#alterhuman education

[lycanthropyreturned]

The Personification of theriotypes; A general discussion and small rant

The rise of popularity of therianthropy as a whole can be seen as a generally good or bad thing. There are many people discovering themselves due to this popularity, but there is a huge abundant of misinformation and uneducated folks.

Now, I'm not saying that being uneducated is necessarily a bad thing. We all start that way, and the only way to improve that is to put more educational sources out there. I don't believe in bashing folks for being uneducated if they are genuinely wanting to learn (now if you're spreading misinformation purposefully that's another story). And many of the "newer" community are well- let's face it- kids.

Kids tend to be very interesting creatures in and of themselves. While I myself am still young, there is most definitely a maturity gap within the community due to the amount of minors. Now this doesn't mean I think that minors should be excluded entirely from therianthropy, but I believe that there should be more educational sources for them. Kids tend to see one thing and RUN with it, lashing out at folks who will tell them they are wrong- kindly or otherwise. It's in the nature of any young creature to act with this boldness, and we can't fault them at that.

However one thing that is very popular within the therian community does tend to irk me, and that's the personification of theriptypes. I have seen more and more of this, and I think that it is an extreme misunderstanding of therianthropy.

Therianthropy is identifying as nonhuman, non-physically, involuntarily. YOU identify as this creature or animal. No one else does, no one part of your brain does, you as a WHOLE identify as this.

Far too often I will see people (mostly kids) treating their theriotypes as if they were fursonas and OCs. I do think that this can also be contributed by the large cross-over of furries and therians in the same community, but it does need to be correctly (nicely and appropriately). I see people naming their theriotypes, giving them full backstories, giving a design to them, etc. (while the design thing can be a completely different discussion (which I plan to do) I am mostly talking about the more extreme situations.).

This, to say gently, confuses me. A theriotype is not something that is separate from the individual. And if it is, then that is not therianthropy. Perhaps some other nonhuman identity, but not therianthropy. I do understand that therianthropy can be spiritual, and I myself have a spiritual theriotype, but even so, that is you. You are not a separate being from your identities and I think that gets glossed over a lot in the newer community.

Therianthropy is identifying RIGHT NOW, in THIS LIFE, as nonhuman. If someone has a non-human past life but does not identify as that non-human being right now, in this life? That is not therianthropy. Sure, it is a different form of alterhumanity, but it does not fall under the category of therianthropy. Which isn't a bad thing! Labels do not necessarily have to define you.

I believe a lot of this was lost in translation to the younger crowd. Like said, the furry and therian community have a large overlap (I'm also a furry!) and the two can have some mix-ups. I think people have taken a lot of the aspects of fursonas and related them to therianthropy- which is just inaccurate to the community as a whole.

While I for sure will write something on the topic, being a furry is just a hobby, while being a therian is a full identity. You, yourself, right now, are identifying as this non-human creature. I think this gets lost in translation with the fact that therianthropy is not a choice either, but that's also another topic.

While it doesn't seem to be as rampant in more mature spaces, I believe the personification of theriotypes has become largely popular, which paints therianthropy in the incorrect light as a whole. I think there are many things that pain therianthropy in an incorrect light, this just being one of them I wanted to focus on.

The way to combat this however is much simpler than many people think. It's simply just spreading education. Spreading correct and informational sources with kindness. I also believe that if a young child is doing no harm directly, it's fine to let them be. If a kid has a "Cat self" who has a different name they like to act like, and don't claim that you have to have these things to be a therian, let them have their fun. It's when someone directly spreads that misinformation is when they need to be corrected (nicely! Being rude and harsh to someone is just a good way to get them to have a negative view of the community.).

Education is one of the most important things in communities like the therian community, alongside understanding. Hopefully in the future there is an influx of that, and I hope to be there to see it.

[shadowbandshub]

Hey.. tumblr.. alterhuman community.. therian community.. nonhumans..

come look at this..

its amazing.. makes my tail wag at the labels..

[lsaneasconstellation]

Alterhuman

Alterhuman is a term referring to people who have an alternative experience of humanity compared to the societal norm. It encompasses a near infinite amount of identities, though the most common are otherkin, therians, otherhearted, otherlinkes, systems, vampires, and fictionkin.

