It goes without saying that every person in this world has beast tendencies. We are animals regardless of whether we are Therian or not, a fact easily forgotten by many people who would have the label "animal" be distinctly inhuman. I think these people are rather shortsighted and lack wisdom, it takes a person accepting the whole truth of themselves to really know something in my opinion.

Part of that truth is that humans are animals. We are territorial, cranky, and prone to overstimulation just like anything else (some more then others!). Perhaps I cannot speak for everyone here, but I find that therian identified people are particularly and painfully aware of their own status as animals. Fundamentally we identify with things that aren't human because they are not bogged down by some societal standard of "civility". The dog likes to roll on the floor and get rubbed on the belly, so would anyone if only we didn't feel like we'd be judged for it. Like all bad things in life, this outward disgust towards "acting like an animal" comes from the deep, destructive insecurity that plagues human beings at large. Why not be a dog?

Of course, therianism is like all ideas, bound to a spectrum. It's expressed in different ways and understood differently as well, so who knows why or how it truly manifests? I think it's inherent in all people, is all. Its just a matter of accepting that fact.

Important note: Alterhuman encompasses other identities that are not nonhuman. It also contains fictionkin (including human fictionkin), plurality, any other "not part of the 'normal' human experience" identities (any of the -links, -hearteds, etc.), and even furries. It's considered an "opt-in" term, meaning that while it does encompass all of these identities, not everyone with these identities will consider themselves to be alterhuman - for example, it might technically include furries, but there are plenty of furries who wouldn't consider themselves to be alterhuman.

So, I've always pondered: "Do newer therians or questioning critters know immediately everything that comes with discovering your identity and how it can affect you?" Obviously not. So, I've decided to create a single thread that any critter, not just newer ones, can read through and hopefully make this thread of use.

*All extra notes, tips, and corrections are very much appreciated!*

1. What's the difference between alterhumans and/or therians?
The difference between alterhumans and therians? Alterhuman is an umbrella term describing every creature in the alterhuman community. The term describes every alterhuman, from therians to otherkin, it basically just is a term to use for any critter.

2. What is a therian?
This can differ from person to person what they believe is the meaning. Truthfully, the most I can answer that question is, a therian is a person who identifies as an animal on a non-physical level spiritually and/or psychologically.

3. I can't do quads and/or I don't have gear, am I still a therian?
My personal answer to that is, you do not need to do quads nor do you need gear when you're a therian. I truly have nothing more to add to this. - Side note for humans (or anyone): If you're thinking about doing quads or wearing gear, neither of those are connected to therianthropy, those are optional. Humans, you can do both of those things, you do not have to be a therian.

4. Can I or my friend become a therian?
No. No one can become a therian. A therian is born, not made. If you think you have "become" a therian, try looking into copinglinks. There are many threads about this.

5. What's a fake therian and why do they matter?
Fake therians are people who consciously fake being a therian for their own reasons. They matter a lot (in my opinion) because they can spread misinformation, cause others to want to "become" one, and plenty of other reasons. (There's an entire other thread for this one I've seen.)

6. How does being a therian affect me and my future?
Difficult question, and it differs from person to person and their home life. If you have a more unaccepting home, this may affect how you perceive yourself, who you tell (or don't tell), and how you express yourself. If you have a more accepting home, this may affect how you act, how open you are about your therianthropy, and a few others. In the future, it might affect you at work if you shift, it can affect how your partner (and friends) sees you, your career, and lots more.

7. What's shifting/a shift?
A shift is hard to explain since I don't shift, but it can be when your mindset completely or partly shifts to your theriotype (or a different animal). Furthermore, a phantom shift is when it feels as though a limb(s) is on your human body, to which you can feel (sometimes) but others cannot. Ex: phantom tail, ears, fangs/teeth, wings, scales, horns, paws, and many more.

8. I don't shift, what do I do?
Worry not, not shifting is completely normal. A lot of therians you'll find don't shift at all! If you're really worried, try meditating and listening to playlists "for therians".

9. I'm not a therian, but I don't think I'm a human either - What am I?
As stated before, try looking into copinglinks. Other than that, you may be otherkin! There are plenty of other identities I won't cover here since I'm not all knowing ;-;. Don't fret though, anyone can be on this website as long as you respect alterhumans.

