WikiFur - User contributions [en]

User:Sandstorrm

2005-10-08T04:25:18Z

Sandstorrm:

==Orion Sandstorrm==

The entity known as Orion Sandstorrm is a [[dragon]] [[otherkin]]. (Or dragon [[therianthrope]], but it's kinda the same difference.) Orion is a [[commission]] [[artist]], full-time college student, and also makes a [[webcomic]] called [[Theri There]].

==External Links==

* [http://orion.animaltracks.net Personal website.]
* [http://osandstorrm.deviantart.com DeviantArt gallery.]

{{Userpage}}

[[Category:Comic artists]]
[[Category:Artists]]
[[Category:People]]

Otherkin

2005-10-07T20:39:49Z

Sandstorrm: Corrected spelling.

Otherkin describes those who believe that their physical forms do not define or fully encompass their mental states, personality, psychology, or spiritual nature. The term predates its use on the Internet, and is believed to have been coined in the late 1980's by those who felt an affinity or connection to the the fae folk and/or elves of traditional mythological culture and folklore. First appearing in use on the Internet in 1996, the word was intended to imply some form of kinship with an 'other' element outside of a person's biological nature, physical mind and experiences, and human life.

==Otherkin Beliefs==

Stated simply, Otherkin in general feel they have a sympathetic connection, affinity, or some other form of relation with another animal or being. Traditionally these have tended to be mythological in nature, begining with fairy and fey folk, elves, and a few other European mythological archetypes. Later, other creatures began to appear, including unicorns, gryphons, dragons, angelics, demons, and the unique or undefinable.

With the basic premiss of the Otherkin concept, there has been skepticism directed at it along with the proposal that many people adopt the Otherkin identity to justify social difficulties - the outcast syndrome - or because they have a delusion and are in denial about their biological humanity. The idea that Otherkin believe they are physically non-human in a spectacular way - such as actually being biological dragons - is seen as a surprising yet pervasive misunderstanding among Otherkin themselves, who point out the spiritual and psychological focus of the concept. It has been postulated within the community that this confusion arises from those unfamiliar with the concept or having only a sketchy and perhaps distorted awareness; comparing it to psychiatric cases such as lycanthropy and dissociative identity disorder, concluding that in order for someone to state that they identify as an elf or gryphon, they must be experiencing a form of hallucination or delusion.

Most Otherkin have demonstrated that they are fully aware of their biological form and human life. Many Otherkin do have particular spiritual and metaphysical beliefs, and as part of those beliefs have discussed elements of a proposed spiritual reality which is not to be confused with the material world. Even if a given person believes, for instance, that on a spiritual plane they may have wings, it is uncommon that they are making a claim about such things existing in what most people would consider the real world.

Even so, some dislike the Otherkin idea purely on the grounds that they feel it is abusable by individuals who wish to present themselves as special and unique without merit, and that making unverifiable spiritual claims is one way to achieve this. Over time, Otherkin has proven to be appealing to a number of people for exactly this reason, and those within the community can be rigorous about screening out 'me too' and 'fluffbunny' adopters of the Otherkin idea. Some Otherkin themselves do not consider the Internet Kin community to have much or any validity at all, citing that it is very easy for a person to claim almost anything within the realm of online anonymity.

It is important though to observe that within the loosely defined Otherkin community, online or off, there is no consensus as to just what makes a person Otherkin. A variety of phenomena have been observed and theorized about which many feel create some sort of affinity between a person and something else. In this light, some see Otherkin as related to concepts such as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Totemism Totemism] which have appeared in human culture since ancient times. There has also been some debate over how potential factors such as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clinical_lycanthropy Clinical Lycanthropy] may account for a percentage of the experiences Otherkin believe they have had. While many, and some believe most, Otherkin follow a paradigm of spiritual reincarnation in some form to help explain their state of being, it is worth noting not all Otherkin are reincarnationalist and may view themselves in other spiritual, philosophical, or psychological frameworks.

