Archive-name: furry/alf-charter
Posting-Frequency: Posted the 1st and 15th of each month.
URL: ftp://ftp.uu.net/usenet/control/alt/alt.lifestyle.furry.Z
Date: Thu, 29 Aug 1996 17:01:35 +1000

For your newsgroup file:
alt.lifestyle.furry  Philosophical and social topics for 'furries'

alt.lifestyle.furry was proposed on alt.config on 20th August 1996.
Discussion has been supportive though limited, with no objections raised.
Prior to this, a.l.f was a topic on alt.fan.furry since early July, with
over 100 articles posted in discussion.

CHARTER

alt.lifestyle.furry is an un-moderated forum for the discussion and
exploration of spiritual/lifestyle related furry issues, as distinct from
fandom topics as addressed by alt.fan.furry.  A subject will be considered
on-topic where it arises from, relates to, or affects the individual's
sense of themselves as a 'Furry', and where it does not meet any of the
following criteria for off-topicness.

. Commercial articles that are not directly related to a furry lifestyle theme
. Articles crossposted to alt.fan.furry, and Furry Fandom specific subject
  matter (e.g.: comics), unless there is an obvious mutuality (conferences,
  furry stories).
. Articles crossposted to more then 10 newsgroups.
. Binary articles
. Judgemental material on the personal lives of other subscribers.

Note: within 'furrydom' (Furry Fandom) the noun 'furry' has two principle
meanings.

1.  A furry is an anthropomorphic animal character in film, art,
    literature, etc. The example normally given is the characters
    in Disney's film 'Robin Hood'.

2.  A furry is a human who relates strongly, in any way, to
    anthropomorphic characters. For the purposes of this proposal,
    such a person is a 'fur'.

Furry fandom has expanded steadily over time.  As its membership has grown
it has become clear that 'furries' fall into two broad categories; those
whose interests are restricted to the artefacts / characters of the fandom
(e.g.: fanzines), and those who consider their furriness to be an
internal, spiritual state which informs their entire lifestyle.

'Furry lifestyle' as a definition encompasses a broad range of activities,
interests and beliefs.  Such topics include, but are not limited to animal
identities, alter-ego's and spirit guides, the wearing and making of
fursuits, collars and other furry clothing, plush toys, theriomorphosis,
and general philosophical discussion - and to the personal experience of
_being_ furry - socially, sexually, and psychologically.

These latter concerns are related only tenuously to artwork, film and
literature, and attempts to discuss lifestyle topics on alt.fan.furry
have led to ongoing and frequently criticism.  For the past several
months the debates, and often outright flames on this subject have
continued virtually without interruption.  Furs interested in discussing
lifestyle issues now acknowledge that a.f.f is not a suitable venue;
indeed that 'lifestyle' and 'fandom' topics are so semantically distinct
as to require seperate newsgroups.  alt.lifestyle.furry has therefore
been conceived, as an alternative furry forum.

Although mailing lists exist for several of the lifestyle topics listed
above, discussion on these lists is strictly confined to the specific
subject matter thereof.  ALF is a forum at which any of these specifics
may be discussed /in the wider context of the individual's overall sense
of furriness./

Selected audience information from related newsgroups and mailing lists:

    [Worldwide readership estimates are from June 1995 Arbitron,
    except for a.f.f (July 1995) Traffic estimates are current.]

alt.fan.furry - Worldwide readership: 29,392
              - ppd: 75
alt.horror.werewolves (theriomorphs)
              - readership: 32,854
              - ppd: 70
alt.fan.dragon - ppd: 30
alt.sex.plushies - readership: 71,762
alt.tv.tiny-toon fandom - readership: 41,933
fursuit mailing list - subscribers: 100
plushie mailing list - subscribers: 100
OzFurry mailing list - subscribers: 40
Furry writers mailing list - subscribers: 40

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