#cirrie

[melabea]

general cirrie flag!

a general flag for cirries (link)!

for our collective!

symbol from here (link)!

tagging; @radiomogai & @kiruliom!

[kiruliom]

black | white

cirrie/cir symbol

cir (noun): a non-human thing or a character that one relates deeply enough for it to be a part of one's identity. coined as an alternative to kin for fun

cirrie (identity): someone who relates to a non-human thing or a character deeply enough that it's a part of one's identity. coined as an alternative to the kin for fun community's "kinnie"

cirring (action): to relate deeply to a non-human thing or a character, to a point where it may be a part of one's identity. coined as an alternative to the kin for fun community's "kinning"

based mostly off of vibes and what looked good, cir as a word gives me very ">wO ur a superstar!!" vibes so I went with a star-like pattern

edit: important note!!! I didnt coin the term cir, it was coined by incoherent-introspection. I realize I had to add this because it looks like I coined the term when I only just made the symbol qwq

[alterhuman-palace]

I know this is a subjective question (probably) but I always wanted someone else's opinion and I don't know anyone who actually kins(is that how you phrase it? I'm new to this stuff so please excuse me.): How do you feel about people who just say they kin a character in reference to a character they think they're similar to instead of kin and actually believing they are that character? If you know anyone else's opinion or the general consensus about such people I'd like to hear that as well.

(I feel like that was unclear but I mean someone saying they kin Naruto for example but only because they have similar traits to him and don't actually believe they are/were Naruto.)

That sort of thing started out as a joke but unfortunately made people think thats what kin really is and now people mean it genuinely. As a trend its bad because it makes it harder for otherkin to find their community and confuses people new to the community wanting legitimate information. It also can create a situation where an otherkin thinks something is an otherkin friendly space, only for them to get bullied when the people claiming to be kin who only relate to the character realize they actually identify as their kintype for real (this has happened to me and a few of my close friends).

However, just because it is a bad thing thats happening does not mean that individuals who do this are bad. Usually they are just genuinely misinformed, and it is Never okay to harass or dogpile indivuals who do this. The best practice is simply to continue to spread correct information about what otherkin are so that true otherkin can continue to find their community. We also ask that once people understand what otherkin are, to please stop using the term for other things since it is very harmful to our community.

The practice of identifying with characters though, and making that part of yourself, is fun and healthy though! It is only the stolen termonology i have a problem with, not the activity itself.

For those who feel the things they relate to are a deep part of their identity, other hearted is a good and accurate term.

For those who mainly do it for fun (but it can still be important to you! Just typically less ingrained and more subject to change than otherhearted) Cir, or Cirrie (which stands for character i relate to, and was created within the 'kinnie' community as an alternative to using kin terms, rather than from the otherkin community which is another reason some prefer it) is a good and accurate term.

Thanks for the question! -Mod Flowey

[a-dragons-explanations]

Hey I'm not otherkin or anything but I'm in full support of you guys and constantly trying to correct people about what kinning really is. I can get the message across but they don't stop using "kin = relatable" and I think it's bc there isn't a good alternative. Do you have any alternative titles for the 'relatable characters'?

I do indeed! Besides the much older "faceclaim" and "vibe (with)," a few terms have been coined recently specifically with the intent of replacing "kinning", including "clicking/click," "cir/cirrie" (cir = Character I Relate (to)", and "constelic/constel".

I'm also just fond of saying "[x] is my fursona," in the same way we used to say "[x] is my spirit animal" before the word spread about that being disrespectul/appropriative. (And yes, I do in fact mean in the sense of "Nico diAngelo is my fursona." :P) But I get why that doesn't appeal to people.

Check out alternatestokinning.carrd.co for links to more information on these! I believe that carrd is kept updated, so it should update in the future if anything else is suggested that gains any kind of popularity.

[kiruliom]

otherkin | fictionkin | conceptkin

archetrope | cir | paratype

icosahuman | fenikae | constelic

alterhuman

dumb blonde alterhuman identity types

blonde is used in a gender neutral way, the idea of being a dumb blonde being female-aligned exclusive is misogynistic and just incorrect.

[TS: do not reupload anywhere public unless Im credited and informed (please), flag is ghostfacelover by gender-mailman. end TS]

[alterhuman-palace]

I’m in a weird spot where I can’t tell how to what degree I kin (or cir?) because of my alexithymia and autism, which makes it hard for me to understand whatever I feel, plus I struggle to tell how intensely you need to believe that you’re a fictional character? Like under oath do you need to think so, or can you pull yourself away from it temporarily? /gen

Do you have any advice or even just clearer definitions? Having a hard time figuring out where I fit in. :(

You're okay! It's okay to have difficulties, and its okay to experiment with your identity. Not everything you consider has to stick.

