Otherkin

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

You're correct in saying that it all depends. Like I said, the crossover is there, despite the bad blood. Some otherkin identify as furry, some furries as otherkin. But sure, it's about who the point of view belongs to. As an outsider, I don't exactly see the similarities but eh.

As an insider of both, I honestly rather keep the two apart for the rest of their lives and never see each other, though that's just fiction in the works, rather than reality.

It just puts the lit match onto the gasoline of drama.

I think I draw the line at what creatures both communities identify with. I've always seen furries as identifying with real animals, like foxes and deer, whereas otherkin go for elves and dragons, mythical creatures.

[Reploid Productions]

Y'know, I have a decent grasp on the difference between furries and otherkin, but I've seen the term "therian" thrown around as well. Is that just some other term for otherkin, or is that an entirely different thing?

(Full disclosure: The only self-IDed "therian" I have ever encountered was a singularly nasty piece of work hell-bent on harassing/smearing me in a fandom we were both active in close to a decade ago. Needless to say, it has not left a particularly favorable view of them for me.)

[Grenartia]

To all the people who disagreed with me when I said that otherkin negatively impacts the struggle of the trans community for equality, I offer this nugget of bullshit (underlined for your viewing convenience) as proof that people do in fact conflate otherkin and being trans, and consistently use the ridiculousness of otherkin to deny us our equality.

People do this regardless of whether or not they know otherkin are even a thing. Bigotry stems from already-held prejudices that are justified as they go. It's rather ridiculous to assume that the knowledge about the existence of people identifying as otherkin has ever seriously dissuaded someone from accepting the legitimacy of trans issues when they otherwise would have. If that's all it takes to get a "no" from someone, you weren't going to be getting a "yes" in the first place.

I'm aware that they do. However, otherkin give them more legitimacy when they use those arguments.

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

Y'know, I have a decent grasp on the difference between furries and otherkin, but I've seen the term "therian" thrown around as well. Is that just some other term for otherkin, or is that an entirely different thing?

(Full disclosure: The only self-IDed "therian" I have ever encountered was a singularly nasty piece of work hell-bent on harassing/smearing me in a fandom we were both active in close to a decade ago. Needless to say, it has not left a particularly favorable view of them for me.)

I've seen the term used in Wikifur. Again, as speakers sometimes invited to furry conventions. But I honestly do not know what the ID stands for.

[Furry Alairia and Algeria]

Y'know, I have a decent grasp on the difference between furries and otherkin, but I've seen the term "therian" thrown around as well. Is that just some other term for otherkin, or is that an entirely different thing?

(Full disclosure: The only self-IDed "therian" I have ever encountered was a singularly nasty piece of work hell-bent on harassing/smearing me in a fandom we were both active in close to a decade ago. Needless to say, it has not left a particularly favorable view of them for me.)

I've seen the term used in Wikifur. Again, as speakers sometimes invited to furry conventions. But I honestly do not know what the ID stands for.

Most therians are unrelated to furries, as most look down upon furries.

But that is beside the point.

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

I've seen the term used in Wikifur. Again, as speakers sometimes invited to furry conventions. But I honestly do not know what the ID stands for.

Most therians are unrelated to furries, as most look down upon furries.

But that is beside the point.

Urban Dictionary says they're people who have a deep connection to an animal, and not necessarily to animals of this plane. They tend to feel connections to unicorns and dragons, so... Basically, isn't that what Otherkin are?

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

The only issue I have with the therian definition is the comparison between what they think they are to having gender issues. Thinking you were a dragon in a past life and now you think you have certain episodes when you say you think like a dragon, is not like having gender issues. One is real, the other isn't.

[Dyakovo]

Adults = Animals
Gay Adults = Animals
Children = Animals
Feral Children = Animals
Otherkin = Mythical Animals
Animals = Animals

Take away the gloss and we are all still animals.

Animals, you say?

Yes.

Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Primates
Suborder: Haplorhini
Family: Hominidae
Genus: Homo
Species: Homo sapiens

[Threlizdun]

As an insider of both, I honestly rather keep the two apart for the rest of their lives and never see each other, though that's just fiction in the works, rather than reality.

It just puts the lit match onto the gasoline of drama.

I think I draw the line at what creatures both communities identify with. I've always seen furries as identifying with real animals, like foxes and deer, whereas otherkin go for elves and dragons, mythical creatures.

I've tended to make the distinction more along the lines of sapient mythical beings like elves and faeries when it comes to otherkin and non-sapient or at least traditionally non-humanoid animals when it comes to furries, as most of the people I've seen that identify with dragons call themselves furries or scalies rather than otherkin. I don't quite know enough about otherkin to really make that meaningful of a distinction though.

People do this regardless of whether or not they know otherkin are even a thing. Bigotry stems from already-held prejudices that are justified as they go. It's rather ridiculous to assume that the knowledge about the existence of people identifying as otherkin has ever seriously dissuaded someone from accepting the legitimacy of trans issues when they otherwise would have. If that's all it takes to get a "no" from someone, you weren't going to be getting a "yes" in the first place.

