This is a very interesting question! I know lots of therians have had issues with humans so I'd love to see more discussion about it.

As for me, I would say I am the opposite of a misathrope, and I attribute it to my angelhood. I find humans to be cute and I want to help and care for them. Even when they hurt me I cannot hold a grudge against them, much like how you can't hold a grudge if your cat scratches you. They don't know what they are doing.

In terms of my mountain lion half, I'm neutral towards humans. I do my thing and they do theirs.

As a whole I also disagree with misanthropy as a concept because humans are such a varied species. There exist no behaviors that are exclusive to humans and also practiced by every human. If you travel to the other side of the planet, the humans on that side think entirely different from the ones on the other. I cannot hate humanity as a whole, just specific things that some humans do.

I would say that I am a misanthrope. I disagree with the fundamental process that humans use to obtain their moral standards. I think that stems more from me valuing objectivity over feelings though. I don't like many of the actions that intelligent species take. It isn't exactly specific to humans for me. I don't think that it caused my therianthropy and I don't think my therianthropy caused it, although I will admit that seeing myself as separate from humanity makes this an easier viewpoint to hold. I think that if any correlation exists, it's probably that therianthropy causes misanthropy over the other way around. That's just my theory though.

Fellow misanthrope here!

I wouldn’t say that my misanthropy caused my otherkinity, since it was kind of the other way around. When I realized I was nonhuman, it made me look at humans in an entirely different light. I thought about all the ways that humans have hurt me, have hurt anybody who’s even slightly different from them, have destroyed their own planet, have forever altered the future of this Earth for the short time period they’ve been on it, have done such insensitive and straight up sadistic things to others and justified it by pointing out how different they were...and other humans tend to agree with them. It’s disgusting, and it made me go from “am I really nonhuman?” to “I’m so glad that I’m not one of them”

Honestly, comparing animals to humans is like day and night, and I feel that that may be a deciding factor in therianthropy. An animal doesn’t make you feel alien for being the way you are, an animal doesn’t make it their life goal to make your existence a living hell just because you’re different, an animal doesn’t care about your skin color or sexuality or interests or fashion...an animal just cares about living their own life to the fullest. That’s why an animal doesn’t wish to harm you unless it’s own life is on the line.

I’ve always agreed with the lifestyle of animals a lot more than humans in that aspect. I wish it was more accepted to just be happy that you’re alive and breathing air and still able to see the beauty of nature around you...but humans just don’t think that way. They’d rather indulge in pleasures that end up hurting them in the end...slowly forgetting that nature exists and throwing trash on top of it.

I just can’t bring myself to forgive the human race, and I can never, ever say that I’m one of them. They’ve made it very clear to me that I’m not one of them. If they wish to destroy their own lives, then so be it. It’s not my problem.

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

It is the base layer that underlies all reality in a conceptual, metaphysical, and physical sense, and upon which all things will exist, do exist, and will cease to exist. The Heart Sutra is often quoted as reading "Form is emptiness, emptiness is form", depicting the dualistic state of a lowest-reality which has the potential for all things to arise from it, and the inherent inseparability of those things as they are the result of the constant state of flux within Ku (Void). It also has multiple names and meanings depending on the philosophical tradition..Sunyata, Aether, Sky, Space, the "universal womb", etc. It is also frequently regarded as a compositional element of nature.

In my opinion, the cyclic nature of arisement and dissolution can also be viewed as analogous with that of the Samsaric cycle where life gives way to death and then rebirth as the soul is returned to base state for its life to begin anew. All things move from a point of highest concentration to lowest; electrons fill atomic orbits to stabilize the atom, water flows to fill gaps, animals disperse across ranges..microbial life, gases, light, darkness, thought...All discrete yet indiscrete manifestations of Ku, and the playing out and recycling of energy and matter.

In a structural sense, the void would be a liminal and indistinct realm underlying perceived reality, where the dimensions that compose this world, the spirit world, and all realms beyond and between intersect and find root. I imagine those who travel through astral are actually transiting through the void to reach their destinations, hence the need for a field around the spirit--a body of light, aura, etc--to maintain separation. I'll have to think more on it..


(Btw, did you want this thread to be in the therianthropy or the spiritual board, since it doesn't appear to be directed specifically at therianthropy?)

Void likes to play with peoples imagination, well..that's not shocking, having in mind how broadly spread the concept is, it kinda got lost and made as a placeholder for other definitions, for aesthetic purposes..etc. There are interpretations of the void as many as there are people out there, and that's fair but, we cannot stretch one thing for the infinite amount of time. I’ll share my personal take on void that I think is the most accurate explanation, trying to answer the question "Tf void even is?”.
So I actually would like to start with the examples in history which void is present in the spiritual sense..well, so be it..

In some mystical traditions such as for ex. Taoism and Kabbalah, emptiness is seen as this primordial, creative nothingness - the space from which everything arises, the womb of the occurrence of occurrence. In Taoism, the Tao (The Tao or Dao is the natural way of the universe, primarily as conceived in East Asian philosophy and religion. This seeing of life cannot be grasped as a concept.) is unknowable, nameless and formless, but it is with it that all existence emerges. In Kabbalah, the Ein Sof (meaning "without end") is the infinite divine, even before any manifestation or creation...in this sense, the void is not empty in the sense of lack, but full of possibility, potential before all appear..this creative void is not absence but the hidden potential for all existence.

Also, known in Christian mysticism as the “dark night of the soul”, this is a time when one feels abandoned by God, cut off from meaning and spiritual presence. Although painful, this experience is often necessary to cleanse the soul of illusions and attachments, leading it to a deeper, more authentic union with the divine.

Another example stems from the practice of meditation and contemplation, the "emptiness" is experienced as a state of complete silence and peace – without thoughts, emotions, or identity. It is pure presence, an awareness that exists beyond any “I”, infinitely calm and one with everything. It is not emptiness in the sense of nihilism, but rather a relief, a return to the original existence without fear, needs, or division.

I personally think that there is truth in every interpretation here, which I cannot choose the one that is the most accurate. I'll leave it for you to think about...
Okay, you would say..but how the hell we can identify as one with the void then?

Actually, what I realized recently..to say “I am the void” is a bit too much. It's more accurate to say.. there is no one here, and yet this awareness remains. You are not something you can locate or define. You are the formless presence in which all things come and go, the silence that hears the world, the stillness that gives rise to movement.
It's not about adopting a label, void is a tool you can manipulate, its the eternal wisdom, something that helps you in growth, its made of consequences, pain, something one is afraid of, but also proud of. Living from this is not passive or detached. When you are grounded in the void, life flows spontaneously and effortlessly. Void in itself isn't any form of a place, It's not a place nor a not-place. no one is more from the void as anyone else is.

Void isn't a belief to adopt but a truth to be seen, not a state to achieve but a recognition of what has always been present. Through deep surrender, or radical "self-inquiry", the illusion of separateness begins to fall away, and what remains is simple, luminous presence. That presence is the void—empty, full, and eternally awake. You become one with the world around, you become the animals, the wind and the force which was always about to come.

The void is full of mystery, in which lot's of people blindly try to hide, without taking it as it actually is. The void is scary, but scarier is the thought of staying the same.

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

(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 ^