WHAT IS KINNING ?
a thread.

Any and all rude or hateful comments will be deleted. Don't comment if you don't like what you see in this post. You aren't funny. You aren't cute. Go compensate for your small dick somewhere else.

With that out of the way, HELLO!!!!!!!!!
You must have clicked on this post because you don't know what kinning is. That's totally okay! I'm here to help you out as much as I can (๑´ㅂ`๑)♡*.+゜

Keep in mind that most of this information is from myself and what I have experienced, along with a little research done off of the internet. Not everything I mention in this post may apply to other people who kin, and there may be things I haven't mentioned at all — kinning is

different for everyone, as it is a unique experience that's personal to the person doing it.

Also remember that if you don't know what kinning is, keep an open mind! It may seem strange or weird, or even "cringey", but this is something important to other people and it just makes you look like an asshole for making fun of people participating in something they enjoy.

So, without further ado, let's get rolling!

What is "kinning"?

The otherkin subculture grew out of the elven online communities of the early-to-mid-1990s.

The oldest Internet resource for otherkin is the Elfinkind Digest, a mailing list started in 1990 by a student at the University of Kentucky for "elves and interested observers". Also in the early 1990s, newsgroups such as alt.horror.werewolves and  http://alt.fan .dragon

on Usenet, which were initially created for fans of these creatures in the context of fantasy and horror literature and films, also developed followings of individuals who identified as mythological beings (Wikipedia).

Kinning comes from the word "kin", which was derived from the word "otherkin". Kinning is like an verb for the word kin.

In general, when someone kins something, it means they are attached to that thing, whether it be an overall concept, or a specific character. However, the complexities of that attachment can vary from simply finding comfort within the thing, to believing that they are that thing

and it stretches far beyond the physical realm.

Kinning can be divided into two categories:

Otherkin (& Therians)
fictionkin

These can then be divided into their own subcategories, as there are different types of kinning within them:

spiritual
comfort

What is "otherkin"?

Otherkin are a subculture who socially and spiritually identify as not entirely human. Some otherkin claim that their identity is genetic, while others believe their identity derives from reincarnation, trans-species dysphoria of the soul, ancestry, or metaph

Otherkin (sometimes called "otherkind") are people who identify in some nonphysical way as nonhuman or not fully human, more specifically beings who do not currently exist on earth (though it is often used as an umbrella term). This identity is often considered to be involuntary

In general, when someone is otherkin, they will have a specific kintype (meaning what they identify with). These are usually creatures of a fictitious nature, meaning that they have never existed on Earth. Elves, dragons, demons, angels(me!), aliens, etc.

Therians are regarded as a subcategory of otherkin, although some may see them as completely seperate; the only difference is that this includes creatures that are real and that have existed on Earth, like dogs, cats, foxes, bears, wolves, lizards, etc.

Someone may explain their experiences in various ways, including through reincarnation, walk-in events, brain wiring, an unconscious coping mechanism, etc. Some may even believe that they can "shift" into their kintype, although many are against this idea as they realize that,

physically, we are humans and cannot physically change our bodies. Some believe that they have memories of a past life in which they were their kintype.

But, to be otherkin doesn't always mean than you believe you are your kintype. Some people may kin something out of comfort, or as a coping mechanism.

To offer my own input, I consider myself angelkin! I am very attached to the idea of angels and religious imagery revolving around angels. I am also attached to the archangel, Michael, for extremely personal reasons of which I will not disclose. Angels make me feel safe and warm,

and sometimes when I get nervous I like to read about them or look at pictures of them, and it calms me down. I even have angel wings and a halo at home to wear when I'm feeling in the mood to look a little angelic!

It may come as a surprise to some, then, that I am agnostic, and I don't really believe in God, or angels for that matter! And that's totally normal and okay. It's also okay to be religious and also otherkin, it doesn't matter.

As I've said, and will continue to say, the experience is unique for everyone and it won't be the same, even if they share the same kintype. Don't be afraid to ask anyone about their kin, as most of them love to talk about it and will happily explain it to you if you're curious!

What is "fictionkin"?

Fictionkin; (noun): A person who discovers that they have in some way inherited the soul/spirit/complete mentality of a fictional character, and the identity of that character is in some way mixed with their current human/earthly identity

Fictionkin' (formerly called 'otakukin' or 'mediakin') are those who identify as something that is considered fictional, typically a fictional character(s) or species.

Most fictionkin believe in the multiverse theory. They believe there are limitless parallel universes, which means there are ones where fictional characters are real. If this is true, then theoretically a character could live, die, and then be reborn in a different universe. This

is a common explanation for most fictionkin's spirituality. The aforementioned would also explain memories or déjà vu experienced while reading, watching, or listening to something that relates to the fictional characters.

The multiverse theory also explains why many people might identify as certain character. The characters could have existed in many different universes, therefore being reborn multiple different times into multiple different people. Some fictionkin, however, are made very

uncomfortable by other people who are the same characters as them. This is where the "no doubles" meme comes from, as many people seriously don't like "doubles" of their own kin. This behavior and attitude is often discouraged in the fictionkin community.

As with otherkin, there are also instances in which the kin is for comfort or for coping mechanisms. Some people see themselves in a character and begin to imprint on them. Some people just really heavily relate to the character, or are extremely attached to them.

For example, and again, giving my own input, I kin Scout from team fortress 2. Do I believe I'm Scout? No. Do I have memories from a past life? No. I'm just really attached to him as a character on a deep, emotional level, and I see parts of myself in him. He's a very important

and special character to me, so much so that I feel that he's a part of my identity. I also feel the same way about Wheatley from Portal 2!

And you can be really attached to a character or relate to a character a lot without kinning them, they don't go hand in hand. It's usually a personal choice (or sometimes an involuntary choice) to kin a character, so don't stress so much about it! And again, if you ever want to

ask someone about their kin, just be polite about it!

That's about it for kinning! If I missed anything or if you'd like to add anything to what I've already said, please feel free to comment it below!