10. How do I come out to my parents/peers that I'm a therian?
This is a question that has been answered on another thread, but here's a quick lowdown if you don't want to search for it! Coming out can be dangerous, most suggest not coming out at all. If you have supportive parents, you can take that risk in dangerous waters. As for peers, you can get bullied, made fun of, abandoned, avoided, and plenty of other things. Only tell someone you really trust, and even then, be very careful.

(2024-08-10 21:55)WanderingForests Wrote:  

(2024-08-10 21:53)LavenderWobbleDragon Wrote:  

(2024-08-10 21:51)WanderingForests Wrote:  

(2024-08-10 21:33)LavenderWobbleDragon Wrote:  

(2024-08-10 21:31)WanderingForests Wrote:  Haha you're welcome!
Yeah, lots of TikTok therians are hypocrites in a lot of ways. I get that majority of them are children and won't always make the best decision, but still.

Maybe wait a bit and become mature before growing a fan base. I guess this is why older creators have better fanbases.

Yeah, I agree. Plus it's hard to keep control of everything in order to be a creator, especially if you are just a kid.

Yeah, it can be fun but it often leads to toxic dynamics which leads to creators taking advantage of their fan base. Like people such as ollie.

Yeah... I feel like most famous people (not just therian content creators) often have something bad they've done come to the light eventually. Especially adults lol, I'm waiting for a time where we can go a week before a celebrity is outed as a ped0

Fr fr

(2024-08-10 21:53)LavenderWobbleDragon Wrote:  

(2024-08-10 21:51)WanderingForests Wrote:  

(2024-08-10 21:33)LavenderWobbleDragon Wrote:  

(2024-08-10 21:31)WanderingForests Wrote:  

(2024-08-10 21:28)LavenderWobbleDragon Wrote:  You actually have a cool perspective with the hypocrisy thing. Thanks for your wisdom.

Haha you're welcome!
Yeah, lots of TikTok therians are hypocrites in a lot of ways. I get that majority of them are children and won't always make the best decision, but still.

Maybe wait a bit and become mature before growing a fan base. I guess this is why older creators have better fanbases.

Yeah, I agree. Plus it's hard to keep control of everything in order to be a creator, especially if you are just a kid.

Yeah, it can be fun but it often leads to toxic dynamics which leads to creators taking advantage of their fan base. Like people such as ollie.

Yeah... I feel like most famous people (not just therian content creators) often have something bad they've done come to the light eventually. Especially adults lol, I'm waiting for a time where we can go a week before a celebrity is outed as a ped0

(2024-08-10 21:51)WanderingForests Wrote:  

(2024-08-10 21:33)LavenderWobbleDragon Wrote:  

(2024-08-10 21:31)WanderingForests Wrote:  

(2024-08-10 21:28)LavenderWobbleDragon Wrote:  

(2024-08-10 21:25)WanderingForests Wrote:  I agree heavily. It bothers me so much when people pretend to know things but didn't get both sides of the story. Which is extremely hypocritical, coming from a community full of people who wish that others would just listen to their side before hating on them. I wish I could help spread information but I am not allowed to have a social media account. My mom doesn't really know I use TG.

You actually have a cool perspective with the hypocrisy thing. Thanks for your wisdom.

Haha you're welcome!
Yeah, lots of TikTok therians are hypocrites in a lot of ways. I get that majority of them are children and won't always make the best decision, but still.

Maybe wait a bit and become mature before growing a fan base. I guess this is why older creators have better fanbases.

Yeah, I agree. Plus it's hard to keep control of everything in order to be a creator, especially if you are just a kid.

Yeah, it can be fun but it often leads to toxic dynamics which leads to creators taking advantage of their fan base. Like people such as ollie.

(2024-08-10 21:33)LavenderWobbleDragon Wrote:  

(2024-08-10 21:31)WanderingForests Wrote:  

(2024-08-10 21:28)LavenderWobbleDragon Wrote:  

(2024-08-10 21:25)WanderingForests Wrote:  

(2024-08-10 20:28)LavenderWobbleDragon Wrote:  No one watched the apology video and they all pretended to know everything about the story because they only watched kade's video. This is why children don't handle drama, im 13. I wouldn't trust myself to handle drama tbh.

