Otherkin Meetups = FAIL(?)

Ok, I know there's a word for this phenomenon and if there isn't, there should be.

>>The tendency for people who know each other from an online community and meet up in real life, only to talk about anything and everything under the sun EXCEPT what they originally met over.<<

So far Simim, kreyas and I have only had one discussion about otherkin, and it was just Simim coming up with random questions and us answering. And it was at the very end of the day, too, when we were out of other things to talk about XD

So, for those who have also met otherkin IRL that you first met online... either at these Meetups I keep hearing about or just visiting as a friend - does this ever happen to you?
Or are we just simply Doing It Wrongtm ?

*shurg*

There is no set agenda for these kind of meetups. I mean sure durning the Ohio therian met ups we had some discussion but mostly it's for meeting people and goofing off. Talking about therianthropy/Otherkin isn't require. Hell Durning out first meet up we talked about how much Werelist was full of LULZ and how much we dislike WolfVanZandt when we were in Glen Helen. We talked about the End of the World too, fav foods swimming. We did talk about a friends more unusal theriotype (monkey) so it was discussed but it was just a bunch of twenty-to late teens dicking around.

on the Summer meetup we we're riding coasters at Kings Island.

When I went to a meet, we did talk about Otherkin related matters, did little bits of energy play and scanning. We didn't have intense, sit-down discussions but people were very willing to share little things about themselves, their awakenings, and I learned a great deal.

There was quite a lot of "normal socializing" as well and we still partied (to a degree).

Actually, I'd forgotten how much fun I had.

I met up with jonesbeachchick, chaitea, and terro and we kinda talked about stuff that was non-kin related...came up with a few questions and stuff and talked about fluff, but for the most part there wasn't much of an otherkin nature to talk about since we *do* belong to the same forum(s) and thus have already talked about otherkin stuff and know where each other stands.

I'm glad you posted something about this, because I totally forgot about mentioning the phenomena of fail. XD

Then again, I'd also like to point out that this happens in any sort of group that have people in common.

Unless you get like, an organizer and set out some topics.

For instance, I met up with a group of friends with the sole intention of discussing a certain topic, mainly how to deal with A-Kon, and we only talked about A-Kon for a few minutes before the conversation lapsed into music and idle threats to kick each other in the butt.

Overall, meeting up with you guys just made me realize how much being Otherkin is NOT the most important thing ever. XD

Which is great. ^_^

Then again, I'd also like to point out that you and Kreyas are more than welcome to put out something for discussion as well. When I start thinking of stuff, I'm just throwing topics out until one eventually hooks and becomes something to really talk about. This goes for any topic, any time.

Hehehe. Zombie Scientologist.

And I think we did have some interesting things to say to one another, even if, at a whole, it was more or less a "do-stuff" kinda meeting, where we just drove around and checked places out.

Honestly, in groups of 3, discussion's never really worked for me. 5 is one of those nice numbers that starts stuff going. 2 more people, eh? XD

At Oh-K Go!, part of the time is 'kin discussion and energy stuff, and part is random nonsense. The 'kin discussion may require some sort of "You know we should probably say something on the actual subject of the gather..." type comment.

I/we dunno if I/we'd necessarily say it's fail if nothing Otherkin comes up. If you're having a good time and have no pressing subjects of conversation to bring up regarding Otherkin, what's wrong with that? If you have pressing subjects of conversation, bring them up. If you have 'em and bring 'em up and the group steers you away from the subject...then you're doing it wrong.

-blurry

Mythicalia stayed very otherkin oriented ranging from "dang our energy systems are weird" to "arghfluffbunnies". It was fascinating to actually talk about this with people face to face who've known about themselves for quite a while.

simim23 Wrote:Honestly, in groups of 3, discussion's never really worked for me. 5 is one of those nice numbers that starts stuff going. 2 more people, eh? XD

Hey, another 23!

Spanky Wrote:Ok, I know there's a word for this phenomenon and if there isn't, there should be.

>>The tendency for people who know each other from an online community and meet up in real life, only to talk about anything and everything under the sun EXCEPT what they originally met over.<<

So far Simim, kreyas and I have only had one discussion about otherkin, and it was just Simim coming up with random questions and us answering. And it was at the very end of the day, too, when we were out of other things to talk about XD

So, for those who have also met otherkin IRL that you first met online... either at these Meetups I keep hearing about or just visiting as a friend - does this ever happen to you?
Or are we just simply Doing It Wrongtm ?

I have only met IRL one person I met in an online otherkin community, and ... we ended up engaged, so I'd say we definitely talk about other things too *Grins* <!-- s:lol: --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_lol.gif" alt=":lol:" title="Laughing" /><!-- s:lol: -->

But it's nice to have someone who "gets it".

I've actually been more active in the real life Otherkin community than online. I only started coming back online in the last few months. I ran Toronto's first, and largest Otherkin meetup for four years, I attend the other one off and on, and have gone to events like KinVention North (praying for your rebirth) and the HK Open House. Frankly, what is talked about depends.

I find it silly in someways that people feel that if they meet another Kin, that they have to talk about being Kin. That's like thinking anytime I meet up with my occultist friends we need to talk about magick, or my trans friends that we need to talk about gender theory and identity. Don't get me wrong, it is nice, and interesting to discuss it, but they are real people and have "real people" things to talk about.

When I ran the Otherkin gather, some gathers we'd end up having discussions about Kin stuff, past lives, energy work, etc. Other times we'd be there discussing politics, books and TV shows. To me it wasn't about discussing about Otherkin, but with Otherkin. The "security" and comfort that comes from talking with someone who understands at least a little where you are coming from.

It's like what Simim said, it just makes you realize that being Otherkin is not the most important thing ever.