Cryptid Conehead

Kinblog for Rusty/Thrumble of @soilforged. Has mostly been a Thrust blog, but now going to be used for my general kin stuff.

[aestherians]

Otherkin-as-a-subculture has never been about fashion. Therianthropy-as-a-subculture has never been about fashion. Nonhumanity is not a fashion movement. You don't need gear/costumes/accessories to be part of otherkin or therian subculture, and own those things does not make you part of the subculture. The subculture is first and foremost about baring your soul to other otherkin and expressing your nonhumanity through writing and art - and yes, fashion, but fashion itself has never been a defining part of our community. Otherkin is a philosophical, spiritual, self-perception-focused, identity-based subculture. Not a fashion-based subculture.

[who-is-page]

Otherkin Wiki is a new, independent wiki about the culture, history and experiences of otherkin and alterhuman communities. It evolved out of the Fandom wiki of the same name, and it needs your help to expand!

Basic info on how to help is already on the site itself. There's a lot more to do than just writing pages, and even correcting a single spelling mistake is an improvement! You can also join the Discord server to get guidance on all the stuff we haven't written documentation for yet. And even if you're not interested in directly contributing, you're welcome to join just to ask questions, make suggestions, or hang out!

Otherkin Wiki aims to be a highly visible, accessible and inclusive resource that represents the full truth and diversity of the alterhuman communities. That means it'll take a diversity of alterhumans to make it work - so please consider joining us!

Visit Otherkin Wiki here!

Join the Discord here!

[frameacloud]

A Simple Introduction to Otherkin and Therianthropes

“A Simple Introduction to Otherkin and Therianthropes,” by Orion Scribner.  Version 2.4.5, updated February 3, 2023.  (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)

    This short piece of writing is for anyone to start learning about us therianthropes and otherkin.  The piece uses only common words and simple sentences.  Readers can put it into other languages more easily.^1  The statistics come from surveys that had a sample size greater than one hundred people.  The endnotes and references give the origins of all the information.

     Some real people are therianthropes and otherkin.  We say that we are something other than human.  For example, one of us who says, “I am a wolf.”  The most common sorts of creatures for us to be are wolves, elves, and dragons.  This is always an important part of who we are.^2  These are not characters we invented for play in a game.^3  It is not something we do simply for amusement.^4  It is a real part of us.  It is an experience that we have without trying.^5  It is also an identity, because it is what we are.^6

     Most of us sometimes have thoughts and feelings that are more similar to our animal side.^7  Some of us have thoughts and feelings that we are part animal all the time.^8  78% of us have instincts that most people do not have.^9  For example, the desire to use body language similar to what our sort of creature uses.  We choose what we do with our instincts.  We are responsible for what we do, the same as anyone else.  Instincts are not an excuse for doing bad things.^10  We know that our bodies never change form.  No one can change their body into an animal form.  No one has magic powers that go against the laws of physics.^11

     We each make our own discovery of how and why we are therianthropes or otherkin.  Nobody is able to do that for someone else.  Only you can know who you are.^12  Many of us knew that we were other than human before we had heard of anybody else who did.^13

     Here is how our communities started.  In 1990, a group made the word “otherkin” for themselves.  It comes from the words “other kinds.”^14  In 1994, another community took up the word “therianthrope” for themselves.  It means “animal person.”^15  The two communities came to have knowledge of each other later, in about 1996.^16  The oldest similar groups have put out writings since 1973.^17

     Usually, therianthropes are animals, whereas otherkin are creatures from mythology.  This is not a rule.  Many therianthropes are creatures from mythology.^18  33.4% of otherkin say they are beings from fiction.^19

     What do we look like?  Other people only know that we are otherkin or therianthropes if we say that we are.  We are women, men, and others.^20  We are young and old.^21  We come from many nations and ethnic groups.^22  We know that we look human.  All living people in the world who look human are members of the only living species of human.^23  We have complicated opinions about using the words “human” or “not human” for ourselves.^24  Fewer than 4% of us have unusual sorts of body modifications.^25  What we own or wear does not make us therianthropes and otherkin.  We enjoy getting things that look like our sort of creature, though.^26

     Many of us see our experiences as therianthropes and otherkin as spiritual.  Many of us say our spirits are of a different sort of creature.^27  However, some of us believe that our spirits are the same as anyone’s.^28  Some of us do not believe in spirits.^29  44% of us say we were a different sort of creature in a past life.^30  However, some of us have no memories of past lives, or do not believe in past lives.^31  Some of us prefer explanations that come from psychology instead of spirituality.^32