I agree heavily. It bothers me so much when people pretend to know things but didn't get both sides of the story. Which is extremely hypocritical, coming from a community full of people who wish that others would just listen to their side before hating on them. I wish I could help spread information but I am not allowed to have a social media account. My mom doesn't really know I use TG.

You actually have a cool perspective with the hypocrisy thing. Thanks for your wisdom.

Haha you're welcome!
Yeah, lots of TikTok therians are hypocrites in a lot of ways. I get that majority of them are children and won't always make the best decision, but still.

Maybe wait a bit and become mature before growing a fan base. I guess this is why older creators have better fanbases.

Yeah, I agree. Plus it's hard to keep control of everything in order to be a creator, especially if you are just a kid.

(2024-08-10 21:31)WanderingForests Wrote:  

(2024-08-10 21:28)LavenderWobbleDragon Wrote:  

(2024-08-10 21:25)WanderingForests Wrote:  

(2024-08-10 20:28)LavenderWobbleDragon Wrote:  

(2024-08-10 20:11)Cosmic.Bonez Wrote:  Very true.

No one watched the apology video and they all pretended to know everything about the story because they only watched kade's video. This is why children don't handle drama, im 13. I wouldn't trust myself to handle drama tbh.

I agree heavily. It bothers me so much when people pretend to know things but didn't get both sides of the story. Which is extremely hypocritical, coming from a community full of people who wish that others would just listen to their side before hating on them. I wish I could help spread information but I am not allowed to have a social media account. My mom doesn't really know I use TG.

You actually have a cool perspective with the hypocrisy thing. Thanks for your wisdom.

Haha you're welcome!
Yeah, lots of TikTok therians are hypocrites in a lot of ways. I get that majority of them are children and won't always make the best decision, but still.

Maybe wait a bit and become mature before growing a fan base. I guess this is why older creators have better fanbases.

(2024-08-10 21:28)LavenderWobbleDragon Wrote:  

(2024-08-10 21:25)WanderingForests Wrote:  

(2024-08-10 20:28)LavenderWobbleDragon Wrote:  

(2024-08-10 20:11)Cosmic.Bonez Wrote:  

(2024-08-10 20:07)LavenderWobbleDragon Wrote:  The tiktok community doesn't really know how to be a community tbh, when they try to handle drama it goes poorly. Like with the therian territory stuff a while back.

Very true.

No one watched the apology video and they all pretended to know everything about the story because they only watched kade's video. This is why children don't handle drama, im 13. I wouldn't trust myself to handle drama tbh.

I agree heavily. It bothers me so much when people pretend to know things but didn't get both sides of the story. Which is extremely hypocritical, coming from a community full of people who wish that others would just listen to their side before hating on them. I wish I could help spread information but I am not allowed to have a social media account. My mom doesn't really know I use TG.

You actually have a cool perspective with the hypocrisy thing. Thanks for your wisdom.

Haha you're welcome!
Yeah, lots of TikTok therians are hypocrites in a lot of ways. I get that majority of them are children and won't always make the best decision, but still.

(2024-08-10 21:25)WanderingForests Wrote:  

(2024-08-10 20:28)LavenderWobbleDragon Wrote:  

(2024-08-10 20:11)Cosmic.Bonez Wrote:  

(2024-08-10 20:07)LavenderWobbleDragon Wrote:  

(2024-08-10 20:03)Cosmic.Bonez Wrote:  Yes, I agree. While i like seeing people expressing themselves it gets annoying because that's what people are starting to know us by. Quads and gear and vocals are not a bad thing but I would like to see more channels talk about what therianthropy actually is.

The tiktok community doesn't really know how to be a community tbh, when they try to handle drama it goes poorly. Like with the therian territory stuff a while back.

Very true.

No one watched the apology video and they all pretended to know everything about the story because they only watched kade's video. This is why children don't handle drama, im 13. I wouldn't trust myself to handle drama tbh.

I agree heavily. It bothers me so much when people pretend to know things but didn't get both sides of the story. Which is extremely hypocritical, coming from a community full of people who wish that others would just listen to their side before hating on them. I wish I could help spread information but I am not allowed to have a social media account. My mom doesn't really know I use TG.

You actually have a cool perspective with the hypocrisy thing. Thanks for your wisdom.