Vernon: Sweet Sawgrass, there's a lot of 'em. The list is practically endless iffin' we're bein' honest.
Dawn: It's probably best to limit ourselves to the most relevant steryotypes, I.E., wolves, sheep, and the species of our close friends.
Vernon: Ah, well y'all should probably know by now that wolves er' seen as big dumb brutes that'er incapable of any kinda subtlety er' nuance. Like, we can't do anythin' gently er' quietly. Oh, and that we are beholden' to our feral urges...like howlin' and what not...
Gus: Which isn't entirely a lie in some cases...the howling I mean.
Vernon: ... I know...*Whines*
Dawn: *Pats Vernon's leg.* Aw Puppy...To be fair, he's pretty much stopped mating howling altogether since we adopted the pups.
Gus: Really now? What did you do Sheepdog? Why did it stop?
Vernon: Heck iffin' I know why, I tried so many other thangs to keep my mouth shut while bein' intimate, but nothin' ever worked. Now suddenly, It just went away in a blink. Like one day I'd pitch up a howlin' fit everytime I...err...climaxed, and the next I could be as silent as the night itself.
Dawn: I suspect it's his parental instincts kicking in. The fact that Alli, Edi, and Paige are in the house is a thought that's always in the back of his mind, and he doesn't want to emotionally scar them.
Vernon: That's a good theory. Best idea on the matter I've heard so far...
Dawn: Anyway. When it comes to sheep, we have a reputation for being weak, timid, and easy to sway into following anyone. Like all sheep can easily be sheparded or bellwethered with the same ease that a cult leader recruits members with. If I had to guess, I'd assume that concept is rooted in just how tightly knit some flocks used to be in ancient times. Of course, most mammals don't really consider that it was something my species did for survival for tens of thousands of years, not something we did because we were connived or tricked.
Gus: How many everyday mammals do you think actually pay attention in history class...or school in general for that matter?
Vernon: Most just pay attention to the stuff they're interested in, and give just barely enough attention to their other classes to get by grades-wise. Iffin' I'm bein' honest...I was purty guilty of that myself.
Gus: And history is right up there with math in terms of subjects most mammals have little to no interest in. The only mammal I sort of know who's a history buff is that friend of Kodi's, the one from Roarope.
Vernon: Ah yeah, Dom. We met him at the book signin' here in the store remember?
Gus: Yeah, I remember. Still, he's the only mammal I can point to in my life that I know loves history.
Dawn: It really is a shame. Maybe if more mammals were interested in history, that phrase 'those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it' wouldn't ring true so often.
Gus: As for goats, were seen as stubborn. Maybe not as stubborn as donkeys and mules, but still pretty stubborn.
Vernon: Well that is true for you. *Chuckles*
Gus: *Laughs* Mellie would probably agree with you on that.
Val: Pfft, foxes have all of you guys beat. We actually have individual stereotypes based on our genders.
Vernon: Ah yeah, male foxes are shifty, sneaky con artists types always lookin' fer their next scam. Everyone knows that one.
Val: And vixens are femme female seductresses that will steal your heart and your wallet.
Dawn: I don't know about that femme fatale seductress part...*Mumbles* Especially in your case.
Val: I heard that cotton head! You just wish you looked as good as the average vixen you frumpy little librarian!
Dawn: Oh stuff it miss 'I'm too good for everyone and everything, and I try to pretend I don't care what others think of me when I secretly care immensely about it!'
Vernon: Alright ladies, please settle down...we're gettin' off track here.
Val: She started it...
Vernon: I don't care who started it, just put an end to it, alright?
Dawn:...Fine...
Val: *Mumbles* Kodi thinks I'm a femme fatale.
Dawn: *Mumbles* Only he would...
Vernon: Enough, please!
Dawn: Okay, okay, so...back to the question. I'll try to list off some of the ones I remember about our closest friends and family. Let's see...for rabbits there's the whole 'breed like rabbits' stereotypes, essentially telegraphing that all rabbits are an easy lay.
Vernon: They are also always associated with bein' real backcountry even though not every bunny was born and raised in the tri-burrows.
Dawn: Tigers like Vanna have the stereotype floating around them that they are intimidating...if you can call that a stereotype...
Gus: Which...I hate to say it, because Vanna is lovely, but...she is kind of intimidating.
Dawn: Before you get to know her sure! But she's as soft and harmless as a kitten!
Vernon: Ada's got that whole...female hyena's bein' pegged as real brutes...
Val: Being pegged is right...*Chuckles* Aren't they the ones with the...you know? *Dangles a single finger down to represent a suggestive male organ.* 'Gifted females?
Dawn: In ancient times, yes. But that's mostly not the case now.
Vernon: And Ada's reel self-conscious about that...so try not to bring it up iffin' y'all two ever meet.
Val: No promises.
Vernon: And I'm thinkin' that covers the friends and family. Iffin' y'all want anymore yer probably gonna have to ask fer specifics...er' remind us iffin' we fergot someone.
Dawn: That said, remember that most of these stereotypes are completely unfounded, and when meeting a new mammal of a different species you should always respectful and not invoke those shallow stereotypical images when dealing with them.
Vernon: And iffin' we....er'...just so happen to lean into them aspects from time to time...try to keep in mind it's a case of bein' the exception...not the rule.
Dawn: I'm sure they know that Puppy Love.
Vernon: I'm just tryin' to cover our bases Darlin', The gods know we've probably leaned into some of them traits a few times answerin' these things. If I didn't mention it, I figure it'd make us look pretty bad.
Dawn: Well no one does like a hypocrite...even if everyone is one. *Giggles*
(No drawn or animated asks this week. I'm trying to wrap up two chapters of The Family Vulpes at once, and I'm this close to concluding them. Sorry!)
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