Otherkin and Therians

[Bridget]

I love reading SomethingAwful.com. A few days ago, the Weekend Web (a feature which takes snippets from various odd/stupid/quirky/scary forums) featured a website on people that consider themselves "therians". Likewise, on any large website which features forums, like Gaia Online or DeviantArt, people that consider themselves "otherkin" make threads, like, "The Human Body is No Place for an Animal's Soul!"

What annoys me is when they compare themselves to transpeople and crossdressers, and claim it's exactly the same thing. I feel it cheapens and weakens how we can be perceived. Given that 90% of these otherkin associate themselves with mostly wolves and a handful of other majestic and romantic animals, and no serious otherkin associate themselves with tapeworms, and cockroaches. In essence, I think they're in a self-created fantasy (there's nothing wrong with that by itself, however, as long as they do not hurt anyone), and when they compare themselves to our community, they transfer the idea, that we're just doing it to get attention, and that the desire to dress or become the opposite gender is just a stunt for attention.

But that's my personal bias. What do you think about otherkin and therians?

[Siobhan Marie]

Have never heard them myself.

:hugs: Anna x

[Sophia Rearen]

What annoys me is when they compare themselves to transpeople and crossdressers, and claim it's exactly the same thing. I feel it cheapens and weakens how we can be perceived.


You're annoyed by these people? Let me find the other reader of this and see if he feels the same way.

[suzanne claire]

I do not understand what you are discussing or why there would be any concern on such a matter.:hugs:

[Teresa Amina]

Very strange! Make us all look perfectly average, don't they? Imagine dressing up as a tapeworm!:D My sister wanted to be a cat when she was 5 but got over it, those folks never did.

[VeronicaMoonlit]

Some folks call "otherkin", "furries".

I know of some trans furries on IRC. And yes, I have seen various comments in various net spaces about how furries tend have "cool", majestic, or cute animals as their "other" No tapeworms or roaches. :-)


Veronica
Rondelle (Ron) Rogers Jr.

[Mona]

It's pretty sad that wanting to be a wolf, or tapeworm, is alright in this culture but wanting to dress as the opposite sex is seen as deviant behavior!

[Kate Simmons]

Hey, as long as I'm a FEMALE tapeworm or wolf, no problem. Ericka

[Casey Morgan]

It's pretty sad that wanting to be a wolf, or tapeworm, is alright in this culture


In essence, I think they're in a self-created fantasy (there's nothing wrong with that by itself, however, as long as they do not hurt anyone)

"Alright" doesn't seem to fit. Especially since I would imagine that Bridget is far from being alone in her thinking.

I guess I would need more information on these folks before I could form a considered opinion of them. Does anybody have any links?

[KateW]

No clue what this thread is about. Now I'm concerned I could be a therian or otherkin without ever realising it. I'm going to the doctor...