#on voluntary identities

[critterfloozy]

Oh god Silver saying that he's unburdened by what has come before. The idea that being separated from family, from history, from tradition, from heritage as a boon, that exposure to different people and different ways of life and points of view is corrupting. The amount of erasure and horror involved in that one turn of phrase, kindly said.

(And the way that's how empires and hegemony work - how America works. Residential Schools and and Ford's classes for workers and one of the horrors of chattel slavery being the separation of families and punishment for traditional beliefs)

Above his paygrade, he doesn't have to think about it.

[liondrakes]

On Chosen Identity and the Optics of Authenticity

by Sivaan of Candlekeep

Blurb: A personal essay in which I discuss the nuances of having a chosen identity. I also break down my thoughts on perceived “seriousness” or authenticity within the community regarding choice.

Choice is a complicated subject within the nonhuman community. Whether or not it's fully accepted depends on who you’re asking. If you ask me, I’d say yes but also no.

I say "fully" because there's plenty of individuals who'll say that they support or recognize their peers who chose their identities, but only if they identify this way under a broad label (like nonhuman) or a specific label like otherlinker. Calling oneself a chosen therian or chosen otherkin strikes a chord in complete strangers who feel like it's their duty to "correct" the language of other complete strangers.

Chosen identity is usually acknowledged in one of two ways:

It's "valid", but it's not as important to an individual as identities that aren't chosen.

It's "valid", but it's not as serious as identities that aren't chosen.

Neither approach treats our experiences with as much grace or understanding as other experiences.

It adds insult to injury in seeing discussions around our "validity" in general (i.e. asking if we even belong in this community). There's more of that than any discussion around what it's like for us to choose or the significance of choice in our identities.

I’ve addressed my grievances before in Involuntariness, Voluntariness, and the Stigmas in Between, but I decided to revisit my thoughts in an organized piece. I also decided to discuss my relationship with choice. I’m collectively quoiluntary. In being quoiluntary, my relationship with origin doesn’t fall neatly on either side of this framework.

Personally, I experience all manners of origin but I’ll be focusing on the identities I’ve chosen in this essay. I’m only one person, and although it’s not guaranteed, I hope that my experiences can at least open some minds when it comes to chosen identity.

Starting off, I’m proud to be a Badger of Mossflower Country. Mossflower Badgers are archetypal in their existence, to say the least. Our depictions are comparable to that of fantasy dwarves. We’re renowned for our smithing, battle prowess, and hardiness. I may not apply every aspect of us to myself, but I love being a Mossflower Badger nonetheless.

Mossflower Badgers are somewhat anthropomorphic european badgers who’re among the most prominent tribes in Redwall, alongside mice and otters. I specify Mossflower because the Mossflower Woods is the general vicinity of most Redwall stories.

Moreover, not all Badgers dwell within Salamandastron, a notable badger stronghold typically occupied by men of the species. After all, the first badger that readers meet is Constance, a Badger Mother of Redwall. I personally prefer the position of “Badger of Salamandastron”, though. I am no lord nor lady, but I’m fond of this stronghold as a reader and as someone who chose this identity.

I’ve always admired these strong and noble folk. As a child, part of me even wanted to be a badger within Brian Jacques’s Redwall series. It’s like when kids muse on which Warriors clan they’d be in while taking quizzes or making characters. If I could choose to be in any tribe, I’d be a badger in a heartbeat.

A couple months ago, Redwall was one of the few childhood favorites I revisited through audiobooks. Those feelings resurfaced, except this time I knew I could become a Mossflower Badger if I wanted to. This identity started as a link. Soon after, I shared my introspections on this link in a Tumblr Community, specifically the Alterhuman Community.

Unlike most of my links, it became a part of my identity fairly quickly. I suspect it’s because of my familiarity and resonance with this fictional group. Those feelings have been around since my childhood.

One thing to take into account is that I incorporate another identity into this one. I didn’t choose to be a honey badger, but I do perceive myself as a semi-anthropomorphic honey badger when I am a Mossflower Badger. As I’ve mentioned earlier, Mossflower Badgers are exclusively european badgers in appearance. This makes sense given the settings of Redwall. Redwall takes place within a fantasy woodland based on the environments of England or Scotland if I’m not mistaken.

While I technically don’t belong in this environment, that never stopped me in being a Mossflower Badger. Technicalities are nothing against my convictions, and one thing about choice is that you are often your own master.

My appearance doesn’t define me as a Mossflower Badger. My character does. I am steadfast in my values. I support the agency and freedoms of all creatures. I’d rather go down swinging than bow my head in submission, than to sullenly accept plight at the hands of another. That’s just being humane on paper, but in relation to Redwall, that’s also the makings of a tried and true badger.

Furthermore, there’s an experience among Mossflower Badgers that’s not exclusive to them but happens to them so much that it reminds me of myself. Mossflower Badgers tend to carry a mental condition known as Bloodwrath. It intensifies the emotions, abilities and tolerances of an individual, essentially causing them to enter a berserker state. Often triggered in battle, it’s a traumatic ordeal for anyone who undergoes this state. It’s not completely without its setbacks in battle either, for it can cause someone to struggle with differentiating between their friends and their foes. It’s also very difficult to control. Not all badgers carry this condition, but it’s still quite common amongst us.

I don’t experience berserker shifts, per se. However, I do have schizophrenia-based disorders which affect my perception of self; this includes my perception of my species. In revisiting the Redwall series, I liken Bloodwrath to my own struggles with particularly intense or overwhelming bouts with psychosis. Obviously, I didn’t choose to have said experiences but I do think choosing to be a Mossflower Badger helped me reflect on those experiences on my own terms.

