I don’t know wtf has been going on with shiftblr, but some of yall need to remember what shifting really is. Im tired of yall trying to hate on race-changers, talking about some “oh that’s racist!” NO TF IT ISN’T SHUT UP. Okay, sorry, I’ll calm down. But what I’m trying to say is, some shifters have lost the plot. I saw someone comparing race changing to incest shifting……… What? They were complaining about how race changers and incest shifters both use the “excuse” of “well the universe is infinite”…. IT IS?? I’m sorry but is that not one of the BIGGEST beliefs of shifting and being a shifter??? How are you calling a race changers and people who defend race changing hypocrites by supporting something that is definitely not as bad as shifting for incest?? I don’t believe race changing is fetishisation, nor do I believe it’s racism/underlying racism, as some people claim.
The shifting community is supposed to be free of strict rules.
Anti-race changers are limiting themselves, and are limiting others by pushing their beliefs onto others and making them believe they’re genuinely doing something wrong. I think most of anti-race changing relates to white people (in this reality) shifting to reality where they’re black, or Asian, or Indian. But would it still matter if it was a Korean person shifting to a reality where they’re Chinese? that’s still race changing, no? Either way, I really see no issue. Because you’re not choosing a specific race, per se, you were already that race. You just shift and become aware of it.
The shifting community doesn’t need more shifting police!!
“Why would they want to be another race?” Well there could be multiple reasons as to why someone might “change” their race.
1. New experiences!
Different ways of life, history, culture, etc.
2. Fits better with their dr
Before I explain further, I am in no way insinuating that being a poc is just an aesthetic, or a setting, etc. no no no. But some drs have people with a certain race, for example, a kpop dr. It would make sense for them to be a kind of Asian in that dr!
while i do not really wanna unnecessarily insert myself in this discussion, i was curious about both of their standpoints... and i think it's important to talk about shifting etiquette in the community
the blogger against race changing even made a seperate post about their views here which might be worth reading first to understand my rambling below!
i do not want to deny the fact that there might be some poeple who are being weird about 'race changing', fetishists exists and their attitude and behaviour is really questionionable, and rightfully shouldn't be silently tolerated by people who are affected by racism in their daily life. however, these weirdos and fetishists are not the majority nor the reason of 'race changing' existing in the first place, in my opinion. (i find the 'changing' part of race changing not really fitting anyways but that's a talk for another post). i agree that how some people openly promote and romanticise choosing a different race and shoving it into other people's faces is definitely an insensitive and totally rude thing to do here in this reality. regardless of how infinite realities exist, you still live here and should know what's ok to do HERE and what not !! just because people can eat chicken meat here in this reality without any problems, doesn't mean you can just do that in a reality where chickens are whorshipped without expecting any consequences just because you know its ok to do in your current reality ?? however, i want to make clear that someone chosing a different face claim/different appearance/different skin color for their dr does not fundamentally mean they're racist and that they shouldn't do it because it's morally wrong... what's important is that you behave and interact with your society like a human being with manners who is aware that racism and injustice exists (like hello). you shouldn't deny the significance of racism here in this society just because it has no significance in another reality - that arguement has like no value !! ... exactly BECAUSE there are infinite realities but you live in this one right now, you should know how significant it is
however, after reading the above linked post by shaysplanet to understand their viewpoint, i was wondering if someone with such belief would ever allow themself to shift to a reality where no rascism exists (even though they said they have realities with no racism). because with their point, they themself would never be able to experience a racism free world because rascism will always be 'ingrained' in their main consciousness? they can never shift into being a person or world that has no rascism beliefs because they said in their belief no one is capable of doing so. because the morality learned here and all the experiences that shaped them here are more significant or higher than what happens in other realities... (if i understood that correctly) because they 'craft' these drs whith that shaped mindset
and i think that's actually quite limiting... and a bit sad... for them to preach and for everyone who insists on believing this :/
i personally wouldn't use the word 'craft' in that context, you might craft your script and the groundwork for what you want to experience but you don't craft realities in that sense. if you ever shifted to another reality you would know how much more there is to a reality than what you imagined about it before shifting there... i mean, it's a whole ass reality! - of course you can't crasp it whole without experiencing living there in the first place?