     Therianthropes and otherkin are not a religion.^33  We have whichever religion we each desire. Many of us are members of Christianity, Judaism, Paganism, Buddhism, or other religions.^34  Some of us have no religion.^35  There are no leaders of the therianthrope or otherkin communities.^36

     We go about our lives in the same ways as other people do.^37  Our experiences as otherkin and therianthropes give us ideas for important choices we make in our lives.  For example, in our education and the work we do for a living.^38  We find people who love us for who we are.^39  Therianthropes and otherkin are neither better nor worse than other people.^40

     Mental health professionals say that being a therianthrope or otherkin is not a mental illness.^41  Many of us have normal mental health.^42  The same as in any group of people, some of us have mental illnesses or disabilities.^43  Neither good nor bad health is necessary for us to be otherkin or therianthropes.

     In short, otherkin and therianthropes are real people for whom being other than human is always a part of who they are.  Our communities have been in existence for tens of years.  Many sorts of people are therianthropes and otherkin.  Each of us has our own ideas of how and why we are this way.  Some of our explanations for this come from spirituality or psychology.  We are not a religion, an illness, a look, or a game.

     About the writer: I am Orion Scribner, a dragon otherkin.  More than ten years ago, I wrote a history book about the otherkin and therianthrope communities, the Otherkin Timeline.

Endnotes

1.  This piece of writing is in Simple English.  It is not obedient to all the rules of Basic English.  All the words in here are common enough to be in a small dictionary.  Other than the words “therianthropes” and “otherkin,” anyway.

2.  These are simpler words for part of the best definition of “therianthropes.”  Sonne wrote it in “Terms and definitions.”  It is also true about otherkin.

3.  These say it is not an invented character: Baker-Whitelaw, Golden Spirit, Jakkal (“Therianthropy…”), Lupa (pp. 27, 108-109).

4.  See Katmandu and Tiernan.

5.  Mokele first gave a definition of “therianthropes” saying it is an experience.  This is also true of otherkin.

6.  See Citrakayah and Baxil.

7.  See Baker-Whitelaw and Jakkal (“Therianthropy…”).

8.  See Sonne.

9.  These statistics come from a survey by Shepard (“Abnormal instincts”).  Therianthropes, otherkin, and similar sorts of people took the survey.

10.  See Jakkal (“Introduction…”), Katmandu, and Lupa (p. 234, 249-250).  A survey by Shepard has proof (“Abnormal instincts,” pp. 24-25).

11.  See Clegg (p. 404) and Golden Spirit.

12.  Most introductions to otherkin and therianthropes say this.  About otherkin, see the Crisses, Golden Spirit, and Tiernan.  About therianthropes, see Jakkal (“Introduction…​​”) and Katmandu.  See also Lupa (pp. 243-245).

13.  For more information about this part of self discovery, see Baker-Whitelaw, Katmandu, Kusani, and Tiernan.

14.  For more, read my history book, the Otherkin Timeline.  For information about the origin of this word, see Arethinn.

15.  See the book by House of Chimeras.

16.  From House of Chimeras (pp. 14, 27).

17.  For more information about earlier groups, see my Otherkin Timeline.

18.  For proof from community history that therianthropes are not only animals, see Daski.

19.  The statistic comes from a survey by Shepard (“2021 Nonhumanity…”, raw data).

20.  Some surveys find that more of us are women than men.  All surveys find some others who are not simply men or women.

21.  Usually, surveys find most of us in our teens and twenties.  For one example, we see this in survey results by Clegg (p. 407-408).  Year after year, this happens in our surveys.  Older people have been in our communities for many years.  Younger people have a greater tendency to take the surveys.

22.  As Proctor says, surveys find that we live “on all continents … except Antarctica’’ (pp. 72-73).  For statistics on which ethnic groups are common among us, see Dinocanid.

23.  For an explanation of how scientists know this, see Gould (pp. 322-322).  Understanding this fact is important for stopping racism and false science.  See Gould (pp. 24-25, 113-145).

