This Sordid Little Business

2023-11-23T14:47:14Z

2600:1700:F660:6C80:ADBE:2807:DD02:D33E: watched a "down thr rabbit hole" video about furries and the video author said this was written in late 1998, so I added that.

'''''This Sordid Little Business'''''<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20000609053122/http://members.tripod.com/burnedfur/bf_manif.html Archived Burned Fur oficial webpage] (retrieved May 20, 2012)</ref>, also known as '''The Furry Manifesto''', '''The Burned Fur Manifesto''', or just '''Squee Rat's Manifesto''',<ref>[http://groups.google.com/group/alt.fan.furry/browse_thread/thread/1abcac173465305a/aecbbfed1739801c?lnk=gst&q=squeerat+manifesto#aecbbfed1739801c ''The Furred Reich Manifesto'' post on alt.fan.furry] (retrieved May 20, 2012)</ref> is considered the first public voiced open opposition from mostly [[furries]] to the perceived "[[sex|over-sexualization]]", "[[Furry spirituality|spiritualization]]" and "[[Furry lifestyle|lifestylism]]" of the [[furry fandom]] up to that time. It was penned by then [[Yerf]] [[furry artist]] [[Squee Rat]] in late 1998.

This essay did not originate with creation of the [[Burned Fur]] movement, even as the groups' name was slapped many times to it in the many pro/con discussions that would follow.<ref>[http://groups.google.com/group/alt.fan.furry/browse_thread/thread/b898c9e3e55659af/6e3d9ff7057c3802?lnk=gst&q=squeerat+manifesto#6e3d9ff7057c3802 ''Furry Citizenship: An Ultimatum'', a manifesto pro/con discussion on al.fan.furry] (retrieved May 20, 2012)</ref>

No specific singular triggering event was ever mentioned that could have gave the reason for Squee Rat to pen this letter in the first place, at that time. A suggested incident that involved a bad meeting with a known [[animation]] director, Squee Rat, and the subject of [[furry art]], that could have resulted on this response, was never fully confirmed.

This article provides the full historical reproduction of the original post. No edits are allowed to the main article itself.

==This Sordid Little Business==
One embarrassed 'furry fan' has a go at defining 'furry'.
by '''Charla Trotman'''

''I remember when being a pervert was a bad thing.''

If you were warped, you tried to hide it, and good for you if you did. If you were going to polish your rod to autopsy photos or bugger a [[Shetland pony]], you did it in the privacy of your own sick, sad home. No one else, especially not me, had to know, and that was great. The best part was, if you decided to crawl out on the roof and inform the neighborhood via midnight megaphone that being urinated on got you hot, you would be told, in no uncertain terms, how very diseased you were. Most people I know don't have too much trouble distinguishing between a "lifestyle choice" and a "warning sign." Yep, in many parts of the world, the idea of making love to [[Andy Panda]] is still regarded as somewhat misguided. Most parts, that is, except "Furry Fandom."

I don't know what the hell happened here.

"Live and Let Live" is an excellent, tree-hugging philosophy, but it doesn't do much when the ones you refuse to kill are dragging you down with them. If you like animal-based stories, [[cartoon]]s, or [[art]], you're a furry. And like it or not, "Furry" means "[[W:Pervert|Pervert]]." This didn't come out of nowhere, either.

To me, and a lot of other people, "Furry" simply means a fondness for [[animal]]-[[human]] combinations in art, [[movies]], [[Writing|books]]... whatever. If you're biased towards [[Redwall (series)|Redwall]] novels, have a soft spot for [[Anime]] "[[Catgirl|cat girls]]," or can't drag yourself away from "[[W:The Secret of NIMH|The Secret of NIMH]]," chances are excellent that you're at least *slightly* fur-inclined. That's pretty cool by me. The Simple Definition is probably what started "furry fandom" in the first place. But you would NOT believe some of the baggage the term "furry" has taken on.

''The most obvious one so far would be suspicions of [[bestiality]].''

This wouldn't a problem if the furs that did it weren't so damn proud of it. For those of you that were out sick that day in Sex Ed class, DON'T FUCK YOUR PETS. Raping Fido is a 100% BAD IDEA. You're making us all look bad, Goddamit. Do you know what all the other fandoms.. [[W:Trekkie|Trekkies]], [[W:X Files|X-Philes]], [[W:Lovecraft|Lovecrafters]]... call Furries? [[Skunkfucker|SKUNK-FUCKERS]]. And we have these morons to thank for it. "[[Zoophile]]" is a cute way of saying "I violate animals for sexual gratification." Period. It's not okay, It never was okay, and declaring yourself "furry" doesn't give you the right to insist that any level of bestiality is a part of the "furry experience."

''Getting your rocks off on lower orders of the animal kingdom is bad enough without your partner being licensed by [[Disney]].''

Yes indeedy, as we descend just a step deeper into [[W:Hell|Hell]], we stumble across the path of the [[Plushophile]]. That's shorthand for "I find this [[Meeko]] [[Plush|doll]] intensely erotic." These are the people who use [[W:FAO Schwartz|FAO Schwartz]] as a singles bar. I don't know who decided that this was a valid excuse for a sex life, but he probably still lives in his [[Stereotype|mother's basement]]. You don't have to earn a degree in psychology to figure out how thickly laden with sexual dysfunction the very concept of [[Plushophilia]] is. How badly was your id stomped on to get you to the point where you would consider wanking a child's toy? I'm not sure I want to know. But I *DO* know Plushophiles have latched onto Furriness like a swamp leech. When people call furries "perverts," THIS is the kind of crap they're talking about.

