Tired of fictionkin misinfo

Hi!

It’s so tiring to see people reduce fictionkin down to “kinning”. I see it online *so* much, and people don’t really get the extent of my identity because of it. People also seem to often only be aware of one origin of fictionkin, and if they understand the identity they assume it’s a past life and memories. I’ve seen people explain fictionkin by saying it is when you have a past life. Well, I don’t! I convinced myself I had memories to fit in a while back just to fit in. I hate how the fictionkin community is so focused on that specific origin on being ‘kin. It almost makes me feel invalid sometimes because I am a psychological kin.

Does anyone else relate to this or feel this way? I feel like the only one sometimes. It’s sometimes hard for me to find creatures in the fictionkin community that don’t see it as a fun game or only past lives. I’d expect more understanding people to be here, though, based off of my experience on TG.

I can understand what you mean and agree, even though for me with my type it's related to a past life. My suggestion? Remember that, like with other kintypes, fictionkin identity can be very personal and how one person experiences their kintype can be different from others. Either way, people should respect that. Doesn't matter what the source is (psychological or spiritual) as long as you feel it defines part of you. Regardless, I can understand where you're coming from with this and don't want you to think that I am making light of things at all. I feel the same way about my theriotypes sometimes since I don't get memories from those and wanted them for the longest time, but had to accept that maybe I just wasn't going to get them.

Hopefully this helps!

(2025-09-18 13:21)shipaxe Wrote:  I convinced myself I had memories to fit in a while back just to fit in. I hate how the fictionkin community is so focused on that specific origin on being ‘kin. It almost makes me feel invalid sometimes because I am a psychological kin.

Are you saying that you chose to be fictionkin? Because that's not how being otherkin, fictionkin included, works. We don't "choose" to be this way, we simply are.

That said, fictionkin in general has always been met with more skepticism vs. angels or therians or dragons. And that's because everyone, humans included, is supposed to be able to relate and see themselves in fictional characters. It's why we enjoy things like books and movies. If you don't empathize with a character, you're not going to care about them or what happens to them and so then what's the point of reading or watching them.

Seeing yourself in a fictional character or feeling like you are them doesn't always mean you are them in a fictionkin sense. Sometimes it just means you feel connected to them, which is the point.

(2025-09-18 22:28)elinox Wrote:  

(2025-09-18 13:21)shipaxe Wrote:  I convinced myself I had memories to fit in a while back just to fit in. I hate how the fictionkin community is so focused on that specific origin on being ‘kin. It almost makes me feel invalid sometimes because I am a psychological kin.

Are you saying that you chose to be fictionkin? Because that's not how being otherkin, fictionkin included, works. We don't "choose" to be this way, we simply are.

i don't see how youre coming to this conclusion, but being psychological kin isnt inherently a choice if that was what lead you there. and if it was due to someone convincing themselves they have something they do not (such as past life memories) to fit in, couldnt that happen with any community?

but i have another question. why would someone choose to be kin if they werent kin in the first place? why would someone choose to identify as nonhuman if they didnt feel nonhuman? same for a fictional character. if you say feeling like you are something doesnt mean you are that thing, how does one define a non-physical identity like otherkin at all? if being otherkin is a term for people who do not identify as human, as this very site describes it, what else should they call themselves?

(2025-09-18 22:28)elinox Wrote:  Are you saying that you chose to be fictionkin? Because that's not how being otherkin, fictionkin included, works. We don't "choose" to be this way, we simply are.

That said, fictionkin in general has always been met with more skepticism vs. angels or therians or dragons. And that's because everyone, humans included, is supposed to be able to relate and see themselves in fictional characters. It's why we enjoy things like books and movies. If you don't empathize with a character, you're not going to care about them or what happens to them and so then what's the point of reading or watching them.

Seeing yourself in a fictional character or feeling like you are them doesn't always mean you are them in a fictionkin sense. Sometimes it just means you feel connected to them, which is the point.

I did not say that, no. I was always ‘kin, but when I was younger I (unintentionally) exaggerated it and thought I had memories and a past life before I realized I was not spiritual ‘kin at all. I did not choose this, no. I know how being otherkin works and I am aware it’s an identity and not just a connection- I think about this a lot and am often questioning things. Thank you for telling me this, though. I will keep it in mind.

(2025-09-19 13:24)shipaxe Wrote:  

(2025-09-18 22:28)elinox Wrote:  Are you saying that you chose to be fictionkin? Because that's not how being otherkin, fictionkin included, works. We don't "choose" to be this way, we simply are.

That said, fictionkin in general has always been met with more skepticism vs. angels or therians or dragons. And that's because everyone, humans included, is supposed to be able to relate and see themselves in fictional characters. It's why we enjoy things like books and movies. If you don't empathize with a character, you're not going to care about them or what happens to them and so then what's the point of reading or watching them.

Seeing yourself in a fictional character or feeling like you are them doesn't always mean you are them in a fictionkin sense. Sometimes it just means you feel connected to them, which is the point.

I did not say that, no. I was always ‘kin, but when I was younger I (unintentionally) exaggerated it and thought I had memories and a past life before I realized I was not spiritual ‘kin at all. I did not choose this, no. I know how being otherkin works and I am aware it’s an identity and not just a connection- I think about this a lot and am often questioning things. Thank you for telling me this, though. I will keep it in mind.

Okay, I understand now. Thanks for clarifying.