Otherkinity And Therianthropy

Myths And Untrue Statements

Below will be the many myths and untrue statements surrounding otherkin and why each is wrong.

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MYTH: Otherkin choose their kintypes.
This is entirely false. Kintypes are not chosen; they are discovered through many different methods including, but not limited to, meditation and astral projection. Anyone who says their kintype is chosen is not otherkin and is merely a poser and/or a liar.

MYTJ: Your kintype is a separate being that lives in your mind.
Definitely false. This myth most likely arises from poor knowledge about DID (disassociative identity disorder). While people with DID can be otherkin (anyone can), kintypes are not alters, nor are they living within the otherkin's head. Therefore, those that say things like "my wolf is hungry" or "my lion needs a mate" or wrong in their wording and are probably most likely role-playing or mistaken about their identity.

MYTH: Otherkin is a tumblr fad.
Most definitely incorrect. Otherkin have been around since before the internet was even invented. In fact, the earliest documentation of humans identifying as animals dates back to ancient Egypt.

MYTH: Otherkin are just furries that take it way too seriously.
While it's definitely possible for an otherkin to also be a furry, the two are in no way related. Furries are people who have anthropomorphic animal characters, and otherkin are people who identify as nonhuman beings. The only way the two would be connected would be if someone was kin with their fursona or turned their theriotype into their fursona.

MYTH: Otherkin are sexually attracted to their kintypes.
While there's a bad egg in every clutch, very few otherkin (therians especially, as this is targeted towards them) are sexually attracted to their kintypes. Those particular kin tend to be shunned from the rest of the community, and rightfully so.

MYTH: Otherkin are just role-players.
Some otherkin, myself included, happen to really like roleplay! But really, this one is not true. Yes, there are people that use otherkin to roleplay (wolfaboos, mainly; you can easily tell if someone claiming to be wolfkin is lying if they say they have any sort of ranking, are the "leader" of a pack and/or they say "their wolf" has blue eyes), but true otherkin are serious about their identity.