I do agree that gatekeeping gets us nowhere. Therianthropy is already such a difficult thing to experience that therian pups need support, and the therian community should always strive to be a welcoming place to all involved. Even those exploring their identities, if they decide in a couple years that therianthropy isn't how they want to express themselves, or that they don't actually align with therian values and identities, that's okay! Hopefully they'll come away more educated and more intelligent about this community. If we "lose" a therian, hopefully we'll gain an ally.

One thing I don't like to see, on the other end of the therian spectrum, is therians who endlessly "belittle" non-therians. I understand disapproving of people who create trouble or perpetuate stereotypes or bully therians, but it gets to a point where I see therians belittling those who may be open to learning! Even if a kid isn't a therian, keeping them as an ally and educating them on therianthropy is one of the best things we can do for the community. Gatekeeping and saying "oh, the normies just don't get it and they never will" makes people defensive; being defensive will make them aggressive, and then you've just created a whole new source of hatred for therians rather than having a logical discussion on the internet about what you experience and how they can relate. Everyone has felt out of place or misunderstood at some point, even those who are not therians. Appeal to that! Educate instead of shaming! we can show them that even if you leave a community, you can keep friends and maintain healthy social interactions.

Pi said exactly what I've been trying and failing to express the whole time I've been on TG. They worded it way better than I ever have.

Exactly that. It feels great to see it. I'm so relieved.

(2025-03-17 13:27)Pi. Wrote:  ...

Don't become gatekeepers. Nothing good ever comes out of respectability politics.

...

We need solidarity with each other. We need to protect each other, even the ones who are different from us—especially the ones who are different from us—because our safety and our fates are linked.

I wanted to add to this:
A species that doesn't/cant adapt dies out.
We as a community need to be flexible. That doesnt mean we change the meaning of therian, and it doesn't mean we have to let misinformation run rampant.
We should let young people explore who they are, and allow them the space to think deeply about themselves.

Dusty said:

(2024-01-28 13:09)DustWolf Wrote:  I also believe, that by actually talking about these things and taking into account how we make each other feel, each one of us can grow as a person to become better people. This is obviously especially important for younger people, where developing the ability to gracefully cope with social challenges, could make a big difference in their quality of life in the long run.

Even if not everyone is really a therian, they might still take something good out of this.

I agree, that even if not all of the young critters who join are therian/otherkin, from being in this community they can gain something powerful and important to life.

That's all

Avis

(2025-03-16 21:59)zip-bomb-dog Wrote:  

(2025-03-16 18:47)WanderingForests Wrote:  Excuse my ignorance, but what are 'green paws'? Is that a new TikTok term I've missed out on? Can someone fill me in on this? Again sorry if this is something I should know by now.

I believe it just means "new to therianthropy". "Green" as in fresh or new; like Avis said, similar to greenhorn.

Could have been the way Volchara's translator translated it. I haven't seen it online before.

yes, that's exactly how it's translated, I don't like the expression "therianthropy beginner"
It sounds weird

(2025-03-17 2:33)+Leafy~Raccoon+ Wrote:  

(2025-03-17 2:17)Avis Wrote:  

(2025-03-17 0:59)+Leafy~Raccoon+ Wrote:  

Volchara Wrote:when I hear "Therian mask", I immediately feel negative emotions towards the one who said this bullshit
Therian mask, Therian gear... no!

People only called gear "therian gear" because most therians use it.

Id like to point out that the vast majority of therians /dont/ have/use gear, its been a trend as of late.

I knew there was something I was forgetting!
Yes, I do realise that not all therians use gear. I meant to write that most people that are actually therians use gear but that doesnt mean they all do. (Something along the lines of that)
I think tails and masks being gear was hooked to therianthropy because of tiktok and therians on tiktok popularizing it, right?

far as I can tell

(2025-03-17 2:17)Avis Wrote:  

(2025-03-17 0:59)+Leafy~Raccoon+ Wrote:  

Volchara Wrote:when I hear "Therian mask", I immediately feel negative emotions towards the one who said this bullshit
Therian mask, Therian gear... no!

People only called gear "therian gear" because most therians use it.

Id like to point out that the vast majority of therians /dont/ have/use gear, its been a trend as of late.

I knew there was something I was forgetting!
Yes, I do realise that not all therians use gear. I meant to write that most people that are actually therians use gear but that doesnt mean they all do. (Something along the lines of that)
I think tails and masks being gear was hooked to therianthropy because of tiktok and therians on tiktok popularizing it, right?

(2025-03-17 0:59)+Leafy~Raccoon+ Wrote:  

Volchara Wrote:when I hear "Therian mask", I immediately feel negative emotions towards the one who said this bullshit
Therian mask, Therian gear... no!

People only called gear "therian gear" because most therians use it.

Id like to point out that the vast majority of therians /dont/ have/use gear, its been a trend as of late.

Im a little confused.
Spiritual therians are valid, as well as psychological therians, because (like Avis said) we dont actually know where therianthropy comes from.

Volchara Wrote:when I hear "Therian mask", I immediately feel negative emotions towards the one who said this bullshit
Therian mask, Therian gear... no!

People only called gear "therian gear" because most therians use it. Im not saying that I agree with it, but Im just neutral. If you are a therian and you use gear then it could be therian gear to you. But when twelve year olds who do quads and have a goblincre aesthetic tk they are therians use it, then its nit therian gear. Its just gear. A tail and a mask. But basically Im saying that I feel neutral about it but when kids that arent therians call it therian gear, thats when it makes me erk.

Also, I agree with what Honey said and I am personally a very naturey person and I love it. Being in touch with nature doesnt make you a therian. Most therians feel a connection to nature but that doesnt necessarily make them any more or less of a therian. Therians are also humans and what UniqueUsernameTADA said about them not liking the outside also okay. We are still human. Sorry if this is off topic or if it came off as harsh, its not meant to be. (Im also just really tired lol)

(2025-03-16 18:47)WanderingForests Wrote:  Excuse my ignorance, but what are 'green paws'? Is that a new TikTok term I've missed out on? Can someone fill me in on this? Again sorry if this is something I should know by now.

I believe it just means "new to therianthropy". "Green" as in fresh or new; like Avis said, similar to greenhorn.

Could have been the way Volchara's translator translated it. I haven't seen it online before.

(2025-03-16 19:46)Avis Wrote:  

(2025-03-16 18:47)WanderingForests Wrote:  Excuse my ignorance, but what are 'green paws'? Is that a new TikTok term I've missed out on? Can someone fill me in on this? Again sorry if this is something I should know by now.

I believe the term is similar to 'greenhorn' which refers to a person (or in this case critter ) which is new or inexperienced to an activty.

Oh, okay! Thanks Avis!