also, i don't think you see the full potential of shifting with that mindset. I personally don't want to experience ex. the naruto world as daisy, i want to live the life of my dr self, once i'm there, daisy and her life here don't really matter to me - it's irrelevant, just a background thought at most. perhaps there are shifters out there who want to insert their cr self into another reality, that's possible too, but it's just one single aspect of what's possible with shifting.
i also personally wouldn't dare believe that my 'cr reality consciousness' is my main consciousness either. your cr shaped mind here might script and imagine their desired reality with a cr experienced shaped mindset but your dr self lives their life with their own shaped mindset, even if you shift to be them. (unless you script that you have no memories or are 100% the same as here in your cr, but then again, that's the exception and not the norm because you need to intend it to be different and that would make you yourself responsible for all it includes.)
also, i found the saying "you're just cherry-picking your features for you fanatsies" as something you shouldn't do because you're sidestepping the pain of the lives lived here... not really well-phrased? because that's kinda what we're all doing...? we're all cherry picking the aspects of our drs and dr self because we want to experience something we want? ... many want to avoid and escape things we're forced to experience here in this life. it's all about cherry-picking regardless of your circumstances. that's what makes shifting so special. you may chose what you want to experience and are not forced into lives here with more or less uncontrollable positions. and people of colour shifting into realities with no racism don't need to feel guilty for experience this freedom from racism which all the other poc people here still have to face, you might consider this 'sidestepping the pain of the lives lived here' too, but you don’t, rightfully so !! maybe that's just my opinion but whole trend of guilt-tripping is a rather weird thing to do in regards to reality shifting. though, it's important to increase people's sensitivity in regards to certain topics. on a side note, i personally found it a bit insensitive to use 'god, deities and spirits' to defend an arguement in such a condescending manner ... sounds like a priest guilt-tripping people with the 'god said so' card to control them and keep them low with fear .... we are all not better than anyone else. i think there are better ways to defend your standpoint and educate people without using 'higher beings saids so'
if you @shaysplanet find it offensive of me to talk about it this, i'm sorry, it's definitely not my intention to harm you or deny what a fucked up thing racism is here in this reality but i wanted to share my thoughts on these very public posts that relate to reality shifting, and as i already mentioned i think it's important to talk about shifting etiquette. i hope you don't mind it too much, but feel free to block me, if it bothers you
i saw someone say that “using a spiritual concept to get past the fact that you’re using someone else’s cultural identity for fun or validation is strange.” and i need to say something.
first of all, it’s not always that simple.
not everyone doing this is white.
not everyone is stealing.
some of us are starving.
we grew up with no representation.
with no one that looked like us in positions of softness, or power, or danger, or royalty.
and when we reach for certain aesthetics or identities, it’s not to “fit in”, it’s because we’ve never been allowed to fit in. so we carve our own space where we can.
we don’t owe anyone a performance of perfect cultural separation.
what we owe ourselves is the right to exist in beauty, in fantasy, in complexity, even when the world never made room for us.
so maybe next time, before you call someone “strange,” ask why you think the culture they’re reaching for was ever truly “yours” to begin with.
i like hearing what the people think so: what’s your opinion on race changing?
i do it + it’s ok
i don’t do it + it’s ok
i do it + it’s not ok (?)
i don’t do it + it’s not ok
more nuanced answer (reblog/comment and tell me please!!!)
see results :3
Voting ended onSep 23, 2025
an old topic, heavily debated and never dying. i personally don’t see the harm in it as awarness has no race and yes there are weirdos who definitely have weird things and fetishise other races, but majory is NOT doing that. like im sorry that women are pretty and i wanna look like them.
