WikiFur - User contributions [en]

Alterhuman

2022-01-22T19:29:43Z

Vagabondsun: /* Alt+H */ still alive (also some spelling)

'''Alterhuman''' or '''alter-human''' individuals are people who have experiences or an identity which they perceive as being alternative to or outside common societal ideas of humanity. Originally termed Alternative Humanity Personal Identity (AHPI)<ref name="malchior2014tumblr">'[https://phasmovore.tumblr.com/post/98482696958/this-will-probably-be-my-last-post-on-semantics Malchior's September 26, 2014 post] on [[Tumblr]].' (Archived Page https://web.archive.org/web/20180326012554/http://phasmovore.tumblr.com/post/98482696958/this-will-probably-be-my-last-post-on-semantics )</ref>, alterhuman functions as an umbrella term which covers a broad spectrum of other terms and groups; it most often includes [[otherkin]], [[therian]], fictionkin, plural systems, otherhearted individuals, and otherlinkers, but it may also be used to refer to transhumanists, trans-species individuals, furries, daemians, and vampires among others.<ref name="vagabondsun2019">[https://vagabond-sun.tumblr.com/post/186964768875/here-are-some-ways-you-can-be-alterhuman-andg Alt+H organizer and staff member Mordecai's August 12, 2019 post] on [[Tumblr]].</ref><ref name="althfaq">'[https://www.alt-h.net/educate/faq.php Alt+H > Educate > FAQ]'(Archived Page http://web.archive.org/web/20200419101550/https://www.alt-h.net/educate/faq.php )</ref>

== Terms, definitions, and identities ==
The term [[otherkin]] (or more rarely, otherkind) originated within online communities of nonhuman-identifying individuals in 1990 as both a standalone identity label and an umbrella term for real individuals who identify as nonhuman.<ref name="Lupa">Lupa (2007). ''A Field Guide to Otherkin''. Immanion Press. pp. 24-26, 50. ISBN 978-1-905713-07-3.</ref> Arguably a precursor to the term alterhuman, one ex-[[therian]], Lupa Greenwolf, described identifying as otherkin as "a way for us to embrace the parts of us that simply don't fit into a human paradigm."<ref name="Lupa"></ref> The otherkin community typically includes individuals who identify as elves and fae, mythological animals, angels and demons, machines and objects, concepts, extinct and extant animal species (also known as [[therians]]), plants (also known as phytanthropes<ref name="HOCphytanthrope">[https://houseofchimeras.livejournal.com/128446.html Darahagh from House of Chimera's phytanthrope essay]on [[LiveJournal]].</ref>), and fictional creatures or characters (also known as fictionkin or mediakin). <ref name="Lupa"></ref><ref name="MachineKin">Shea, S. C. (2020). Exploring other-than-human identity: Religious experiences in the life-story of a machinekin. Religions, 11(7), 354. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel11070354</ref><ref name="ObjectKin">Beusman, C. (2016, August 3). [https://www.vice.com/en/article/zmbeae/i-look-at-a-cloud-and-i-see-it-as-me-the-people-who-identify-as-objects 'I look at a cloud and I see it as me': The people who identify as objects.] Retrieved December 1, 2021.</ref>

'''Plurality''' (also multiplicity) is an umbrella term which is used to encompass all phenomena in which one or more entities or consciousnesses may exist within a single physical body. Those who share a single physical body often refer to themselves collectively as a system. Plural systems and individuals may or may not utilize the term alterhuman for themselves, but plurals are often included in the alterhuman umbrella.<ref name="PRwhatis">[https://pluralityresource.org/plurality-information/ Plurality Resource > What Is Plurality?]</ref><ref name="pluarlityplaybook">[https://www.pluralpride.com/playbook Plural Pride > Plurality Playbook]</ref>

'''Otherhearted''' or other-hearted individuals have a strong connection to or identification with something.<ref name="heartedforumdef">[https://theotherhearts.canadian-forum.com/t10-the-exact-definition-of-being-other-hearted Other Hearts Forum > The Exact Definition of Being Otherhearted]</ref> Otherhearted functions as an umbrella term comparable to otherkin as individuals within the community often substitute 'other' for the animal, plant, object, concept, character, or creature that they identify with, resulting in sub-umbrella terms, like animalhearted (comparable to therian), and more specific and personally used terms. The term otherhearted traces its roots back to the Usenet group alt.horror.werewolves from 1997.<ref name="AHWWhearted">[https://groups.google.com/g/alt.horror.werewolves/c/4QHBcdK28Vw/m/SN0jQJMNs9oJ alt.horror.werewolves > AM I WOLF HEARTED?]</ref> This phenomena may also be referred to as being kith or having a synpath, though these terms seem to have largely fallen out of use.

