Gimp won't let me fuzzy select either of these files...why?

[Blighty]

(12-24-2019, 05:59 AM)marigolden Wrote: When I try on the one with the title (the first) it says "cannot subtract from an empty selection"

You get this when:
1) You do not have an active selection
2) For the Fuzzy Select tool, in the Tool Options the Mode is set to Subtract (3rd option).

Set the Mode to Replace (1st option) or Add (2nd option).