(2025-02-06 13:50)House of Psychos Wrote: It has been watered down on most social media, I agree (while I barely have social media I've seen bits of it and there's a reason I don't go to this spaces). Whereas here it has kept it's original meaning and those recently created terms used on tiktok and tumblr aren't always seen as more serious on TG. Especially cause it seems like people on those platforms create terms excessively all the time for the most banal things. That's how I see it, I don't speak for other members. Also I'm not trying to be rude or invalidate you, just question you as this is how we tend to do it here.
I mean, it's your identity, so do what makes you comfortable. But "holothere" is pretty unknown, so people may not understand at first what you mean with that. Also, you can tag people additionally (not Dusty, he doesn't like that usually). That would solve your problem. Or copypaste the other quotes in the answer field.
I read the thread that was linked and they just describe therianthropy. Wanting to be your theriotype physically is usually part of being a therian, as well as seeing yourself as the animal you literally are. Therianthropy is a non-physical identity because you literally cannot change your species, even if you tried. IMO those people are just confused.
Also from what you wrote I understand that "holothere" and "physical therian" apparently mean the same (see, one replaced the other). So you know you're not physically an animal but still think you are if I understand it correctly... how does that work? May have explained it badly but to me the whole thing seems like a contradiction.
I understand, it's kind of hard to "get" for most. It's not quite a contradiction, although contradictory identities should still be respected ("do what you want forever"), but I don't know how to explain it better than I already have, I apologize.
I'm now going to paraphrase something I saw on this topic by another user elsewhere, to hopefully explain a little bit better -- On most websites, therians have switched to specifying nonphysicality to avoid backlash from assumptions made about us all being delusional, but physical identities are not delusional by nature. The usual distinction made from other "origins" of nonhumanity is that holotheres view themselves wholly as one or more of their theriotypes. I for example view myself completely as a caiman, though I am not of the delusion that I am biologically one. I like to compare it to being transgender instead, which I am as well. I am biologically female, and I do not deny that fact, but I view myself and identify entirely as a man. It's not too different because in many ways, species is socially constructed. Obviously not on the biological level, but instead how we socially distinguish ourselves from other animals. Cats often view us as their kittens, and other animals can often see other scientific species of animals as the same species as them.
It all comes down to personal perception, even in the animal world, and I, along with many other holotheres, perceive myself as nonhuman. -- Some therians identify physically and socially as human, others identify socially as animals yet physically human, and of course, obviously we are all biologically human. Holotheres, however, identify physically (a.k.a entirely, with the exception of the biological level) as their 'type, while many therians will not. It's not a matter of changing one's species or doing things known to be impossible, it just comes down to a distinction between the meaning of scientific terms physical and biological, and how one sees themself. There may still be a stigma around therians who call themselves physical therians, or more recently, holotheres, which is unfortunate and likely caused by misunderstanding. I suggest you to look into P.A.I (Physical Alterhuman Identities) which may point towards a better knowledge of these types of identities.
By the way, and just so you know, it actually doesn't bother me that most will not understand newer terminologies such as holothere. I'm just using what I feel good using, that's all, and I can tell that you know that. Also, I know you weren't trying to be rude or invalidate me, that's not what I thought at all, I love explaining my identity to others ^^ Thank you for attempting to understand! As a side note, I like forums, and I just wanted to join one more, I don't mind that the culture here may not be what I'm used to. However, I was on Chicken Smoothie for a few good years, and they seemed a lot similar to here, so it may not be as drastic a change than what I usually frequent. I am grateful the community here does seem welcoming though, being a newbie and all.
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