'''Otherlinkers''' (previously called copinglinkers) are individuals who take on identification with or strong relation to something which is cultivated and controlled by the individual who it affects. The original terminology was initially coined in 2015, on Tumblr.<ref name="copinglinkerDefinition">[https://who-is-page.tumblr.com/post/139871297049/clinkers-and-copinglink Who-is-Page's copinglink definition post]on [[Tumblr]].</ref>

== Origins ==
Indexed web registries points that the term was coined by Malchior on September 26, 2014 <ref name="malchior2014tumblr"></ref> on a Tumblr post.

== Alterhuman and furry ==
While [[furry fans]] are welcomed under the alterhuman umbrella and intermixing does occur, there has been little to no significant research done into how many furries self-identify with the term or know the term. Furries who are already aware of the [[otherkin]] and [[therian]] subcultures or who have themselves attended alterhuman conventions which included furry-oriented panels and events, such as [[Othercon]], may be generally aware of it.

A noticeable number of alterhuman individuals are also furry fans or interact with furry events, such as conventions and meetups. One survey conducted in alterhuman communities found that 22.8% of participants classified themself as "furry (alterhuman)" and 16.1% classified themself as "furry (not alterhuman)."<ref name="SpeciesDysphoriaWithinAlterhumans">PinkDolphin. (2020). [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1XMvXz-F_ks3saJr6ADYOfx4S6LE_btu2FHqBdN-grFo/viewanalytics?fbclid=IwAR08GSq_KwSJYUJJbvxT9z6a5d0kpxL0hDcH0uKF8S4lPv_W1jF409Fe0z0 "Species Dysphoria Within Alterhumans (therian/otherkin/kith etc)" Survey], 254 responses</ref> There is also an overlap between alterhumans and specifically [[furry lifestylers]], as another, separate survey in alterhuman communities found that 16.8% of participants considered themselves furry lifestylers.<ref name="BodyModSurvey">Who-is-Page. (2021). [https://invisibleotherkin.neocities.org/files/BodyModification-DecorationSurveyResults.pdf The 2021 Nonhumanity & Body Modification/Decoration Survey Results Breakdown]</ref>

There seems to be less widespread controversy over generalized alterhumans in furry spaces than there has been with otherkin. This may be because the term alterhuman is newer or lesser-known, or because it does not have the association with jokes that otherkin does.

=== Alterhuman and furry organizations ===
Due to the large scope and opt-in nature of alterhuman, many public organizations which are involved with the alterhuman community are also involved or include the furry community within their work. Some furry organizations may also choose to incorporate certain furry-adjacent alterhuman individuals, such as therians and otherkin, within their own research as well.

====Freedom of Form Foundation====

The Freedom of Form Foundation (FFF) is a nonprofit corporation founded in 2018. The FFF funds and popularizes scientific research geared towards morphological freedom, including full-body changes which utilize the appearances or traits of other species.<ref name="FFFVision">[https://freedomofform.org/vision/ FFF > About Us > Vision]</ref>

The FFF's staff team includes both alterhumans and furries, including [[Serathin]] and [[Keiro]] amoung its members. The organization has also attended multiple furry conventions and held panels on related subjects:
*[[Anthro New England]] 2019 - Panel: Make It Real <ref name="FFFane2019panel">[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nb1Yn-CHql4&ab_channel=FreedomofFormFoundation FFF's "Make It Real" recording] on [[YouTube]].</ref>
*[[Anthro New England]] 2020 - Panel: What if you could actually be your fursona? <ref name="FFFane2020panel">[https://freedomofform.org/2129/anthro-new-england-2020/ FFF > Videos and podcasts > Anthro New England 2020]</ref>
*Planned attendance for [[Midwest Fur Fest]] 2021 - Panel: "What if you could actually be your fursona?" Freedom of Form: Make it Real.<ref name="FFFfurfest2021panel">[https://twitter.com/FreedomOfForm/status/1465319823475462152 FFF's November 29, 2021 post]on [[Twitter]].</ref>