==Otherkin and Therianthropy==

Otherkin bears no small resembalence to [[Therianthropy]], and some people consider them the same thing and use them interchangably - some might feel there is not enough inherent difference between the concepts, while others might be outsiders who are not familiar with the nuances or history of the ideas and communities surrounding them. However, in tradition to date, Otherkin has come to be associated with people who experience an affinity with an animal, creature, or being which might ordinarily be considered mythological, or sometimes entirely unique/alien. By contrast, Therianthropy is heavily connected to the affinity for existing, real-world animals which have been observed to live today in nature or to have lived in the past. Typically, someone who identifies with fairies, elves, dragons, gryphons, unicorns, or even angelic or demonic beings might be seen as Otherkin. While one who identifies with wolves, foxes, bears, cats big and small, or otters might be seen as a Therianthrope.

In some cases, a specific person might consider themselves - if they use a term or subculture association at all - a member of either community in spite of their species/entity connection. For example, someone who feels they are a part of the general Otherkin community socially might use the term Therianthropy to describe the mechanics of their own nature.

==Otherkin and Furry Fandom==

The practices and viewpoints of some [[furry_lifestyle|Furry Lifestylers]] have some similarity to the ideas of Otherkin and Therianthropy, and because of this some Lifestylers have considered themselves associated with one or both terms. Likewise, while Furry fandom in general might not have been formed to explore spiritual connections with animals and other creatures, many Otherkin and Therianthropes find the content and subject matter of Furry appealing because of their own interests.

By this point in time, a relatively large number of people within the Otherkin community are also Furry fans in some capacity and frequently attend events such as Furry [[Convention|Conventions]] in addition to Otherkin-specific social events and conventions. While there has yet to be an Otherkin-specific event or panel at a Furry convention, some spirituality panels seem to have drifted in that direction, or had Otherkin speakers and attendees. Panels and discussions on mythology have also attracted Otherkin to participate.

===Controversy within Furry Fandom===

Some people find the association of Furry with things beyond its base definition of the appreciation of anthropomorphic animals in art and fiction to be inappropriate, ridiculous, or uncomfortable. Because of this, Otherkin and Therian connections or intermingling with the fandom have taken on a pejorative tint for many. Much as Furry Lifestylers are disliked in some circles, Otherkin might be made to feel unwelcome or derided by some in Furry. For example, while the [[Burned_Furs|Burned Furs]] group did not formally declare Lifestylers/Otherkin/Therians to be undesirables for the fandom, they did indicate that such groups were being watched should the need arise, and some individual members took it upon themselves to attack or attempt to drive away individual Otherkin.

Furry fans appear generally aware of Otherkin, though in part this awareness has been spread not only by contact with Otherkin within the fandom, but by the adoption of Otherkin as another topic with which to portray elements of Furry in humorous or negative light by websites such as [[Something_Awful|Something Awful]] and [[Crush%21_Yiff%21_Destroy%21|Crush! Yiff! Destroy]]. It is thought, due to such framing, Otherkin for some people has become a generic term to identify Furries who feel there is something more to their animal avatar than role-playing. Some also point out that a good deal of Otherkin awareness has been spread by sardonic humor which often singles out individuals with the most outrageous behavior or controversial opinions, and as a result there appear to be some inaccuracies in the knowledge that many furries and nonfurs have about Otherkin. In spite of this confusion, there have been those who identify as Otherkin while putting forth dubious claims and questionable behavior. Because of the effect of visibility from the crowd, it is often the most over the top examples that get seen by outsiders, not unlike the problems with publicity that Furry fandom has endured over time.

==Undercover Otherkin==

It deserves to be noted that Otherkin is just a label to describe personal beliefs, experiences, and traits that occur in a variety of combinations depending on the individual. As there is no consensus on what qualifies as Otherkin, not everyone who shares similiar beliefs feels the term is appropriate or useful for themselves.

