therians and otherkin?

[Hargan]

Sev: I'm curious to see what the ratios between possible self perpetuating ones vs natural ones would be (wherein natural ones are defined as those who discover they are therianthropic/ otherkin before discovering others) for the past year.

Yes, I am scientifically minded and horribly curious n.n

[midnight]

Therians and otherkin aren't a tribe there is no population growth, if you are asking if there is a sudden surge in the amount of therians and otherkin the answer would have to be a no there have always been loads of therians and otherkin just not all of us are as open about it as I am most keep it a secret others join the furry fandom as a sort of coping mechanism others blog anonymously usually putting up another location to ascertain anonymity. Anyhow I think the reason your seeing the spike is that more therians and otherkin are starting to come out with it think the select few that have been open about it might be inspiring the others and I think its awesome because now we can actually start building a decent communication network and meet others like us. Anyhow hope this answers your question

[Hargan]

That does answer my question. Thank you

I want to apologise if I came off as insulting or such; I wasn't describing it as a tribe, merely trying to see if there was a surge in population beyond more people finally revealing themselves as therian/otherkin

[midnight]

Great to have enlightened you, any other questions? Feel free to ask or check out the information topic on my forum

[midnight]

Well there has been a few who read such posts like mine and were awakened (realised they were kin) but they have always been kin they just didn't know. I suppose that some people may classify them as new therians and otherkin but there isn't a significant amount, thing is if you are therian or otherkin your bound to realize it at some time in life whether your 5 or 55 YO

[Sev]

There has been an awakening. Have you felt it?

[Leeward]

There has been an awakening. Have you felt it?

*Snort.*

[Sev]

Furry Wars Ep. VII - The Therian Awakens.

[Franky]

Not touching this thread with a 10 foot pole.

[midnight]

DEFENITION OF OTHERKIN
Otherkin largely identify as mythical creatures, with others identifying as creatures from fantasy or popular culture. Examples include: angels, demons, dragons, elves, fairies, sprites, aliens, and cartoon characters. Many otherkin believe in the existence of a multitude of parallel/alternative universes, which would explain the existence and the possibility to relate to fantastical beings and fictional characters.

With regards to their online communities, otherkin largely function without formal authority structures, and mostly focus on support and information gathering, often dividing into more specific groups based on kintype. There are occasional offline gatherings, but the otherkin network is an almost entirely online phenomenon.

Some otherkin (such as elvenkin) claim they are allergic to iron (and products of modern technology), while other otherkin (such as dragonkin) claim that having no allergies is a sign of being an otherkin.Some otherkin also claim to be especially empathic and attuned to nature. Some claim to be able to shapeshift mentally or astrally—meaning that they experience the sense of being in their particular form while not actually changing physically

DEFINITION OF THERIAN
Therianthropes (also known as: weres, werecreatures, were(animal species) and therians) are people who have spiritual connections with a given type of animal.

They differ from Furries in the sense that furries dress up like the animal, and therians "are" the animal. Often therianthropes feel that they share some part of themselves (mind, soul, etc) with their animal, essentially feeling that their "two halves" are one in the same.

Therianthropes, by definition, do not:
-- enjoy bestiality
-- draw/create "furry porn"
-- wear fursuits
-- have actual, diagnosed mental issues

On the whole, most of them are pretty well-adjusted. Generally, any weres that seems a bit "off" is probably either
1) a troll
2) 12 years old and not quite understanding what they're getting themselves into or
3) just plain dumb.

Therianthropes do not think they can turn into animals in a physical sense. If you here one speaking of "shifting" or "changing" they are most probably either speaking of

1) mental shifting (where you go into a trance, much like meditation)
2) dream shifting (dreaming you are an animal).
3) Phantom shifting (feeling phantom limbs or extremities like a tail or ears)

Anyone who says they *can* turn into an animal physically is either crazy (clinical lycanthropy) or they think they're being funny/cool

COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT THERIANS AND OTHERKIN
1. We cannot under any circumstances shapeshift.
2. We don't have superpowers
3. Therianthropy and otherkinity is not a religion.
4. Not all therianthropy and otherkinity is spiritual. There are psychologicals out there.
5. Not all kin get phantom limbs.
6. Not all kin shift
7. There are kin that are older
8. Being kin is not solely a wolf thing. Wolves are extremely common types, but so are foxes, dragons, and felines.
9. It is not currently believed to be genetic.
10. Most kin don't know their kintypes right away. It can take a few years.
11. Being kin is so much more than just feeling a connection. It's identifying as and not with.
12. There is no underlying government or law to follow.
13. It isn't new
14. It isn't a teen trend
15. Wearing tail, collars, harnesses, etc. Is not a kin thing. Some may do it to express their kin side but it is in no way required.
16. It is not the same thing as being a furry. Furry is a fanbase.
17. It is not a gender.
18. It is not a tumblrism. A majority of kin aren't on tumblr's kin community. Tumblr is a trollfest so tread lightly.
19. Currently, there is no explanation of what causes therianthropy. It's up to personal interpretation.
20. It isn't a choice. Nobody can just wake up and say "hey i want to be a therian today"
21. It is most definitely not the same as Lycanthropy or similar conditions.
22. Therianthropy/Otherkinity of itself is not a mental illness/disorder; it's an identity.
23. Therianthropy/Otherkinity has nothing to do with satanic cults or the occult.
24. Therians and otherkin do not promote, condone or participate in beastiality, kinnity has nothing to do with sexual attraction that is called zoophilia.
-YMMV-
1. Kin don't only date people with the same kintype. Most cases are by coincidence and it just isn't that easy to find others.
2. A person's kintype does not affect how they act towards a person with another kintype. IE: zebrakin hating lionkin or demonkin hating angelkin
3. A majority of kin do not believe they are currently their kintype

[Leeward]

Therianthropes, by definition, do not [...] have actual, diagnosed mental issues

Those are not mutually exclusive, as you pointed out here:

Anyone who says they *can* turn into an animal physically is either crazy (clinical lycanthropy) or they think they're being funny/cool

[Rakuen Growlithe]

Well now you're just making stuff up (It's all made up but before it was consensus made up). And need to learn about Venn diagrams and relationships because every single thing you've said therianthropes, by definition, do not do, some do.

[midnight]

Well sure there might be a few who boink animals and watch furry porn but that's personal preference and is not necessarily therian related. There are lots of non-therian people in the world who do the same. And as I have explained in a previous post many therians and othertkin join the furry fandom as a coping mechanism. And since these were gathered from multiple reputable sources such as therian guide and others it is bias to say that it is factually incorrect, just because your view is different from others doesn't mean that your way and only your way is the right way. This sort of negativity suggests that you may have been reading otherkinarediseased or a similar troll post. Please do proper research into ALL the different views of therians and otherkin as there is no one right definition and all others are wrong. There are literally dozens of different theories and all of these are accepted by the community. Again not only your views are the correct ones millions of other therians and otherkin are out there all with different views and beliefs.

[midnight]

Also saying that its all made up sounds as though you may have been influenced by fluff. These are people who claim to be therians and otherkin but literally butcher the reputation of therians and otherkin and represent basically that which we are not.

[Sev]

Not all kin shift

Didn't you say earlier that only the "crazies and attention seekers" say that they can shift?

Also, you are making some very generalized statements. Is this the 501st, or something?

[Rakuen Growlithe]

Also saying that its all made up sounds as though you may have been influenced by fluff. These are people who claim to be therians and otherkin but literally butcher the reputation of therians and otherkin and represent basically that which we are not.

I was influenced by science. It kinda works like these two quotes.
"Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence"
"That which can be asserted without evidence, can be dismissed without evidence."
Therianthropy makes extraordinary claims about the existence of souls, humans with animal souls and so forth but the only evidence provided is a subjective experience which cannot be verified independently. So there's not any reason to take it seriously.

Being kin is not solely a wolf thing. Wolves are extremely common types, but so are foxes, dragons, and felines.

Don't you find this odd? I find it really odd. What are the chances that the four most common theiran types are also the most common fursona types which are also related to the most common pets. It's almost like therians are mistaking an interest in certain animals, that are popular in general, as a spiritual thing. Alternatively, we should really be wondering why wolf souls are so much more likely to get misassigned than moose souls.

[Sev]

That's because no one in their right mind would want to be a moose. Therians want to be animals that are "wild and free".

[Leeward]

Mooses are wild and free, they just get eaten by predators and hit by cars a lot.

