Questions & Misconceptions

Questions

Do you know if I'm otherkin? / Can you tell me what my kintype is?

I can't tell you anything about yourself that you couldn't find out far more effectively. If you're looking for more general advice, see the "Am I Otherkin?" page.

Are (quadrobics, gear, etc.) required to be a therian?

No, and this has never been the case. Quadrobics, that is, the sport of quadrupedal motion, and gear, wearing animal masks and other on-theme articles of clothing, are relatively new trends within the therianthrope community. They are an optional source of fun — especially for younger therianthropes. The only requirement to be a therianthrope is sincere self-identification as non-human.

Should I tell people in my life that I'm otherkin?

That's your decision to make, and to make carefully. Some otherkin are freely open about their non-humanity in daily life, some only tell significant others, and some keep it private for their entire life. Don't feel pressured to prove your commitment by opening up recklessly.

Misconceptions

Is this a delusion?

Not in itself. An identity or belief at odds with the physical world is not on its own a delusion. For the vast majority of otherkin, their experience does not cause distress nor put them in harm's way; many psychologists view otherkin identity as a benign, if not helpful, source of community. Exposure to discussions about otherkin may aggravate pre-existing psychiatric conditions in some cases but it carries no more risk than other spiritual or religious subjects.

Is being otherkin just a childhood phase?

As with all things, it can be, and that's not necessarily a bad thing. Children and teenagers explore their identity, and they, as you would expect, navigate this with a child's logic. Eccentric sources of identity in youth are hardly new and are largely harmless. That said, if an otherkin identity persists into adulthood, it's unlikely to be cast aside. Most adult otherkin have been active within the community for upwards of a decade and remain secure in their non-humanity.

Doesn't "kinning" mean relating to a fictional character?

This modified definition appeared in the early 2020s and co-opted otherkin terminology into a more widely-applicable and less stigmatised phenomenon. After all, everyone on Earth has once seen themselves as similar to their favourite character in a story. At its core, otherkin meant, and still means, being your kintype and denotes a solemn, sincere identity.

Are furries and therianthropes the same thing?

No. There is considerable overlap between the communities, with many therianthropes being themselves furries and vice versa. However, synonymising the two, as is often done in journalistic and legislative contexts, is inaccurate.

Therianthropes are their theriotype in mind and/or spirit, while furries, with the exception of the few devoted lifestylers, do not believe they are their fursona on a literal level. Put in another way, there is far too much variation in what a fursona means to an individual furry's sense of self compared to the relatively uniform nature of therianthropes' identity as their theriotype.

Do therianthropes engage in bestiality?

Therianthropes are not more likely to commit nor be sympathetic towards bestiality than the general population. Analogous to the furry fandom, stereotypes of sexual abuse gain popularity through preconceived notions of deviance and association with relatively scarce high-profile cases.