24.  About those complicated feelings, see the writings by Ilrak, Kin Speak, and Proctor (pp. 8, 108, 361).

25.  The statistic come from a survey by Shepard (“2021 Nonhumanity…,” p. 12).

26.  See Baker-Whitelaw.

27.  Nearly all introductions to therianthropes and otherkin talk about how we have the belief that our spirits are not human.  For example, see the Crisses, Jakkal (“Therianthropy…”), and Lupa (p. 27).

28.  See the writings about this by a therianthrope named Kusani, and an otherkin named Tiernan.

29.  See Citrakayah.

30.  The statistic comes from Lupa’s survey of otherkin, therianthropes, and similar people (p. 287).  Nearly all introductions to therianthropes or otherkin say that many have the belief that they were other than human in a past life.  See Akhila, Baxil, the Crisses, Golden Spirit, and Lupa (pp. 57-66).

31.  See the Crisses and Kefira.

32.  See Akhila and Lupa (pp. 80-86).

33.  One of the few things that our communities are in agreement about is that we are not a religion.  See Golden Spirit, Lupa (p. 30), and Proctor (pp. 94-95).

34.  About how we each have religions as we desire, see Lupa (pp. 30-31, 211-214).  About otherkin who say this, see Baxil and Golden Spirit.  About therianthropes who say this, see Citrakayah.

35.  See Kefira.

36. See Baxil and Proctor (p. 94).

37.  See Akhila, Baker-Whitelaw, Golden Spirit, Ilrak, and Lupa (p. 37).

38.  See Lupa (p. 240).

39.  See the Polyrhythms.

40.  Therianthropes say this.  For example, see the writings by Akhila and Katmandu. Otherkin say this, too.  See Baker-Whitelaw, Baxil, and Golden Spirit.

41.  For examples of mental health professionals giving us this advice, see Baker-Whitelaw and Lupa (pp. 86, 261-262).

42.  See Akhila, Baxil, and Lupa (pp. 85-86).

43.  See Akhila and Lupa (p. 259).

References

Akhila. “‘Different’ isn’t ‘insane.’” Thébaïde. September 2005. Accessed September 9, 2022. https://akhila.feralscribes.org/2005/different-isnt-insane/ Archived October 16, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211016202558/https://akhila.feralscribes.org/2005/different-isnt-insane/

Baker-Whitelaw, Gavia. “Understanding the otherkin.” The Kernel. February 22, 2015. Archived March 18, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150318110839/http://kernelmag.dailydot.com/issue-sections/features-issue-sections/11866/otherkin-tumblr-definition-pronouns/

Baxil. “The Draconity FAQ.” Tomorrowlands. 1998. Accessed November 14, 2022. http://www.tomorrowlands.org/draconity/faq/index.html

Citrakāyaḥ. “A skeptic’s guide to therianthropy.” Spirit of the Wind. No date, before February 20, 2015. Accessed December 4, 2022. https://citrakayah.ucoz.org/index/a_skeptic_39_s_guide_to_therianthropy/0-40 Archived February 20, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150220005108/https://citrakayah.ucoz.org/index/a_skeptic_39_s_guide_to_therianthropy/0-40

Clegg, H., Collings, R., and Roxburgh, E. C.. “Therianthropy: Wellbeing, Schizotypy, and Autism in Individuals Who Self-Identify as Non-Human.” Society and Animals, 27(4), 2019, pp. 403-426. doi: https://doi.org/10.1163/15685306-12341540

Crisses, the, ed., “Otherkin FAQ v 4.0.1.” February 8, 2001. Accessed September 5, 2022. http://kinhost.org/res/Otherfaq.php Archived September 27, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210927165832/https://kinhost.org/res/Otherfaq.php

Daski. “Therian: Dispelling the Earthen Animal Myth.” The River System. August 17, 2022. Accessed September 5, 2022. https://theriversystem.neocities.org/essays/EarthenMyth.html Archived August 17, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220817021646/https://theriversystem.neocities.org/essays/EarthenMyth.html

Dinocanid. “POC survey results!” Dino’s Corner. August 24, 2021. Accessed December 4, 2022. https://dinocanid.tumblr.com/post/660444385413087232/

Golden Spirit and MistWolf. “FAQ Otherkin Hispano & Noctalium.” Otherkin Hispano. No date. Accessed September 5, 2022. https://otherkin-hispano.foroactivo.com/t108-faq-otherkin-hispano-noctalium Archived September 5, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220905022917/https://otherkin-hispano.foroactivo.com/t108-faq-otherkin-hispano-noctalium

