Terms

So sparky and I were talking awhile ago and she suggested that I post this here to get opinions on it.

What terms do you all use to apply to yourselves? Are you a therian but still consider yourself Otherkin? Are you a celestial but not an angelic? Do you consider yourself a contherian? Are you draconic or just a dragon?

Also, what terms do you use to describe others in the Otherkin communities? Someone on the Werelist posted a thread asking people with extinct creatures or mythological animals as 'kin types to step forward. He used the term 'cryptozoology' (It means the study of animals that fall outside of taxonomic records due to a lack of empirical evidence, but for which anecdotal evidence exists in the form of myths, legends, or undocumented sightings.) And that got me to thinking, would someone who identifies as a dragon be called a 'cryptid' as well as being called draconic? Just as someone who identifies as a wolf can be called wolfkin or a therian?

What are all the labels you apply to yourself with your Otherkin identity? And what labels do you apply to others in the community?

I think that terms quickly become a hideous mire. Once something becomes an accepted term, it is now a "vocabulary word" to be "memorized" in order to pass the class but it loses a great deal of it's meaning.
I have found it increasingly common that we argue over terms. We have been much less specific about what we mean and it had led to the entire breakdown of the original discussion.
Precision of language is a necessity because many of the ideas and feelings associated with kinship are already vague, highly subjective and highly variable. We should not make assumptions that everyone knows what we know and should take the time and effort to explain ourselves clearly, in a relevant manner.

Malakoi Wrote:We should not make assumptions that everyone knows what we know and should take the time and effort to explain ourselves clearly, in a relevant manner.

And that's precisely why there are terms. To clarify what someone means about something to someone else. The problem is when there isn't a clear meaning of a term or when there are multiple definitions for the same thing. That's when things get confusing. And you didn't answer my original question, what terms do you apply to yourself and others in the Otherkin community?

People need labels. It's really just that simple.

Honestly, I prefer the basic, classic 'labels.' I mean seriously- is one angel the same as another, even in legend and lore? Nope. Is one dragon the same as another? Nuh-uh.

We use these basic terms- dragon, demon, vampire, angel, therian- as a way to arrange ourselves for our own mental comfort. Would I be technically an angel? I'm doubtful. Celestial suits me, but my nickname for years has been 'Angel,' and so I prefer to use that. People will argue over terms until their hands are stiff from typing, but it comes down to the same basic idea- language is humanity's way of getting a grip on concepts, and even if we are othersouled, there is still a basic part of us that is human. How else are we to handle our abstract concepts without the grip provided by words? By labels?

I've honestly never understood where the term 'otherkin' came from to begin with. (I had a giggle thinking of those 'please choose your ethnicity' sections on government forms, where they have an 'other' available to select.) Do I really care? Nope. I don't particularly care about the specific origin of the word 'nerd' or 'geek.' (I know the original definitions, but eh, it's popular usage nowadays.) The point is we need these words as a way to handle our concept of being other-souled. I won't be insulted to be called a celestial, told I'm not an 'angel' in the specific term or to be called an angel. Why? Because words often have multiple meanings, and the more we try to make specific categorizations for those of us who fall outside of the pop culture ideal connected to our 'kin type, the more confusing we're going to become.

Well, the point of the post was largely to say "I don't use terms like that for myself when unnecessary."

But, upon further reflection, I do.
I refer to myself as vampiric, and as dark kin (though that idea becomes increasingly less certain).

I personally refer to myself as otherkin, specifically a celestial. I don't go with angel since I don't serve a specific deity. When it comes to others, it's really up to them as to what they go by. I consider therians/weres to be otherkin. I personally consider "cryptids" to be dragonkin, gryphon-kin, etc. I don't personally refer to them as cryptid therians or anything like that, but if someone feels more comfortable with that terminology for themselves, then what does what I think matter?

I consider myself a dragon and feel that the word “otherkin” fits me rather well considering its general definition.
Though I also like the sound of “othersouled” as well (though it’s much less common).

I use the term “draconic” as a descriptor for dragon like traits and behaviors that may be exhibited by both dragons and creatures who are unfortunate enough not to fall under that lovely umbrella of awesomeness. <!-- s8-) --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_cool.gif" alt="8-)" title="Cool" /><!-- s8-) -->

To be a bit more dragon specific when it comes to labels, I use “European” to describe the region and thus a more specific type of dragon. From there I get even more detailed and call my self a “Heraldic” which is a name given to a certain body shape.

Aside from that, I use the descriptor “7 Stories of Terror” though sadly it hasn’t quite caught on yet.

As for others I try and stay as general (or offensive) as possible.
Angles are “cloud-humping-hippie-choirboys”
Celestials are “cloud-humping-hippie-wannabes that can’t commit”
Fallen are “anti-cloud-humping-hippie-choirboys”
Demons are “chaos-smokin'-hippies”
And the list only proceeds to become even more politically incorrect from there. <!-- s --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_e_biggrin.gif" alt=":D" title="Very Happy" /><!-- s -->

i only regularly use two terms, occasionaly i use a third but i'm not fond of it. there is a fourth is sometimes use.

Vampires - kin, sometimes i use the term hybrid (this is the one i'm not fond of) for those of use who are more then one type of vampire.
Otherkin - 'kin
Therians - were's (most fo the time, but i've added therianthrope to it as well, it sort of goes in a line, but i rarely use either one much. it only comes up in conversation where the person is trying to figure out what they are or if were talking about blood lust)

chaitea Wrote:As for others I try and stay as general (or offensive) as possible.
Angles are “cloud-humping-hippie-choirboys”
Celestials are “cloud-humping-hippie-wannabes that can’t commit”
Fallen are “anti-cloud-humping-hippie-choirboys”
Demons are “chaos-smokin'-hippies”
And the list only proceeds to become even more politically incorrect from there. <!-- s --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_e_biggrin.gif" alt=":D" title="Very Happy" /><!-- s -->

I really want to hear the rest of this list.

Chaos-smokin'-hippie. That beats Zombie Scientologist any day of the week.

This is a great topic. Especially given the fact that spoken language hinges so greatly on words that actually mean something. Terms are victims in kin communities...IME. 'Angel, fae, elf. demon..." all words that quickly die the death of vastly diverse and personal usage. While I don't like it, I suppose I have to say, what else can be done? We all have to find the words that best fit what we have.

Onto MEEEE

Damn....I guess a lot of things could apply. I could use fae (sidhe specifically) because I seem to have "energy" or whatever that is associated with that concept. I could use Nephilim for the same reason, though it is a more general category in my working hypothesis of what this is all about whereas "Sidhe" is more specific. Given that I see Nephilim as the progeny of Angels, I suppose that maybe "angelic" could apply. Nephilim brings up a whole host of other applicable terms. Annunaki, Anakim, maybe even Rephaim and Emim.

All have their reasons for being applicable and all have points that cause them to be disputed as well. Even nephilim is sometimes argued to be a word for the Angels that perpetrated the thing and not their progeny. The root being nephyl (or something like that), which refers to fallen ones (or something like that).

So what to use?? Heck, I just go with what I like. I am Sidhe subset of the Nephilim.