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otherkin FAQ!
please note that the subjective parts of this thread will be largely based on my own experiences. i do not speak for the entire community. if you have any more questions, feel free to ask in replies or DM them to me and i'll add them to this thread!
please note that the subjective parts of this thread will be largely based on my own experiences. i do not speak for the entire community. if you have any more questions, feel free to ask in replies or DM them to me and i'll add them to this thread!
Q: "what is otherkin?"
A: otherkin has been defined as one who considers themselves to be either partially or wholly non-human in any non-physical way, shape, or form. one cannot choose whether or not to be otherkin. it is something that you either are or are not, involuntarily
A: otherkin has been defined as one who considers themselves to be either partially or wholly non-human in any non-physical way, shape, or form. one cannot choose whether or not to be otherkin. it is something that you either are or are not, involuntarily
Q: "how do i know if i'm otherkin?"
A: it's something you have to figure out yourself, like any other part of your identity. having a friend to bounce thoughts off of might help, or maybe you could keep a journal. ultimately, only YOU can decide whether or not you are otherkin.
A: it's something you have to figure out yourself, like any other part of your identity. having a friend to bounce thoughts off of might help, or maybe you could keep a journal. ultimately, only YOU can decide whether or not you are otherkin.
Q: "so is it really just as simple as not identifying as human?"
A: well, yes, but also no. the only criteria you have to meet to be otherkin is to not identify as human, but a lot of the community is about helping you figure out WHY you don't really feel human. (1/2)
A: well, yes, but also no. the only criteria you have to meet to be otherkin is to not identify as human, but a lot of the community is about helping you figure out WHY you don't really feel human. (1/2)
it's about helping you put your emotions into words. identifying specific feelings you have about your nonhumanity, and understanding why you feel the way you do. that way, you have a stronger understanding of your overall self. (2/2)
Q: "are there different categories of otherkin, or different tiers?"
A: some otherkin experience their nonhumanity more intensely than others, but that doesn't make them any "less" otherkin. there are different reasons why one might feel nonhuman. (1/3)
A: some otherkin experience their nonhumanity more intensely than others, but that doesn't make them any "less" otherkin. there are different reasons why one might feel nonhuman. (1/3)
for example, psychological otherkin and spiritual otherkin are both equally otherkin, even though their identities have different roots. a lot of folks i know consider themselves to be both, though, tbh. as for categories, there are of course the kintype categories (2/3)
like mythological (e.g. dragons, faeries, elves), fictionkin (e.g. pokemon, like me), and therians*, who are earthly animals
*not all therians are comfortable with calling themselves otherkin, due to the communities developing separately, then converging over time (3/3)
*not all therians are comfortable with calling themselves otherkin, due to the communities developing separately, then converging over time (3/3)
Q: "how can you identify as something that doesn't exist?"
A: a lot of spiritual otherkin personally believe in a multiverse, and that their spirits were originally from a different universe, then reincarnated into this one. for spiritual 'kin, you can imprint on any (1/2)
A: a lot of spiritual otherkin personally believe in a multiverse, and that their spirits were originally from a different universe, then reincarnated into this one. for spiritual 'kin, you can imprint on any (1/2)
kind of species, real or fictional. it all has to do with how your brain develops. there are other explanations than imprinting, but it would take a long time for me to explain them all, and i'm not 100% comfortable explaining experiences i personally haven't had. (2/2)
Q: "what is species dysphoria?"
A: the feeling that your body doesn't match what it's supposed to be, specifically tied to species-based characteristics, generally discomfort. for example, i'm personally very uncomfortable with my facial characteristics and my lack of a tail.
A: the feeling that your body doesn't match what it's supposed to be, specifically tied to species-based characteristics, generally discomfort. for example, i'm personally very uncomfortable with my facial characteristics and my lack of a tail.
Q: "what is 'shifting'?"