Sigh... moving on.

''Down, down, down we go... oh, look, the Seventh Level of Furry Hell. [[Lifestyler|Furry Lifestylers]].''

Glee. We've got us some self-righteous little pokers down here. Ya see, just drawing cartoon animals or enjoying "[[W:Watership Down|Watership Down]]" doesn't make you furry. Nooooo, you're not GOOD enough. You're not furry if it's just a hobby. If you don't think you're the astrally projected soul of a [[wolf]] trapped in a human body, or you don't answer the phone with a "[[meow]]," you're not furry. Yep. Don't you feel terribly inferior now? Christ on a fire engine, what some people will try and force on you. I've always found the fact that 90% of Lifestylers consider themselves misplaced [[Fox|foxes]], [[Wolf|wolves]], [[Dragon|dragons]], [[Lion|lions]], [[Tiger|tigers]], or something equally powerful and noble, open to a special brand of mockery. Amazing coincidence how fantastically superior they all were in their animal lives, isn't it? Maybe if I occasionally came across a Lifestyler who claimed to be a reborn [[W:cockroach|cockroach]], I wouldn't be so cynical. I'm sure [[W:Freud|Freud]] would have a great, detailed explanation as to why people build up [[W:Fantasy|fantasy worlds]] for themselves like this, but I'm content to call these types Crackpots.

''Slightly less obstinate but equally buttock-chafing are the the random groups who try their damndest to Super-glue a witch's brew of [[lycanthropy]], [[Furry spirituality|shamanism]], and [[W:Vegan|veganism]] to a once-enjoyable subculture.''

Don't misunderstand me; [[Werewolves]] are fun. [[Roleplay|Roll-playing]] a werewolf? Knock yourself out. Drawing werewolves? E-mail me some pointers, I can't do 'em to save my life. Claiming to BE a werewolf? SEEK HELP. You're not a werewolf. THERE ARE NO WEREWOLVES. Anyone who claims to turn into a giant [[dog]] at the whim of a celestial body should be mercilessly ostracized and laughed at with maximum cruelty.

''Then there's the matter of [[Spirit animal|Spirit Animals]].''

I don't have one. I don't want one, I don't need one. And according to some, that disqualifies me as a furry. Gee, didn't realize I had to realign my entire belief system to ensure acceptance into an already-decrepit fanbase. Once again, the question of personal tastes intruding on a once-meaningful practice comes to mind. You'll find a good thousand spastics claiming the protection of the Fox, But I've yet to hear a furry fan thank the Earwig Spirit for his wisdom. Yes, I'm taunting you. Cope.

''And YES, there's even a special breed of nutboys out there who insist a major component of Furriness is the practicing of Veganism.''

For those of you who don't live in [[W:California|California]], that's the total shunning of all animal products. No eggs, no leather, no beef, no fish, no clubbing baby seals until their skulls are soft and dough-like. For reasons beyond my comprehension, THIS sort of self-denial is supposed to put you "more in touch with your furriness." God knows how. I've never seen a pride of lions abandon a [[mule]] carcass to chase down a fleeing herd of Garden Burgers. Animals have a strange way of mutilating OTHER animals. That's nature, welcome to it. And there's nothing more furry and natural than gnawing some flesh, kids. Human beings are omnivorous, and that means meat. If you don't believe me, fetch yourself a mirror and smile. See those pointy things? Canines. So enough with the tofu and bean sprouts, your Spirit Animals are laughing at you.

''And finally, we confront the long-held notion that Furries secretly wish they WERE animals.''

I'm sure there are some that do, but they're in the minority. Trust me. I'm rather fond of being a [[W:Homo Sapien|homo sapien]]. I've grown quite attached to the idea of opposable thumbs, full-color vision, and the dawning of self-awareness. Space travel, Chinese food, swing dancing... the perks ain't bad, either. No, I'm holding my own on this end of the evolutionary ladder, thank you. Most furries are. But for the poor shmucks who want nothing more than to transform into an [[elk]] or [[bear (species)|bear]] or something equally ridiculous, a stay in an institution, not a fandom, is in order.

Whew. I think I'm done for now. Any survivors, Alpha Team? Heh. If you've actually read this far, I must say I'm impressed. If I made you mad, good. If you agree with me, even better. Either way, I want to hear from you. Let me know what you think.

==See also==

* [[A Modest Proposal]]

==References==
<references />

==External links==

* [http://web.archive.org/web/20000609053122/http://members.tripod.com/burnedfur/bf_manif.html ''This Sordid Little Business''] on the original Burned Fur official page (retrieved via the [http://web.archive.org/ Wayback Machine])
* [http://www.furrydolphin.net/2006_files/why-us-furries.html ''This Judgemental Little Business''], a rebuttal piece at [http://www.furrydolphin.net/ Furrydolphin.net]
* [http://groups.google.com/group/alt.fan.furry/search?q=squeerat+manifesto&start=0&scoring=d& ''This Sordid Little Business'' (squeerat manifesto)] search results on [[alt.fan.furry]]

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This Sordid Little Business