Though, I must specify this isn’t a copinglink. This is just another reason why Mossflower Badgers resonate with me so much, hence my decision in becoming one.

Much like Mossflower Badgers, some of my links formed simply because I wanted to be them. While there’s usefulness to terms like copinglinker and funlinker, I also feel like they’re more boxes to put on myself. It’s not often that I refer to my links under those specifics. I have exactly one copinglink, and I only label it as such because I believe that’s how that identity will stay. It exists to cope with a very upsetting point in my life which I won’t get into.

As for the rest of my links, I had only two supportlinks. Besides those, my links didn’t really need those labels since their reasonings tend to be a bit more nuanced than what’s proposed for otherlinkers.

I link Colossi because Shadow of the Colossus is not only my favorite game ever, but it is a game that has deeply inspired me as a creative. I chose to be one of its titular enemies to grow closer with the game I love.

This is a choice not made for fun, for aesthetics or for support, but made out of love and passion for something. There’s nothing wrong with the aforementioned reasons, of course; I just want folks to understand that choice isn’t limited to those avenues.

I linked the Starlii, an open species, because I really liked the species concept. One could argue that this started as an aeslink, but reading about them in detail made me more invested beyond their looks. I wanted to further explore this species and their lore but not exclusively through original characters and ‘sonas. To do so, I chose to be a Starliian.

With this link, I also realized it serves as an outlet for my connection with the sun. I’ve never had a word for that connection as it always felt like an impasse between being and not being. Being a Starliian helps me bridge that gap by being someone pulled from solar energy but not being a sun myself. This realization ultimately caused the Starlii species to transition from a link to a formative part of my identity.

Despite already having a non-chosen identity from Creatures of Sonaria, I linked two species from said source for completely different reasons. Funny enough, I don’t play Roblox whatsoever.

The Fleuralis species became the first of two supportlinks. I originally chose to be a Fleuralis because I wanted to express my leonine nature within its source. However, the reasons behind my choice soon changed. It was less about asserting my leonine nature, and more about leaning into a more imaginative, fanciful side of myself. I linked this species to better embody myself as a fantasy creature. It worked so well that it eventually became a part of me.

The second was the Verza species. Their dreamlike space aesthetics were nice and all, but what led me to linking this species was their presentation. I was drawn to the Verza because, for a lack of better words, they were very gender to me. I’ve been meaning to explore other means of presentation, such as androgyny and femininity, while being a transmasculine individual. They’re avenues of selfhood I’ve wanted to forge for myself but always struggled with to some extent.

I chose to be a Verza to tap into those qualities. The Verza species was an ideal model outside the standpoint(s) of cisnormativity and orthohumanity, respectively. I experimented with this species from a queer perspective, and doing so made me feel a whole lot better about myself. Eventually, it transitioned from being a supportlink to simply being me.

I am an otherlinker not for my chosen identities, but for my struggles in saying with confidence that I am (x) by choice. Many of my constels come about because of involuntariness or vagueness. Additionally, I don’t get to choose what I shift into either. My polymorphism pretty much resets each day and takes the shape of my constels or core identities at random. I can choose a new species, no doubt about that. Embracing the choice is the hard part.

I’m so used to either knowing and not having a say in it or not knowing at all and letting things be as they may that it’s difficult for me to adjust to my choices. I’m an otherlinker because linking allows me to process those choices and build up my confidence.

If the process wasn’t so difficult, I probably wouldn’t call myself an otherlinker. There would be no need to. I could just specify which identity came about in what way if I felt like it. At the end of the day, I am who I am.

As is the case for chosen therians, otherkind, and nonhumans. They are who they are. Simple as that. I know that idea gets under the skin of some folks, but I implore them to ask themselves why it bothers them so much.

Someone choosing to be otherkin or a therian doesn’t inherently mean that they think all experiences involve choice. Someone choosing themselves doesn’t inherently mean they proceed with this identity in a disingenuous manner. These concerns boil down to people’s perceived “seriousness”.

The topic of “seriousness” has confused me for longer than it should have. What does it mean to have a serious identity? Identity is a nuanced subject. Who cares about its tone? I love having in-depth discussions about my experiences, or the experiences of others, with my peers. I also love joking around with my partner, saying “You wouldn’t hurt a little guy like me, would you?” during a badger shift and seconds before she snipes me in Splatoon. I love writing essays and poetry about my identity, but I also love Wet Beast Wednesday like any other blogger.

Voluntary identities are approached with the perspective that they aren’t given much thought. Chosen therians, otherkind, etc. are thought to be extremely laidback about their nonhumanity and go about their choice(s) without consideration. Meanwhile, their involuntary peers are thought to treat nonhumanity with the “seriousness” and complexity it holds as an experience.

Not only is the former’s behavior a non-issue, this approach is a false equivalency. Plenty of involuntary therians, otherkind, etc. have blogs and make posts that are lighthearted. You’ll find an infinite number of memes, shitposts, and reblog bait (ex: “Share to turn someone into a dragon!”) in our tags. Some are also shapeshifters, polymorphs, polykin or polytherians, and constelic nonhumans with many identities of their own. These qualities are not unique to voluntary members whatsoever.

I understand not relating to that sort of content. It’s not my speed unless I see something that actually humors me. That said, I don’t make it my problem. All of us engage with the community differently. I shared my thoughts with my partner a while ago, and I said something in passing that I feel is still relevant now. Perceivable “seriousness”, or lack thereof, is just another way to stress about authenticity.

