LGBTAitp - Part Fifteen

**Lissou** · 2011-08-20, 11:10 AM (ISO 8601)

Furry is definitely a very wide term. On another forum a member mentioned being a furry and was lashed at, but all he really meant was that he liked cartoon such as, for instance, the Disney version of Robin Hood, or Mickey stuff or the Looney Toones, etc.
Basically, by his standards most people are furries. I mean who nowadays has never watched a cartoon with an anthropomorphic animal and enjoyed it?

And then as people said you have people who feel like a specific animal, although for some it's roleplay and for some others it's on a more essential level.
And then people who are sexually attracted to some anthro stuff. Which doesn't mean they aren't attracted to non-anthro stuff.

And of course people can be a mix of all. And then it comes down to self-identification. I like a lot of anthro cartoons or comics, be them for kids or more for adults (Maus, Blacksad), I have been attracted to some anthro characters in the past or seen graphic stuff and found it hot, and I would probably have fun roleplaying as one. But I don't consider myself a furry. I guess it's because none of these things are important to me. Like, I'd roleplay as an anthro, but I'd also roleplay as a Goblin or an alien. I can find these latter 2 attractive too, and I like media with them. That doesn't make me a "gobby" or "allee" in my mind, although honestly, I can't say I really care if other people consider me one or not.

I think reptiles with breasts and navels are weird. Same with birds or fish. But I see it as a different creature, like DnD monsters being absurd and not scientifically accurate. It's not actually a bird, or a snake, it's a bird or a snake mixed with a human. It's a bird/snake with human traits, or a human with bird/snake traits. So in a way it's okay, even if it remains jarring.

**KenderWizard** · 2011-08-20, 12:29 PM (ISO 8601)

Originally Posted by Serpentine

Y'mean like this?

Yes! See, I find the first one attractive-looking, and the second one a bit attractive-looking, but much less, and the third one starts looking ... kind of evil, actually. The fourth one is just a picture of a cat.

**Coidzor** · 2011-08-20, 12:34 PM (ISO 8601)

Originally Posted by Serpentine

Y'mean like this?

No, no, you want this one.

Scientifically tested to have 150% higher levels of hilarium-016 consistently.

Originally Posted by Anuan

those that believe they're an animal's soul trapped in a human body and how these are all still furries,

Those are called Otherkin, dear.

**DeadManSleeping** · 2011-08-20, 01:19 PM (ISO 8601)

Originally Posted by Coidzor

Those are called Otherkin, dear.

Not necessarily. Many would probably object to being called Otherkin.

**Al'izh'dheg** · 2011-08-20, 01:28 PM (ISO 8601)

Originally Posted by DeadManSleeping

Not necessarily. Many would probably object to being called Otherkin.

If they object to the term "otherkin" what would they like?

**Coidzor** · 2011-08-20, 01:31 PM (ISO 8601)

Originally Posted by DeadManSleeping

Not necessarily. Many would probably object to being called Otherkin.

Despite being a substantial subset of the genre. More prevalent than the elves and aliens combined from everything I've seen.

So, as Al'izh'dheg stated, what term should be used? Certainly not the generic "furry" for that ascribes this conception to the group as a whole to do it that way.

**DeadManSleeping** · 2011-08-20, 01:53 PM (ISO 8601)

Why do you need to use a word for them?

While it's a real pain in the ass to keep track of everyone, you can't force people into categories at your leisure. Some people just believe weird things.

I suppose "weirdos" is a category, but I'm pretty sure it's offensive.

**Mono Vertigo** · 2011-08-20, 02:19 PM (ISO 8601)

Originally Posted by DeadManSleeping

Why do you need to use a word for them?

Well, it's nice to have words for people so that everyone has at the very least a basic but accurate idea of what is being discussed. It's less an issue of categorizing people, and more an issue of communication. For example, when you say "furry", because this (ensemble of vaguely-related subcultures in a) community can't seem to agree who should/can call themselves what, you may in fact mean "these guys who think they're animals stuck in a human body", "artists who draw anthropomorphic animals", "people who feel a totem-like connection with another species", "fans of fictions featuring anthropomorphic animals", "anyone who has a fursona", "people who have a fetish for anthropomorphic animals", etc...
... and conversations get tedious if you have to repeat these descriptions instead of being to use one or two words. You know, just like it's much easier to say "bisexual" than "someone who has/may have a relationship with men and women alike".

Oh, yeah, by the way, I assume the "them" in your question means the otherkins we've just talked about, but I consider my point can be broadened to the overarching subculture.

**Danne** · 2011-08-20, 02:48 PM (ISO 8601)

Oh no. We're going to get into another labeling debate, aren't we?

**Mono Vertigo** · 2011-08-20, 03:23 PM (ISO 8601)

*looks at the right*
*looks at the left*
Didn't start it, sir.

**Anuan** · 2011-08-20, 04:33 PM (ISO 8601)

Originally Posted by Al'izh'dheg

If they object to the term "otherkin" what would they like?

Furries. As mentioned. It's a subculture difference. I guess (I hope this doesn't wander into boardrules too much) it's like asking the difference between two different religions just because they're both monotheistic. Poor analogy, but it's the best I can do at the moment.

Also 'Ferians.' Ferians are furries that believe they're actually an animal in human form, but they also often believe (or say) that they can literally, physically choose to change their form into whatever it is their 'true' one is.
They're generally not very popular in the furry communities, from what I've seen.

**Anethiel** · 2011-08-20, 04:52 PM (ISO 8601)

Upset-by-transphobia rant ahead.