[midnight]

Not all kin shift

Didn't you say earlier that only the "crazies and attention seekers" say that they can shift?

Also, you are making some very generalized statements. Is this the 501st, or something?

As I stated before, when REAL therians talk about shifting its one of 3 things, dream shifting, phantom shifting or mental shifting. The "crazies" and attention seekers claim to be able to physically shape shift, actually changing their body into an animal, this isn't possible, unless you go for heavy body modification surgery

[/quote] 1) mental shifting (where you go into a trance, much like meditation)
2) dream shifting (dreaming you are an animal).
3) Phantom shifting (feeling phantom limbs or extremities like a tail or ears) [/quote]

[Sev]

Mark for deletion...

[Sev]

Mooses are wild and free, they just get eaten by predators and hit by cars a lot.

They're Alaska's cattle.

What I meant is that most often the chosen animals are apex predators, or at least crafty animals like the fox.

Except in my case; last night I had an awakening. I realized that this whole time, I have been a northern short-tailed shrew. I was born to echolocate, and I have been denied that by cruel fate.

[Leeward]

As I stated before, when REAL therians talk about shifting its one of 3 things, dream shifting, phantom shifting or mental shifting. The "crazies" and attention seekers claim to be able to physically shape shift, actually changing their body into an animal, this isn't possible, unless you go for heavy body modification surgery

1) mental shifting (where you go into a trance, much like meditation)
2) dream shifting (dreaming you are an animal).
3) Phantom shifting (feeling phantom limbs or extremities like a tail or ears)

I'm sorry but this sounds an awful lot like something along the lines of:

"When REAL psychics make predictions, they do one of three things: interpret symbols made by objects with predictive power (tarot cards, crystal balls, etc), interpret natural symbols (palm lines, stars, etc), or enter a trance in which spirits reveal the future. The fake psychics are either crazy or con artists."

[midnight]

]

That's because no one in their right mind would want to be a moose. Therians want to be animals that are "wild and free".

I personally know 4 moose therians thank you very much

[Sev]

But am I the first shrew therian that you've ever met?

[Leeward]

They're Alaska's cattle.

U wot m8? U havin a giggle? Fite me IRL fegit, ill fookin rek u!

[Sev]

The Moo wants to fight a Superbike Snow Leopard. Which part of you should I eat first?

[Leeward]

You can start with the horns, that's bound to have a sharp flavour.

[Sev]

Nah, I'd rather leave those undamaged - they'd make a good mantlepiece.

[midnight]

As I stated before, when REAL therians talk about shifting its one of 3 things, dream shifting, phantom shifting or mental shifting. The "crazies" and attention seekers claim to be able to physically shape shift, actually changing their body into an animal, this isn't possible, unless you go for heavy body modification surgery

1) mental shifting (where you go into a trance, much like meditation)
2) dream shifting (dreaming you are an animal).
3) Phantom shifting (feeling phantom limbs or extremities like a tail or ears)

I'm sorry but this sounds an awful lot like something along the lines of:

"When REAL psychics make predictions, they do one of three things: interpret symbols made by objects with predictive power (tarot cards, crystal balls, etc), interpret natural symbols (palm lines, stars, etc), or enter a trance in which spirits reveal the future. The fake psychics are either crazy or con artists."

How does reading tarot cards or tea leaves or speaking to mystic beings relate to feeling like you identify as an animal, weather its a wolf coyote wilddog hyena mongoose lion deer duiker elk moose bunny monkey orangutan snake spider mouse scorpion rat gerbil springbok cat leopard squirrel frog ukapi lizard fox jackal bison buffalo wildebees zebra elephant kudu gorilla hare ccapibara warthog tiger puma llama gwanaku anteater or any other animal?

We don't fantastical claims of magically changing into whatever animal we are. Everybody knows meditation is real, everybody knows dreams are real and you can't say that you have never had a tingly feeling anywhere on your body for no apparent reason. These are all things that are possible and natural now some people take advantage of them in certain ways. Its not to say we are magical beings. And for those who say the soul doesn't exist, just take the word soul and replace it with personality since science has already proven the existence of a personality.

[Sev]

The reason for Miss Moo's statement is this:

What you are trying to convince us of is some new age mysticism. You claim to possess some supernatural understanding that the rest of us do not. That's no different than psychics.