Keeping an open mind (furries, fetishes, fandom)

After writing my "Finder compendium" entry, I took my own advice and googled for 'furries'. I did know, vaguely, what furries were, but, interested in the anthropology of strange obsessions and the communities surrounding them as I am, I wanted to find out more. After all, furries are not *that* much farther removed from 'normal' fandom than people with a BDSM fetish are (and I'd argue that *those* are actually not removed at all. They're smack in the centre of fandom, and I know a good many of them. I'm actually amazed there isn't a greater BDSM presence in Farscape fandom, what with all the fetish gear the set and costume designers used throughout the show). So, there's a huge crossover between the circles I frequent, and the weirder realms of fetishism; hence I want to know more about those realms.

( Okay, maybe I should put a cut here, 'cause this is loooong. - Thoughts on the connection between fetishes and fannishness follow. )

Off to Stonehenge and Avebury until Tuesday...

- uni field trip.

One last "Finder" link, in honour of Valentines Day. (Female) authors of the web mag "Sequential Tart" reply to the question: "Pick a comic book character. First choice for a one-night stand. First choice for marriage. Second choices?" - Why is that "Finder"-related? Well, you'll have to read the article to find out. It's a fine, fun article, even if you're not a fan:

http://www.sequentialtart.com/archive/feb02/tth_0202.shtml

And now, back to packing...