This is interesting!

I agree there's definitely a correlation between therianthropy and misanthropy, and there could be some kind of causation for it.

My question is: does misanthropy (help) cause therianthropy, or does therianthropy just cause misanthropy? There are two very interesting ways to look at this correlation. On one paw, someone could distance themselves from a human identity and begin looking into other terms BECAUSE they hate humans. On the other paw, someone might hate humans because they don't feel like they are one/have an outsiders perspective on humanity while still very exposed to it.

Indeeeddd.. I'm pretty known for my dislike of humanity, though I've softened on it over the years. Still, this has always been an aspect of how I few things; I have a certain "us vs them" mentality, and I don't mind admitting that. It's historically common for yokai anyway..

As for whether it causes or has an interplay with therianthropy..perhaps. You mix together misanthropy with a few psychological traits and environmental factors and you might get someone with an internal need to contextualize themselves as an animal.

However, I think there being an interplay with therianthropy would be a more universally applicable experience.. Any wolf therian who has come across photos of hunters posing with our bodies strung up for their amusement probably knows what it's like to feel a certain disdain for humanity.

It's the callousness and amusement at suffering aspect of it..and that seems to extend into so many other aspects of human society and their interaction with the natural world. Everything is for the amusement and aggrandizement of someone, and nothing for the whole; not for nature, or the well-being of the group..it's all just about one trying to climb over the others to get to the top of a pile made of their own bodies, in a world littered with ours.

I don't think it would so much be causative of therianthropy, so much as I think it would make one more likely to embrace it more heavily when discovered, which is what happened with me..

As for whether it's the same thing as copinglink: No, not if they believe they're actually an animal; a copinglink doesn't actually believe they're an animal, they just feel a need to contextualize themselves as one to distance from their distress.

(I think it's alright to leave this thread here since it could apply to origination, psychological, or spiritual discussions.)

Hiya! Before I go into this topic and my theory, I’ll define misanthropy for anyone who dosent know. It’s important to note that misanthropy is NOT an alterhuman identity or even close, you can be a misanthrope without being alterhuman and vice versa. I have seen topics of human nature and modern morals been discussed on TG, but not with specific references to misanthropy, hence this post. If I am, however, copy posting by accident please lmk!

Misanthropy (misanthrope, misanthropic etc.) “hatred, dislike or distrust of humankind” usually morally or psychologically. “The systematic condemnation of the moral character of humankind as it has come to be” generally speaking, it’s a hatred of modern humanity or morals, not just towards animals but in general, this debate can sometimes encase politics, but it’s not relevant to this discussion nor is it allowed on the forums so no discussion regarding politics in misanthropy please! Pretty much any other relevant topic or discussion regarding it (misanthropy) goes tho!

So, with that in mind, why do I think that misanthropy may drive therianthropy?

Well, firstly as I have learned from talking to a lot of members of the TG forums, a lot of us (me included) feel like we don’t ’fit In’ or conform to modern human standards, such as the possession of social media, or mainstream ideas. Therians are, as far as I’ve seen from here, a very diverse bunch of critters who oftentimes aren’t considered ‘normal’. A lot of u guys have mentioned not liking humanity, or technology also. And so we return to misanthropy. I consider myself a misanthrope. I have a great distaste for human morals or understanding, and don’t agree with a lot of common human principles. Some examples of this could be my disagreement with human treatments of technology or their assumptions of a lack of conscious in other creatures, and therefore their brutalistic ideas of “if it dosent think it dosent care if we kill it”, I see this a lot with treatment towards wild animals, especially bugs or other ‘pests’. Personally, I disagree with the idea or principle of humans being above any other living creature, and greatly resent human arrogance and naïveté of the natural order. This thoughts could be because of my autism or trauma, However, I do think it aided my therianthropy. And here’s my theory! I am a misanthrope due to trauma and just how I perceive the world, in a similar way to how animalistic tendencies may drive therianthropy to develop. I think that the prevalence of misanthropy in ppl may make therianthropy more likely to develop as a hatred or dislike of humanity usually has to drive them towards some OTHER moral standing. For many, this is that of animals or nature. This could in turn spark behaviours and develop or awaken therianthropy already present in individuals, or present in other identities such as otherhearted, as one draws further from liking humanity usually morals it understand and relate to and kinship with creatures outside of human standards. For me, as a younger kid my lack of understanding of humanity drove me to be closer to animals, heightening previous behaviours and identities within me. That is NOT to say that misanthropy cause’s therianthropy, or that the 2 necessary correlate at all, just that I think that a hatred of humanity makes someone more likely or present animal behaviours or identities through relation. Furthermore, would this be counted as copinglink since the misanthropy stems often from trauma or other issues?

Just to clarify, there are many reasons why I , or anyone else for that matter, am a Therian. My distaste for humans may have helped behaviours develop but it is not the ROOT CAUSE of my therianthropy. Honestly at the end of the day, I’m just curious to see whether others think misanthropy drives to animality and therefore alterhumans in any aspect? Is anyone else here a misanthrope and how has it shaped you? How does this affect spiritual theirans?