Gould, Stephen Jay. The Mismeasure of Man. New York: W. W. Norton & Co., 1981. https://www.worldcat.org/title/964237978

House of Chimeras. A Timeline of the Therianthrope Community. November 19, 2021. Accessed February 2, 2023. https://houseofchimeras.neocities.org/Nonfiction-Articles 

Ilrak. “Triple consciousness.” Radiant Obscurities. April 2021. Accessed November 13, 2022. https://obscurities.sonverrid.org/2021/05/06/triple-consciousness/

Jakkal. “Introduction to the Newbie’s Guide.” Shifters.org. October 6, 2001. Archived October 28, 2002. https://web.archive.org/web/20021028114201/http://www.shifters.org/newbies/introduction.asp

Jakkal. “Therianthropy- an overview.“ Shifters.org. October 6, 2001. Archived November 10, 2002. https://web.archive.org/web/20021101165313/http://www.shifters.org/overview/therianthropy.asp

Katmandu. “Insta-weres, Part I & II.” Shifters. No date, about 1999. Archived March 5, 2001. https://web.archive.org/web/20010305233827/http://www.shifters.org:80/newbies/katmandu1.shtml

Kefira. “Life and religion.” Thébaïde. December 2004. Accessed September 7, 2022. https://akhila.feralscribes.org/2004/life-and-religion/ Archived September 18, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210918064554/https://akhila.feralscribes.org/2004/life-and-religion/

Kin Speak. “Non-human.” Kin Speak. October 30, 2011. Accessed November 14, 2022. https://kinspeak.tumblr.com/post/12122639053/non-human Archived December 14, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181214163147/https://kinspeak.tumblr.com/post/12122639053/non-human

Kusani. “Soulskins.” Thébaïde. January 2007. https://akhila.feralscribes.org/2007/soulskins/ Archived February 20, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150220035229/https://akhila.feralscribes.org/2007/soulskins/

Lupa. A Field Guide to Otherkin. Stafford, England: Immanion Press, 2007. https://www.worldcat.org/title/137242792

Mokele. “The Experiential Nature of Therianthropy.” The Jungle. No date, about 2004. Archived February 19, 2005. https://web.archive.org/web/20050219234157/http://www.therianthropy.org/mokele/essays/exp.htm

Polyrhythms, the. “Loving someone with all your soul: Having an otherkin significant other.” Otherkin Alliance. No date, about 2012. Archived November 29, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20121129104209/http://main.otherkinalliance.org/articles/general-otherkin/loving-someone-with-all-your-soul-having-an-otherkin-significant-other/

Proctor, Devin. On Being Non-Human: Otherkin Identification and Virtual Space. The George Washington University. May 2019. https://search.proquest.com/openview/e156c24bf65c4efb0918a8db37433cce/

Scribner, Orion. Otherkin Timeline. Updated September 8, 2012. https://frameacloud.com/nonfiction/

Shepard, Page. “The 2021 Nonhumanity and Body Modification/Decoration Survey Results Breakdown.” Three Dragons and a Dog. August 28, 2021. Accessed December 4, 2022. https://invisibleotherkin.neocities.org/files/BodyModification-DecorationSurveyResults.pdf

Shepard, Page. “Abnormal Instincts: Statistics and Solutions (18+ Panel).” Three Dragons and a Dog. August 9, 2022. Accessed December 4, 2022. https://invisibleotherkin.neocities.org/Lectures.html

Sonne. “Terms and definitions.” Project Shift. Written 2008. Updated 2021. Accessed September 15, 2022. https://projectshift.therianthropy.info/terms-definitions-by-sonne/

Tiernan. “From the heart out.” Otherkin.net: Harmony and Discord. October 8, 2002. Archived November 2, 2004. https://web.archive.org/web/20041102205227/http://www.otherkin.net/articles/heartOut.html

[kinshiftcafe]

extremely concerning seeing otherkin (especially minors) post their memories of a person they knew in a past life and ask for them to reach out. people can lie. that person might not be like you think they are. people can take advantage of you. there is basically a zero percent chance you are going to find the person you're thinking of, please just keep yourself safe and hold off on it even if you miss them

[squidbirb]

Was having a bit of a think. About identities that I’ve had in the past that I thought were kintypes but faded over time or simply stopped being. And I don’t mean in the kff sense. I don’t think I was ever a kff. These identities still have meaning and significance to me, but it feels like. They served a purpose and their job is now done. Which is what linktypes can do, but these also didn’t feel like linktypes. And some identities weren’t ‘kintypes’ but instead things that were more similar to facets of myself.

