title: Risk and protective factors for SADness in the furry community: An exploration of suicide, anxiety and depression within the furry community

authors: Simpson, Moses

subjects: Psychology

abstract: This research explored the risk and protective factors for mental well-being within the furry community. It provided an insight into the prevalence of suicidality, anxiety and depression within the furry community. Finally, this research also sought to explore how being a member of the furry community impacted daily life and life stressors. There is little research that has been performed investigating the mental well-being of the furry community. we therefore draw comparisons with sexual minority communities as there are parallels with the furry community. This research was based upon Meyer (2003)’s Minority Model of Stress which states that minority mental well-being is modified by a range of general stressors, minority stress processes (risk factors), minority identity status, and coping and social support (protective factors).
	The participant sample consisted of 1249 self-identified furries, recruited from 57 countries. Participants were required to complete an online questionnaire comprising of items relating to suicidality, depression, anxiety, disclosure of furry identity, level of bullying faced, experiences of being bullied, effect of furry community on daily life, fanship, and perceived social support.
We found that suicide, anxiety and depression were significant issues within the furry community and the literature suggests that there are several risk and protective factors which influence the mental well-being for members of the furry community. We found limited evidence that these risk factors were associated with mental well-being.  Both bullying for non-furry specific reasons was found to be significantly positively associated with all mental well-being measures. Fanship was also found to be positively associated with anxiety and depression.
	Participants reported that the furry community provided a wide range of support including emotional and social support. which was reported by many participants to have been an influential factor on improving their mental well-being and decreasing their suicidal ideation and self-harming. This study has highlighted that the furry community may provide protective factors including social support to its members. It appears to provide both practical support including providing income or housing, as well as emotional support such as providing a place to seek advice, or to vent and share their emotions.

text: Risk and protective factors for SADness in the furry community: An exploration of suicide, anxiety and depression within the furry community This research explored the risk and protective factors for mental well-being within the furry community. It provided an insight into the prevalence of suicidality, anxiety and depression within the furry community. Finally, this research also sought to explore how being a member of the furry community impacted daily life and life stressors. There is little research that has been performed investigating the mental well-being of the furry community. we therefore draw comparisons with sexual minority communities as there are parallels with the furry community. This research was based upon Meyer (2003)’s Minority Model of Stress which states that minority mental well-being is modified by a range of general stressors, minority stress processes (risk factors), minority identity status, and coping and social support (protective factors).
	The participant sample consisted of 1249 self-identified furries, recruited from 57 countries. Participants were required to complete an online questionnaire comprising of items relating to suicidality, depression, anxiety, disclosure of furry identity, level of bullying faced, experiences of being bullied, effect of furry community on daily life, fanship, and perceived social support.
We found that suicide, anxiety and depression were significant issues within the furry community and the literature suggests that there are several risk and protective factors which influence the mental well-being for members of the furry community. We found limited evidence that these risk factors were associated with mental well-being.  Both bullying for non-furry specific reasons was found to be significantly positively associated with all mental well-being measures. Fanship was also found to be positively associated with anxiety and depression.
	Participants reported that the furry community provided a wide range of support including emotional and social support. which was reported by many participants to have been an influential factor on improving their mental well-being and decreasing their suicidal ideation and self-harming. This study has highlighted that the furry community may provide protective factors including social support to its members. It appears to provide both practical support including providing income or housing, as well as emotional support such as providing a place to seek advice, or to vent and share their emotions.

year: 2018

title: Towards the digital music library: tune retrieval from acoustic input

authors: McNab, Rodger J.

subjects: computer science

abstract: Music is traditionally retrieved by title, composer or subject classification. It is possible, with current technology, to retrieve music from a database on the basis of a few notes sung or hummed into a microphone. This paper describes the implementation of such a system, and discusses several issues pertaining to music retrieval. We first describe an interface that transcribes acoustic input into standard music notation. We then analyze string matching requirements from ranked retrieval of music and present the results of an experiment which tests how accurately people sing well known melodies. The performance of several string matching criteria are analyzed using two folk song databases. Finally, we describe a prototype system which has been developed for retrieval of tunes from acoustic input.