Authenticity is a hurdle for any community. It’s certainly no stranger to us. This applies to both personal contexts (ex: “Am I still (x) if I (x)?”) and general contexts (ex: What are your thoughts on (x)?) among nonhumans.

Personal contexts come in the form of second-guessing oneself. It’s common to see a new member questioning every single detail about themself and worrying if it is the “right” or “wrong” means of experience. Some will find themselves in a community where they feel like they belong, but don’t want to “overstep” and risk being invalidated or ousted. They pour a lot of focus into what is the “right” or “wrong” way of being instead of focusing on their own journey. Regardless, that journey can still get caught up in concerns regarding validity.

The bridge between that and general communal contexts comes in the form of discourse. Old discourse is kicked up, and old stances are put into place to determine who is and is not one of us. I’m coming up on three years of being in this community, and for the first year or so, I wasn’t all that active. Most of my involvement started in early 2024, and despite the recency, even I’m tired of the tit-for-tat nature of our discourses.

This usually happens out of concern for KFFs (folks who “kin-for-fun”), trolls, and misinformed newcomers affecting the community. Even so, KFFs typically frequent fandom spaces and don’t associate themselves with us. They are hecklers, not participants. A multifandom blog asking their mutuals to “kin assign” them is not the same as someone who chose to be a werewolf. Moreover, a troll is a troll. I know our community has faced its fair share of assholes poking around, but someone identifying as a therian by choice isn’t enough evidence to go off of. As for misinformation, sharing resources and information is always welcomed. You can do that without trying to nudge someone out of a label.

In this case, folks tend to do this by nudging others towards using otherlinker. Otherlink/er is often used as a default for chosen identity, but it’s up to the individual whether or not they want to label their identity as such. I support spreading information about other labels in our community, but I don’t think insisting upon said labels helps anyone.

It’s like trying to nudge someone who uses synpath into using otherhearted instead. You have a general idea of what they’re talking about, so what difference does make it in telling them to use something else?

Some believe it’s to prevent confusion or conflation with words and their meanings, but I think folks are “helping” from a place of bias and aren’t aware of it. There’s so much emphasis on having a serious approach to identity that involuntariness, or intrinsic identity to some, is basically put on a pedestal. If there is any way to “prove” or assert the authenticity of your identity, it’s to experience it without choice.

It’s a perspective that I’ve grown bitter towards, even as someone with involuntary identities of my own. To me, this is a product of approaching involuntariness and voluntariness like a binary. This also comes from a place of respectability. Even if folks are loudly and proudly nonhuman, the ways in which they distance themselves from those who chose to be nonhuman leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

No one wants to be associated with “fluff”. No one wants to approach others’ experiences with fairness. Unless, of course, they linguistically separate themselves from therianthropy and otherkinity by calling themself something else.

They’re “valid” but only if they don’t label their experiences as we label ours! (This is sarcasm.)

Cringe culture is supposedly dead up until someone chooses to be what they want to be. Suddenly, they’re associated with all the bad actors one can list at the top of their head.

There’s a lot of “You’re so valid!”-posting but not a lot of substance coming from it. People want more weird and unapologetic nonhumans, but still struggle in accepting someone who creates their own identity. People want their peers to show how they’re “truly” are a part of this community. Yet, what we really need is to seal those old wounds.

We need to reconsider how we approach experiences outside of our own. Community isn’t just about the similarities we share but the diversity that brings us together as well. It’s about recognizing those differences and embracing them. There is beauty in innately being someone or something, but there is also beauty in choosing who you are and in having your own experiences outside of either concept.

Ask us about our experiences with choosing our identities and how we facilitate those decisions.

Ask us about our experiences fluctuating between or existing beyond the framework of voluntariness and involuntariness.

Don’t let it stop at the contexts of origin either. This applies to other stigmatized experiences as well. Physical nonhumanity, clinical zoanthropy, and endelity, to name a few. Reconsider holding discussions on someone’s right to be here. Instead, open up discussions alongside each other. How do they feel as members of this community?

If they’re comfortable sharing, ask them about their experiences. Their voices deserve to be heard just as much as everyone else. It’s not hard to do. It should be common sense, if anything.

If we focused more on understanding each other, regardless if we relate or not, I feel like this community would be a more welcoming place.

[flamingpudding]

Fictober23 Prompt: 15 - "Fine explain it to me."

Fandom: DPxDC

Rating: T

Warnings: Slight shipping but can be seen as platonic too

A/N: Just wanted to mention that I usually am more of a found family themed dpxdc writer but this was a self runner once I started writing until I realised that this could be seen as a ship.

Danny sipped on the champain, he was drinking leaning against the wall. Next to him, also leaning against the wall with crossed arms was Dan glaring at everyone that even remotely tried to approach them. Dani had disappeared into the crowds and Danny was convinced that she had made her way to the buffet table and had found a hiding place with whatever food she had piled up high on a plate. He had seen her do that before.

"How long do these things go?" Dan asked, glaring at someone specifically, Danny knew was a business partner of the fruitloop.

"A couple of hours, usually fruitloop lets us leave around 8 pm." Danny answered easily, surveying the area for any familiar face he might recognize despite knowing he wouldn't. Sam's family wasn't attending this gala and any face he could recognize was probably a business partner of Vlad or someone he had seen on a magazine cover.

