#fictionkin is�� a word. not sure it fully describes my experience. | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

mechanical-sunchild · 9 days ago

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I want to start by saying that this is just my own opinion, I am not an authority in any way. I also do not say what I'm about to say to tell you off or 'hate on you' in any capacity. I can only say how this came off to me, and go from there. There is an tl;dr at the end if you only want to see the advice and not the whole breakdown of why I give it. Context: I may have multiple 'types, but when it comes to my involuntary fictomere, I am extremely serious and have been awakened this way for almost ten years now. I am very serious about every aspect of myself, especially this one and identify as physically nonhuman/holothere. I continuously take steps to live as myself physically including having changed my name to the 'right' one - as you describe - so I believe I am possibly the target for your term and thus I decided to comment.

I love the time and effort you have put into this, much more than I have done with any of the soft terms I have coined (though only theriform ever took off I think) and I can tell that finding a word for those in your situation is very important to you.

I'm not sure jumping away to a new term instead of addressing community issues is exactly the right way to go about handling dissatisfaction with your communities. Especially when it is impossible to make sure that the behaviour won't simply start again in the new community.

I do think a term like thespiad could exist though, if only in the hopes of creating a smaller nicher community under the 'fictionfolk/fictionkin' umbrella with more singular experiences and wants/needs for their identity. I'm just not sure if this is the term as it stands now, of if perhaps it needs some tweaks first.

My main issue therefore has nothing to do with the word itself but with your motivation, or at least the way you have phrased your motivation.

I know a fair few that use the fictionkin label (whether they like it or not) who are as serious as you about who they are, and about living in as much as possible, the life of their true self.

"[...] it is often now associated with fandom culture and the 'voluntary' exploration of new identities."

I also know many who seem to me to take on new fictional identities rapidly and without thought and though it's easy for me to wonder if they're actually constelic, or otherlinking, or jumping onto fictionflickers and calling it fictionkin which they should not be - I only see the online side. I don't see the internal side, and I can't tell how deeply they feel their identity, or how long they've been considering it. I don't know how long they spend offline thinking about their fictotype.

We can't judge whether this is voluntary or involuntary from a snapshot of this persons journey as they decide to show it to us.

"The community no longer fully captures the complex experiences of those of us who view our fictional identities as intrinsic rather than chosen."

Are you talking about 'Kin For Fun' here? This is one of the issues which needs to be addressed and our words reclaimed instead of throwing baby out with the bathwater. If you are referring to those who don't seem to be 'as serious' as you and therefore can make the identity and concept feel 'watered down' to you, see my above paragraph about you/us not really knowing what's going on for them including whether it is voluntary. Most fictionkin I talk to and see do not think their identity is chosen - which is within definition of the term - so I'm really not sure which circles you are in but perhaps you should get out of them.

"The current community primarily emphasizes exploration and acquisition of new fictional identities, much more than the further development and understanding of existing ones."

Again, you have no idea how much these people are pouring into each and every new 'type they present. You are unfortunately coming off as judgemental towards those with multiple 'types too, simply because you dislike the way they talk about their newly awakened 'types. I have multiple 'types, not all fictional, but I am also very serious about my fictotype as mentioned above. Where do I fall?

I get the need to find people to have deeper talks with. I would like to do the same. You are not wrong for being keenly interested in not just figuring out 'who' but 'why' and 'how' and 'what does this mean?'. I want to express that clearly. I just think you have quickly chosen to judge the behaviours of other fictionfolk for experiencing themselves differently to you, or supposedly different, and therefore have assumed the whole lot who use the term 'fictionkin' are hopelessly unserious and have corrupted the community somehow. I frame it this way because you present your opinions as 'fact' about the community by the plain way you state it.

The way to encourage the development and understanding of existing fictotypes in the community is to talk about yours in ways that encourage others to talk about theirs in similar ways and create spaces where this is not see as 'spamming' or 'boring'. Online interactions generally favour quick, witty, funny, relatable comments over deeper talks so many fictionkin will prioritise these interactions which get them attention over other things they might genuinely want to do but fear nobody will care about or judge for. That bothers me too, but it's not a fictionkin issue, and needs to be addressed not avoided.

"My fictotype expands beyond just online expression and would exist regardless as to my involvement in the community."

This is true of the vast majority of those who use the term fictionkin whilst genuinely understanding what experiences it is meant to convey (i.e. are not KFF).

"For those who involuntarily identify as fictional characters and have a desire to live them out physically, I believe we deserve our own distinct community. The fictionkin community faces challenges in being taken seriously, both internally and externally, and it is crucial that we begin to assert our identities with the seriousness it deserves."

Yes, we do struggle to be taken seriously, and we do need to assert our identities as crucially serious - by dispelling misinformation about what fictionkin means and how it presents as an identity. I really don't think that simply adding a new term to the vast amount out there is going to result in us being taken more seriously, it just gives up the fight for the word fictionkin in a sense. But also from your above comments I once again fear that what you mean by this is that you're casting a darkened eye towards those you are simply assuming are not as serious as you because they express themselves differently to you.

If this is intended for a term used by physical fictionfolk, then perhaps just say that (as you later do) without all of this part about fictionkin. That at least is an identifiable distinction from the broader fictionkin which does not require physical identification and needs, just an internal sense of identity. It feels though like we're having two talks here, one about wanting a identity for more physically identifying fictionfolk and another where we just take little bashes at the fictionkin community for seeming to behave in a way we dislike.

