Good evening everyone,
I’m Goomy, the most recent member of the moderation team. Recently there have been concerns over the prevalence of racial slurs used in conversation on the site as well as artwork being posted that contains recreations of racist memes (but with fluffies).
As things currently stand, Fluffy Community is operating under a principle that basically amounts to “Do not be directly racist”. Using slurs is allowed as long as they are not used to directly attack an individual for their racial or ethnic identity (or any of the numerous other things that have slurs because people just can’t be pleasant to each other).
Fluffies as we know them now came from a space where this was permitted. An argument could be made that this is simply continuing as is.
However, the community currently has members who did not come from that same space or have simply decided that no really, they don’t need to engage with slurs/racist language on the website about imaginary genetic chimera horses and would really be happy if that language went away on site. The internet has changed, for good or ill and we should change with it and institute a tighter degree of moderation.
We have already had people leave due to the current status quo, and people who are becoming uncomfortable the perceived increase of their use and other racially charged content. And you can easily create fluffy content without having to use slurs and I would like to think everyone here is not suffering from some previously unknown condition where they are required to utilize a certain number of slurs or post a specific amount of racist content daily.
Fluffies do deal with some subject matter that is to say the least, seen as problematic. Rape, murder, abuse and more is routinely inflicted on fluffies in stories and art on site. And it is likely an outsider would find this just as objectionable as to the use of slurs or creation of racially charged images. After all, the people who enjoy fluffies and create content aren’t exactly seen favorably with allegations of enjoying zoosadism being a common response.
So where do we draw the line? I know for some this may be an apples and oranges comparison. After all, the suffering of fluffies is the draw, and this site is one of the few places you have access this sort of content. And there are a multitude of spaces you can use your spicy new slur.
But take images like Asschwitz. Compared to some images on site it’s practically tame. But is it racist/antisemitic and under a tighter restriction on content and communications would it have to go?
Where do we draw the line and why?
I am posting this because I as a moderator and a user of the site genuinely want to hear people’s opinions.
That said, I do not want this thread’s comment section to devolve into accusations of people being racists, thin skinned and oversensitive, secretly actually Hitler, or part of the alphabet mafia plan to make Fluffies an all hugbox all the time rainbow safe space.
Express an opinion without attacking those you disagree with. Be civil. This comment section will not be a free for all and I will actually enforce rule 9.
I understand this is an emotionally charged topic and the urge to call someone a fucking idiot or worse will likely rise. If it does, step away, gather your thoughts and find a way to express your disagreement that is civil.
You don’t win for insulting people creatively or unleashing your precious folder of memes about the Armenian genocide.
We all win if we can find a point and place we can agree is a reasonable standard for the community involving personal interaction and what is acceptable for content when some think we are already well past too far in “how far is too far?”.