text: Towards the digital music library: tune retrieval from acoustic input Music is traditionally retrieved by title, composer or subject classification. It is possible, with current technology, to retrieve music from a database on the basis of a few notes sung or hummed into a microphone. This paper describes the implementation of such a system, and discusses several issues pertaining to music retrieval. We first describe an interface that transcribes acoustic input into standard music notation. We then analyze string matching requirements from ranked retrieval of music and present the results of an experiment which tests how accurately people sing well known melodies. The performance of several string matching criteria are analyzed using two folk song databases. Finally, we describe a prototype system which has been developed for retrieval of tunes from acoustic input.

year: 1995-10

title: Grounding the state of exception in New Zealand: A case study of racial segregation in Pukekohe, Whiteness and the Carceral State

authors: Martin, Jessica

subjects: State of exception

abstract: Indigenous scholars in settler-colonial contexts have highlighted the hyper-imprisonment of Indigenous people, locating it as an extension of the colonial project. Although research on this issue in New Zealand is emerging, there is a notable gap in understanding how the carceral state has developed within this particular context. This study aims to address the following research question: How does the historical context of racial segregation in Pukekohe contribute to our understanding of the mechanisms of the carceral state in New Zealand?
To thoroughly examine the hyper-imprisonment of Māori, it is essential to unpack the historical origins of state violence. Despite existing research establishing a link between Māori over-representation in prisons and the enduring effects of colonisation, there is a lack of studies exploring the complex interplay among the carceral state, whiteness, policy, policing, and law, which collectively shape the current landscape of incarceration. This study focuses on the racial segregation in Pukekohe between 1920 and 1960 and utilises reflexive thematic analysis within a case study framework, drawing on the insights offered by Robert Bartholomew's book, No Māori Allowed (2020). The analysis centres on the theoretical concept of the state of exception, shedding light on how power was wielded by the white racial polity. Thus, providing a unique perspective on the carceral state and state-sanctioned violence.
The findings highlight the interconnectedness of various systemic control mechanisms employed by the carceral state. Housing, policing, and whiteness emerge as crucial factors in the control and confinement of Māori in Pukekohe. By emphasising the role of whiteness in suppressing this history, this study underscores the need for critical examination and recognition of white cultural imperialism as a fundamental pillar of the carceral state. Overall, this research offers significant insights into the construction of a targeted population and the enduring consequences of state-sanctioned violence, emphasising the importance of a comprehensive examination of New Zealand's racialised history in discussions on the hyper-imprisonment of Māori.

text: Grounding the state of exception in New Zealand: A case study of racial segregation in Pukekohe, Whiteness and the Carceral State Indigenous scholars in settler-colonial contexts have highlighted the hyper-imprisonment of Indigenous people, locating it as an extension of the colonial project. Although research on this issue in New Zealand is emerging, there is a notable gap in understanding how the carceral state has developed within this particular context. This study aims to address the following research question: How does the historical context of racial segregation in Pukekohe contribute to our understanding of the mechanisms of the carceral state in New Zealand?
To thoroughly examine the hyper-imprisonment of Māori, it is essential to unpack the historical origins of state violence. Despite existing research establishing a link between Māori over-representation in prisons and the enduring effects of colonisation, there is a lack of studies exploring the complex interplay among the carceral state, whiteness, policy, policing, and law, which collectively shape the current landscape of incarceration. This study focuses on the racial segregation in Pukekohe between 1920 and 1960 and utilises reflexive thematic analysis within a case study framework, drawing on the insights offered by Robert Bartholomew's book, No Māori Allowed (2020). The analysis centres on the theoretical concept of the state of exception, shedding light on how power was wielded by the white racial polity. Thus, providing a unique perspective on the carceral state and state-sanctioned violence.
The findings highlight the interconnectedness of various systemic control mechanisms employed by the carceral state. Housing, policing, and whiteness emerge as crucial factors in the control and confinement of Māori in Pukekohe. By emphasising the role of whiteness in suppressing this history, this study underscores the need for critical examination and recognition of white cultural imperialism as a fundamental pillar of the carceral state. Overall, this research offers significant insights into the construction of a targeted population and the enduring consequences of state-sanctioned violence, emphasising the importance of a comprehensive examination of New Zealand's racialised history in discussions on the hyper-imprisonment of Māori.

year: 2024