====Alt+H====

Alt+H is an alterhuman advocacy group which aims to legitimize alterhumanity in the eyes of the larger public and offer resources for alterhuman individuals.<ref name="ALTHabout">[https://www.alt-h.net/about/index.php Alt+H > About]</ref> It started as a Tumblr blog in 2016, and ran as a nonprofit organization from 2019-2022. In January of 2022 it announced that it would be dissolving its LTD and continue to operate as an unincorporated, self-funded group.<ref name="althdeletion">[https://blog.alt-h.net/post/672487310838956032/hey-all-its-been-a-little-under-three-weeks Alt+H's January 4th 2022 post] on ]Tumblr]</ref>

Alt+H included postfurries within its list of alterhuman communities in its FAQ.<ref name="althfaq"></ref>

====FurScience====

[[FurScience]] is the public website and name for the International Anthropomorphic Research Project (IARP). Founded in 2016, FurScience examines aspects of furry culture through a variety of lenses, including psychological, anthropological, and sociological, with the intent of cultivating better understandings of furries for those both inside and outside of the fandom. <ref name="FSaboutus">[https://furscience.com/who-we-are/ FurScience > Who we are]</ref>

Although FurScience focuses largely on furry fandom and culture, they have also historically included otherkin and therians within the scope of their research. They also have an in-progress page of their website dedicated specifically to otherkin and therians.<ref name="FStherian">[https://furscience.com/therian/ FurScience > Therianthropy/Otherkin]</ref> The Alterhuman Advocacy Group describes FurScience as "conducting research of interest to alterhuman people."<ref name="ALTHresearch">[https://www.alt-h.net/research/ Alt+H > Research]</ref>

== References ==

<references/>

{{term-stub}}
[[Category:Terms]]
[[Category:Spirituality]]

Alterhuman

2021-12-12T15:44:08Z

Vagabondsun: /* Alt+H */ fix name of the group in question

'''Alterhuman''' or '''alter-human''' individuals are people who have experiences or an identity which they perceive as being alternative to or outside common societal ideas of humanity. Originally termed Alternative Humanity Personal Identity (AHPI)<ref name="malchior2014tumblr">'[https://phasmovore.tumblr.com/post/98482696958/this-will-probably-be-my-last-post-on-semantics Malchior's September 26, 2014 post] on [[Tumblr]].' (Archived Page https://web.archive.org/web/20180326012554/http://phasmovore.tumblr.com/post/98482696958/this-will-probably-be-my-last-post-on-semantics )</ref>, alterhuman functions as an umbrella term which covers a broad spectrum of other terms and groups; it most often includes [[otherkin]], [[therian]], fictionkin, plural systems, otherhearted individuals, and otherlinkers, but it may also be used to refer to transhumanists, trans-species individuals, furries, daemians, and vampires among others.<ref name="vagabondsun2019">[https://vagabond-sun.tumblr.com/post/186964768875/here-are-some-ways-you-can-be-alterhuman-andg Alt+H organizer and staff member Mordecai's August 12, 2019 post] on [[Tumblr]].</ref><ref name="althfaq">'[https://www.alt-h.net/educate/faq.php Alt+H > Educate > FAQ]'(Archived Page http://web.archive.org/web/20200419101550/https://www.alt-h.net/educate/faq.php )</ref>