In addition, it has been observed before that due to outbreaks of controversy, some who could be described as Otherkin downplay or conceal those beliefs. An irony of this situation is that it has been theorized there are any number of people who actually believe much the same things as Otherkin do, but are seen by others in general as "the sane ones, who don't do that stuff." Some people have confessed to being reluctant of revealing the actual extent of their beliefs for fear of losing this status or being ostracized. Another irony remarked on before is that this often takes place in groups like Furry fandom, which can already be based on less than mainstream premises. Some people have expressed disappointment with groups like Furry in particular for exhibiting what they feel is prejudice against unusual ideas or beliefs, and attributed this to hypocrisy. Other observations have pointed out the effects of point of view, as at the same time many people who exhibit dislike of strange or unusual beliefs and conventions within Furry claim that Furry is too accepting of such things.

== See also ==

* [[Wikipedia:Otherkin|Otherkin]] on Wikipedia

== External links ==

*[http://www.otherkin.net Otherkin.net]

[[Category:Culture]]
[[Category:Terms]]

User:Sandstorrm

2005-10-07T07:21:26Z

Sandstorrm:

The entity known as Orion Sandstorrm is a [[dragon]] [[otherkin]]. (Or dragon [[therianthrope]], but it's kinda the same difference.) Orion is a [[commission]] [[artist]], full-time college student, and also makes a [[webcomic]] called [[Theri There]].

===External Links===
* [http://orion.animaltracks.net Personal website.]
* [http://osandstorrm.deviantart.com DeviantArt gallery.]

{{Userpage}}
[[Category:Comic artists]]
[[Category:Artists]]

Furry spirituality

2005-10-07T07:20:30Z

Sandstorrm: Added a category.

'''Furry spirituality''' is the generalized concept that [[furries]] may have their own spiritual or religous frameworks for understanding the supernatural and metaphysical worlds around them. Typically, such frameworks hinge significantly on animalistic aspects, such as [[animal totem]]s. Many [[lifestylers]] subscribe to their own form of furry spirituality, though it is not unusual for non-lifestylers to also have developed their individual spiritual understandings that may draw on elements of furry spirituality as well.

==Viewpoints==

There are a number of spiritual concepts and religious belief systems that have been incorporated into the realm of Furry spirituality by individual people. Not everyone who considers themselves a Furry spiritualist follows a path that has a particular name or association with other beliefs systems. But a few noteworthy views that fall under the umbrella of Furry spiritualism for some people are:

* Christianity. A large number of Furry fans are also Christians. For those who have particular beliefs that incorporate their furry interests, there is not necessarily a conflict with Christianity. Many have developed specific thinking on how to integrate Christianity with Furry spirituality and some formally refer to themselves as [[Christian Furs]].
* In addition to Christianity, there are any number of individuals who subscribe to a variety of religions and philosophy, including Judiasm, Taoism, Hinduism, Paganism, and Wicca. In many cases, they have adapted specific Furry concepts into these belief frameworks.
* Some Furries not only practice Animal Totemism but are formal followers of modern Native American religion.
* Some Furries also identify as [[Otherkin]] or [[Therianthropy|Therianthropes]] to encompass the spiritual element of their animal association.

==Controversy==

The element of spirituality and Furry has occassionally sparked controversy. Not all members of the fandom are comfortable with conotations of spirituality associated with Furry as a fandom. In some cases this discomfort is inspired by individuals who paint the image of Furry as an inherently spiritual or 'transhumanistic' experience and lifestyle. Anger and hostility have resulted in the past when some Furries have asserted that those who do not attach a spiritual belief to having an animal avatar are not 'true' Furries. Because of those who have attempted to present this picture, some within the fandom, on the fringes, and outside it, have expressed that Furry spirituality frequently makes the entire fandom appear to be a bunch of kooks or misanthropes.

A somewhat common misconception among outsiders and [[anti-furries]] who have not been inside the fandom, seems to be that all Furries have bizarre spiritual beliefs and that the fandom is a pseudo-religion. However, it should be noted that this misconception appears to stem as much from misrepresentation by those who play up the spiritual associations in Furry in order to mock them, as it does from actual Furries with spiritual beliefs.

