Furry ban in Cologne cathedral

from www.sl-newspaper.com:

It's one of the most impressive builds I've seen in SL. A faithful reproduction of the Kolner Cathedral, and is the first part of Virtuelles Koeln, a project to recreate the city of Koln within SL, using technology from Google Earth to make the whole project. The mission statement for the project states that this will become a place for German citizens to call their own, and to operate as a platform for German companies and government to operate from, considering that Germany produces one of the largest proportions of SL residents.


However, at the door of the Cathedral, which is opening at 11am today, is a sign, stating that no one wearing a headpiece (ie furries), wings, weapons, cigarettes or any other such unsavoury attachment will be allowed within the building. When I arrived at the site, Darkwolf Cale, a German resident, was distraught at the fact that, simply because he is a furry in SL, he is being excluded from entering this reproduction of one of his country's most famous landmarks.


The explanation for this bizarre ruling, is that they take the holiness of even this virtual church very seriously, however they also state that their sponsors will have billboards posted around the area.

So, I guess in this virtual church, money lenders are welcome, and due to the no wings rule, angels will be turned away.
(Thanks to Dixie Barbosa for his help as my German to English translator)

geschrieben von Voodoo Buwan.



Apparently furry avatars are not considered a species but a disguise or outfit of some kind.

I was wondering how other religious sites handle this topic? I remember visiting the buddhist temple and the wailing wall and noone was bothered by the fact that I am a pink lynx. Of course I was dressed appropriatly, like you can see on the above pic. The sign clearly states "no furry avatars". Whats your opinion on that?

EDIT

I have to make clear some facts because some people want to turn this thing against me. The discussion about this topic was initiated by the sim owner who I have in my friends list. This is in NO WAY an attempt to cause protests or grief or any other damage to the sim owner! It is about quiet discussions which already took place by the time I am writing this. So please calm down.

Very Sad. And ironic in a way, for if furries existed in RL, I somehow think God would not ban them from His House.

Honestly I'm not surprised it is a catholic cathedral and it sorta goes with the territory as being the least progressive and most superstitious religion around to this date and I dont want to get caught up in a discussion about religion so I wont be replying to this hehe.

There are even female rabii's now and judaism was one of the religions I would put in as slow to progress with modern times but there are reformed and orthodox sects now catholicism is known for being the way it is and its not surprising that they would not let non human type avatars in.

/shrug

That's tragically disappointing.

I think it's important to realise that although a site may offer its services to a community or group, the rules laid down are their own.

In some cases I could see some reasonable rules required. It's generally considered rude to be in certain cultural landmarks naked, or without a turban for instance.

However, I could certainly imagine a furry very respectfully clothed or wearing a turban.

I guess they don't want furries worshiping the great queen spider? Have they consulted pope Snowball on this? We should get a bunch of furries together and protest in front of it.

I've actually seen a few places that do not allow non human avatars. I can't figure out why though.

The protest is going on RIGHT NOW. About 50 ppl are here. But please be polite and don't insult the church - let's be the wise part of the discussion.

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Koelner%20Dom/43/137/35

Maybe a protest is in order to have furries given the same rights as other virtual sentients?

What a load of bs...as long as you're decently dressed, it doesn't matter zip whther you're furry or not. Chebi Mosque, where I love to go, doesn't have a sign like that.

Typical German urge to plaster everything with "VERBOTEN" signage. Meh.

@Monalisa: Du hast meine volle Unterstützung! Wenn ichs noch schaffe, rechtzeitig online zu gehen, komme ich als große graue Katze.

sighs.

Unless im tragicly confused -

Furries are 100% human their side of the screen.

Could have something to do with that nice German word "Vermummungsverbot" (whch is SO inadequately translated with "ban on face masks".

Doesn't explain the wings, tough - space reasons?

Are they banning face masks to ban face masks?

Or to ban furries by saying they are wearing face masks?

"Vermummungsverbot" generally means the banning of face masks so that people remain identifiable. Maybe they think that furries are trying to hide their identities.

Erm ...

I mean basically -

did they use that word mainly to ban furries?

Or is that a side effect of their normal ban?

I wouldnt consider a furry to be wearing a facemask within the context of Second Life.

Their furry head is their face, they are furries, not humans in suits.

I say it' rubbish.

The sign definitely states furries as an extra entry.

'Course it is.

By this logic, the entirety of the location should be off limits to all SL avatars.

We're all wearing masks. I guarantee there's not ONE avatar out there that looks exactly 100% like their "real" person.

I wonder why this is? - Do they consider furries to be disrespectful?

Are there clothing / bling restrictions?

I love going to see interesting builds. But I will NOT be going to see this while they have such a disappointingly small-minded/prejudicial ban in place, and I will be IM'ing all my contacts to explain why.

Yours,

Disgusted of Tunbridge Wells

I couldn't imagine why. I've never heard of anything like that before.

Okay, sign from top to bottom:

DOs
- full-body clothing
- pleasant behaviour

DON'Ts
- wings
- headpiees
- weapons
- furry avatars

Then it says you can click for a notecard. Maybe it has more explanations.

Once I'm out of RL work tonight, I'm logging in, visiting the cathedral, walking up the center aisle and morphing into my 20m long quadruped dragon form.

I would be pleased to be banned from such a place.

It doesn't say headpieces, just basically hats....which is weird too. Al the old ladies I know go to church with a headscarf. Maybe I should try and visit it with my burqa?