’s not working and straining your friendship, so you’re asking them to leave.  However, I’ve found most people view that as “being fired” and they take it as such.  So, tell them how you feel and let them decide how they want to handle it.   It doesn’t happen often, but I’ve seen friendships and marriages break up over disagreements within an organization.   Always be ready to recognize when it’s time to back out or have that discussion.

Step 2 – Watch those Gofers (Gophers)!  Gofers is the term given to the attendees who decide that they want to volunteer to help for a brief time, but not really want to be staff.  They usually do it for small perks like free t-shirts, free attendance for next year, etc.  They’re called gofers because typically their job is to “Go for” things and tasks.  A lot of them are interested in being on staff, but they either did not realize it or did not know how to get onto staff.  Being a gofer is an effective way, and in some events the only way, to get onto the events staff.  You can volunteer throughout the weekend for a variety of departments and positions, so it gives both the gofer and the event a chance to see what you like best and how well you fill the role.  See a good gofer?  Ask them to be Staff.  

My event has a part of closing ceremonies where if a department has an opening to fill, and a gofer did an excellent job helping them, they are called up onto stage to receive an award and an invitation to return next year as staff. It’s a fantastic opportunity to showcase not only that the event cares about its gofers and does pay attention, but also to recognize the exceptional gofers.  Not to say that any gofer isn’t worth their weight in whatever incentives you give.

Step 3 – Advertise, Advertise, Advertise!   Use whatever channels you have to get the word out.  We posted our open positions onto a website, and even with several reminders in the year, we still had about 50+% of our attendee population that weren’t even aware that we had open staff positions.  Just don’t flood them with repeated calls for staff.  We schedule it into our regular social media rotation, and beginning this year we have a monthly mailing list for previous attendees willing to receive it.

Step 4 – Incentivize!   As mentioned previously, find ways to give some benefit to your staff and volunteers.  A free badge is almost a given for staff.  My event sets the free badge as a function of fulfilling the previous year’s requirements (Staff or gofer), or doing enough volunteer time during the year pre-convention to earn it.  We do that to weed out the staff applications that just want to come in to get a free badge.  Often, without that weed point I’ve seen too many staff volunteers who join just for the badge, do the bare minimum (or less), and end up being a problem.  My point, however, is that a free badge is a given.  That’s not an incentive, that’s the barest of minimums that scratch the surface of incentives.

Other, and usually more coveted incentives, include things like attendee sponsor level perks, staff only gifts or events, food (meals) and drinks, and the ever-coveted Free Hotel Room. I’ve noticed through my years of staffing that the closer you get to free room & board, the easier it is to recruit fresh staff members to the event.    Which makes total and complete sense.  Just from my own personal ideals, I expect a badge, I don’t care about a t-shirt, and gifts are fun but usually just clutter my house and end up tossed out unless they’re useful.  Food, Drink, and hopefully a Free hotel room, however, will keep me coming back every year.   Even after an unusually stressful year, or more attendee abuse than usual.   It makes my 20-60 hours’ worth of work in a weekend feel worthwhile because I don’t have to spend $500-$1000 to do it.   I’ll readily give up my t-shirt, the gifts, and sponsor level benefits if it means that I can get Free Room and Board, hands down.  Not every event can afford that though, which is why I prioritize feeding my staff as a necessity, not expendable.

Also, look at what you might be able to give them outside of the event and organization.  There are places ranging from your organization having its accounts at a credit union, which gives all your volunteers the ability to have accounts and benefits there as well; all the way up to various “group account” type programs where you can offer discount cards or coupons for things they use every day.   If you’re a 501c3, there’s lots of opportunities to find things like that on websites like techsoup.com

Ultimately, the best place to find out what your staff thinks makes their time worthwhile, is your staff.  Ask them what they would find appealing to join and what brings, or would bring them back every year.  Just be sure not to offer something that ultimately is not sustainable.  It’s very hard to provide an incentive and then take it away later without causing some heartache in the ranks.

Finding and keeping volunteer staff can be very difficult, especially for small events with minimal budgets. Free stuff, incentives, food and hotel rooms are all potential pluses in the volunteer’s balance of staffing or not. Regardless of all of that though, never ever… EVER forget to appreciate them.  Thank them every chance you get, praise their good deeds, and show them that you recognize their efforts.  Even the most well incentivized staff member won’t stick around if they don’t feel personally appreciated by the people with and above them.

Next Episode:  Part 3 – A (hopefully) short talk on… phrasing. (My biggest fail)

[kitdrago]

Conventions, Staffing and things to do

Part 1 – Opening the Door

I started staffing my first convention when I was 17 years old.  It was a Star Trek convention in the city I was living in at the time.  I was (and still am) a member of the Klingon Assault Group (a fan club), and we were contacted to ask if we would be interested in volunteering to do security.  For some reason, Star Trek conventions have historically used Klingons to be volunteer Security.  Its probably why my areas of volunteering are always in public safety, that was my first experience and I enjoyed it.  It was also the third time in my life I met with George Takei, as they needed a driver to pick him up from the airport, and I happened to have my mom’s van that weekend.  It was one of the most astounding moments of my life when Mr Takei was riding in the passenger seat and after a few moments looked at me and said “I know you, don’t I?  Yes, your <____>’s boy!”   Mind Blown.