By the same token, the majority of Furries with spiritual beliefs that relate to their 'furriness' - no matter how unusual those beliefs - are much more moderate in their public opinions and expression of their views. They do not typically assert that Furry is inherently spiritual and that spirituality is a prerequisite for being a Furry. A common view is that Furry, due to its subject matter, simply dovetails nicely with certain metaphysical and spiritual concepts that may not be what the fandom is fundamentally about, but provides an avenue of expression for.

==Forums==

Furry spirituality is often a topic of programming at furry conventions such as [[Further Confusion]] or [[Mephit Furmeet]], which have a subtrack of programming dedicated to furry spirituality.

== See also ==

* Wikipedia: [[Wikipedia:Christianity|Christianity]], [[Wikipedia:Taoism|Taoism]], [[Wikipedia:Hinduism|Hinduism]], [[Wikipedia:Judaism|Judiasm]], [[Wikipedia:Paganism|Paganism]], [[Wikipedia:Wicca|Wicca]] and the [[Wikipedia:Native American Church|Native American Church]]

==External links==

* [http://www.geocities.com/gideon_bear/ Gideon Bear's Christian Furry thoughts]
* [http://groups.yahoo.com/group/furry-spirit/ Furry-spirit Yahoo group]

[[Category:Culture]]
[[Category:spirituality]]

Were

2005-10-07T07:19:23Z

Sandstorrm: Added a category.

'''Were''' is the general term to describe both fans of were-animals and [[therian]]s. Were-[[fandom]] overlaps both [[furry fandom|furry]] and [[tranformation]] fandoms, combining aspects of both; people who call themselves weres may also be fans of these other genres. Unlike furries, were-animals are generally more [[bestial]] and less intellegent, usually controlled more by animal [[instinct]] and impulses rather than intellect, often to violent results.

Weres originally gathered in [[alt.horror.werewolves]] to discuss their interest in werewolves and other shafe-shifting or humanoid animals from horror and mythology. As time passed, three groups seperated:
*Fans of horror werewolves and other were-animals
*People who liked roleplaying werewolves and were-animals
*People who felt a personal, spiritual connection with werewolves or were-animals.

Eventually, much like furry fandom, the group who felt they were, in some ways, a were-animal became their own group. But, unlike furry fandom, they have become a very dominant group, and [[therianthropy]] a surprisingly accepted idea even amongst the fans who are only roleplayers or more casually interested.

Weres are generally interested in less anthropomorphic styled art, prefering semi-human animals, and much of the were art is either based on wildlife painting styles, or roleplaying game styles. [[Were-art]] has become a term and style in and of itself in the furry fandom, and were artists are a large reason for the current popularity in [[digitigrade]] forms and the decrease in popularity in [[toons]]. They enjoy the company of like-minded weres and sometimes meet at [[howls]] to commune with nature.

Though originally a [[wikipedia:horror|horror]] sub-fandom, not all weres are horror fans. Some prefer to see werewolves (and other were-animals) as more natural creatures than aren't inherently violent or horrific, and any violent actions they do as a return to a wild state. Were-fandom has a significant environmentalist streak because of this.

==See also==
*[[Therianthropy]]

[[Category:terms]]
[[Category:culture]]
[[Category:spirituality]]

Therian

2005-10-07T07:18:52Z

Sandstorrm: Added a category.

:Main article at [[therianthropy]]

'''Therians''' are people who believe that they are, in some form, animals. Unlike [[furry lifestyle]]rs, therians specifically tend towards the idea of shifting, or changing from a human state to an animal state. They subscribe to the idea of therianthropy, or ''human-animal transformation''. Therians may also be called "shifters", though this can be a contentious term as a growing number feel they do not actually change from one state to another and more reflect a human-animal state by having an animal soul and a human body.

There are three types of ''shifts'' acknowledged by the therian community:
*Mental (M-Shift)
A case where, for psychological reasons, a person has an animal-human mental state.
*Spiritual (S-Shift)
A case where, for spiritual reasons, a person has an animal-human mental state.
*Physical (P-Shift)
People who can magically or scientifically change forms.

In spite of these formal definitions M-shift has become the dominant term to refer to any non-physical shift, whether for psychological reasons or spitiual reasons.