Right now I’m grappling with a new identity of sorts that just. Smacked me. A sudden realization out of nowhere. Now, granted this came about after I’d become fascinated by a combiner team in Transformers Generation One. So I’m keeping in mind that this could very well just be something simple like experience taking or just admiration. Which is why I’m being very sparing with giving this identity a label.

But I’m having that feeling again. That strange feeling of, this is who your being needs to have as part of its composition right now. And for me, I believe it’s got everything to do with me being a polymorph, with no set ‘true form’. The closest I ever get Inside is a blobby ball of light or energy. And I’m wondering if these shifts are more than just flickers or cameos or non-alterhuman experiences. That rather, maybe they are an integral part of my core self. That in order for me to be Me, my soul may take on or ‘become’ different entities for various amounts of time to serve a purpose. Of course, my kintypes that I’ve solidified pretty firmly are also integral to me being me. But I feel like this... Wibbly wobbly shiftiness is also integral to me. That this is an important aspect of my identity beyond mundane explanations of “it’s just part of introspection” or “fictionflicker or cameo shift” or whatnot. I feel like these strange morphs are just as vital to being me as the identities I have that are pretty “set in stone” so to speak. That they’re not just footnotes in my journey of being alterhuman. They’re a feature, a vital part of the mosaic that makes Me.

But I don’t know if this is necessarily a polymorph thing, or if it’s even an alterhuman thing at all despite me feeling that it is. After all, as I’ve been taught, it’s crucial that one go through the mundane explanations first before declaring it a kintype or other alterhuman identity. Look at the mundane before the mystical. Which can be a sensible thing to do, but when things become grey and murky like this, then what?

I’m very curious to know if anyone else experiences/experienced this, and if they’ve got any thoughts on it. I don’t know if this will be seen by many, but it doesn’t hurt to open this post up to anyone that may have something to say to me about this. :)

[symurgist]

the “kin for fun” post from a “kffer” : v2

to make a long story short, the old post was very flawed and i’d like to make a better one now that i have more information on alterhumans and am a member of both communities. once again, please correct me if i have anything wrong.

kin for fun folks: we need to change our vocabulary. to be kin is to identify as a certain being, concept, or character; we are not kin with what we call our kins. using the terminology of an already-existing group to mean something entirely different is disrespectful. not all kin say that kff is insulting, but the way i see it, we should be respectful of the ones who do and change what we’re doing. 

however, what i used to call kinning is meaningful and important to me, and i doubt most of you want to let go of it either. as a result, i propose the term “cir,” meaning “character i relate (to),” as a replacement(and “cirrie” in place of “kinnie”). this comes from a place within our community, and i hope that will make some of you more willing to use it. if you don’t like this term in particular, i encourage you to come up with your own!

in the old post, i suggested words like otherhearted, fictionhearted, and synpath as replacements, so i want to make it clear that these terms are not synonymous with kff. they represent a deep and strong connection with something nonhuman and/or fictional, not just relating to a character.

tldr: we should move toward using our own terminology rather than taking terms from a community the majority of us are not a part of.

Keep reading

[who-is-page]

On Ugly Instincts

Author: Page Type: Essay Words: 1,749 Summary: On how alterhuman spaces treat ugly instincts and why they treat them so poorly. Author’s Note: Content warnings for mentions of bestiality, zoophilia, hunting urges. Filed under, “essays that might make people mad at me.”

[Part of the Sol System’s Alterhuman Writing Project for NaNoWriMo 2021. If you don’t want to see these posts, block the tag #inkedpaws]

Keep reading

[arealraccoon-deactivated2021092]

if you are part of the alterhuman community and unironically believe in pseudo-scientific nonsense (which has only ever been observed, described, and talked about by members of the alterhuman community lol) like transspecies, species dysphoria, and that being diagnosed with clinical lycanthropy is a totally normal and healthy thing for someone, then yeah, you're probably on par with people like legislators who compare trans rights to shit like farm animals.

i think there's a reason why so many (not all, even some young/impressionable trans people buy into it) of these people who believe in this stuff are cis people and children who think feeling suicidal that you're not an animal is the same as being a trans person and that it should be taken just as seriously. which is, imo, a joke and something i'd probably hear from a transphobe.

get help. see a therapist. develop a healthier lifestyle that doesn't involve jeopardizing your mental health and overall your wellbeing for the sake of trying to fit in with a subculture that largely exists on the internet.