"Dile back your glare. Your eyes are glowing red." He offhandedly mentioned to his time-clone-twin taking another sip. Dan only growled at him and looked stubbornly away, though his eyes lost the red color and turned back to a blue.

"How do you and Dani do this shit?"

Danny hummed, museing how things had changed over the past couple of years since Dani and him started to attend these Galas Vlad made them go too. "I hated it at first too. But you weren't socialized enough to attend and Dani used to flat out refuse but we got used to it and found our tactics on how to handle it. Dani usually raids the buffet and finds a hiding place, I just hang with Sam if she is here."

"But she is not." Dan growled, now glaring at a rich kid that had looked like it wanted to approach them but wisely decided to turn tail at Dan's glare. "These stuck up kids are trying to mock us aren't they?"

"Yup." Danny popped the p. "We could always ghost the fruitloop though."

"And have to listen to him lecturing us later? No thanks." Dan's eyes went over the people at this place. He saw Vlad talking to someone he was pretty sure had been on the cover of some tech magazine before but then his eyes stopped on a guy with black hair and blue eyes looking only slightly older than them that was staring at them very intensely.

Dan rammed his elbow into Danny's side, causing the other to wheeze and nearly drop the glass he was holding. The one he had spotted was now on his way to approach them and Dan narrowed his eyes. "You know that guy?"

Danny once he caught his breath again looked up and his eyes widened with recognition. "Shit!"

But before Dan could question the other about that guy, who was now speed walking with a business smile towards them, Danny grabbed him by the elbow and dragged him along with him. "We need to go, like right now."

Dan dragging his feed and making Danny literally drag him along only looked at his phone arching an eyebrow mockingly. "It's not 8 pm yet."

"Text the fruitloop. We are going-"

"Danny, what a pleasure to see you here, I didn't know you attended galas like this." Danny got cut off by the same guy Dan had spotted watching them. He hadn't seen how but somehow that guy had managed to cross the hall before them and block Danny's exit.

Dan heard Danny mutter a distinctive "fuck" before letting go of his elbow and smiling at the guy nervously. "Dick. What a surprise. I didn't know you would be here."

"Dick?" Dan repeated with an arched eyebrow but Danny swiftly stepped on his foot.

"Well Bruce thought it was about time again I attended one of the Galas with him again. You know how it is, don't you?" There was a glint in the other's eyes and Dan eyed him interested, the guy had some dirt on Danny. This was going to be interesting.

"Ah well yea, Vlad asked for me to come along too and someone got to represent my late parents too after all." Danny laughed nervously, rubbing the back of his neck and clearly avoiding direct eye contact.

"Represent your late parents?"

"Yea funny thing, my parents willed their company to me and-"

"I thought you said you were an engineer working for Dalv.Co? To think I told you about how I am with the Waynes and yet you never mentioned even once to me your relation to Masters." Dan blinked, okay so that guy was a friend Danny had made somehow outside of Sam and Tucker.

"I do! I do, it's just that… well... I can explain!"

"Fine, explain it to me."

Danny appeared to be a flustered mess while this Dick was staring at him with crossed arms. Dan watched them with fascination and a small amount of satisfaction at how Danny fumbled with his words. He then felt a tuck at his side and locked down to find Dani offering him popcorn.

"That's Dick Greyson." Something suddenly clicked for Dan and he smirked down at Dani.

"The guy that's teaching your Gymnastic course that Danny always volunteers to take you too?"

Dani nodded once more and now also sporting a mischievous smile.

[thedreadvampy]

I really can't substantiate bc it's an ongoing situation but one of my best friends works at a formerly extremely inclusive and queer-friendly women's charity which has recently come under new management

and they told me the other day

that their 'gender interrogation' is this week (their words, not the employer's)

apparently, they and 2 other employees out of about 30-40 have been singled out and asked to say whether they self-identify as women. implicitly as a condition of continued employment.

because it's a women's charity they all already self-IDed as women when they started there for the purposes of the Equalities Act exemption on gender-specific services.

oh also as a Strange Coincidence all 3 of the staff who've been asked to reassert their gender are butch/GNC and there are femme nb people there who aren't being asked. My friend is nonbinary (but uses she/her at work), but is a dyke in Dickies and buttondowns so has to pinkie promise they're a woman in order to Protect The Women.

they're so fucking mad about it cause they're like. wild that as an afab person I have to self-ID as a woman for it to count, but self-ID means nothing for amab people (the charity has already jettisoned all its transfem staff)

and I'm just like

jesus well that's not a good sign on the Weimar Mindmap is it.

[alterhumannerdygoat]

to BE voluntary or to DO voluntary

I think that otherlinking would be better off being characterised by the action of crafting the link, and not just by it being a "voluntary identity".

First of all, I've come to believe that solely dividing identities by whether or not they're voluntary isn't the best method. (Other members of the community have made excellent points about that already, also just. the quoiluntary label.) It forms an artificial binary whereas in reality, being somewhere in the middle is very common. Also, in and of itself, whether or not it's voluntary doesn't necessarily have a major impact on the actual experience.

In terms of 'linking being an action, (in my experience at least), you don't simply wake up and say "I've decided to be X." You actually have to link first in order for it to really feel like part of your identity. The linking can be simple and quick, but it's still something that you do.

This may not seem like a huge change, but in my opinion it would make a lot more sense for the distinction between otherlinking and other forms of nonhumanity to be framed this way. It seems a lot more accurate to the experiences I see, and personally I prefer the perspective of focusing on the linking.