== Terms, definitions, and identities ==
The term [[otherkin]] (or more rarely, otherkind) originated within online communities of nonhuman-identifying individuals in 1990 as both a standalone identity label and an umbrella term for real individuals who identify as nonhuman.<ref name="Lupa">Lupa (2007). ''A Field Guide to Otherkin''. Immanion Press. pp. 24-26, 50. ISBN 978-1-905713-07-3.</ref> Arguably a precursor to the term alterhuman, one ex-[[therian]], Lupa Greenwolf, described identifying as otherkin as "a way for us to embrace the parts of us that simply don't fit into a human paradigm."<ref name="Lupa"></ref> The otherkin community typically includes individuals who identify as elves and fae, mythological animals, angels and demons, machines and objects, concepts, extinct and extant animal species (also known as [[therians]]), plants (also known as phytanthropes<ref name="HOCphytanthrope">[https://houseofchimeras.livejournal.com/128446.html Darahagh from House of Chimera's phytanthrope essay]on [[LiveJournal]].</ref>), and fictional creatures or characters (also known as fictionkin or mediakin). <ref name="Lupa"></ref><ref name="MachineKin">Shea, S. C. (2020). Exploring other-than-human identity: Religious experiences in the life-story of a machinekin. Religions, 11(7), 354. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel11070354</ref><ref name="ObjectKin">Beusman, C. (2016, August 3). [https://www.vice.com/en/article/zmbeae/i-look-at-a-cloud-and-i-see-it-as-me-the-people-who-identify-as-objects 'I look at a cloud and I see it as me': The people who identify as objects.] Retrieved December 1, 2021.</ref>

'''Plurality''' (also multiplicity) is an umbrella term which is used to encompass all phenomena in which one or more entities or consciousnesses may exist within a single physical body. Those who share a single physical body often refer to themselves collectively as a system. Plural systems and individuals may or may not utilize the term alterhuman for themselves, but plurals are often included in the alterhuman umbrella.<ref name="PRwhatis">[https://pluralityresource.org/plurality-information/ Plurality Resource > What Is Plurality?]</ref><ref name="pluarlityplaybook">[https://www.pluralpride.com/playbook Plural Pride > Plurality Playbook]</ref>

'''Otherhearted''' or other-hearted individuals have a strong connection to or identification with something.<ref name="heartedforumdef">[https://theotherhearts.canadian-forum.com/t10-the-exact-definition-of-being-other-hearted Other Hearts Forum > The Exact Definition of Being Otherhearted]</ref> Otherhearted functions as an umbrella term comparable to otherkin as individuals within the community often substitute 'other' for the animal, plant, object, concept, character, or creature that they identify with, resulting in sub-umbrella terms, like animalhearted (comparable to therian), and more specific and personally used terms. The term otherhearted traces its roots back to the Usenet group alt.horror.werewolves from 1997.<ref name="AHWWhearted">[https://groups.google.com/g/alt.horror.werewolves/c/4QHBcdK28Vw/m/SN0jQJMNs9oJ alt.horror.werewolves > AM I WOLF HEARTED?]</ref> This phenomena may also be referred to as being kith or having a synpath, though these terms seem to have largely fallen out of use.

'''Otherlinkers''' (previously called copinglinkers) are individuals who take on identification with or strong relation to something which is cultivated and controlled by the individual who it affects. The original terminology was initially coined in 2015, on Tumblr.<ref name="copinglinkerDefinition">[https://who-is-page.tumblr.com/post/139871297049/clinkers-and-copinglink Who-is-Page's copinglink definition post]on [[Tumblr]].</ref>

== Origins ==
Indexed web registries points that the term was coined by Malchior on September 26, 2014 <ref name="malchior2014tumblr"></ref> on a Tumblr post.

== Alterhuman and furry ==
While [[furry fans]] are welcomed under the alterhuman umbrella and intermixing does occur, there has been little to no significant research done into how many furries self-identify with the term or know the term. Furries who are already aware of the [[otherkin]] and [[therian]] subcultures or who have themselves attended alterhuman conventions which included furry-oriented panels and events, such as [[Othercon]], may be generally aware of it.

A noticeable number of alterhuman individuals are also furry fans or interact with furry events, such as conventions and meetups. One survey conducted in alterhuman communities found that 22.8% of participants classified themself as "furry (alterhuman)" and 16.1% classified themself as "furry (not alterhuman)."<ref name="SpeciesDysphoriaWithinAlterhumans">PinkDolphin. (2020). [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1XMvXz-F_ks3saJr6ADYOfx4S6LE_btu2FHqBdN-grFo/viewanalytics?fbclid=IwAR08GSq_KwSJYUJJbvxT9z6a5d0kpxL0hDcH0uKF8S4lPv_W1jF409Fe0z0 "Species Dysphoria Within Alterhumans (therian/otherkin/kith etc)" Survey], 254 responses</ref> There is also an overlap between alterhumans and specifically [[furry lifestylers]], as another, separate survey in alterhuman communities found that 16.8% of participants considered themselves furry lifestylers.<ref name="BodyModSurvey">Who-is-Page. (2021). [https://invisibleotherkin.neocities.org/files/BodyModification-DecorationSurveyResults.pdf The 2021 Nonhumanity & Body Modification/Decoration Survey Results Breakdown]</ref>