I'm aware that they do. However, otherkin give them more legitimacy when they use those arguments.

And hypersexual bisexual and pansexual people like myself appear to give legitimacy to the claim that bisexual or pansexual people are a bunch of nymphomaniacs. Should you be frustrated with me for propagating a stereotype or mad with the people that insist the misconception is accurate? Otherkin are used to misrepresent trans issues, but it isn't as if they're trying to do that.

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

I think I draw the line at what creatures both communities identify with. I've always seen furries as identifying with real animals, like foxes and deer, whereas otherkin go for elves and dragons, mythical creatures.

I've tended to make the distinction more along the lines of sapient mythical beings like elves and faeries when it comes to otherkin and non-sapient or at least traditionally non-humanoid animals when it comes to furries, as most of the people I've seen that identify with dragons call themselves furries or scalies rather than otherkin. I don't quite know enough about otherkin to really make that meaningful of a distinction though.

I've come across the term ''dergen'' for those who identify with dragons too. But my knowledge is very general, I don't know enough.

[Socialist Tera]

People like that are often misinterpreted as crazy, they identify spiritually. Who cares? Atheists get mad because they do not believe in souls, anyone who believes in souls should think about it, there could be a chance, that God etc. choose for an non human soul to be put in a human body. For atheists, who cares they do not hurt you.

[Warpspace]

Its a delusion, nothing more. You're genetically human. Identifying as any other species (especially fictional) when you are indeed biologically human is simply the sign of a genuine mental disorder. Thankfully it's harmless, but the proper response should be a light push in the general direction of a therapist.

EDIT

For clarification though, I'm not talking about people roleplaying, I'm speaking about the "no I'm really X animal stuck in the wrong body".

[Threlizdun]

Its a delusion, nothing more. You're genetically human. Identifying as any other species (especially fictional) when you are indeed biologically human is simply the sign of a genuine mental disorder. Thankfully it's harmless, but the proper response should be a light push in the general direction of a therapist.

EDIT

For clarification though, I'm not talking about people roleplaying, I'm speaking about the "no I'm really X animal stuck in the wrong body".

If it's harmless then it isn't a mental disorder, just a different way of thinking. And no, as has been stated repeatedly through this thread, most don't genuinely believe they are the species they are identifying with, but simply feel spiritually or personally connected to it.

[Rikatan]

I rather suspect, Rikatan ,that you didn't understand one word of my post. Drawing animals and Spirit Animal Shamanism are not the same. Furryism and Native American religious practices involving spirit animals are not the same thing.

As for Otherkin, there's a crossover between them and furries. In fact, there are furries who identify as otherkin and vise versa. Some furries hate that but the crossover between you happens.

Furryism and otherkin are not the same. I explained that because your post was entirely about furries, and no content about otherkin.

There is a crossover between any two groups. There are otherkin who identify as female and vice versa. That's the magic of our world. Say any two things, and at least one person somewhere will have both of them.

[Dyakovo]

I rather suspect, Rikatan ,that you didn't understand one word of my post. Drawing animals and Spirit Animal Shamanism are not the same. Furryism and Native American religious practices involving spirit animals are not the same thing.

As for Otherkin, there's a crossover between them and furries. In fact, there are furries who identify as otherkin and vise versa. Some furries hate that but the crossover between you happens.

Furryism and otherkin are not the same.

And she never said that they were the same... But good job on proving her first sentence correct.

[Grenartia]

I think I draw the line at what creatures both communities identify with. I've always seen furries as identifying with real animals, like foxes and deer, whereas otherkin go for elves and dragons, mythical creatures.

I've tended to make the distinction more along the lines of sapient mythical beings like elves and faeries when it comes to otherkin and non-sapient or at least traditionally non-humanoid animals when it comes to furries, as most of the people I've seen that identify with dragons call themselves furries or scalies rather than otherkin. I don't quite know enough about otherkin to really make that meaningful of a distinction though.

I'm aware that they do. However, otherkin give them more legitimacy when they use those arguments.

And hypersexual bisexual and pansexual people like myself appear to give legitimacy to the claim that bisexual or pansexual people are a bunch of nymphomaniacs. Should you be frustrated with me for propagating a stereotype or mad with the people that insist the misconception is accurate? Otherkin are used to misrepresent trans issues, but it isn't as if they're trying to do that.

When nymphomania is an inherently stupid concept, and used to denounce, demean, and delegitimize an entire group of people, then we can talk.

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

Furryism and otherkin are not the same.

And she never said that they were the same... But good job on proving her first sentence correct.

I'm glad I wasn't the only one seeing that.