Isn't the whole point of it being voluntary that you do the voluntary?*

(PLEASEEE if you have an opinion on this share it, this is some random thoughts of mine and I love, love, LOVE talking about 'linking!!!!)

*grammar is for the weak /silly

(also I don't know how common of a perspective this is, the otherlink page on therian fandom wiki kiind of gives of these vibes, but also is quite different from how I use the term lol)

[the-pea-and-the-sun]

sry to engage w goofy ass discourse but im kinda tired of seeing the phrase "afab intersex people used as a gotcha" abt ppl who dont like phrases like tma and tme like. i dont think thats whats happening man ur talking like intersex ppl arent actively on the site and talking abt their own experiences we're not using ourselves as a gotcha. like a lot of intersex ppl r talking abt it themselves u dont gotta keep pretending we're a fringe hypothetical case. intersex ppl are just often not included in these types of conversations and applying a label to someone based on their agab is fucked up no matter what its just more obvious when you're an intersex person and you know that sex is not binary and your agab doesnt reveal some intrinsic truth abt ur biology or identity

[transmasc-malleus]

remembering when majima was trying to connect with makoto and downplayed his own torture as "nothing compared to what she went through" and i genuinely think he believes that wholeheartedly.

[chordata-on-alterhumanity]

Hey, so i really liked the guide to otherlinking, but i am still really confused on some things, #1, Can you please give me more examples of otherlinking? Or how it happens? #2, Can you accidentally become an Otherlinker? Or is it always a choice? (sorry if i sound uneducated on this topic)

Hi! Thank you! I'm happy to hear you liked it :) I'm happy to try helping #1 Examples; How it happens I'll talk about past 'link experiences of mine for examples! -> Wind Archer Cookie - Back when I took on this 'link I felt a great pull of wanting to be a part of the Cookie Run character roster. I kept seeing people who were 'kin of it, and the characters seemed so appealing, but none of them struck me as ME. I eventually realized that I could decide that one of them is me. I chose Wind Archer, because they were the most appealing to me in appearance, and started identifying with their traits from there. I can relate to their serious nature, even if initially I was put off by how they seem too serious to be me. It was nice to lean into that capacity of seriousness by engaging with that linktype. It was also nice to engage with the aethetic - the green, the wind. -> European green woodpecker - I'd always wished to have a theriotype, and have felt animalistic shifts, but whenever I did introspection on those, it always turned out that it was just me feeling natural human impulses. Then one day I realized I could just pick an animal 'type. The decision of it being green woodpeckers was very random. I've become a bit obsessed with the birds' behaviours, life, and looks despite the randomness. I informed myself about them and internalized that info heavily. -> Kirekiyo Shinguji - I took on this 'link because Kiyo's story bothered me a ton and wouldn't leave my thoughts. By identifying as him, I managed to work through what it was that triggered me so much about him, but why at the same time I like him so much. My high interest in learning about humanity was one trait in common with him. His aesthetic slaps, too. Creeplord. -> Itachi Uchiha - I had a dream in which I was Itachi, a character I'd never cared about before in my life. The dream made me identify so easily with him. I kept that feeling of "This is me" around after the dream on purpose, reminding myself of me being him and picturing me as him physically. -> Raihan - An identity I took on to cope with exam stress and an injury. I like Raihan. He's fun and cool and relatable in some aspects. That's all LOL

To summarize: "How it happens" is very individual, both depending on the person and what it is that you set out to 'link and why. It can be to cope, for fun, for other reasons. Having someone in common with the linktype prior to linking already is helpful, but no necessary. You can link something you have nothing in common with, and adapt those traits along the way, or shape the thing into something more befitting of you (like an AU in the case of a fictional character).

#2 Accidental 'linking I'd say yes, if you don't know about the label and you do something that can be described as 'linking. I.e. choosing to identify as something in a very linker-y way before you've heard of the terms.

Otherlinking is, by definition, always a choice, yes.

But, sometimes alterhumanity can be quoiluntary - not quite clear on whether it was a choice or not. Most if not all of my linktypes have had a sort of pull to them, pulling me towards the decision - some more strongly than others. Are they kintypes because of that? Eh, I don't think too much about it. My process of growing into the identities has been built on a lot of active decision. Memories tend to not just come to me, but instead are built. I can't force just anything, because it has to make sense in my head and feel true, but I'm not left to the whims of chance when it comes to "remembering". I also don't try to find out what I look like - instead I carve myself. Shifts, too, are actively induced and built. These are rather different experiences from otherkin. Instead of discovering yourself, you build yourself. But, oh, hm. There's discovery in that as well. c:

I hope this makes sense and helps!

[jacks-manidiary]

Girlies I& decided to check out some girlblogs and I& discovered that a lot of manifestation advice can be really helpful for otherlinking!! I& heavily reccomend looking up how to manifest because the advice is supposed to be more general and apply to goal achieving in general, so especially with something intangible like achieving the identity you want I& found it to be super affirming and helpful!!!!

[primeministerofantarctica]

saw someone call the breadwinner a movie about being trans i am once again begging people to acknowledge Cultural Context instead of refitting stories to fit their own comfort levels

[liondrakes]

I agree with everything above, but also: not only can those experiences co-exist, but folks tend to overlook the fact that linking is an experience you build upon. It’s not the same as choosing yourself and knowing without question that you are that species.

Someone who deems themself otherkin by choice likely didn’t need to work towards incorporating their species into their identity. Once they chose to be that species, they knew who they are. That’s all they really needed. I don’t think it’s fair to shove them into a box out of convenience. That negates the nuances behind why people choose.

