Furbuy goes offline, fandom organization issues, and a need for constructive criticism.
by Patch O'Furr
Sharing a topic of a site having problems and adding:@furbuy has a good purpose and the admins have only been gracious to me.
Techy skills are beyond me.
I saw lengthy tips via "infursec" channels that were persuasively unhappy with handling of issues.
Please do good @furbuy. https://t.co/5zVYQlAQfj— Dogpatch Press (@DogpatchPress) May 31, 2019
Flayrah covers a tech problem with a longstanding fandom auction site: FurBuy down for ‘months’ after spat with security researcher.
Furbuy says they’ll be back with a completely new site. The old one relied on software mostly written in 1999, offering a service that drew some complaints for security problems or less-than-modern functionality, complicated by some conflict with a site owner about expected handling of complaints.
Furbuy also offered a valuable free service, accommodating fandom high points like record auction prices for creators without taking a cut like nonfandom markets. (It earned some donations, but not as much as it cost to run). With a hobby/not-for-profit project, accommodating demands might not always be fast or easy or welcome to the providers. Still, security issues can’t be dismissed and complaints can come with feelings about less-than-professional standards.
Sound familiar? Like every complaint ever about management of Furaffinity, the biggest fandom art site.
I think it’s a structural thing. It comes with the benefit of a decentralized fandom, where most commerce is self-owned and fan-to-fan without middlemen, with DIY-ness for love as much as money. Making a living that way is rare, and rarely enriching, and it makes limited resources to do better. Professional service is a must in many ways but “pro-fan” can be an oxymoron. It’s a furry paradox.