lay, about the race change: i'm a mixed person and it's very difficult to find things that represent me so i use faceclaims but in my drs i put that everyone sees me the way i am. sometimes i think i'm even one of those people who change race but i don't do it thinking about the change but rather to visualise my dr :/
anon, like almost every thing, the race-changing discussion is not truly black and white. in your case, i understand where you're coming from and i do not think you're in the wrong. i would say as long as you had the fact that your face claims are only for editing then you should be fine ( to those who are strongly apposed in the race-changing debate ).
but at the same time i don't know if you owe anyone an explanation? like as long as you are not claiming to be a race you're not and using harmful language?
honestly don't feel like i solved anything in this response. quite literally only came up with more questions . . . oops
"Thank you for your response! I definitely have a deeper understanding of your perspective. I will make sure to answer your direct questions within your argument as soon as possible, as well as also clarify/highlight some of the points I made in my argument." - my initial response to your post
My stance: Race-changing is often (if not always) disrespectful and you shouldn't need to race-change to care about or try to understand another race
With that being said, I'll start again!
To answer your question about mixed people race-changing, I don't see why one would need to? Are you not those races??
Anyway, the practice of reality shifting, wherein individuals immerse themselves in alternate realities or dimensions, includes the controversial activity of race changing. You argue that race changing allows for profound personal growth, empathy development, and cultural competence. However, critics express concerns about cultural appropriation, racial fetishization, and racism. This essay critically examines the arguments for race changing in reality shifting, addressing its ethical implications and assessing the validity of its claimed benefits.
You and some others describe the practice as a deeply immersive experience that extends beyond physical transformation, including emotional and cultural integration. You say that this immersive experience fosters empathy and a nuanced understanding of different racial identities. However, this perspective oversimplifies the implications of embodying an entirely different racial identity, especially considering that race-changing practitioners can opt in and out of their new identities at will—a privilege not afforded to real individuals facing racial discrimination. Those who do so will always do it in a cavalier manner, since they can easily discard all social implications and conventions that exist. Vacationing to a life of discrimination is truly disheartening and fetishizing to see.
"Just wanting see" what the hell that is discrimination is like is backwards. What could be so interesting about a different race that you have to become it? If you strip every argument down, it will always lead to someone not fully respecting other races is-- They don't see it as something to be held in regard if they can easily cross that boundary.
While you claim that race changing enhances empathy by allowing individuals to experience life from a different racial perspective, this argument has limitations. Experiencing racial identity through shifting lacks the permanence and systemic context that characterize real-life racial experiences. Even if you shift to a new race, you will never inherit the deep-rooted understanding of what it means to be that race. Visiting another country does not make you automatically or intrinsically a part of it's culture for the virtue of you being there, and having a willingness to "learn", does not automatically translate to a willingness to be respectful of that culture or identity.
Shifters may encounter only a superficial or selective aspect of racial identity without enduring the lifelong societal challenges and discrimination that individuals of that race face. Thus, the empathy developed through such a practice might be more akin to a simulated experience rather than a genuine understanding of racial adversity.
Furthermore, while race changing might lead to personal reflection, the capacity for self-reflection does not naturally translate into a deeper or more accurate understanding of racial issues. Genuine empathy and social justice awareness require sustained engagement with real-world issues and communities, not merely temporary immersion in alternate realities.
Shifting for a few months or years does not an empathetic person make, or give you true understanding of an identity. What do you expect, you have someone call you a slur and suddenly you become a better and more understanding person, ready to fight discrimination every which way? Multiverse or not, that's not how people work.
You acknowledge that race changing can be seen as a form of cultural appropriation. That is because it is. Assuming a different racial identity, especially for temporary and frivolous purposes, does, in fact, trivialize and commodify the lived experiences of those races. You don't want it to be that way, but it is. You counter that shifters can engage with new cultures deeply and respectfully, integrating themselves fully into their desired identities.
