multiples and otherkin (x-posted)

[morgil-lomion.livejournal.com]

Well, I think this is my first official update in this community but I think most people are familiar with me. If not, I'll briefly introduce myself. I'm an outside walk-in to a system of several different people living inside one body/mind. I call myself an Angel of Death and believe myself to be over 700 years old [although I admit even I am skeptical to my own claims; I don't even take my own memories as absolute evidence of the truth of my claims e.g. I may be crazy :)].

That being said and all of this beingg taken into consideration, I find myself interested in the interactions between multiplicity(be it natural or disordered) and otherkinism(to coin a word).

It seems to me that there are many commonalities between the two phenomena and, while different in many ways, Kin seem to often share some traits with Multiples and vice versa. At the same time, the interactions and reactions between persons who consider themselves only to be one or the other are not always necessarily amiable. Some Kin think of Multiples as "crazies" and some Multiples seem to do the reverse; at very least there seems to be a good deal of skepticism as a subtext for their interactions with one another.

There also exist subtle differences in the language used between the two groups when it comes to terms and ideas that are at least superficially nearly identical.

Take the concept of a "walk-in", a term I use to describe myself to aid other people's understanding of me. Whereas Kin often use this term in a highly mystical and transendental fassion roughly similar to the old idea of someone either possesing or being possesed by a spirit(not necessarily evil although possesion certainly has that connotation culturally for many), Multiples tend to think of it as a common or a more internal experience where another person simply walks into the mind and takes up residence there.

Because of these observations, I am curious as to other people in both communities perspectives on each other and people's unique personal observations or general experiences with these ideas.

I find both groups of people and their interactions fascinating, largely of course because I consider myself both, and also because of the blurred line that marginally seperates people in both categories.

I look forward to the reactions and impressions of the people who respond, be they experienced in these interactions or completely uninformed of the paradigmatical juxtaposition these two groups usually fall into. Id est: Both the experienced and the newbie I'm sure will have interesting things to say.

Discussion in otherkin.

Comments

[shadowechoes.livejournal.com]

A large majority of Us are therian (some We suspect may be pure animal though), and obviously multiple as well. I know We're not the only system like this out there - Our SO's system and several close friends' systems also are multiple and majorly therian. I don't think multiplicity and therianthropy/otherkin have any correlation. However, I do think there are some similarities, for example some therian/otherkin who describe their "phenotype" as a somewhat separate entity from themselves, but don't claim it to be "multiple personalities". Sometimes polyweres can be similar to multiples, especially the ones whose multiple phenotypes are viewed separately instead of one hyrid creature. We're multiple, but many of Us just happen to be also therian. None of Us view Our phenotype as a separate entity - and the polyweres in here are all hybrid types - although inside most of Us can usually take either a human, animal, or anthro form. In my case I'm Ash the wolf therian, not Ash who has a wolf side. (I'll also note, I don't consider the phenotypes of other therian members of my system to be part of my phenotype.) And I think it would be that way whether or not I shared a body with others.

~Ash

[pengke.livejournal.com]

From a purely self-identity standpoint, it makes sense that you'd see an increase of otherkin in the multiple community. People in a multiple system, especially if they very rarely get a chance to use the body, have to get their sense of self and their body image from somewhere other than the physical body. It's logical that someone who either identifies strongly with an animal or who is looking for a role model and finds it in an anime would encorporate that into their self-image and see themselves at least partially as that animal. You can even take it a step further and say that because most of the people do not have a chance to have their own individual experiences learn from, they're more likely to encorporate ideals or personality traits, or aspects of themselves from fictional sources which would translate to some of them identifying as belonging to that fictional source or identifying as being one of the species/races in the fictional source.

Plus a lot of systems also seem to have more leeway with their 'physical' body in the system's world. If people can change the appearance of their hair at will and age-sliders can be physically adults or physically children depending on their age, why should it come as a surprise when others expand their physical self to include animal/anthropomorphic animal bodies?

Otherkin

[spookshow-girl.livejournal.com]

I deal with otherkin on a daily basis, system-mates make it difficult not to.

I personally do not identify as otherkin, I'm human, perhaps monstrous, but more monstrous human than otherkin.

I don't by necessity dislike otherkin, but there are certain concepts taken as a given there, that do get my hackles in a bunch. There are some that occur in the multiple community as well, which do the same.

I can believe in some crazy shit, but I do try to not presume it should be a given for everyone else. It should be a given that I have these beliefs, and that I will defend them, but so long as we're not talking about manipulative and abusive invalidation, I'm not so sure where the problem should lie.

An example of manipulative and abusive invalidation would be: "Your multiplicity is trauma induced, therefore you are not real, and I have a right to treat you as a second-class citizen, or can completely decide to not take any of your needs into account, and presume I'm on some moral high ground of trying to make the "real person" healthier."

I might not take some people's needs into account, but at least I'm aware of the morally ambigous ground on which I tread at times.

--Me

[ghostwalker.livejournal.com]

I don't know if you consider vamps as 'Kin. (Soem do, soem don't. *shrug*) Soem within are vampiric as well, but i'm not certain how it all relates to being multiple. I'm vamp with or without the others, so i suppose it doesn't relate at all? I don't know, I'm still musing on that one.