Staffing at conventions can be an experience and very rewarding.  That experience though depends heavily upon how the convention treats their staff.  There are a few conventions I had staffed that I no longer do because I have felt very unappreciated for all the work accomplished.  That’s not to say that I must be personally thanked.  However, for example, if I have to pay for my badge, pay for my hotel room, pay to feed myself, and then on top of it all I have to eat half or more of my time working to earn a free t-shirt?  No, that’s not beneficial.  Yes, I love volunteering for the love of helping the event, but I feel like there needs to be some benefit more than just a Tshirt.   If all I wanted was a free TShirt, id just be a gopher/gofer volunteer where I work on MY Schedule and usually for less hours to get it.

Every convention except the two or three I no longer do, have at the very least ensured that as a staffer I had a free badge, three meals a day and drinks to keep me hydrated.  That was by far probably the most beneficial thing to me as a staffer and showed that the convention cared about me.  I was going to come to the convention anyway, so the hotel room is a necessary expense, but free entry and fed for the weekend. Yep, that’s the minimum.  It’s why with FurtheMore I have stated repeatedly that if nothing else, my staff will be fed.  They also get free badge entry after their first year as a staffer.  It wasn’t until I started staffing Anime Conventions that I discovered that some conventions also give you a free hotel room.   Also something I would love to do for my staff, if the budget were available.   Unfortunately, Furry Conventions have a historically low ticket price compared to other fandom events.  So it makes budgeting for the event a tight process indeed. Next Post:  Wheres the Staff!

[kitdrago]

Stereo-chemistry has screwed with my brain. 

So in chemistry, there is a concept called stereo-chemistry.  Basically, the idea is that molecules are not flat. You cant set them on the table and they would fall against it because they have a 3-dimensional structure.   To represent this structure on paper (a flat medium), they made indicators for which way each atom bond was going.  Wedge means its coming out from the paper (coming toward the viewer) and dashes mean its going behind (away from the viewer). 

So in the example, the carbon chain is flat along the paper.  well kinda, they just don't show you all the hydrogens attached that would have 3-dimensionality because who cares about hydrogen unless your stealing it.   The Chlorine is bonded away and the fluorine is bonded closer.

I am not kidding, but after half the semester, I literally see that in 3-D.   As in, if I didn't know better I would think that someone snuck a pair of 3D glasses on my head and gave me a laptop with the 3D graphics card.  I have been staring at these things for so long that my brain has re-wired its perception of that symbolism to actually see it in 3D.   help.... me.   LOL

[kitdrago]

Ive been a Star Trek Fan (trekker thank you) for most of my memory.   I idolized Mr Spock when I was a kid, and is probably why my face shows emotion only when its extreme.    However, I also have been a fan of the Klingons.  My first major cosplay (outside of halloween) was an Original Era Klingon.    I'm a part of the Klingon Assault Group, have Klingon Armor and a headpiece.  

I got annoyed when they brought the Klingons to earth WAY before Kirks era in Enterprise.  Ive been continuously disappointed with each new iteration of the Klingons in the new movies.   In the most recent version I didn't like them, but (I told myself) they looked like they were MAYBE going through the "Augment Virus" that removed their ridges resulting in the TOS Era klingon.  

The leak from the latest "Star Trek Discovery".    Nope...  Nope...  there is no amount of "explaining it away" that I think Ill be able to accept.

http://www.treknews.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/star-trek-discovery-klingons-01.jpg

They look like the alien from Enemy Mine, not the Klingons.   Nothing wrong with Drac, but no.  Why did they have to screw with the design?  I mean, I understand that every artist wants to put their own touch into the artwork.  However, I feel that changing something that has been a fundamental design for most of the Star Trek timeline is just bleh.  Ship Redesigns, sure.  Uniforms, sure.  Species physical makeup?  tweaks here and there ok.  Making it look like a completely different species, nO.

Ugh...  Ill watch it because its Star Trek, but thank goodness those.... facsimiles are only slated for two episodes.

[kitdrago]

Sometimes I'm blind, and need to be shown...

I try as hard as I can to be open minded and approachable. I repeatedly tell people that if they have a problem with me or what I do to just come talk to me. I'm probably dense and don't see the problem, so I can't work to make it better if I'm not shown. I am a firm believer that as long as things can be discussed and fixed, then problems are no issue. That's why it hurts when people don't tell me something is wrong. Especially people I consider friends and damn near family for all the blood sweat and tears we put into things. Also why there may be some very large changes to my life and social structure in the new year. Nothing unexpected really, but accelerated by a couple years. I'd still rather sit down and talk and try to fix the problem though. 100% open honest communication is a requirement of all relationships, friend, family, or coworkers.