I'm also not sure if the prefix is the best chosen, although I actually adore how the whole word sounds if I'm honest - simply because of it's association with acting. You probably don't want people being pedantic about it like some are with 'kin means family!!' and say that well since it's related to acting, that means you are acting/roleplaying. Same with the symbol which although cool, is associated with simply playing a role.

tl;dr If you are to coin this term officially, consider the association with acting as a word origin and symbol might give the impression that this is a term for those who are acting/roleplaying an identity. Also, regardless of your internal reasoning, remove all mentions of fictionkin from the definition/information related to the term as it comes off as more you expressing a personal negative opinion of the community rather than relevant to the term at hand. The only part you might need to keep in, for context, is

"In contrast to the broader Fictionkin label, “Thespiad” emphasizes the desire for active transformation and alignment with one’s fictional self physically."

As this one does clarify why and how it is different from fictionkin without looking down on the term in fictionkin or those who have a community around it in any way.

“Thespiad”: Proposing a New Term for Fictionkin Who Involuntarily Identify as Fictional Characters (Under Discussion...)

This proposal contains extensive research and thoughts that I have spent considerable time processing and organizing. It is still in the early stages despite hours poured in, and I am finally opening it up for public feedback. I value your perspectives, as they will help me identify areas I may have overlooked while developing this terminology. If you have suggestions for a more fitting term or wish to share your own experiences, please feel free to contact me.

Purpose

While the term “Fictionkin” is predominately used, it is often now associated with fandom culture and the 'voluntary' exploration of new identities. The community no longer fully captures the complex experiences of those of us who view our fictional identities as intrinsic rather than chosen.

The current community primarily emphasizes exploration and acquisition of new fictional identities, much more than the further development and understanding of existing ones. As a result, I have struggled to find a sense of belonging within community spaces in recent years as I actively seek to express my fictotype in my daily life as that is who I am. My fictotype expands beyond just online expression and would exist regardless as to my involvement in the community.

For those who involuntarily identify as fictional characters and have a desire to live them out physically, I believe we deserve our own distinct community. The fictionkin community faces challenges in being taken seriously, both internally and externally, and it is crucial that we begin to assert our identities with the seriousness it deserves.

The “New Term”: Thespiad (Θεσπιάδης)

Pronunciation: /THES·PI·AD/ Etymology: The prefix "Thes-" is derived from Thespis, the ancient Greek actor who is often credited as the first person to perform as an actor in the context of Greek theater. The suffix "-iad" is a classical suffix used to denote a group of people with shared characteristics or traits.

Usage:

Thespiad: A person who involuntarily identifies as a fictional character and actively desires to express it.

Thespic: An adjective to describe traits or actions related to being a Thespiad.

Thesp/Thespiotype: A specific fictional character that an individual identifies with (e.g., Pikachu from Pokémon).

Thespiades: Plural form of Thespiad.

This term, though rooted in the Greek language, is not synonymous with the modern term “Thespian” (actor), which has become more generalized.

Who This Term Is For?

The term “Thespiad” is intended for those who experience an involuntary identification as a fictional character; When you are a Thespiad you identify 'as' that character. This distinction is critical: it is not merely an identification or connection with a character, but a deeply felt, intrinsic sense of self. In contrast to the broader Fictionkin label, “Thespiad” emphasizes the desire for active transformation and alignment with one’s fictional self physically.

This can involve actions such as changing one's name, relocating to a place reminiscent of your source's setting/location, or altering one's appearance to match that of the fictional character. These practices reflect an attempt to embody the fictional identity in real life.

The Process of Development

In developing a new term, I explored various linguistic roots from Latin, Greek, and Old English. However, many of the terms I curated with this method were too vague or didn't come across as practical. These terms didn't feel inclusive and seemed shaky in definition.

So, I turned to researching about historical people who showcased a similar nature to that of fictionkin (though maybe not exactly) or significantly influenced the storytelling we create and consume today.

Historical Origins

Thespis (Θέσπις) could provide a meaningful historical precedent for this term. Often considered the first actor in the context of Greek theater, Thespis revolutionized storytelling by stepping out of the chorus to portray individual roles, thus creating the idea of the actor as someone who "becomes" the character they portray. His contributions laid the groundwork for modern theater, in which performers transform themselves into characters, not merely to portray them but to bring life to them.

This historical figure could serve as a metaphor for our experiences as Thespiades—individuals who identify with fictional characters not as an act of fan admiration, but as a form of personal and transformative expression.

Metafiction and Fictional Identity

Fictionkin identities often intersect with the concept of metafiction, which explores the boundary between fiction and reality. For Thespiades, the experience of identifying with a fictional character is not purely imaginative but is an essential part of our reality. By acknowledging the gap between the real and the fictional, we can better understand the nuances of this identity. This intersection underscores the need for a term that encompasses the lived reality of these individuals—one that acknowledges both the fictional nature of the identity and its deep roots in personal experience.

Our Symbol: The Drama Masks 🎭

As part of this proposal, I suggest adopting the drama masks—symbols of comedy and tragedy—as a unifying emblem for the Thespiad identity. These masks have long been associated with theater, transformation, and self-expression, making them an apt symbol for those who seek to align their real-world selves with their fictional counterparts. Just as these masks convey the performative nature of theater, they also reflect the process of self-discovery and transformation that many Thespiades undergo.

If you find that this new terminology resonates with your experience, I would greatly appreciate your feedback. Similarly, if it does not fully align with your perspective, I welcome your input as well. Please note that this post is still a work in progress, and I will continue to refine and update it over time. Thank you for taking the time to read and engage with this content.

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