ALTERHUMAN RESOURCES

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_{Welcome !! This carrd is meant to be an informational resource on what it is to be alterhuman, and to correct any misinformation surrounding our community's terms. This carrd is not exhaustive and is a WIP. This was made by alterhumans for all, and was fact checked by members of the alterhuman community.}
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_{An alterhuman or alterbeing is an individual who has experiences or an identity which is alternative to or outside common societal ideas of humanity. This may be due to spirituality, reincarnation beliefs, psychological factors such as neurodivergence or trauma, societal factors such as oppression or portrayal in media, or otherwise.}
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• Otherkinity
• Alterhumanity and Humanity
• C-linking and Adjacent
• Shifting
• Terminology
• FaQ
• Common Symbols

_{This carrd was made by Muzzldmongrel on Discord. It was last updated on July 28th, 2023.}

OTHERKIN
_{An otherkin individual is someone who involuntarily identifies as nonhuman to some degree; this is on a non-physical level. An otherkin individual can identify as practically anything, and contrary to popular belief, their kintypes are not inherently "mythical", "fictional", or adjacent. The label includes but is not limited to concepts, objects, animals, fictional species, plants, beings, etc. This term is an umbrella term that includes but is not limited to the following terms.}
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THERIAN
_{A therian is an individual that involuntarily identifies as an animal on a non-physical level.}
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CONCEPTKIN
_{An individual who involuntarily identifies as a concept.}
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PHYTANTHROPE
_{An individual who involuntarily identifies as a plant or adjacent organism in the Plantae kingdom.}
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FICTIONKIN
_{An individual who involuntarily identifies as a being from fiction/fictional being. This includes but is not limited to characters, animals, places, objects, etc.}
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MYTHKIN
_{An individual who involuntarily identifies as a mythical creature or as a myth.}
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ENDEL
_{An alterhuman self-identifier used to describe one’s identity being caused by, rooted in, or greatly influenced by delusion. This term is exclusive to those who experience said delusions and should not be used to harm or shame other individuals.}
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OBJECTKIN
_{An individual that involuntarily identifies as an inanimate object. This is typically dolls or stuffed toys but isnt inherently so and isnt limited to these kintypes.}
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POLYKIN
_{An individual with two or more kintypes.}
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CLADOKIN
_{An individual that involuntarily identifies as an animal clade or, in a broader sense, very many members of an animal species.}
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PALEOKIN
_{An individual that involuntarily identifies as an extinct animal.}
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POLYMORPH
_{An individual who's kintypes or form is very fluid.}
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SHAPESHIFTER
_{An individual who's form can change shape.}
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PANTHERIAN
_{An individual that involuntarily identifies as every animal on Earth.}
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HUMAN
_{An individual that does not identify as nonhuman, demihuman, or as another species. Humans can also be described as those who identify as their biological species. Not all alterhumans are humans and not all humans who may fit under the label identify with alterhumanity.}
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NONHUMAN
_{A nonhuman is an individual that does not identify as a human. This may be due to spirituality, reincarnation beliefs, psychological factors such as neurodivergence or trauma, societal factors such as oppression or portrayal in media, or otherwise.}
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DEMIHUMAN
_{An individual who identifies as partially human. The degree in which these individuals identify with humanity may differ from being to being.}
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ADANTHROPE
_{An individual that does not align themself with humans and/or humanity. Not all nonhumans are adanthropes; many nonhumans still identify with human concepts such as race, culture, etc.}
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EXHUMAN
_{An individual who was once human, but now identifies as another species. Not all nonhumans are exhumans, as many nonhumans agree that they were never human/have never felt human.}
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OFFHUMAN
_{An individual that feels wrong or doesn't feel as though they fit in as a human or in human society, whether or not they've tried to in the past.}
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ONTOPUNK
_{An aesthetic and ideology focused on embracing different identities and ways of having them, along with the rejection of anthropocentrism.}
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VOIDPUNK
_{Voidpunk is a subculture for those who often feel rejected or disconnected from humanity, such as asexual, aromantic, neurodivergent, nonbinary, POC, and or other individuals often rejected as "subhuman" by society.}
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ALDERNIC
_{Aldernic is an umbrella term for individuals who have, or wish to have, a body that deviates from what is expected in society or typical human notions. Aldernic may refer to fictional characters who have a different type of body from humans, but it may also be used by people who desire a body that does not match any existing body or a body that is not possible by human standards. This community is not inherently alterhuman but can be and is considered adjacent.}¹
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CONSTELIC
_{Denotes an individual that adopts an identity(s) throughout their life. Constelic individuals are not born with constels, and constels may not be permanent. This may be anything, from animals, places, objects, fictional creatures or characters, etc. This may be voluntarily or involuntary and thus is not inherently otherkin.²}
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COPINGLINK
_{An individual who identifies as a being/character/animal/other to cope. This may be involuntary or voluntary and isn't inherently otherkin in nature.}
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OTHERHEART
_{An individual that deeply/strongly identifies with a being/character/animal/other. This could be that the individual sees the being/character/other, called a hearttype, as family or friends; or that the individual has a strong connection or affiliation to the hearttype.}
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SYNPATH
_{A synpath can be defined as someone who deeply/strongly relates to something, typically a character, in a way that is integral to their identity. Unlike fictionkin, these individuals do not identify as said characters.}