Shifting, in general, means times when animalistic aspects become, either through voluntary methods like meditation or drugs, or involuntarily, dominant over human aspects of the person's personality. This may include, but not be limited to, feelings of "phantom limbs" or fur, keener sences, desires to bite or hunt, feelings of instincts not usual to humans, etc.

[[P-shift]]ing is the most controversial. As a general rule, it's more used as a term to discuss fictional [[transformation]]s rather than literal ones; people claiming to p-shift in any way are usually met with agressive skeptisim and are often accused of being [[roleplay]]ers.

In many ways, therians could be called [[were]]-lifestylers, except most therians are aggressivly against the idea of conciously assuming animal traits, a trait they feel is a hallmark of wannabes and [[lifestylers]]. Instead, they prefer to believe that the therian state is something people cannot assume.

Given that some therians feel they have an animal soul, much like some furry lifestylers, it's more of a case of semantics, or a case of which fandom they encountered first: people who tend to find out and relate to [[werewolf|werewolves]] specifically first usually use the term therian (or [[were]]), people who find out and relate to non-shape changing animal characters usually use the term lifestyler. In some cases, the term therian is used when either would do to distance the user from [[furry fandom]], which is scorned or disliked by some therians.

The term "therian" is primarily used to describe people with historical and modern animal aspects, such as dinosaurs or wolves; it is infrequently used to refer to more fantasical animal-shiters, like [[dragon]]-kin, and never to refer to human-like shifters. Mythical shifters are more usually called [[Otherkin]].

Usually, therians have one animal aspect, or [[phenotype]], but some have two or more. Generally, these people are refered to as ''Polyweres'', and can be a source of controversy, as single-aspect therians often cannot relate to how a multiple-animal therian could exist, especially in the context of having an animal soul. Many are therian-[[otherkin]] mixes, such as wolf-dragons or cat-vampires.

==See also==
*[[Otherkin]]
*[[Therianthropy]]
*[[Furry lifestyle]]

[[Category:culture]]
[[Category:terms]]
[[Category:spirituality]]

Theri There

2005-10-07T07:15:26Z

Sandstorrm:

"Theri There" is a [[webcomic]] by, for, and about [[therianthropy|Therianthropes]], [[draconity|Draconics]], [[furry lifestyle|Furry Lifestylers]] and [[otherkin|Otherkin]], and other such people whose identities are defined in non-physical ways. This isn't about adventuring heroes who transform into werewolves and fight mad scientists. Instead, these are the true stories of modern-day people and their spiritualities.

===Stats===
* Comic author: [[User:Sandstorrm|Orion Sandstorrm]]
* Started: September 2005
* Update frequency: Weekly (Mondays)
* Genres: slice-of-life, [[furry]], spirituality, real world
* Art style: varied
* Rating: G

===External Links===
* [http://therithere.comicgenesis.com Theri There, comic]
* [http://www.livejournal.com/~therithere Theri There, community]

[[Category:Comics]]

Theri There

2005-10-07T07:14:29Z

Sandstorrm: Maybe I should go through and create entries for all the other furry webcomics, too...

"Theri There" is a [[webcomic]] by, for, and about [[therianthropy|Therianthropes]], [[draconity|Draconics]], [[furry lifestyle|Furry Lifestylers]] and [[otherkin|Otherkin]], and other such people whose identities are defined in non-physical ways. This isn't about adventuring heroes who transform into werewolves and fight mad scientists. Instead, these are the true stories of modern-day people and their spiritualities.

===Stats===
* Comic author: [[Sandstorrm|Orion Sandstorrm]]
* Started: September 2005
* Update frequency: Weekly (Mondays)
* Genres: slice-of-life, [[furry]], spirituality, real world
* Art style: varied
* Rating: G

===External Links===
* [http://therithere.comicgenesis.com Theri There, comic]
* [http://www.livejournal.com/~therithere Theri There, community]

[[Category:Comics]]

User:Sandstorrm

2005-10-07T07:03:18Z

Sandstorrm: Hello world.