TLDR: me hating humans may have helped me to display or discover or develop therianthropy via alienation from human morals. I’m wondering if this is the case for anyone else.

(Should this belong in another forum?)

I do apologise if my wording or word order seems weird or clunky, I struggle to put these things into words. I’ll develop this more in another post if it gathers interest/ if I have time around exams.

Thanks for reading!
Cya,
Rain

This is a fun idea. I've seen some people do this kinda thing in VR chat as well.

Decided it would be cool to stream some things on occasion. There isn't really a set time or date where I can set a weekly stream, except in the middle of the day tuesdays. So for that reason, I'll probably announce it and stream it and if anyone can come they can come.
I'll make a list of things I want to stream based on topic.
Also, I currently haven't figured out how to stream movies but I'll still make a list in case I do.
Movies

• The Bad Guys
• Fantastic Mr. Fox
• Isle of Dog
• Zootopia
• Fox and the Hound
  

• A Fox's Tale: Survival in the Alpine Wild | Free Documentary Nature (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVNo_h3leNc)
• Wildlife in Unexpected Places - Foxes in Urban Environments | Full Documentary (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_KZHSZUIvI)
• The Secret Life of Fox - Wildlife Wars (Nat Geo) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utvVUNrn5X8)
• Nature's Smart Hunter: The Unique World of Foxes | Wild Ones (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdNni4WweJ4)
• Wild America | S10 E4 'Family of Foxes' | Full Episode | FANGS (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4q2X8Rch98)
  

• Fox Fires - Animated Short Film by Keilidh (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sN5goxeTfjc)
  more TBA
  
  Werewolf documentaries
  More TBA
  
  Feel free to comment more to be added, prefereably youtube as its easiest to stream over discord

This is a wonderful thread! It has great information but also speaks to the level of care for the safety of us.

Hello friends, I'm Haley!

I've recently come to terms with my therianthropy after 32 years of repressing things, which if interested you can find my journey in my journal. I'm a dog but still unsure of my exact breed right now as it's all relatively new to me, but I have my suspicions of it being a Bernese Mountain Dog. Who knows, maybe I won't ever fully know and that's okay with me!

I'm here because Custard invited me, but also I just really love chatting with people about their experiences, listening to them, or helping in whatever way I can. I'm usually found in every team chat that I'm in and more because I really just love talking about everything and anything! I find the idea of this team very comforting and I look forward to seeing its own growth and journey


Haley

Since I have not been on the forums in quite a while, I may as well have a quick re-introduction here!

I'm Aarden, a mesenlan sulenx. My species is extra-terrestrial in origin. I like pizza and ice cream. I have been aware of my kind since the end of 2012 but did not put two and two together until some time around 2020, and before any of that I was a furry from 2008 onwards. In my sulenx body I would have a strawberry kind of scent, it is genetic, people from other families smell different but it is always something sweet. Someone probably smells like freshly baked cookies.

I work in electronics and design my own sometimes, I currently have an ongoing project with a really overkill flashlight/torch where I've built one, tested it, and have started building more to sell. I enjoy drawing but I don't do much so I'm slow and not very good at it, I have clearly improved from a number of years ago at least which is good.

I'm here just to make new friends and read about other people's experiences.

(2025-05-20 15:46)big_cats_runner Wrote:  

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

exactly. if your a therian, its therian gear for you and you are within your right to say its therian gear. but may I point out that it is possible to be a therian and also be a twelve year old who does quads with a goblincore aesthetic? they aren't mutually exclusive.

yeah, I was just using it as an example because most twelve year olds on tiktok do that and have that aesthetic and are not therian, they just do quads and wear gear. But I do know a handful of therians online and irl that are twelve and have that aesthetic and also do quads.

(2025-03-17 13:27)Pi. Wrote:  As an older queer, trans person who's lived through various identity validity wars, i have one piece of advice:

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

We've been through this many times before, with the gays and lesbians who think bisexual and trans people give them a bad name, the trans people who think genderqueer and nonbinary people give them a bad name, and every community out there right now who think therians in general give them a bad name. Don't become the next repetition of that.

The kids and green paws who are exploring their identities are not the enemy. Let them try things, let them wear gear, let them follow TikTok trends and do things even if it makes you cringe. As long as they're not hurting anyone, they're fine. They are not the threat or the problem.

The fascists and bigots who want to eliminate queers, trans people, furries, therians from society are the problem. They will always target the most vulnerable, and the last thing any of us needs to be doing is to help pave the way for them by debating whose identity is valid or invalid, or who of us deserves respect and who doesn't. Trust me, the bigots and fascists don't make any such distinction. We're all just the same trash to them.

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.