For me, it’s not as easy to incorporate a chosen identity into my own, thus I use otherlinker and specify identities that used to be links.

Identity is a spectrum of all sorts of different experiences and backgrounds. It doesn’t need to be a “this or that” situation!

my hot take is that it doesn't matter why you're otherkin or how you came to be otherkin- if you identify as or are another creature you can call yourself otherkin

yes this includes otherkin by choice

as long as someone choosing to be otherkin actually, earnestly identifies as otherkin I literally do not care. I care when our labels get watered down to "identify with another creature" or "relate to another creature" because that erases the meaning of these words. these terms were founded to describe people who are other creatures.

I am a crow. I am a gray fox. I am fae.

I didn't choose these things. I don't have a problem with people who do.

I think the term otherlink can be valuable but I think it can exist alongside being otherkin by choice. gatekeeping reason behind the term "otherkin" doesn't help us. if someone isn't watering down terminology, if they actually identify as another animal, then they are taking nothing from us.

[liondrakes]

Involuntariness, Voluntariness, and the Stigmas In Between

by Sivaan of Candlekeep

The following writings were cross-posted from Dreamwidth. I’ve formatted my writings to better suit Tumblr. The original is still available on Dreamwidth; my journal is linked in my pinned.

This journal entry will have a looser structure than usual since it’s coming from a place of frustration. I’m not venting, though. These are criticisms on what I’ve noticed lately.

In terms of how my identities developed, I prefer the term quoiluntary. I have this preference for two reasons: 1. I experience all manners of origin, so the context varies from species to species and 2. I don’t give a fuck either way. I only emphasize on origin when I’m coming from a place of pride. Otherwise, I don’t care to differentiate myself from those whose experiences aren’t like mine.

Make no mistake, I can understand why someone would feel like they should emphasize on their involuntariness. I used to be the same way. Even now, I recognize the significance of the identities I have that I didn’t choose. I am innately this character, this beast, this concept, you name it. It’s laid dormant inside me for so long, and now I’m finally free. I absolutely see why that is something to be proud of.

At the same time, that’s not the only reason why folks talk about involuntariness in comparison to other experiences. Sadly, whether folks are conscious of it or not, it feels like involuntariness and voluntariness are still played against each other in this community.

No amount of validity posts has changed the fact that folks still engage with their peers, or at least what they hear about said peers, as if they’re KFF-adjacent or “wrong” about how they feel. It’s like folks don’t bother in understanding other experiences unless it’s within their threshold of comfort, let alone respect them as equals.

What’s the point in acting as if involuntariness is the only experience that’s inherently profound?

What’s the point in saying “Yeah, there’s nothing wrong with voluntary identity!” and proceeding to go “Well, actually…!” when met with anything that isn’t otherlinking?

Speaking as someone who does link identities, I hate the assumption that chosen/voluntary identity is inherently “less serious” and not as important as other experiences. Nine times outta ten, folks are going off of what they see from young members. Still, they are children. If you expect them to not be the least bit light-hearted, then I’m not sure what else you expected. Some of them may be misinformed. Some of them may be simply expressing themselves. Either way, using one demographic to mold your perception of an entire group doesn’t show much solidarity towards us at all. You can’t blame kids for everything. I said so on my blog: there’s such a thing as being narrow-minded about experiences that you don’t personally have (for those who apply).

What folks may not know is that there’s a lot of empowerment in actively choosing to be something, let alone something outside of the “norm” of a vastly anthropocentric world. It may seem like frivolously picking up something and not caring for it in the grand scheme of things, but that’s also a very limited understanding of other people’s experiences within our community. I too advocate for more personal introspection, but truthfully, it’s nobody’s business whether or not our peers engage with their own identity like a Greek philosopher, seated upon the steps of the Agora in deep thought. Some people are what they are, choice or no choice.

Furthermore, I hate how the act of otherlinking is treated as the “valid” way to choose an identity. It’s not said out loud, but the takes surrounding chosen identity certainly make it feel that way.

I understand that there’s plenty of new members who don’t know most communal lingo. Some of them aren’t going to know that there’s terminology relating to voluntary identities and may hook onto what they do know. It’s one thing to educate them on these terms. That’s great! Introduce them to sides of our community that they aren’t familiar with! You never know when it may help someone in their journey along the way.

It’s something else entirely to a.) assume someone is misinformed and doesn’t know their own identity, b.) assume someone is spreading misinformation for simply labeling their identity as chosen, and/or c.) make unnecessary comments about how they’re not “really” or “technically” the label they identify as but you accept it anyway. Unless someone plainly states they’re an otherlinker, folks respond with skepticism and doubt. It doesn’t even need to be a named person or their account. Just the idea of it ruffles feathers.

I’m going to make something very clear: I don’t speak for all otherlinkers as I air out my thoughts. This is solely my standing on the issue.

With that out of the way, I must say I’m very disappointed that some folks still hold these sorts of mindsets towards chosen identities. I am not any more “serious” or “valid” of a nonhuman for linking than an individual who chose to be someone or something without having to build upon it. Someone doesn’t overcomplicate or muddy down the meaning of anything by simply choosing their identity. The implication of such is disrespectful in my opinion.

Who is to say that their choice(s) didn’t have any significance of their own?

Someone could come across a character or species that reminds them of themself so much, they simply decide that they are that character or species. They don’t need to build upon anything. What if they just know and make that choice based on knowing?

Someone could love something so much to the point of wanting to be the very thing they admire. Some folks may not need to build upon that identity if they already love it so much that this love shaped who they are.

