French Furry Feels Her Community Is Becoming Less Creative, More Materialistic

Hello there, Pap!
 
I have a strong concern to share with you:
 
I have been part of the furry community for about 6 years now and so far I think I made the right decision (My coming-out has been well-received, even from my parents and friends).
 
However, since my arrival, I was preoccupied for what I've interpreted as a consumerist way of life from my furllows, as I did expect to find more people interested in activities like draw, paint, build, compose music, writing poetry, in one single word: CREATE. And many of them get to the point where their efforts are being rewarded and they became luminaries (or commonly say: popufurs)
 
Unfortunately, I see more and more of others furries that aren't interested at all at create anything to be famous or recognized for their contribution to this community but rather for what goodies they own, which important peoples they meet, etc.
 
It kinda depresses me to see that this Do-it-yourself feeling is no longer present in the modern day fandom, but maybe I'm wrong and it was the same back in the premises of it... 
 
I've seen it with my own eyes with the French furries I've met, but from what I've heard there's also some cases of this phenomenon in the US community but I won't presume that's a real thing. I know that the French-fur community has a bad reputation in the fandom for being over-the-top materialistic and drama-trigger compared to its German neighbor but then again, prejudices can be really tough.

So, Pap, is that correct? 
 
Hurlelune (age 20, France)
 
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Dear Hurlelune,
 
Since I have not done a study on this, nor have I seen one, it would be quite difficult to say with any kind of authority that furries are creating less and obsessing more about owning things and being seen with popufurs. The phenomenon might be localized to your personal experience. What I see online and among my furbuds is the same amount of creativity I’ve always seen. I constantly see people posting about their art or stories or whatever other artistic endeavors they are involved in.
 
That said, not everyone can be creative and talented. I suppose that it could be frustrating for many furries who can’t draw or sew or write to be in this fandom, and since they can’t do these things themselves they, instead, buy them and become fans of artists and such.
 
But there actually are ways to have fun in the furry world without being a talented artist. Papabear isn’t an artist, but, for example, I have fun fursuiting (in a fursuit I did not make myself). Another area where furries can have creative fun is gaming, which is extremely popular. Many games allow you to create your own character and have adventures in the virtual world. Still another way to be an active fur is to become involved with organizing, running, or volunteering for a furry convention. Furcons and furmeets run on the gasoline of valuable and generous volunteers without whom these functions would not exist. Giving of your time at a furcon will be very much appreciated, believe me.
 
Despite such opportunities, you’re probably correct that many furries find value only in crass materialism. I do not believe this to be a furry phenomenon or a French phenomenon, but, rather, it is a symptom of life in modern, developed countries. I’m not familiar with French culture, but I can say for a fact that many (I daresay the vast majority of) Americans have lost their souls. They believe that the only thing that matters is money, power, owning stuff, often to the exclusion of family and friends. Greed has destroyed my country. Greed is why our prisons are full; it is why we bomb other countries; it is why we have career politicians; it is why our environment has been destroyed; it is why we are sick and dying. I guess it would be incredibly naïve to believe that this metastasizing cancer in humanity would not touch upon the furry community, even though the furry community is, I thought, supposed to be an escape from humanity.
 
What can you do? Well, my thought would be to not worry so much about what others are doing. Instead, become a shining example of what a furry should be and don’t be shy about it. Perhaps if other furries see how happy you are being a furry of the soul rather than of the bank account they will want to be more like you.
 
Blessed Be,
Papabear