This ^

(2025-03-15 18:40)Volchara Wrote:  Hi everyone!
I am Volchara

Therianthropy used to be a designation of the fact that a person feels like a beast
And now therianthropy has turned into...spiritual
And any attacks of brutality are considered not normal
Some even say that therianthropy is not a forest, not green clothes
But "spiritual"
And this is very common in our Russian therian community
Like...some of these spirital have forgotten what it really is!
If they are animals, but they sit on their asses at home and write on the Internet what very spiritual animals they are - then they are not animals at all
An animal is such only when it finds any way to feel free and truly not human, and does this to be happy
If a "therian" just complains about his life, says that he would like to be a dog, then this is just a desire to run away from problems
Yes
Therianthropy is definitely not green clothes and the goblincore style, it is not a quad, not quad gear
It's all about traveling, finding your place in nature, perhaps helping your animal relatives)
Of course, you can wear goblincore clothes, love this style
You can freely wear quad bike equipment to feel more animalistic and so that others know what kind of animal you feel like
Yes, every theri can do all this! Of course
But this does not imply therianthropy
But it can brighten it up)
I would like all newbies to know about this
Because...sometimes you want to weed out those who really don't understand what it is and how terribly bad it is sometimes and how harmful it can be
Personally, I've been going wild lately and am going a little crazy because of this
It's both exciting and bad

More about spiritual ones
I don't mind, okay
But sometimes spiritual animals cross the line! And they call some psychological theri sick, which really offends me and some of my friends

But many newbie "therians" hide behind the fact that they are spiritual and therefore do not justify their experience in any way
Which looks strange
I hope everything will be weeded out soon

I hope many will agree with me

there are a lot of reasons that a therian couldn't do these things or wouldn't want to. I follow a therian who has a condition that makes it hard for them to even walk, making it very difficult for them to be in nature. there are also therians who are housecats or dogs who live in houses or other domestic pets that feel most comfortable inside a house. some of us, like me, have a strong human side and don't mind being inside for too long, and some of us, again like me, have a creature who has a very similar brain to a human (I'm a mermaid). also, not to be rude, but are you currently not, as you said, "sitting on your ass in your home writing on the internet about what spiritual animal you are"?

also, can we please just stop gatekeeping between psychological theories and spiritual ones? they are both just as valid, and I have seen some nasty stuff from both sides.

(2025-03-16 1:49)little wolf Wrote:  We are not completely animals, obviously. As therians we still have our human sides, and I think that human side is largely where the spiritual aspect you speak of comes from, though there's no reason to completely discount that there might be spiritualism in some form in the animal world. Humans and animals are not as different as most people think, afterall, and it drives me crazy when people assume we are and that humans know everything, even about creatures we can't communicate with. Many therians, also, when speaking of their therian experience as spiritual are probably referring to why they are therians; displaced soul, past life, etc. But I think as humans with an animal side, it can be quite natural for spirituality to meld with animality. In addition, every therian experiences the "ratio" or balance between their human and animal side differently. Some might be really deep in their animality and don't thrive unless they are out in nature, others cannot for multiple reasons live a life skewed more towards a wilder, animal life either because they experience more of their human side or some other logistical, personal reason.

That said, there shouldn't be belittling among different views and lifestyles. Psychological therians are no less legitimate than spiritual therians and just because one person doesn't have the same views and experiences doesn't mean they can claim others are sick. As you said, it's incredibly harmful and presumptuous making assumptions about a life that no one other than the individual experiencing it has no actual knowledge of. Especially when there is a very clear distinction between a "sick" individual and genuine therianthropy in my opinion, and that's the belief that one can physically shift. That's lycanthropy a recognized clinical condition with very specific symptoms. Psychological therianthropy is just a different lens of therian experience, not better or worse.

I do also agree with your point that one thing like wearing gear does not signify therianthropy, as we've been discussing in other threads. It's so much more complex. Therianthropy as you said is a path, one that only the individual experiencing it can make decisions on about where it'll take them.

this pretty much sums up what I wanted to say. it is quite frustrating when humans act like they know everything about animals. we have hardly explored any of the ocean, we don't know what's down there. most years, a new species is found. we are so far from knowing everything about animals.

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

exactly. if your a therian, its therian gear for you and you are within your right to say its therian gear. but may I point out that it is possible to be a therian and also be a twelve year old who does quads with a goblincore aesthetic? they aren't mutually exclusive.

(2025-03-17 13:27)Pi. Wrote:  As an older queer, trans person who's lived through various identity validity wars, i have one piece of advice:

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

We've been through this many times before, with the gays and lesbians who think bisexual and trans people give them a bad name, the trans people who think genderqueer and nonbinary people give them a bad name, and every community out there right now who think therians in general give them a bad name. Don't become the next repetition of that.

The kids and green paws who are exploring their identities are not the enemy. Let them try things, let them wear gear, let them follow TikTok trends and do things even if it makes you cringe. As long as they're not hurting anyone, they're fine. They are not the threat or the problem.

The fascists and bigots who want to eliminate queers, trans people, furries, therians from society are the problem. They will always target the most vulnerable, and the last thing any of us needs to be doing is to help pave the way for them by debating whose identity is valid or invalid, or who of us deserves respect and who doesn't. Trust me, the bigots and fascists don't make any such distinction. We're all just the same trash to them.

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.

yes! exactly! THANK YOU. I have identified with a lot of different identities in my lifetime, and I can certainly agree with this. TikTok therians are not the reason we have bigots. bigots are the reason we have bigots, and that wont change if we eliminate TikTok therians. all we will get if we do that is bigots saying that they proved us wrong and we are faking, and a bunch of sad kids who feel like their community has turned their back on them.