What folks forget is that otherlinking isn’t just a label. It is an act. You actively link something. You build upon that relationship to the point of identification. I’ve had this happen for a former link, which is now my Dwemer constel. I still take pride in the factor of choice because I don’t often choose what I get to be. The act of doing so is quite freeing. It’s a similar kind of freedom I feel when I unearth an intrinsic identity. They are processed differently, yes, but both are equally a part of me. No involuntary or quoiluntary constel outweighs a voluntary constel in terms of significance.

Moreover, the act of otherlinking takes consistency. I can’t leave it at just saying “I chose to be (x)” like how most folks assume. When an identity is still in the process of becoming my own, it stays in the link phase. Personally, things I experience with vague or involuntary identities are usually a sign of my link making progress. For example, managing to phantom shift into one of my links is a sign of huge progress for me. This morning, this happened with my Verza link. I’m still a Verza right now, and it makes me excited that I’ve gotten closer to being this species. Some past links, like my Splatoon-based link and my Wickerbeast link, eroded away. This happens all the time with links. Some stay and become a part of me. Some are shed and that’s that.

When someone calls themself a chosen therian or chosen nonhuman, they likely didn’t need to do what I do. They chose something. They became that thing. That’s it. That is not the same as the conscious act of otherlinking.

I’m all for educating new members, especially young ones, on our community’s terms, but I’m also thoroughly annoyed with how these would-be “educators” conflate experiences. I wish people would look beyond their noses and understand that just because both experiences involve voluntariness, that doesn’t mean they are interchangeable. It looks less like trying to help someone find a label that may suit them, and more like trying to nudge them into that spot out of your own comfort.

They don’t fit the standard of this label that’s had a word-of-mouth definition for so long, so it’s perfectly fine to cast doubt if they’re “really” that identity or not. Right? (This is sarcasm).

The defensiveness is justified when it’s actually applicable. Therian is one such example. The therian label is heavily guarded due to actual misinformation spreading around it, plus its overall spread throughout social media. It’s understandable why folks want to preserve the label, its meaning and its history so badly. It’s needed when folks claim that therianthropy isn’t identifying as an animal. To call oneself a therian when you aren’t an animal defeats the whole point of using the label. Defensiveness is justified in this context.

However, it’s not needed in context to involuntariness and voluntariness. In my opinion, it’s similar to how the “earthen” part of the definition was never needed. It was wedged in there for fuck all reason.

When it comes down to it, a therian is an individual who identifies as a nonhuman animal. If anyone can explain to me in great detail what makes someone who chose to be a fox different from someone who’s involuntarily a fox, that’d be wonderful. Bonus points if you do so without dumbing down the experiences of the former. Besides their personal backgrounds, I guarantee you that little difference will be found between the two.

They’re both therians. Neither is any more or any less of an animal than the other.

Folks of involuntary experiences also post in silly, lighthearted ways just as some of their voluntary peers do. Those of voluntary experiences also discuss their introspections and what it’s like to choose ourselves. If you’ve made it this far, congratulations. You’re reading from someone who’s been doing that for almost a year now.

What I don’t understand is this is: when you become a part of a community, you’re always going to find folks whose perspectives are different than yours. Folks pour a lot of attention into finding like-minded individuals. That in of itself is to be expected and isn’t an issue. The issue arises when, in the midst of said search or in communal discussions, experiences that deviate from communal “norms” are put into question for no sensible reason. Folks suddenly forget that yes, these experiences are possible and yes, there are members amongst us who identify that way. Worst of all, folks still entertain the question of “valid or not valid?” as if their input on someone else’s identity isn’t invasive.

Pray tell, what do these discussions achieve?

What do we as a community benefit from these speculations if folks continue to downplay these experiences?

From where I stand, it looks like folks still want their peers to perform their identities for them. Is the issue that pressing that you need assurance of their experiences being 100% real, 100% serious, and 100% “valid” enough for you to consider them a part of this community? Is this what we’re hung up on?

On one hand, I get that otherlinker and its associated labels (funlinker, copinglinker, etc.) came about as an answer to those who claimed they chose their kintypes or theriotypes when these discourses were still hot.

On the other hand, it is 2025. The stigmas behind chosen identity have got to go. I’m not saying the concern around trolls and other anti-kin/therian groups isn’t understandable, but that same concern has also led to no nuance being added to these conversations.

Nobody is actually asking for the opinions and perspectives of those who choose their identities.

Nobody is actually looking into how we experience things.

All we get is more and more strangers speaking on us like we aren’t a part of communal discussions and can’t see what they have to say about us.

My answer so far is just being more vocal about my quoiluntariness. I’m not only discussing the identities that are involuntary, but the ones that are chosen and the ones that I honestly couldn’t care less where they came from. “Be the change you want to see,” and all that, y’know?

These frameworks are a spectrum. There’s always going to be folks who lean exclusively on one side or the other, but there’s also those of us who slide all across the spectrum. There’s also those of us who don’t care either way, and that’s arguably even better. The importance of these frameworks isn’t universal. Even when folks recognize why that may be the case for their peers, their positions show otherwise.

I’m so tired of the belief that involuntariness as an experience is so much more unique and significant, therefore someone couldn’t possibly experience that kind of significance with a chosen identity. It sounds pretentious and inconsiderate even when folks aren’t trying to be that way. All things considered, this community is in desperate need of more nuanced perspectives.

That’s all I have to say for now. Thanks for reading as always.