[shadowfae]

Ngl this is one of the funnier concern trolls I've seen in a while.

[shimmering-dragon]

Just my two cents - I’ve discussed my species dysphoria with about six mental health professionals to this date, most specializing in transgender people, including an ex-president of WPATH. While all of them had different opinions about it and alterhumanity (I had trouble with medical gatekeeping because of it with one), all of them accepted my species dypshoria (which I should note I’ve had long before finding the otherkin community) as being an actual thing I experience and distinct from clinical lycanthropy.

[aestherians]

Gotta love the implication that marginalized people are causing their own marginalization. Most otherkind are trans and/or nonbinary. We don't cause transphobia to exist by being visibly otherkind - rather, transphobes will use us as a justification for their pre-existing transphobia. If we didn't exist, they would use other people to justify their transphobia. The unrespectable members of your community have not created bigotry in cis people, anymore than the respectable members have ended it. Stop using us as your scapegoat.

[prionz]

super cool fickin ask meme

1. name a fact about urself from ur canon

2. share any songs that remind u of ur canon

3. how long have u ided as ur main kin?

4. what’s ur fave kin memory?

5. which characters from ur canon were u close to? 

6. name something from ur canon u didn’t/don’t like

7. name something from ur canon u like

8. if u could meet anyone from ur canon now, who would it be?

9. does the most popular ship in the fandom reflect ur relationships?

10. what’s something sad that happened in ur canon?

11. what do u miss most from ur canon?

[squidbirb]

Hmm, I don’t know if this may be controversial, but I’ve been noticing this about myself now and myself as Thrust, and I’m curious if other people have this kind of experience.

To clarify real quick, I was and am Thrust, but when I say “when I was Thrust” or similar, I’m not referring to a simple past life, since I’m still me, just in a different life. I don’t know if that makes sense but it’s hard to put into words.

I noticed that as Thrust, I would fall under a specific Human diagnosis, clear-cut. However, this life now, I don’t have that, but I have other diagnoses that have a few similar traits to that one. I don’t want to use specifics because I’m anxious typing this, but like... Does anyone else experience that?

Note: I’m talking about this in the context of being kin, though I am fully aware that this is very possibly just my mind being weird and not related to who I was and am.

[squidbirb]

Someday I'll befriend others from the Unicron Trilogy, and it will be awesome and very good. //sighs wistfully

[siphonyx]

Kin “Gatekeeping” vs. Plural Gatekeeping

I’m going to talk about these two for a second, because it seems between the two communities nowadays a lot of plural systems get confused on what exactly is going on when otherkin (and some fictionkin) try to correct others on the terms they use. I know a lot worry about it being the same sort of gatekeeping that occurs when some plural systems try to police others, but in truth they differ quite a bit! Hopefully this clarifies things.