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KINTYPE
_{The identity(ies) of an otherkin individual. These are not inherently "fictional" or "mythical" and can be just about anything, including but not limited to animals, plants, characters, concepts, objects, etc.}
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THERIOTYPE
_{The identity(ies) of a therian. A therian can still use the term "kintype" to refer to their identity(ies).}
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HEARTTYPE
_{The animal/being/character/other that an otherhearted individual identifies with.}
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FICTOTYPE
_{The fictional species/animal/character/other that an otherkin individual identifies as.}
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DOUBLE
_{An individual with the same kintype as you. This typically refers to fictional characters or members of fictional species. Not every otherkin is comfortable with doubles. Respect this.}
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DROP
_{Refers to no longer identifying as a kintype. This could be for very many reasons, such as societal or peer pressure, denial, fear of being discovered as otherkin, the kintype having negative influence on the being, etc. Dropping an identity is valid and does not inherently mean the individual was faking the kintype to begin with.}
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QUADROBICS
_{Quadrobics, often shortened to quads, is a sport involving movement on "all fours" (using the arms and legs to simulate quadruped locomotion similar to that of an animal). Quadrobics are not inherently alterhuman and not every alterhuman participates in them. However, the sport is often practiced by alterhumans to better connect with their identity(ies).}
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PSYCHOLOGICAL
_{The source, cause, or origin of a psychological alterhuman. This may be trauma; neurodivergence such as autism or ADHD; psychosis such as schizophrenia or COTARDS; imprinting; or other.}
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SPIRITUAL
_{The source, cause, or origin of a spiritual alterhuman.}
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CULTURAL
_{The source, cause, or origin of a cultural alterhuman.}
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CONKIN
_{An otherkin individual that does not experience shifts.}
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SUNKIN
_{An individual that is either constantly shifted or feels as if they're always in the mindset of their kintype(s).}
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HEARTHOME
_{Certain places, imagery, objects, and music evoke a sensation not unlike heartedness. As with heartedness, these places and items feel familiar and integral, but are not things one identifies as. They may not even feel like places that one is from. Nevertheless, such imagery resonates with such familiarity that it can be considered an aspect of one’s identity. The feeling of hearthome can vary widely. For some, it is a fictional universe that reminds one of home, but which one has never lived in. For others, real places may evoke a similar feeling; something about them resonates with one’s sense of self. [ From Aestherians on tumblr]}
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SPECIES DYSPHORIA
_{Psychological distress, confusion, or dissatisfaction due to feelings of incongruence between one's biological species and species identity.}
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SPECIES EUPHORIA
_{Feelings of euphoria or satisfaction with oneself or their species. This may be achieved after using gear, participating in quads, watching source media, being referred to as their kintype(s), etc.}
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GEAR
_{Objects such as tails, horns, collars, paws, necklaces, ears, t-shirts, etc which help an individual feel more connected to their identity(ies). However, this isn't necessary to be included in the community.}
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AWAKENING
_{The process of realizing and accepting that you are a non-human being or partially human being. Some might say somewhere during childhood, although it differs from being to being. Some say the awakening is when they found out about the alterhuman community.}
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PACK
_{Typically the "found family" of a nonhuman individual.}
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NONKIN
_{Uses to describe an individual who is not otherkin.}
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ANTIKIN
_{Used to describe an individual who trolls or is against the otherkin community. This term is not a self-identifier and should not be used to describe oneself.}
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KINNIE
_{A word made to mock and belittle the otherkin community. Many otherkin agree that the term was made to sound similar to the T slur, however, it's exact origins cannot be traced. The word in itself is not a slur, however, but is best not used due to its problematic history and controversial connotation.}
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SHIFTING
_{Many otherkin describe experiences of temporarily feeling more in touch with their kintype than they do at other times, and this phenomenon is known by the community as "shifting", with the experiences being known as "shifts". Shifts cannot always be controlled but are not always involuntary. This is not an experience that all otherkin share.}
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MENTAL SHIFT
_{A mental shift occurs when the mindset of the individual changes to be more akin to that of their kintype(s).}
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PHANTOM SHIFT
_{A shift where the individual feels parts (a tail, ears, wings, paws, etc-- it depends on the being's kintype) that aren't actually there.}
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CAMEO SHIFT
_{A shift that isn't of a kintype of the individual.}
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SENSORY SHIFT
_{When an individual experiences the senses of their kintype(s).}
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DREAM SHIFT
_{When an individual has dreams of or through the eyes of their kintype(s).}
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BERSERKER SHIFT
_{When an individual is believed to have been "taken over" by inhuman/unusual impulses, typically characterized by loss of control and bizarre actions. This could be for very many reasons, perhaps psychological, but the legitimacy of these shifts are debatable. Nonetheless, shifted or not, an individual is always accountable and responsible for any harm done to any other being and berserker shifting is not an excuse.}
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THE ALT KEY
_{The unofficial alterhuman symbol.}
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SEVEN POINTED STAR
_{The otherkin symbol.}
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THE THETA DELTA
_{The therian symbol. It is a combination of the Greek characters theta (Θ) and delta (Δ).}
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OTHERHEARTED
_{The otherhearted symbol.}

PHYTANTHROPE
_{The phytanthrope or plantkin symbol.}
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IS BEING OTHERKIN VOLUNTARY?