However, while someone may fall under the alterhuman label, they may not identify with it nor want it used. Therefore, it is important to ask if others use this term and why Lsaneas uses "alterhuman/otherkin" when referring to this group.

One of many alterhuman flags:

[shadowbandshub]

So real, i relate to all of these, but mostly the dysphoria, the medical transition, and neurodivergence.

[lemon16]

been seeing a lotta misinformation out there, so what is alterhumanity/theriantropy?

Theriantropy is feeling like you are an animal in any way (fully or partially.) Alterhumanity is an umbrella term that includes things like voluntary identities used for coping, systems, fictional characters, mythical races like elves, etc.

there are past life/ spiritual alterhumans. These people believe they had a past life.

There are psychological alterhumans. these people feel like they are alterhuman for some other reason.

Some people identify physically as animals. i dont really get it, but its not hurting me so i dont care. If you believe that you physically transform into an animal, that could be clinical lycanthropy, or something similar, witch is a disorder (i think?) that you should do research on if you think you might have it.

Alterhumans do not use litter boxes, eat pet food, or feel attracted to animals. If you do, that is disgusting.

Here are some things that alterhumanity is not!:

an aesthetic

a religion

doing quadrobics

wearing masks or tails or other things

[canines-crown]

I usually don't mind the therians on TikTok. AT ALL. Like... I post silly quads stuff myself!

The only thing that confuses me are posts were (especially younger) therians will try to educate non alterhumans, but they try really hard to make themselves look "normal"? If that makes sense?

"Therians DON'T think they're animals!!!!!"

🤨

We don't? Isn't that our whole thing? Identifying as an animal? Help?

[baebeeblogs]

ngl I hate those therian videos who sole purpose is making fun of fake therians, like yeah I get it but shouldn't you try to help educate people before assuming there making fun of you and them making fun of them back??

like even if I was in the wrong, if someone just made fun of me and expressed how much of a fool I am then I wouldn't be edger to know better. I would just hate you out of spite.

[shadowbandshub]

I wanna add something, The term "Transspecies" (Well, Trans-speciesals) was first used in july 21, 1994 suggesting acceptance of people being born in the wrong species!

My guess is thats the first time physical alterhumans were mentioned in a way. Sourced from : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9Y-YaRS0Go&list=PL1dN9GTwxwPrcz4tme0oBSxNUVA-ivAtf at the timestamp around 7:12 (though the description says its inaccurate, ive personally seen this thread but i forgot where the link was)

and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=miSyXSesyzw&t=10s

A Brief Alterhuman History

Here is a quick recap of the history of the alterhuman community, from 1972 onwards.

1972-1990

Communities of beings who believed themselves to be elves began to appear in the 70s. In 1990, the word “Otherkind”/“otherkin” is used for the first time in Elfinkind Digest, coined to include non-elf “others”.

1990-1999

Alt Horror Werewolves (AHWW) newsgroup is created to discuss werewolves; it became a place people felt safe to discuss identifying as an animal. Those in this group referred to themselves as “weres” and “lycanthropes”. The original users of this group became known as “greymuzzles”. Later, “therianthrope” would be coined as a more general version of lycanthrope. In 1999, “phenotypes” was used to discuss what “type” of therianthrope someone was.

In 1994, the first “howl”, was organized by a were in Ohio for members of the AHWW community to get to know one another. After this, several “howls” would be held multiple times a year, both by the AHWW community and other therian communities.

For otherkin, gatherings (or “gathers”) would be held by a variety of ‘types including elves, dragons, and unicorns.

2002-2004

The seven-pointed star (septegram) was used as a symbol to represent otherkin. Later, the theta-delta was created to represent therians.

Fictionkin was first used in 2004 on LiveJournal. However, for many years after this, “otakukin” and “mediakin” were the primary terms. “Fictionkin” was not the primary term until the 2010s.

2010-2011

The subreddit r/Otherkin is created. In 2011, the otherkin community blossomed on Tumblr. The community was reportedly focused on activism and validation and the term “non-human” was in use at this time. “Otherhearted” is coined on The Daemon Forum in 2011.

2014-2017

“Alterhuman” was coined by phasmovore on Tumblr to describe those who “differ from the common societal use of humanity”; it is now seen as an “umbrella term for otherkin, therians, fictionkin, dragons, vampires, plurals/systems, copinglinkers, and otherhearted individuals”.

