The issues with the site's image seem to stem from things like it's mascot (which accompanies the majority of official news releases and other marketing) as well as the name, which sounds more like a Web 2.0 version of the word "Weasel" than it's intended "We + Easy + Easel". Additionally, the advertising exclusively at furry conventions led many to believe it was a "furry" site.
When we were batting around new names for the site (it was originally called Fergal but that ended up being taken), we wanted to have a pun name and batted around the name "Easyl" at one point, however that also ended up being taken, so we went with Weasyl. And, well, might as well have a mustelid mascot to go with that name. Though it really needs to be pointed out that not everything with an animal name or animal mascot means its furry related or made by a furry, etc. (ex: Rhino Records, Darwin OS, Trix cereal, etc.)
Personally I think we didn't do as well as we should have with advertising. We should have advertised at different types of conventions and at other kind of art sites. Tumblr and Twitter are fairly neutral, furaffinity and anthrocon are not. Though considering a majority of the staff ARE furries, I see why it was advertised in places that were in their comfort zone.
When we saw people saying "it's a furry site", we corrected them. However, we can't see what everybody says so a lot was left uncorrected and the site's label was miscommunicated to a large scale to where I feel it's going to be difficult to bring in the point that it's a GENERAL social art site, but that it is certainly furry friendly.
People also seem really scared that we're going to ax out furry art entirely. That makes no sense. Why would a site staffed by a bunch of furries get rid of furry art? They think we're picking on furries by making them add a single tag. No, general species should be tagged no matter if it's furry, human, alien or a regular old animal. Nobody is getting singled out.