Spoiler

Show

So, a couple of days ago a politician which was recently involved in a sexual scandal gave an interview. This spawned a huge amount of replies and comments which were... well, kind of ignorant and disgusting.
I won't go into details, I will just sum up what everyone does here.:
1) in Italy nobody except transgender people and people which have been bashed about it, like, in the last 30 minutes, uses the right pronouns
2) the concept of FtM is completely alien to Italian people
3) the word "transexual", in common Italian, means "transexual prostitute"

Every article I read on the matter, except the ones from LGBT groups, was transphobic (some of them by accident, but still). Every single person I know is at least borderline transphobic.

As someone that for some reason deeply emphatizes with the struggle of transgender people, My blood is almost literally boiling because of this. It's...

I'm sorry. I'm really sorry I can do so little to change this situation. I apologize on behalf of Italian people.

Thank you for letting me vent here.

**Worlok** · 2011-08-20, 04:53 PM (ISO 8601)

Originally Posted by KenderWizard

the third one starts looking ... kind of evil, actually. The fourth one is just a picture of a cat.

Emphasis mine. I think you misspelled "evil" there, the second time you wrote it.

**KenderWizard** · 2011-08-20, 05:26 PM (ISO 8601)

dpcris85: Wow, that really really sucks. Is there no alternative word for transsexual?

Originally Posted by Worlok

Emphasis mine. I think you misspelled "evil" there, the second time you wrote it.

Aww, I like kitties! They're not evil, just... kind of... sadistically amoral? But in an adorable way!

**Al'izh'dheg** · 2011-08-20, 05:29 PM (ISO 8601)

If my question is potentially another argument-starter, then I withdraw it, as that is not the intent of the question. My query was simply to discover what "otherkin" meant in the first place.

**Worlok** · 2011-08-20, 05:30 PM (ISO 8601)

No problem there, I like them too. I just also enjoy to poke fun at them once in a while.

As for the meaning of the term "otherkin", as far as I know, it's about feeling that you are a non-mundane/non-human creature trapped in a mundane/human creature's body. Dragons are a favorite, I think. Hence "other kin", as in "kin of creatures different from the mundane". Sadly, there appears to be a lot of what might be called nuts who lay claim to the term, provided certain sources are to be believed, and thus some debate as to whether it actually is a legitimate lifestyle thing or a symptom of severe mental disorders. All in all a rather charged topic that's hard to really get a feel of, if you want my input on the matter. I'm not good at talking, I'm afraid.

**Hawkflight** · 2011-08-20, 05:39 PM (ISO 8601)

Originally Posted by Worlok

Emphasis mine. I think you misspelled "evil" there, the second time you wrote it.

*sniffles* I-I'm not evil!

(Yes, I'm totally a cat person.

(I'm also a dog person, for the record.))

ANYWAYS, I have a question for y'all, and I think it's on-topic as it does involve my passing as a girl in public. I'm going to an anime convention in April, and I want to cosplay as humanized Fluttershy. It would help a lot if I could appear shorter than I actually am, because of the character's nature, and was wondering if y'all had any tips for looking shorter? (For the record, I'm 6' 6", with an exceptionally long torso.)

Spoiler

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http://like-a-pike.deviantart.com/ar...uttershy&qo=14
http://christinies.deviantart.com/ar...9679364&qo=103
http://kreoss.deviantart.com/art/MLP...sion-187895165

**Worlok** · 2011-08-20, 05:46 PM (ISO 8601)

I, too, stand roughly 6'6'' tall. I've found arching your legs a little, just enough for you to get that involuntary gangsta-swagger, but not enough to look awkward (may take some fine-tuning and getting-in-touch-with-hip-hop-culture), to be a valid aid in appearing that decisive bit less hulking.

As for cats, yeah, no trouble with them. I like them, they tend to like me, we don't generally have much business with each other and as such, no bad blood there.

Also, you's gonna cosplay a pony, why would I think you're evil?

**Rappy** · 2011-08-20, 07:00 PM (ISO 8601)

Originally Posted by Hawkflight

(Yes, I'm totally a cat person.

(I'm also a dog person, for the record.))

So, you're...a Catdog person, even?

*Dragged away by a stylish cane*

Originally Posted by dpcris85

Upset-by-transphobia rant ahead.

*Comes back to offer hugs*

**Danne** · 2011-08-20, 07:17 PM (ISO 8601)

Originally Posted by dpcris85

Stuff.

*hugs* If it helps, the rest of the world isn't much better.

...Wait, that doesn't help. D:

**Anethiel** · 2011-08-20, 07:32 PM (ISO 8601)

Originally Posted by KenderWizard

dpcris85: Wow, that really really sucks. Is there no alternative word for transsexual?

Not really... every word starting with "trans" will be interpreted that way by 99.9% of the people.

Originally Posted by Rappy

*Comes back to offer hugs*

Originally Posted by Danne

*hugs* If it helps, the rest of the world isn't much better.

*hugs back* Thank you.

**Coidzor** · 2011-08-20, 09:10 PM (ISO 8601)

Originally Posted by dpcris85

Not really... every word starting with "trans" will be interpreted that way by 99.9% of the people.

Even Transalpine Gaul? Sounds like a problem with the education system.

**Serpentine** · 2011-08-20, 10:22 PM (ISO 8601)

Hawkflight: slouching and cowering should help, and also fits with the character.

**golentan** · 2011-08-21, 12:09 AM (ISO 8601)