What is gatekeeping? It is the limiting of resources or community spaces by an individual or group. YourDictionary defines it as “ a person who controls access to something or someone.” Urban Dictionary defines it as “when someone takes it upon themselves to decide who does or does not have access or rights to a community or identity.” Gatekeeping is essentially when a person decides who has the right to join a community or identity, often based on arbitrary criteria unrelated to the community or identity in question. Now that we have that definition out of the way, let’s talk about the otherkin and plural communities. Dictionary.com defines an otherkin as “someone who identifies as a non-human species or mythological entity.” Urban Dictionary once again defines it similarly, and even otherkin forums do the same, saying “Otherkin are people who identify either partially or wholly as one or more non-human beings, entities, or concepts.” Fictionkin are defined similarly, with Fictionkin.com defining fictionkin as “people who identify as fictional characters or species.”  Plurality Resource defines plurality as “someone who shares the same physical body with other individuals.” and More Than One, another plurality site, does the same, saying “plurality (or multiplicity) is the existence of multiple self-aware entities inside one physical brain.” These are our definitions that the communities gather around and that the members all understand themselves to fit.  Plurality: In the plural community, there is often a sizable portion of people who identify as plural and view themselves to be “more than one” in some manner. They may or may not have a dissociative disorder, but often times they gather around the simple fact that they’re plural and are more than one. Within this plural umbrella there are subgroups (like endogenic systems, traumagenic, systems, tulpamancers, soulbonders, etc.) but most if not all experience plurality, including multiple entities sharing the same brain/body, switching and the passing of control from one system member to the other, mental communication between different system members, and/or some level of dissociation. While the switching and mental communication may be attained later by some, most in the community agree that in order to be plural you must be sharing your brain/body with one or more entities. It is unfortunately extremely common to encounter gatekeeping here, and in the intersections between the DID and OSDD-1 community. There are systems who will try to deny access to the larger plural community based on arbitrary criteria they came up with. There are some who may attempt to prevent some plurals from accessing the community due to their experiences or beliefs. An endogenic system who is in the plural community might be told they’re not really plural or even called “schizophrenic” because they didn’t form from trauma, even though the definition of plural boils down to “multiple entities sharing the same brain/body.” A system with many fictives may be made fun of for their fictivity, even if there’s a plausible reason as to why they’d have so many fictives due to trauma. Worst of all, this is often done angrily and snidely. It’s not too uncommon for systems to be run out of communities they feel comfortable in or be sent death threats for simply existing in a way another system doesn’t like. These things are not done to keep the community safe or help other community members figure out who they are, but because some community members are trying to limit others from using the same labels as them, or accessing community resources that could help them. 

In short, this is gatekeeping. It’s toxic and often hurts the community, and can have unforeseen consequences-for example systems who feel as if they need to prove they’re plural may end up doing dangerous or unnecessary things (like searching for trauma or trying to attain a diagnosis not for help, but to prove they’re really plural) to earn basic respect. Systems who feel ashamed for being plural in “the wrong way” may go on to repress their plurality and end up in dangerous circumstances and aggravate their condition. Systems who are misled to think that they’re experiencing other mental conditions when they are clearly not can end up in the wrong communities and end up missing out on important help from communities suited to them.

Otherkin: In the otherkin (and fictionkin) community there is often a sizable portion of people who have identified as kin for months, weeks, or years. There are many adult kin as well as younger kin, and these groups all see themselves as non-human (or fictional) on an integral level. They may experience the longing for a body they once had, powers they feel they should have, abilities they feel they need (causing an intense dysphoric feeling), and they may experience changes in mentality that push them towards feeling like what they identify as, termed shifts. While the shifts and species dysphoria are extra, everyone still understands that in order to be otherkin you need to identify as nonhuman on an integral level, and in order to be fictionkin you need to identify as a fictional entity on an integral level.

When people who don’t fit the definition appear in these communities, many older and newer kin may attempt to help them find out where they do fit. People claiming they’ve always identified with lions may be informed that they’re lionhearted instead of otherkin. People who say they became kin to cope may be informed that this is actually called copinglinking, and there’s a whole community of people like them out there. People who feel they’re nonhuman but their nonhuman side can talk to them may be informed that’s more along the lines of plurality than otherkinity. In any case misinformed people are not chased out of the community, and are usually welcome to stay in the forums or groups that corrected them. In fact, by understanding what they are they then get access to two communities- their own community full of people who understand what they’re going through, and the alterhuman community, which is an umbrella term for anything that diverges from what is typically human, including otherkin, fictionkin, plurals and more.

In all cases these people are welcome in the community!

This isn’t gatekeeping, and is just maintaining the definitions of what kin is. Correcting people who have the wrong terms can help them understand themselves and what they’re doing better, as well as avoid trouble and frustration caused by not understanding the rest of the kin community. There are plenty of people who call themselves kin but don’t fit the definition, and then get upset or confused when both outsiders to the community and insiders assume that they do actually identify as non-human or fictional and want to become that someday, or feel they are that entity currently. It can prevent those who do identify as nonhuman or fictional entities from feeling lost and alone, and it can allow those who actually experience species dysphoria (an experience hard to understand unless you’re kin or nonhuman on some integral level) to talk about it and get some sort of help or relief. (This isn’t to say that gatekeeping doesn’t exist in the kin community, but when it does pop up it takes the form of people saying you can’t identify as certain kintypes because of a trait you have now, or you can’t identify as otherkin because they don’t like what you are. This counts as gatekeeping because you being kin is not dependent on whether a person likes what you are, or what your traits are now.)