[xinganhao]

cherry on top 🎩 seungcheol x reader.

picture this: you're taking home an attractive guy you met on your night out. you're both a little drunk but still very much willing to go at it— that is, until you try to handcuff him and you realize you've lost the key to said cuffs. and if the guy happens to be a mafia boss? well, that's just the cherry on top.

★ vignettes from accidentally kidnapping the mafia boss in svt x reverse tropes. additional content here.

📰 Excerpt from "The Ethics of Mafias: A Complex Web of Power, Community, and Morality," a think piece by Xu Minghao

... A particularly intriguing ethical question arises when examining the leadership within mafias. Allegations about a mafia boss allegedly named S.Coups, for example, highlight the dualities often associated with such figures.

On one hand, leaders are seen as ruthless individuals who consolidate power through coercion and fear. On the other, they are often viewed as protectors of their communities, imposing order in chaotic environments. This dual role complicates ethical judgments, as it forces us to ask whether the ends— stability, loyalty, and survival— justify the means of violence and corruption.

There are rumors that S.Coups' persona is carefully curated, blurring the line between myth and reality. He may leverage this mystique to maintain power, creating an image of both invulnerability and approachability. Some speculate that this duality is part of a larger strategy to keep adversaries guessing and to foster a sense of obligation among those who depend on him.

Darker allegations persist— stories of betrayal, silencing dissent, and the ruthless elimination of threats. These rumors reinforce his shadowy status, making it difficult to distinguish the man from the legend. Whether S.Coups is a protector, a manipulator, or a bit of both, his name continues to spark intrigue and speculation, embodying the complexities of power and morality in the underworld...

📰 Excerpt from "Gangnam cops nab suspect planning grave threat, assault", an article by Lee Jihoon

Seoul, South Korea — Authorities in Gangnam announced the voluntary surrender of a suspect allegedly involved in planning a grave threat and assault, averting what officials described as a potentially dangerous situation.

The suspect, whose identity remains undisclosed pending further investigation, turned themselves in at the Gangnam Police Station early Thursday morning. PCol. Wen Junhui, Chief of the Gangnam Police Public Information Office, addressed the media in a press briefing, expressing both relief and caution.

"The suspect's decision to surrender voluntarily demonstrates an important opportunity for dialogue and resolution," he stated. "However, we remain vigilant as we investigate the full extent of their intentions and any potential connections to larger networks."

While officials declined to comment on the specifics of the planned assault, they assured the public that there was no immediate danger at the time of the surrender. "We are grateful for the cooperation of all involved in ensuring this matter concluded without harm," PCol. Wen added. "This case serves as a reminder of the importance of community vigilance and proactive policing."

🧾 iPhone note of mafia soldier, Lee Chan

S.Coups order - Tealive Wintermelon, 75% sweetness, CHERRY POPPING BOBA PEARLS (DO NOT FORGET ‼️‼️‼️)

NTS: Explain what a meme is to S.Coups

Purchase 100 of Skeleteen Metal Handcuffs With Keys

NTS: Search up what 'I ate' means

NTS: Teach S.Coups how to take a 'proper' selfie (???????????????????) wtf

Tip off P.Col Wen

Warn HOSHI to stop gossiping ab S.Coups 'getting bitches'

› scroll through all my work ദ്ദി ˉ͈̀꒳ˉ͈́ )✧ ᶻ 𝗓 𐰁 .ᐟ my masterlist | @xinganhao

[alterhumannerdygoat]

Rambles about new 'type :D

Ok so lionblaze is very alterhuman for me right now :3 (I'm still reading the warrior cats books though so idk his full plot agsjs)

He's really silly and kind of relatable, pluuuus he leaves a lot of space for me to project onto him >:3 (compared to like ivypool for example who's emotions on a similar plot thing are shown more in depth)

I've just decided to try using constellic terms, but also he in particular feels more identify-with than identify-as to me, and I'm too lazy to research how that would fit in with him being a constel (and the term is even more niche than otherlink TT^TT)

If i did some linking (actually putting in effort to make myself identify as him) with him i could easily identify AS him I'm pretty sure, buuut I'm enjoying the identify-with identity with him :3

A while back i REALLY hyperfocused on him, and while that's now gone, (ughh christmas break is over can't watch the same 3 pmvs over and over while copy and pasting every one of his scenes into my notepad), i still feel the connection.

I could call him a hearttype, but also likeee i want to keep it more casual. Same with calling him a heartlink, plus the fact that I didn't do any conscious linking, and that's important for me personally when calling something a linktype.

I am also aware that this is something normal (/neu) humans could experience with characters buuut i think viewing him through an alterhuman lens is just better

Oh and also another possible term would be copinglink, because of the nature of my projection. Lol "copingheartlink" would be accurate XDD

But yeahh I'll be sticking with trying out calling him a constel :D and if i decide another term suits better, I'll makea post about in anyways XD

[a-dragons-journal]

you there. person posting a "list of alterhuman terms" post in the community tags. name and define five alterhuman identities that ARE NOT nonhumanity or fictionkinity. if you try to use voluntary nonhumanity as one of these the dragon gets to eat you. you have five minutes.

[therihare]

otherlink are just as real as otherkin and therians. it doesnt matter if your identity is voluntary or involuntary. one isnt superior or inferior to the other.

stop thinking of voluntary identities as fake, less valid/real, less 'worthy', or inferior.

stop thinking of involuntary identities as more valid/real, more 'worthy', or superior.

we are siblings, not strangers. not enemies. not opposites