Being otherkin just means you identify as your kintype on some level. It can just be an internal thing, like, that is how you see yourself on the inside. Its also okay for the intensity or the feelings to come and go; that's why there is talk about 'kin shifts' and such like. It doesn't have to be 100% all the time.

For example, as you know I am Flowey from undertale, but overtime this identity has grown less important to me. If i think about it i go yes, thats still me, but its not something i Feel Deeply all the time.

On the otherhand, i am also a winged wolf kin, and I feel this as the default, all the time. It is always present in the way i move, my thoughts, and the way i attempt to use body language in limbs that are not there. It is as if I have a spiritual body overlaid my physical one at all times.

They are both kintypes, just flowey is one i get shifts for occasionally, while the wolf i am shifted as constantly unless experiencing a different shift.

So if you beleive you Are a fictional character at all, you can identify as fictionkin.

Cir is simply, a character you relate to! Any character that you like to imagine yourself as or feel represents you can be a Cir. It can still be important to your identity, but it is more of a RP or hat you try on rather than something you beleive is actually you.

Really it comes down to how you feel, and any term is probably ok as long as you understand what it means. Its okay to be mistaken and change your mind later. Misusing kin language is more of an issue when people think that being otherkin is the same as cir by definition, and called otherkin delusional and convince many who arent delusional that they are, and making people reinvent the wheel with terms like IRL which just mean what otherkin always was supposed to mean.

An individual such as yourself who knows it means that you identify as it using the term kin to see if it fits is NOT harmful. Even if you later decide you dont fully id as something, you arent spreading misinfo about what otherkin are so youre perfectly ok! Dont be afraid to experiment with labels and see what fits.

-mod flowey

[alterhuman-palace]

I’m not sure if this is discourse but this isn’t particularly positive, so just a heads up for anyone reading that kins Nagito Komaeda from SDR2.

Disclaimer out of the way (course I don’t want to upset anyone) I kin Hajime Hinata from Danganronpa, among others. I’m aware it has it’s problematic elements and I’m considerate of that with others, I never bring it up; but this is a slight vent or rant of some sort.

I am cautious/nervous of Komaeda kins.

They make me so nervous, and put so much pressure on me. It’s only been a couple experiences but they’ve all been bad, and I’m a little skittish of conflict in general so I am being cautious of any in spaces I’m in. Of course I like interacting with others of my source, it’s nice to have someone with the same interests as you, and I do well in group settings as I’d call myself decently charismatic.

But recently I’ve just been really anxious about someone who kins/is Komaeda joining. I don’t want to police a space where they’d be happy joining, That’s selfish of course, but I’m not really sure what I’d do to … avoid them? And most I’ve met have been looking for Hajime kins to interact with too and it’s this mix of wanting them to be happy and being scared of them/how they’ll act in general. They’re really unpredictable and they’ll make the people around them uncomfortable with their self deprecation and I have my own problems too but it just seems like most of them have no filter. It’s just so selfish of them and I get agitated a bit. I feel like I have to keep the group around me safe and stable from someone like that..

Advice isn’t required or anything, I just wanted to rant. Kinning is just ahh a hobby of mine I suppose and I don’t really have anyone else to tell this sort of thing to. Thanks for what you guys do as it helps me and others rant.

Ah,,, okay, several things.

First of all, being otherkin isnt something you can do as a hobby. There is no 'kinning' as an action you decide to take, being fictionkin is just something you are. Some people do become kin over time and can be influenced by their choices but a lot of aspects of it are uncontrollable, and even in rare cases i have heard it is possible where someone decides on a kintype it is still something they identify as and is part of who they are fundamentally and not just a hobby. That said its ok to have fun with your kintype.

Its also okay to do what people call 'kinning', its mainly stealing and watering down otherkin language that is the issue. One suggestion i have seen within that community is to call it Cir (character i relate to), and use the word cirrie to call onesself. I dont know if its caught on though. You can also just have fun identity experimenting and calling yourelf a character name without giving it a label, as that is a normal part of engaging in fandom. For example i went by and dressed like nepeta from homestuck in middle school, but she was never an actual kintype, just a character i relate to. She was still important to my identity, but i didnt beleive i was literally her.

As for your actual question, i dont think its fair to pre judge someone on their kintype, though it is understandable if it makes you uncomfortable. If someone is acting badly, i would address the bad behaviour the same way you would in a non otherkin circle. Kintype isnt an excuse to act badly. If they havent acted badly, but make you uncomfortable, i would just avoid engaging with them. If they try, you can give a polite but firm refusal.

- Mod Flowey