Hopefully this clarified a lot of things! Plural gatekeeping and kin “gatekeeping” are very very different. Plural gatekeepers are often trying to make it so plural systems they don’t like (or subgroups they’re not fond) of have a difficult time accessing resources or finding friends in the inclusive community, and many try to chase people away from the plural community. What a lot of people like to call “otherkin gatekeepers” are people trying to let others know that what they call themselves has a definition, but if you don’t fit there’s still a group you belong to, and you can still stick around if you like.

It’s best to spread around accurate definitions and information about all these communities. They do help a lot of people and they do serve important purposes, but they can only help if people know what each community is actually about, and are allowed to figure out if they’re a part of that community or not.

[squidbirb]

For years now I’ve struggled with feeling a lack of sense of self and identity. Sometimes I feel more solid in who I am, and the rest of the time I feel amorphous. I don’t feel like nothingness, but I don’t feel like one specific entity.

I’ve identified as a shapeshifter and polymorph (are those synonyms or are they just similar?) for a long time. And I feel like as time goes on, the more... Okay I’m becoming with just being a funky little morphing creature. I don’t have a definitive form, and that’s ok.

To be honest, I think a part of this growing acceptance, as minor as the part might be, is finding myself relating more and more to “player characters” in games, particularly the MSPA Reader in the Friendsim games. I dunno, I really like their simple design that can be made more unique by their environment and interactions (like wearing a certain cerulean blood’s hoodie).

Like, I dunno, maybe I’m just so sleep deprived that I’m thinking in a distorted way (not gonna get into that here), but I... Not only am accepting, but enjoying my weird, ever-changing nature. I suppose everyone on Earth is always changing, and everyone struggles with identity and sense of self. Maybe I’m not so unique in that sense, but this slow realization feels good. It feels hopeful and positive.

[fluffnstuffq]

Playlist Challenge!

I see a lot of “kin playlists” on the “fluffy” side of otherkin tumblr, so I decided to put more thought into a “playlist challenge”! I find it hard to believe that a stranger can “assign” someone a playlist for their personal canon, so why not do it yourself instead?

This is, of course, geared towards fictionkin. However, copinglinkers and otherhearted can also participate!

Despite the tag “ask meme”, this is meant to be one playlist, not a bunch of asks asdfghjk. Though it can be done that way!!

1. A song that personally reminds you of your kintype in general/just has their “vibes”.

2. A song that thematically reflects your kintype in some way.

3. A song that reminds you of a happy or fond memory.

4. A song that brings forth a more negative memory.

5. A song that reflects a significant event in their life, bad or good.

6. A song that tends to put you in a mental or phantom shift.

7. A song that you associate with an important figure in your kintype’s life.

8. A song representing your kintype in an archetypal manner. Down to their base personality.

9. A song that reminds you of your kintype’s past.

10. If there are any, a song canonically related to your kintype, either in the source’s official soundtrack (if there is one) or just a song that the canon source’s creator associates them with.

11. A song that is commonly associated with them that, while not your personal choice, you can still enjoy.

12. A song that reminds you of your current life, is in stark contrast to your kintype, or can easily snap you out of a shift. Perfect end to a kintype playlist.

[archivekin]

‘otherzine’ - a therian & otherkin zine

‘Otherzine’ is a 16 page zine made by therians and otherkin, for therians and otherkin!

In it, through art and writing, we explore the theme of change - in ourselves, the community as a whole and the passing of time.

It is free to read and can be found here, along with instructions on how to print off a physical copy if you desire.

[fluffnstuffq]

After posting those last two things, I’ve been getting a bit of backlash, so I just wanna make one thing clear.

In my opinion, if you’re not otherkin or therian, you don’t have a right to tell actual otherkin or therians that we’re “taking things too seriously”.

Most of the people whom I’ve spoken to who’ve tried to laugh off my worries didn’t even know what otherkin was. If you don’t even know what the community’s been through, when who are you to say “it’s not a big deal”?

That’s my two cents on it. You can have your opinions, but if you’re not otherkin, you have no right to stomp on otherkin voices with “jokes are harmless”.

No matter what community, you have no right to appropriate someone else’s terms and tarnish the reputation, and then have the nerve to say “it’s just a joke”. This goes for any community or group. 

[arnold-ziffel]

You might be cool… but you’ll never be SR-71 Blackbird escorted by an F-4J Playboy Phantom of the VX-4 Evaluators…

… just sayin’…