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starroute

(12,977 posts)
47. So how do you deal with otherkin?
Sat Jun 13, 2015, 02:00 AM
Jun 2015

I would say that under the specific conditions of present-day American society, a white person assuming a black identity is going to raise issues of cultural appropriation. But on a larger scale, there is a revolution occurring in the range of ways people can self-identity, and we're all going to have to come to terms with that.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otherkin

Otherkin are those who identify as partially or entirely non-human. Some say that they are, in spirit if not in body, not human. This is explained by some members of the otherkin community as possible through reincarnation, having a nonhuman soul, ancestry, or symbolic metaphor. Some scholars categorize this identity claim as "religious", because it is largely based on supernatural beliefs. Adherents more typically deny the religiousity of otherkinism, referring to it instead as simply a congenital condition, or a state of being. . . .

With regards to their online communities, otherkin largely function without formal authority structures, and mostly focus on support and information gathering, often dividing into more specific groups based on kintype. There are occasional offline gatherings, but the otherkin network is an almost entirely online phenomenon.

Some otherkin (such as elvenkin) claim they are allergic to iron (and products of modern technology), whilst other otherkin (such as dragonkin) claim that having no allergies is a sign of being an otherkin. Some otherkin also claim to be especially empathic and attuned to nature. Some claim to be able to shapeshift mentally or astrally—meaning that they experience the sense of being in their particular form while not actually changing physically.

The therian and vampire subcultures are related to the otherkin community, and are considered part of it by most otherkin, but are culturally and historically distinct movements of their own despite some overlap in membership.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

