How are different species viewed in Bon Bon?

[Symphony]

I've been thinking of how people in Bon Bon view different species. Obviously they acknowledge that there are different species, in that there have been comments about some. Violet liking stallions, Red describing Betty as a mousie and William as a cat etc.

I personally tend to attribute certain characteristics to various species. For example, I tend to think differently of a bull, a fox, and a rat. And I associate different traits with them because of their respective species.

But do the people of Bon Bon do the same? I can't really think of many examples, but what made me think of it was when I read how Mary hoped that her father would hire a handsome cat. And I note how Red is also a cat, so I started thinking of how species are viewed in general, and when considered for relationships or marriage. Are married couples usually of the same species or species that are similar? Would Simon consider a suitor for Mary, who wasn't a cat? Like perhaps a rat or a bull? Or would he perhaps consider certain species to be below his standing and therefore not sutiable to marry his daughter?

I personally like how Furry artwork has so many possibilities with different species and colors, and I like to see characters that are contrasts in one way or another, though I do tend to picture couples, married or not, to be of identic or closely related species. But that's probably a lot due to how they look together, and because of the attributes I associate with different species. I would probably find it somewhat difficult to picture Mary as married to a bull, and I wonder if the people of Bon Bon think the same way. Or whether anyone else of this community think the same way.
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[Ashton Gray]

I've always tended to assign certain character traits and habits to different furry species, but coupled with their sentience and subsequent individuality, there's only so far you can go in doing that. For example, if I see a bull furry, I tend to ascribe it as being more aggressive than a mouse furry. I see a wolf furry, I tend ascribe a sense of loyalty or ferociousness. But you can only go so far with these assumptions, I find, otherwise you'll end up severly limiting both your imagination and the extent of what you can expect or even accept certain furry species doing.
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[Xebulon]

I would think that different species might be predisposed towards certain types of behavior but I doubt that species alone would, or could, be the determining factor. Everyone is an individual and therefore will be different and characters such as ours (i.e. ones not just created for background purposes) would have the potential to be even greater variances. Now if you want to apply behavioral models to entire groups (or species) I'm sure you'll find things to be more in line with estimated perceptions. For example: Wolves are better suited to aggressive positions; i.e. soldiers, guards, biker gangs, etc. Rats tend to be better where fewer scruples are required; lawyers, used car salesmen, dotcom executives.

As far as Bon Bon goes, I doubt that species is really the foremost things in peoples minds when meetings someone. It may play a part on first time introductions but people that see one another often probably don't pay it much attention. I mean, when you move somewhere new and first meet your neighbors, where you're from will only be interesting for maybe a month. After that it won't really be a big deal anymore.

Another fine example is Martin. Sure, he's living proof of the sense of humor of the supreme being of your choice, but do his neighbors and friends even notice anymore? They see him day in and day out and after a while what's strange will become normal. Especially in a town like Bon Bon.
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[Symphony]

I don't think that I've so far seen anything in Bon Bon that suggests that the behaviour of the characters is influenced by their species. I think that the characters are more much developed and complex than that.

It's just my own tendency to associate certain traits to certain species, which is kind of odd, since I don't usually think of the characters based on their species. I don't look at Mary and Betty and think of them as cat and mouse. I tend to think of Furry characters as persons, where their species is really just used to make them look different and to possibly accentuate certain traits they have, rather than looking at them as people of different races or species.

I can see the point about people in Bon Bon not caring all that much about species. It could be speculated that when they make a comment about a person being a mouse, it would be the equivalent to us saying that a person has black hair.
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[Martin]

[kommy]

Me, I embrace the traits of my species. Swift, cunning, floofy.

The vulpine is the classic charming small predator. Quick witted, quick bodied, and intellectually flexible, trying something new to get a meal or saving up for a rainy day. There's no one who can solve your problems quite like a fox can, and no one to make you feel uneasy about it or regret it quite like a fox can. But people seem to like us anyway.

After all, a fox can get or do anything. And if we can't... well, I bet those grapes really were sour, anyway.


My little advertisement notwithstanding, I imagine the first reaction people have to species in Bon Bon is how attractive they are, followed by their level of strength and fitness which I think may be linked to species. You don't often see an attractive rat or pig. Nor do you see a noble looking weasel. Same goes for strong and tough mice.

As for personality, I imagine it has more to do with how much an individual embraces or discards the ways of their ancestors than anything genetic.
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[Vanessa]

nteresting topic, Simphony.
People in PBB can't have interrspecies marriages because this couldn't allow procreation.
In a historical period in which the marriages are almost always arranged by the families and heirs are very important it isn't very convenient to have horses and mice or dogs and cats marry; it's even dishonorable in PBB's universe, because no heir can be born from two different species.
Creatures of the same species but not necessarily the same race can marry, so it's allowed between felids, canids, rodents etc..., only the children will be hybrids, not 100% cats or mice.
That's why Bon Bon is so loved as a place, if a wolf has a passion for bunnies (not in an alimentary way) he can have relationships with them, also the females of the same species can only become pregnant if they're in their fertile period, that's why the contraceptives are rarely used (mainly spermicide ointments are used); simply put, in that period the girls only have sex with males of a different species than their own.
I'm surprised that in my comic the readers would take interest in finding believable explanations... this means that you take it very seriously and that I built something believable and realistic, I'm happy of it.
On the contrary, the writers and readers never cared about these problems concerning the Disney characters. I remember that link that I showed to Xebulon quite a while ago where it could be seen Mickey Mouse being an anthropomorphic mouse, but while Pluto, his dog, was an animal, his buddy Goofy was an anthropomorphic dog... and also Donald Duck eating roasted chickens and turkeys... Can you remember where the topic was, Xebulon?
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[Symphony]

Thanks for the clarification, Vanessa. I was actually thinking about whether different species in Bon Bon could have children together. I've seen it in other places with some crazy combinations of many species, but I just couldn't imagine it here in your comic.