A: "shifting" can come in a few forms, but the kind most people know about is mental shifting, where otherkin individuals may feel more mentally and behaviorally aligned with their kintypes than usual. this doesn't mean that they'll start (1/2)
A: "shifting" can come in a few forms, but the kind most people know about is mental shifting, where otherkin individuals may feel more mentally and behaviorally aligned with their kintypes than usual. this doesn't mean that they'll start (1/2)
barking at you or something like that. they just feel a bit more aligned with their kintype, is all. phantom shifting is when an otherkin individual is experiencing phantom limb sensations relating to their kintype. for example, i might feel my tail or my ears. (2/2)
Q: "how is being otherkin different from being a furry?"
A: a lot of furries just see their fursona as an abstraction of themselves, not necessarily a representation. they don't feel like they ARE an animal, just that it REPRESENTS them. the big distinction to be made is (1/2)
A: a lot of furries just see their fursona as an abstraction of themselves, not necessarily a representation. they don't feel like they ARE an animal, just that it REPRESENTS them. the big distinction to be made is (1/2)
identifying as vs. identifying with. if you identify as something, then you consider yourself to be that thing, and that would make you otherkin. if you identify with something, you feel that it represents you, or you find it relatable, which is not an otherkin experience. (2/2)
Q: "what should i avoid around my otherkin friends to make them comfortable?"
A: this is highly subjective bc everyone has their own limits, and it's best to just ask your friends to let you know if anything makes them uncomfortable. using myself as an example again, (1/2)
A: this is highly subjective bc everyone has their own limits, and it's best to just ask your friends to let you know if anything makes them uncomfortable. using myself as an example again, (1/2)
i would ask you to strictly avoid:
-calling me human
-using the word "kinnie" around me (bad mental associations)
-implying that i have a choice of whether or not to be otherkin
but again! it's best to ask your friends what to avoid around them bc everyone is different (2/2)
-calling me human
-using the word "kinnie" around me (bad mental associations)
-implying that i have a choice of whether or not to be otherkin
but again! it's best to ask your friends what to avoid around them bc everyone is different (2/2)
Q: "what is 'alterhuman'?"
A: alterhuman is an umbrella term that seeks to include a lot of different experiences, such as otherkinity, plurality, and many others. i, personally, am not a fan of this term because it would imply that i'm human and would rather not be called it.
A: alterhuman is an umbrella term that seeks to include a lot of different experiences, such as otherkinity, plurality, and many others. i, personally, am not a fan of this term because it would imply that i'm human and would rather not be called it.
Q: "are otherkin harmful to trans people?"
A: NO. WE ARE NOT. just because transphobes weaponize us against trans people, it doesn't mean that our existence is transphobic. it's the same as them weaponizing xenogenders against binary trans folks. don't let them get away with it
A: NO. WE ARE NOT. just because transphobes weaponize us against trans people, it doesn't mean that our existence is transphobic. it's the same as them weaponizing xenogenders against binary trans folks. don't let them get away with it
Q: "so is otherkin a gender?"
A: no, otherkin is not a gender identity. it's its own identity. however, your otherkin identity can influence your gender identity and vice versa. your identities are not all in a vacuum, separate from each other. they all interact.
A: no, otherkin is not a gender identity. it's its own identity. however, your otherkin identity can influence your gender identity and vice versa. your identities are not all in a vacuum, separate from each other. they all interact.
okay!! i think that's about it for now. will add onto this later if i get more questions.
correction for something earlier in the thread! tripped over my words, very sorry about that. https://twitter.com/Espeonkin/status/1358847258096242692
gonna post another question+answer in a bit bc i just thought of something but i wanna take this opportunity to say that if you think you might be otherkin but don't have anyone to talk to it about please feel free to DM me on twitter or on discord (Espeon#0196)!
Q: "are otherkin and xenogenders the same thing?"
A: no. from what i can tell, xenogenders are more of a way of explaining one's gender by relating it to something else. as i said before, otherkinity is not a gender identity. however, plenty of otherkin use xenogenders (1/2)
A: no. from what i can tell, xenogenders are more of a way of explaining one's gender by relating it to something else. as i said before, otherkinity is not a gender identity. however, plenty of otherkin use xenogenders (1/2)
to help describe the way their otherkin identity and gender identity influence each other. (2/2)