Copinglink was coined by who-is-page on Tumblr in 2016, who defined it as “a nonhuman identity which is consciously created”.

In 2017, “Otherkin” was added to the Oxford dictionary.

2020-2024

The now widely used alterhuman flag was created in 2020 by Quiznoscoyote on Twitter and consists of green, white, and purple stripes with the theta-delta and septagram symbols interlocked.

In 2024, “holothere” was coined by Defrostedvertebrae on Tumblr to describe physical nonhumans.

——————————————————

Our history is in the making, where it goes is up to us. Keep in mind that some day, someone will look back at the community now and call us part of their history.

Sources

The House of Chimeras, Addendums to Scribner’s The Otherkin Timeline (November 2021). www.houseofchimeras.weebly.com

O. Scriber, The Otherkin Timeline (September 2012). www.orion.kitsunet.net/nonfic.html

The Otherkin Wiki. Alterhuman. www.otherkin.wiki/alterhuman

The Otherkin Wiki. Otherhearted. www.otherkin.wiki/otherhearted

The Otherkin Wik. Copinglink. www.otherkin.wiki/copinglink

[mxmorbidmidnight]

between bullying, disability burnout, constant accidents (ie, being accidentally body slammed by almost full grown men), excessive stress, more bullying, horrific and large scale junk food consumption during exam seasons and overall shit fuckery, School is managing to single handedly SLAUGHTER my health. god someone send healing potions. the weakness in my dragon hide is EDUCATIOn. GOOD LORD!

[shadowbandshub]

What is alterhuman?

Alterhuman, Alterbeing, or Alternative Humanity Personal Identity (“AHPI”), is a category of personal identity which encompasses identification that is alternative to the common societal idea of humanity.

Some of the sublabels of alterhumanity can include:

Otherkin, Therian, Fictionkin, Etc

Otherlink, Copinglink, Funlink, Etc

Otherhearted, Animalhearted, Planthearted, Etc

Transspecies, Physical Alterhuman Identities (PAI), Nonhumans, Etc

Soulbonders, Thoughtforms, Etc

Basically, An alterhuman is a personal identification of what is considered not ideal to the common societal idea of humanity.

Hope this helps!

[shepherdingthepie]

live laugh love standardized testing

(I’m joking, it can die in a ditch)

[elliott-the-creature]

I would say I’m pretty accepting of nonhumans/therians/otherkins (I consider myself a nonhuman), but I don’t really understand fictionkins.

The reason for this is because there’s more than one animal in the world (there’s more than one mouse/cat/dog/bird/lizard), but in terms of characters, there’s only ONE of those (there’s only one Harry Potter, Twilight Sparkle, etc.). I understand if someone’s fictionkin is a species from a fictional series (alternates, dekus, etc.), but if someone identifies with an individual character, it feels like you’re stealing their identity (it probably isn’t like that, idk).

I’m new to the nonhuman community, so please feel free to educate me and leave your imput. I just want to understand what it means to be a fictionkin, because all the resources I’ve found have still left me confused.

[kthecritter]

Hii, if it'd be possible, could I have a miss circle (FPE) wallpaper with dessert themes and the fictionkin symbol? Thank you so muchh :3

here you go, I hope you enjoy! hope you meant dessert and not desert, because that would be awkward lol

[pinkdiamonddd]

Hi, I'm beau. Former moderator of a discord server called "Theriopology"

If you know this group, or know the owner of it, I highly suggest you read the document I linked below and boost the tiktok I made about it.

They have done, in my opinion, horrible things that I think people who know them should know about, but the word hasn't really gotten out yet.

I'd appreciate if you would help me and boost my story (though I'm not forcing anything.)

Thank you.

[daybreaksys]

"oh my gOd people think they are animals! what an unimaginable disorder, how to be so stupid, look at them"

gestures at a bunch of highly educated people with very specific PhDs

[cringeandproudx3]

We wanna learn more about identities we don't understand so pls comment unbiased info Abt objectum and conceptum, factkin and physical alterhumans

Were very confused on factkin, especially our factives, know not much Abt objectum and conceptum and we're afraid we might be misunderstanding physical alter humans

So pls explain to us we're happy to listen we wanna be a safe space :)

Mox 🌷🌷🌷