By now the interwebs have already been flooded with everything under the sun about RainFurrest2015 and the severe disrespect to not only the con itself, the hotel, but also those attendees who abided by the code of conduct. However, why not add to my own two cents?
Without sounding as if I’m going to preach to the choir here, and with that being said, seriously it’s time to wake up furries.

Who am I? I’m a fur. It took me a long time to understand that, and to even accept it. Hell I didn’t even know about it for most of my life. It seems like most of us have that special day where you realize it- the ‘a-ha moment’. It becomes a part of you, almost as it’s your new birthday. I can’t say I fully live the life style to the degree a lot do (down to the hour of the day it happened even for some), but I will say that it was sometime in July 2014 that I embraced it. So relatively speaking, I’m very new to all of this. In the short while, I’ve made a lot of friends, bonds with people that are so special they’ve become my family. Unsure of everything and overwhelmed, many took me under their wing to help me find confidence in myself, and to even go to my first ever fur con. I’ve been blessed in a way words can’t describe. I was lucky enough to acquire a suit, a character of my very own imagination. I’ve been fortunate enough to attend three conventions in 2015, and to finally be able to meet some of these amazing individuals who I have come to love so dearly. People who for more or less, are like me. They understand me. I say this because I have a good feeling this is very similar to maybe how you all felt when you became a part of the fandom.

Hands down (or is that paws down?) I had a fantastic time at Rainfurrest. Again, I got to meet some of the nicest most genuine people. I was reacquainted with friends I had met at Califur and RMFC. It’s true when they say that anything is really what you make of it. For being basically the ‘freshman’ of the fandom, I felt the con was very well organized. I haven’t attended any panels at any con, so I can’t compare those. I don’t dance unless I have a lot of liquid courage, so I can’t say anything about that… BUT.. the group photo and parade went the smoothest of any con I had been apart of. I’m only assuming that con staff and events were just as well organized. I thought it was wonderful that the hotel/con had worked with the restaurant inside to offer a special menu for rainfurrest attendees at a reduced cost. I thought the outside catering between the hotel and the con space was a fantastic idea. Overall I was impressed.

Now for the ‘other’…

My two issues, and I believe most of yours were as well:
1. Dresscode
2. Code of Conduct

1. To not sound like a broken record, all of you heard what types of attire were worn, and that was definitely one thing I could have done without. I’m not going to rehash the details here, you’ve all seen the photos. I was just shocked by it all. A rhetorical question perhaps, but ‘what the hell are you thinking going to a fur con to wear diapers or fetish gear out in the hotel lobby?’ I can speak for myself here, as many of you know, I’m a fetishist. I love latex, leather, masks etc.. Buckshot (my latex stallion) is a prime example of what NOT to wear midday strolling through the Hilton lobby to get a cup of coffee. Guess what? There are special events just for fetish and kink gear. In fact, there was a huge one happening a few hours south of Seattle in Folsom in San Francisco that very same weekend. I’m not jaded, and neither are most of you. We all know kink exists and it does within the fandom, but keep it private. Hotel rooms have doors for a reason. And before any whining starts about how its just a form of expression, and that well ‘everyone else was wearing it, so why shouldn’t I be allowed to?’ – ever hear of the old saying, be a leader and not a follower? Have respect for yourself. What I’ve found so rewarding within the fandom is seeing how young people get involved, and even sometimes their parents. Be a role model. We all are in this together, it’s my plea to you all to not be selfish and think hard about your actions for the future of this all.

2. Here’s the more serious issue. Hilton is a huge hotel chain. They’ve already yanked the contract for 2016 for Rainfurrest. The industry talks. I work in commercial insurance. With all the damages done to the hotel, the money for a claim doesn’t just magically appear out of nowhere. These claims will directly have an impact on their premiums for years to come. It’s a snowball effect. They will inadvertently be paying for RF2015 for at least 3-5 years to come. Conventions held all over the US are going to find it harder to secure event space/hotel if actions of malicious vandalism continues at these events. What is so awesome about these conventions is the money that we’re able to raise for good causes and charities. The more it costs to attend them due to senseless acts of vandalism, the more insurance that has to be purchased, the less allotted to these charities in the end. To echo the sentiments of the official letter by the con president at rainfurrest- step up and if you see this happening let someone know. There are still a few more conventions to be held this year… and I can only hope that those bad eggs that wrecked it for RF don’t show up. I remember way back when I was in highschool (a long time ago) our class had a repertoire of being the ‘worst’ behaved ever. What sucks is that those few ruined it for everyone, we didn’t get to go on class trips, we didn’t get to do anything. It’s as almost if when they received that moniker they took pride in being the ‘worst’ and would perpetuate that to make sure it was the reputation. C’mon let’s NOT be like that. We all share this infatuation with animals. True animals wouldn’t behave in the fashion that was witnessed at RF. Time to bring the ‘A’ game for 2016. Make the people smile. Have fun not at the expense of others.

I’m not a saint. I’m far from it. I’m a guy who has a hell of a good time going to conventions when I am able to. Please furries, don’t ruin it for us as a family. Have fun out there like these events are geared towards. Hopefully we can continue to have events that bring us all together.

That’s all that was on my mind. Oh, except – I was NOT, I repeat NOT the latex horse walking around Sunday. I was at the airport already. I’ve got enough class, don’t worry about me.