It's interesting to read about the issues of marriage in Bon Bon's universe. I was wondering if there could be some sort of racism or if certain species were often looked down upon, but it makes sense to view it based on marriage and procreation options.

I think that the reason why people are interested in these things, Vanessa, is because you're not just creating erotic furry artwork, but also an engaging story with characters that people find interesting. I'm personally interested in learning more about such details of the world of Bon Bon.
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[Miss Scorpia]

I agree with Symphony. It is nice to get a reason that make sense. And the background information is very interesting and an importent addition to the story!

About the species and baby issue, I kept wondering why there were no kids every where with all that interaction between men and women. But I am clear with that now. Your explanation is quite good!
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[Xebulon]

[Xebulon]

[LabrnMystic]

I'm sure if we put our collective minds...(or at least Ashton/Xebulon combined) we'll find the thread. ^_^


I believe we've touched on the subject that many of the royal and loyal fans of this site truly love it beyond just the sex Vanessa. The fine line mix of fantasy and reality, that some things can be so far-fetched for some to grasp, yet still have strong reasoning and laws that help govern the world to make it seem more believable.

Honestly, I get lost trying to express how much I enjoy it. Its why I'll be here as long as I can muster. ^_^


Now, on the term of species, you can expect certain traits in characters based off their species. Then again, since they're so "human like" in behavior, a character can be quite the opposite you'd expect in a certain species because their creed and beliefs dictate away from the traditional norm. Such as finding an elephant woman who loves mice.

The big thing I think we came across was the whole Predator vs Prey theory. Whats keeping the instincts of some of the species in Bon Bon from going after one another with something more than sexual lust? What keeps Red from eating Betty in the more traditional way other than what was depicted? (Sorry, I couldn't help myself, ) Whats keeping our carnivorous fellows in check?


You might also ask what determines what is anthropomorphic and which ones are typical animals, but having been exposed to a game setting called "After the Bomb" the answer was simple, EVOLUTION. I'm not trying to sway anyone from a creationist theory (less any of you forget I'm quite a spiritual person and a strong believer in my faith) but that all creatures have the possibility of extreme changes and evolutionary breakthroughs. So, to myself, its no questions on whats keeping some characters more human like compared to being more animal like. However, I could go into more detail and find a better explanation if anyone would like to know.
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[Symphony]

[green_fox]

Hmm this is a very interesting thread. I have never thought about what the people in Bonbon would eat (they are just to "human" for me

[Martin]

Well, actually for what I know a specie's diet stays put, so bulls go for huge amounts of salad, cats order the chicken (all the better not to get tied into small knots by the huge bull at the other table)... and, given that a platypus's diet usually consists of bugs, worms and small fishes, I eat at home in the privacy of my dining room because I don't like to see people get violently sick

[green_fox]

According to what I know about foxes my diet would consist of earthworms ("Excuse me Sir, but your dinner is trying to escape), berries and mice ... (insert random "Betty" and/or "Violet" and "..eat her.." pun here )
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[JohnnyPsycho]

[Symphony]

[LabrnMystic]

Even more dreadful a thought to some. If Anthros have now taken the place as humans, are there humans out there being their cattle?
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The suspense is killing me. I hope it will last.

[Symphony]

[Martin]

[Symphony]

Yeah, from an evolutionary point of view, it would probably seem odd. I only know of a couple of artists who does human/furry art, but I don't know if they've evere bothered to explain it, or if they just like to draw them together.
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[LabrnMystic]

I'm suddenly reminded of Futurama with your mention of "lap humans" Martin. If any of you have seen it. Theres a large anthro cat woman with a small, gray hairded human the size of a small pug.


Well, what with nuclear power and nuclear chemical spills, radiation, the ever present mad scientists playing God, and the mysterious powers of the cosmos, its not to unheard of. Just like how you can find two types of the same species, but due to its location and environment , one will adapt and evolve exponentially while the other stays rather primitive.


My friend Amanda, (Amanda Payne before she was married) has her comic series, Wrongside and Wrongside Beginnings that is a human/anthro comic. As she put it I believe, the Humans stayed on one continent, while the various species on other continents evolved. Eventually, the humans started a war, feeling they were superior, and the anthros fought back and made the humans extinct....except for one.
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[green_fox]

Ahhhh you shouldn't have mentioned Wrongside, now I have a new webcomic I have to read please tell Amanda that I went through all the pages of Wrongside Beginnings and I just can't wait for the next page, the story and the art is great !
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[Symphony]

[Mystic]

Well, like Labrn said, besides what Amanda might have put down, our little "bible" for any and all questions related to furry/human interaction and evolution comes from "After the Bomb."

In the case of prey and predator, its a case by case situation. Its all based on how developed the anthro's brain has become. If its still rather primative, the predator/prey is still lodge well in there.
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Convince myself

[Symphony]

[LabrnMystic]

Save for the random acts of pies and silliness.
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The suspense is killing me. I hope it will last.

[Mystic]

[Symphony]