_{Being otherkin and the labels it envelopes (therian, fictionkin, conceptkin, etc) has always been, is, and always will be involuntary. Kintypes cannot be chosen; relating to an animal/character/being/other does not inherently make you otherkin.}
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ARE ALL OTHERKIN INDIVIDUALS FICTIONAL/MYTHICAL?
_{A thousand times no. Being otherkin is simply being nonhuman or partially human. It is not inherently tied to one thing or another. An otherkin's kintypes can be just about anything.}
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WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ALTERHUMANS AND FURRIES?
_{Being a furry is a hobby and furries are a part of fandom, called the furry fandom. Being alterhuman is an identity or collection of experiences that are not considered to be totally human by society's standards. Furries may consider themselves to be alterhuman, but not every furry is alterhuman and not every alterhuman is a furry. Both are very valid communities.}
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WHAT IS FACTKIN?
_{Factkin denotes individuals who claim to identify as a being who has lived or is living. This is extremely controversial, as claiming to identify as someone else is disrespectful and identify theft.}
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IS EVERY THERIAN OTHERKIN?
_{By definition, yes. Every therian is otherkin, although not every otherkin is a therian. However, using/identifying with these labels are always optional and may be used in any way that makes the user most comfortable.}
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DO OTHERKIN INDIVIDUALS ASK FOR LITTER BOXES AT SCHOOLS?
_{No. This is a hoax that was spread around to harm the otherkin community and further trash our reputation. To this day no reputable evidence can be found to support this claim.}
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IS BEING A THERIAN ABOUT HAVING A PAST LIFE AS AN ANIMAL?
_{It very well can be, but not inherently. Having beliefs of reincarnation or a past life as an animal do not make you a therian.}
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WHAT IS KFF?
_{KFF, or "kin for fun", describes a community of individuals that believe that kintypes can be voluntarily chosen. This is a bastardization of the word "kin" and perpetuates the stereotype that being otherkin is a choice. "Kinnies" and "kinnie 'culture'" is harmful and not legitimate.}
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WHY ARE CANINE AND FELINE OTHERKIN SO COMMON?
_{Imprinting and neurodivergence may play a very big role in this. Exposure to these animals in childhood may influence an individual's sense of identity or self, especially for autistic individuals or those without positive human role models. Neglect or mistreatment may unfortunately play a part as well. It is never okay to assume that an individual is "faking" their identity(ies), no matter how "common" you consider them to be.}
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IS BEING ALTERHUMAN A MENTAL ILLNESS?
_{Not inherently, although some alterhuman's identities may have origins in mental illness or delusion. They are just as valid as the rest of us.}
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BEING OTHERKIN IS NOT ABOUT HAVING A CONNECTION, RIGHT?
_{Wrong. I understand where beings who say this are coming from, but it's a very misinformed and narrow minded thing to say. The word "connection" is so broad that it honestly can't be defined in this context. Spiritual, cultural, reincarnated or religious alterhumans may hold a connection to their kintypes, for example. Those who define their relationship with themselves and their identity(ies) as a connection are not inherently otherhearted and are not necessarily KFF or faking.}
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DO ALTERHUMANS THINK THEY'RE OPPRESSED?
_{No. Alterhumans are very often misunderstood, mocked, or judged, but certainly not to the degree of oppression.}
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