Nevertheless, this perspective fails to address the fundamental issue that race changing involves choosing and discarding identities at will, an act that lacks the permanence and societal impact associated with real racial experiences. The practice risks perpetuating the notion that racial identities are interchangeable and can be explored without the enduring consequences of systemic racism, ergo, discarding the meaningfulness of these people and experiences.
Additionally, the ability to "opt out" of a racial identity undermines the reality of living with that identity, potentially reducing it to a mere fantasy or experiment, which for an incomprehensible amount of people, it is not.
The concern of racial fetishization is pertinent, as race changing might encourage the objectification or exoticization of racial identities. I argue that focusing on racial characteristics for personal or imaginative exploration can reinforce stereotypes and reduce complex identities to superficial traits.
You assert that the immersive nature of race changing fosters genuine cultural engagement and empathy. However, the risk of fetishization remains significant, particularly if the practice involves an emphasis on stereotypical or desirable aspects of a racial identity while neglecting its broader, more complex reality. It doesn't go away because you think there's very little evidence or weight to it. Effective engagement with racial identities requires more than temporary immersion; it demands a deep and respectful understanding of the lived experiences and systemic challenges faced by individuals of that race.
The argument that race changing is inherently centers on the notion that it minimizes the real struggles faced by marginalized racial groups. I believe that such practices can perpetuate harmful stereotypes and disregard the reality of racial oppression. Those who race-change often operate from a place of privilege, like a rich person pretending to be poor for the fun of it or the aesthetic.
Just as someone would rightfully side-eye said rich person, people of color have every right to side-eye race-changers, and people who enthusiastically support it (as you've said, people have the right to be offended; that's because it makes sense to be).
To address these concerns, it is essential for practitioners of race changing to engage critically with their motivations and the broader implications of their practice. Effective empathy and anti-racism require MORE than temporary experiences; they necessitate a sustained commitment to understanding and addressing real-world racial issues.
Having that "as long as we aren't weird about it, we can do it" mentality is a coverup; there's no way to be not weird about it, if you're already willing to cross that boundary. You can't say, "Oh, black people... Cool, cool... Let me see what that's like, looks interesting," and it not be weird. Race isn't a fashion that you can try on and discard later. It's not a enriching activity you can do with the family. It's a real and tangible identity that one random person on the internet can't just grapple or tackle on a whim, or even with careful thought.
In short, race changing in reality shifting may offer some insights into different racial perspectives, it also raises significant ethical concerns. The practice risks trivializing real racial experiences, reinforcing stereotypes, and perpetuating a superficial understanding of racial issues. For a meaningful engagement with racial diversity and empathy, it is crucial to approach these issues with a commitment to real-world understanding and systemic change, rather than relying on temporary, simulated experiences. Critical reflection and genuine engagement with racial communities (outside of reality shifting) are essential for fostering a deeper and more accurate understanding of racial identity and systemic inequality.
If a character's non-chosen trait (race, gender, heritage, disability, etc.) plays any part to their (including but not limited to) story, background, mythology, and/or societal influence, you shouldn't change their whatever without changing their story, backstory etc.
Example: Merida from Brave and Snow White
If the character is a historical figure or real person, absolutely no changes should be made without some sort of explicit statement about what changes were made at the start of the film, book, or whatever.
Example: Joan of Ark and Cleopatra
If the character's non-chosen traits are coincidental and play absolutely no role to their story, mythology, etc., it should be perfectly fine to change those aspects.
Example: Cinderella
I don't consume a lot of visual media, but I did read The Outsiders and was throughoughly pissed when Dally wasn't an ugly mug with pointy, lynx-like ears and a dangerous charm like described, but just some handsome, young man. I had to take a step back and understand that, for the sake of sales, the casting director wouldn't want to hire an "ugly" guy. Besides, Dally's looks weren't much of a point in the book, so it was inconsequential anyways.
I am willing to discuss this view, however, because I would love to expand my thoughts on this subject.