There seems to be less widespread controversy over generalized alterhumans in furry spaces than there has been with otherkin. This may be because the term alterhuman is newer or lesser-known, or because it does not have the association with jokes that otherkin does.

=== Alterhuman and furry organizations ===
Due to the large scope and opt-in nature of alterhuman, many public organizations which are involved with the alterhuman community are also involved or include the furry community within their work. Some furry organizations may also choose to incorporate certain furry-adjacent alterhuman individuals, such as therians and otherkin, within their own research as well.

====Freedom of Form Foundation====

The Freedom of Form Foundation (FFF) is a nonprofit corporation founded in 2018. The FFF funds and popularizes scientific research geared towards morphological freedom, including full-body changes which utilize the appearances or traits of other species.<ref name="FFFVision">[https://freedomofform.org/vision/ FFF > About Us > Vision]</ref>

The FFF's staff team includes both alterhumans and furries, including [[Serathin]] and [[Keiro]] amoung its members. The organization has also attended multiple furry conventions and held panels on related subjects:
*[[Anthro New England]] 2019 - Panel: Make It Real <ref name="FFFane2019panel">[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nb1Yn-CHql4&ab_channel=FreedomofFormFoundation FFF's "Make It Real" recording] on [[YouTube]].</ref>
*[[Anthro New England]] 2020 - Panel: What if you could actually be your fursona? <ref name="FFFane2020panel">[https://freedomofform.org/2129/anthro-new-england-2020/ FFF > Videos and podcasts > Anthro New England 2020]</ref>
*Planned attendance for [[Midwest Fur Fest]] 2021 - Panel: "What if you could actually be your fursona?" Freedom of Form: Make it Real.<ref name="FFFfurfest2021panel">[https://twitter.com/FreedomOfForm/status/1465319823475462152 FFF's November 29, 2021 post]on [[Twitter]].</ref>

====Alt+H====

Alt+H is a nonprofit company founded in 2019 which originally started on Tumblr in 2016. Alt+H aims to legitimize alterhumanity in the eyes of the larger public and offer resources for alterhuman individuals.<ref name="ALTHabout">[https://www.alt-h.net/about/index.php Alt+H > About]</ref>

Alt+H includes postfurries within its list of alterhuman communities on its FAQ.<ref name="althfaq"></ref>

====FurScience====

[[FurScience]] is the public website and name for the International Anthropomorphic Research Project (IARP). Founded in 2016, FurScience examines aspects of furry culture through a variety of lenses, including psychological, anthropological, and sociological, with the intent of cultivating better understandings of furries for those both inside and outside of the fandom. <ref name="FSaboutus">[https://furscience.com/who-we-are/ FurScience > Who we are]</ref>

Although FurScience focuses largely on furry fandom and culture, they have also historically included otherkin and therians within the scope of their research. They also have an in-progress page of their website dedicated specifically to otherkin and therians.<ref name="FStherian">[https://furscience.com/therian/ FurScience > Therianthropy/Otherkin]</ref> The Alterhuman Advocacy Group describes FurScience as "conducting research of interest to alterhuman people."<ref name="ALTHresearch">[https://www.alt-h.net/research/ Alt+H > Research]</ref>

== References ==

<references/>

{{term-stub}}
[[Category:Terms]]
[[Category:Spirituality]]

User:Vagabondsun

2021-12-12T15:42:34Z

Vagabondsun: Created page with 'i'm '''mordecai''', you can use '''he/him''' or '''it/its''' pronouns for me, and i go by '''vagabondsun''' pretty much everywhere else on the internet too (including [https:/...'

i'm '''mordecai''', you can use '''he/him''' or '''it/its''' pronouns for me, and i go by '''vagabondsun''' pretty much everywhere else on the internet too (including [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Vagabondsun wikipedia]).