Fiction/other/therian (etc.) quetion

[FoxChi]

So, I was on the bus today, and someone who I told and talked about 'kins' with, asked me a question, "Is being 'kinned' with something or someone a cult?  I was looking a some definitions and information about it, and some things said it was a cult..."  I had heard this before, but I have never been sure about it.  There is a sign (circle with a triangle inside) it kind of reminds me of some cult related thing, and the other day I saw something on here about it being a cult, and asking if people thought it was or not.

Sooooo my question is, is it a cult? or is it just sometimes taken in by the wrong people and they make it a cult...?

 

[MariaTheFictionkin]

A simple answer will be no. Being otherkin, therian, fictionkin, having copinglinks etc. doesn't have anything to do with being in a cult. It's best to not always assume that the information you read about otherkin and kin in general to be true. People like to make false claims as to what being kin actually means. I'm also curious as to where on Earth you read something like that?

 

[Shezep]

No, being otherkin in itself is not about being in a cult. The circle triangle thing is just a symbol some people like to wear to subtly signify they they're a therian. It's much less noticeable than a tail. 

However, there are those out there who will be happy to take advantage of young and vulnerable people who come their way. We often tell newer members a few things to try to steer them away from being taken advantage of such as:

1. No one else can tell you who you are. If someone is trying to tell you what your kintype is, or who you were in a past life, or what you should be doing in this life, they're probably full of it. Be very wary of people like that. By claiming to have such personal information about you they're also gaining, or trying to gain, a measure of control over you. Claiming to have shared a past life together is prime territory for this. Keep your own notes and keep them private so they can't play off of what you've told them. Keep track of what they've told you and see if the story has changed over time.  Though honestly, if you find the need to keep such notes you should have heeded your instincts and gotten out of there already. 

2. Physical shifting is not real. Some of these cult-like groups claim that they have some kind of magical secret that can make you physically more like your kintype. Wishing really hard and increasing the strength of your phantom shifts is never going to get you there. If it worked, more people would be doing it. In thirty years of being otherkin I have never seen a single shred of evidence indicating that this can happen. 

3. Be Wary of Packs and Pack Leaders. Some people use the outdated concept of wolf hierarchy to make themselves look and feel important. If you're in a pack that puts a lot of emphasis on ranks, then you might want to take a serious look at those leaders. Do they snap when someone disagrees with them? Do they make all the decisions? Are there any subjects that you simply don't talk about because it will upset the alphas? (This is not wolf exclusive, similar groups can form around any shared kintype or experience.)  This forum does not allow pack advertising for a good reason. 

*Honorable mention* There are no such thing as otherkin hunters.  The government has no interest in you, because of #2 above. You're simply not worth hunting. If your friends are telling you this then they may be trying to use fear tactics to get you to do what they say. Or they're just bored and looking for excitement. 

Young otherkin can be especially vulnerable to these kinds of things because everything seems new and mysterious when you first start out. Being different from others around you is an alienating experience and you might be tempted to latch on to the first people who give you a sense of belonging. It can be hard to give up that social comfort when faced with a situation that is less than ideal. Species dysphoria can be very disturbing and anything that promises relief and escape can also be very tempting. Your best bet is to join an established and experienced community that doesn't put much emphasis on rank, like this one. You won't get shiny promises here, but you will find people willing to listen to you and to offer friendly advice.  

 

[KnightFenrirWulfhart]

As Shezep has said, Otherkin, Therian, etc is not a cult by nature, though some groups can come across as such, people who runs these kinds of groups tend to have low self-esteem and use people's desire to belong to bolster their own ego up. Also watch out for groups that participate in echo chamber ideology, you should always think for yourself, and allow yourself to see from the other side of any argument you enter. Nothing is as simple as it appears on the surface. 

So, as always, simply be careful who you associate with and if you feel like someone's trying to pull you into a cult like group, you have no obligation to stay, and in fact owe it to yourself to get out. 

My two cents on the question, hope I made sense.

 

[Addy-River]

As many people have already stated, fictionkin, otherkin, therian, etc is not a cult by nature. Tho kin cults DO exist and they tend to prey on young people who are new to the concepts or just figuring out their identities. That does not mean that every kin group or community you come across online is a cult. There are warning signs of cults, one being that they try to control the way you think and don't like you thinking for yourself.