Interview with Pelton Darkstone

DD: What made you decide to be an non human in sl?

PD: Well, actually I still believe I'm human in SL.... after all, I made myself to resemble my RL me.. !
Only my hair grew into ears and my back spine grew out of my body... I can't help that... blame the Lindens... lol !
But to be honest... Nekos fits the Grunge/Urban style (which I believe resembles RL the most) very nicely and I feel pleased with that...
It happens to be the style I like to develop for or dance around in for that matter.

DD: What is the difference between Furries and Nekos?

PD: I can't really tell... I heard they say Furries stand for gay men and Nekos for lesbians, but I believe that is made up by some adolescent kid, with a not so good feel for aesthetics... Because if you pay real close attention, you will notice that very many good developers are either Neko or Furrie. And I just happen to like cats very much.... but if I liked wolves, I would probably resemble one of those and I would be in the Furry camp....

DD: How have you found people to treat you as a Neko?

PD: I found that people are sorta scared or confused by Nekos or Furries... Maybe intimidated... Because clearly their appearance is a display of design... I know I was when I first came to SL... although not very intimidated, but more intrigued. And u know what they say... 'curiosity killed the cat' :)

DD: If given the chance to start over would you and if so would you pick the same type of avatar again?

PD: I guess so... I have an alt... which I made into a Furry first, but now it's a Neko too. I just find them a little more cute and leave more place to design clothes and accessories that go nicely with 'normal' people ! And besides the fact I just like cats... I feel Nemuri-neko and what is noted on wikipedia...: ... is explaining what Neko stands for to me =^^=

DD: Extra Thoughts?

PD: I believe the best designers are very often dragons, who custom build their own sculpties for their appearance... But I wonder in which camp they are... Clearly they aren't Neko... and they are not very Furry either... I guess there is something like the Draggies too ?!


Hhmmm. This kind of got me interested in his point of view so I decided to spend a day myself as a Neko. Let me tell you, it was not as easy to find something I was comfortable in. My Neko experience took me into places I don't normally go, and my look was more animalistic then just most Neko's. I ended up being something of a Hybrid (not really Neko not really Furry )














Photos by reporter Dashwood Dayafter

An Interview with Bixyl Shuftan

DD: What made you decide to be an non human in sl?

BS:I'm something of a science-fiction nut, so the idea appealed to me. In stories, mammal-like aliens, such as "Star Trek's" Caitians have appealed to me. I also wanted to stand out a little. I think my sense of humor may also have played a role.

DD: What is the difference between Furries and Nekos?

BS: Nekos are closer to regular human in appearance. They usually have just the addition of catlike ears and a tail. But some also have additional features such as a thin coat of fur, claws on the hands, or whiskers. A thicker coat of fur and a slight muzzle might be considered neko, but more often would be thought of as a furry. Furries have much more of a mammalian appearance than a neko does, always having fur along with the ears and tail, usually at least a slight muzzle, and often claws and pawlike feet and hands.

Most nekos in comics & anime, and SL, are girls, though there are a few male nekos. Furries have plenty of males and females, though in SL, there appear to be more furry males than females.

DD: How have you found people to treat you as a Furry?

BS: Although some furries grumble about harassment, its my experience that most people in SL respect me well enough, treating me much like anyone else.

DD: If given the chance to start over would you and if so would you pick the same type of avatar again?

BS:I don't see a reason to start over. If I had to, I would probably pick the same one.

DD: Extra Thoughts?

BS:Furries have something of an iffy reputation, due the genre being associated with X-rated artwork and crazzed fanboys. Although SL's furry population has some oddballs, as a group they're no worse, or better, than anyone else. To paraphrase one furball, "Every genre has it's freaks, and ours are the most visible."

In RL, I've never worn a "fursuit," and probably never will.


Photos by reporter Dashwood Dayafter