[Threlizdun]

I've tended to make the distinction more along the lines of sapient mythical beings like elves and faeries when it comes to otherkin and non-sapient or at least traditionally non-humanoid animals when it comes to furries, as most of the people I've seen that identify with dragons call themselves furries or scalies rather than otherkin. I don't quite know enough about otherkin to really make that meaningful of a distinction though.
And hypersexual bisexual and pansexual people like myself appear to give legitimacy to the claim that bisexual or pansexual people are a bunch of nymphomaniacs. Should you be frustrated with me for propagating a stereotype or mad with the people that insist the misconception is accurate? Otherkin are used to misrepresent trans issues, but it isn't as if they're trying to do that.

When nymphomania is an inherently stupid concept, and used to denounce, demean, and delegitimize an entire group of people, then we can talk.

Nymphomania already is used to denounce and demean bisexual, polysexual, and pansexual people. And I fail to see how people are "stupid" to simply identify with nonhuman species.

[Rikatan]

Furryism and otherkin are not the same.

And she never said that they were the same... But good job on proving her first sentence correct.

Thanks!

[Grenartia]

When nymphomania is an inherently stupid concept, and used to denounce, demean, and delegitimize an entire group of people, then we can talk.

Nymphomania already is used to denounce and demean bisexual, polysexual, and pansexual people. 2. And I fail to see how people are "stupid" to simply identify with nonhuman species.

1. And I repeatedly call people out when they pull that shit.

2. Take a stroll with me, through the magical world of dumblr.

[Threlizdun]

Nymphomania already is used to denounce and demean bisexual, polysexual, and pansexual people. 2. And I fail to see how people are "stupid" to simply identify with nonhuman species.

1. And I repeatedly call people out when they pull that shit.

2. Take a stroll with me, through the magical world of dumblr.

Many otherkin have actually fought against the perception that being transgender and being otherkin are related or even similar. Most blogs in which otherkin talk about extreme dysphoria are commonly disregarded amongst the otherkin community as bigoted trolls rather than actual otherkin. However, there definitely are some people who feel a genuine sense of dysphoria about being human, and it honestly isn't new. That is something that has been reported in many instances throughout history. That is unusual for otherkin, and when it is so, it can legitimately be described as a mental disorder. In neither case is it acceptable to call them stupid. These are not people who aren't intelligent enough to realize what humans are, but either people that identify with nonhuman species for spiritual or personal reasons, or people that for whatever reason psychologically feel wrong as a human being and believe that they are meant to be something else. It is nothing like being trans, but it isn't supposed to be. People aren't stupid for liking metaphors or having spiritual beliefs, as is the case with most otherkin, and people especially aren't stupid for having mental disorders, as is the case with some otherkin. If it's the former, it's harmless, and if it's the latter, it's not their fault. The only thing stupid is being angry with them for that.

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

1. And I repeatedly call people out when they pull that shit.

2. Take a stroll with me, through the magical world of dumblr.

Many otherkin have actually fought against the perception that being transgender and being otherkin are related or even similar. Most blogs in which otherkin talk about extreme dysphoria are commonly disregarded amongst the otherkin community as bigoted trolls rather than actual otherkin. However, there definitely are some people who feel a genuine sense of dysphoria about being human, and it honestly isn't new. That is something that has been reported in many instances throughout history. That is unusual for otherkin, and when it is so, it can legitimately be described as a mental disorder. In neither case is it acceptable to call them stupid. These are not people who aren't intelligent enough to realize what humans are, but either people that identify with nonhuman species for spiritual or personal reasons, or people that for whatever reason psychologically feel wrong as a human being and believe that they are meant to be something else. It is nothing like being trans, but it isn't supposed to be. People aren't stupid for liking metaphors or having spiritual beliefs, as is the case with most otherkin, and people especially aren't stupid for having mental disorders, as is the case with some otherkin. If it's the former, it's harmless, and if it's the latter, it's not their fault. The only thing stupid is being angry with them for that.

I think the main problem is the therian. It seems, for the definitions I've seen, that this classification of Otherkin compares their identification with a mythical creature to that of gender issues. Calling this ''species dysphoria''.

[Gauthier]

Humanity is always looking for any one subset that they can dehumanize and maybe even physically assault with impugnity.

[Kelinfort]

Nymphomania already is used to denounce and demean bisexual, polysexual, and pansexual people. 2. And I fail to see how people are "stupid" to simply identify with nonhuman species.

1. And I repeatedly call people out when they pull that shit.

2. Take a stroll with me, through the magical world of dumblr.

I am fucking tired of the dumblr/tumblrtards shtick. I get it, there's sensitive idiots on tumblr. This meme is 2000 years old already.

[The Serbian Empire]

1. And I repeatedly call people out when they pull that shit.

2. Take a stroll with me, through the magical world of dumblr.

I am fucking tired of the dumblr/tumblrtards shtick. I get it, there's sensitive idiots on tumblr. This meme is 2000 years old already.

More like overly sensitive...