I agree. hunter Jun 2015 #1
Yup, I think this issue makes something personally clear. Kurska Jun 2015 #4
I couldn't agree more: me b zola Jun 2015 #2
Don't oppress me, Reg Recursion Jun 2015 #3
sorry, that is not some universal truth cali Jun 2015 #5
I tend to agree with you ibegurpard Jun 2015 #6
I agree. Joe the Revelator Jun 2015 #8
The problem is lies about her past, not her identity. Kurska Jun 2015 #11
Only Sith deal in absolutes. Jester Messiah Jun 2015 #76
So when George Bush claimed to have served the country in the National Guard mythology Jun 2015 #7
She lied about her past, that is wrong granted. Kurska Jun 2015 #13
It's because of ambition. RandySF Jun 2015 #41
That is wrong, she had been self-identifying since before college and even before. Kurska Jun 2015 #43
People who knew her at Howard knew she was white. LeftyMom Jun 2015 #60
Or, she's just a habitual liar. eom. GGJohn Jun 2015 #82
Stolen honor cases? nt riderinthestorm Jun 2015 #9
Appropriating someone else's cultural identity is not cool. geek tragedy Jun 2015 #10
You could say exactly the same thing about a transwoman. Kurska Jun 2015 #12
Transwomen don't choose to be women. geek tragedy Jun 2015 #15
"trans women", not "transwomen" Spider Jerusalem Jun 2015 #16
I've always seen it spelled as one word. geek tragedy Jun 2015 #20
I only see ignorant people spelling it as one word. Spider Jerusalem Jun 2015 #21
Okay. nt geek tragedy Jun 2015 #29
Trans women are women and Trans races are whatever race they say they are. Kurska Jun 2015 #18
Trans people aren't defining themselves. geek tragedy Jun 2015 #26
You're just saying the same thing over and over again as dogma. Kurska Jun 2015 #30
There's no such thing as trans race. Starry Messenger Jun 2015 #31
Why? Because you say so? EOM Kurska Jun 2015 #32
So you're admitting what we all knew about you, amirite? Starry Messenger Jun 2015 #33
Um and what was that? EOM Kurska Jun 2015 #35
"Trans women are women and Trans races are whatever race they say they are." Starry Messenger Jun 2015 #42
Are you seriously questioning if I'm gay or not? Kurska Jun 2015 #44
Oh, we're going to talk about cute now. Starry Messenger Jun 2015 #46
Either have the intellectual honesty to do it or don't. Kurska Jun 2015 #48
You've been here since 2008 Starry Messenger Jun 2015 #49
That is laughable, I have a long track records on posting about gay rights. Kurska Jun 2015 #51
You can show me whatever catfish logs you might choose. Starry Messenger Jun 2015 #52
Yeah, my logs dating back years detailing my communications with my significant others are catfished Kurska Jun 2015 #53
Awww (((hugs))) Starry Messenger Jun 2015 #55
The sarcastic remark of someone who just got completely shut down. Kurska Jun 2015 #57
This is you in 2012, claiming to be age 21 Starry Messenger Jun 2015 #63
Congrats on your Internet snooping, you discovered my horrible secret. Kurska Jun 2015 #66
You haven't been here for a decade, lol Starry Messenger Jun 2015 #67
What part of "nearly a decade" do you not get? Kurska Jun 2015 #68
Post removed Post removed Jun 2015 #69
Are you serious? Kurska Jun 2015 #70
(((hugs))) Starry Messenger Jun 2015 #71
The age for using DU is 13. I was 17 in 2008. Wow, one year, which is again, within the rules. Kurska Jun 2015 #72
By your logic, it doesn't matter what I think. Starry Messenger Jun 2015 #74
My OP said you should respect the identity others assert. Kurska Jun 2015 #75
OK, so 1939 Jun 2015 #80
Wrong. Starry Messenger Jun 2015 #23
That is the logical extension of the previous poster, not me. Kurska Jun 2015 #24
Your words: Starry Messenger Jun 2015 #27
The poster was talking about the SOCIAL realities of growing up as one perceived race. Kurska Jun 2015 #34
No, you are arguing for people being able to claim whatever identity they choose Starry Messenger Jun 2015 #39
Appropriating culture is different, though. kcr Jun 2015 #84
Please don't conflate sexuality and gender identity with someone pretending to be black. Spider Jerusalem Jun 2015 #14
Wow, that is actually horrifically offensive, you are the one in desperate need of an education. Kurska Jun 2015 #17
Gender identity is not, in fact, a social construct. Spider Jerusalem Jun 2015 #19
Your study is behind a paywall Kurska Jun 2015 #22
You apparently don't know the difference between biology and neurology? Spider Jerusalem Jun 2015 #25
I'm about to tell you something that is going to absolutely blow your mind. Kurska Jun 2015 #28
Cool story, bro. nt geek tragedy Jun 2015 #38
Go look it up if you don't believe me. Kurska Jun 2015 #40
Race is in fact a biological reality, to some extent? Spider Jerusalem Jun 2015 #50
Rachel Dolezal got elected President of the Spokane NAACP based on a phony story. RandySF Jun 2015 #36
Is saying "check your privilege" a dictation of identity? Recursion Jun 2015 #37
I think every woman should start identifying as a man so she can get paid more. nt valerief Jun 2015 #45
So how do you deal with otherkin? starroute Jun 2015 #47
Tell them to grow up! romanic Jun 2015 #54
Please do not compare otherkin to trangender people. beam me up scottie Jun 2015 #59
No, that is not a thing. Starry Messenger Jun 2015 #61
You slap some sense into them Codeine Jun 2015 #65
I found this to be a good article on the topic: kentauros Jun 2015 #73
This message was self-deleted by its author steve2470 Jun 2015 #56
It's complicated. merrily Jun 2015 #58
Would you let someone like Iron Eyes Cody slide? Jake Stern Jun 2015 #62
I should "get over it" CTBlueboy Jun 2015 #64
If she said she has an affinity for black folks and identifies with them... DemocratSinceBirth Jun 2015 #77
Usually, but by no means always. Donald Ian Rankin Jun 2015 #78
Yes. Let people call themselves what they like. nt bemildred Jun 2015 #79
If you could get most people to believe that treestar Jun 2015 #81
Yep. Some people seem intent on defining other people's identity for them and telling them what they Chathamization Jun 2015 #83
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