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Otherkin not so Other
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Otherkin are normal. Except for the Otherkin stuff.
The fallout from my various "Otherkin" musings continues. Here is a thoughtful response from a random other, in full:
First off, I thoroughly enjoyed this article and many others of yours. I've been batting around the idea of writing you since I read this particular article. If you want to disregard this e-mail it is completely understandable and I take no real offense. I just felt like I needed to say a few things in regards to it all. That said, this is more a personal communication to you, not something I'm looking to have re-posted without my consent. I'm not really looking to stir this up again and while I doubt you'd quote me, or repost on the matter, I wanted to make sure that was known.
I suppose I could be classified as a "Fictionkin" (although I will happily blacken anyone that uses that or any of the other pop culture terms for it all). That said, I'm not writing this to try and berate or convince you that your neighbor may very well be the reincarnation of some blue haired loli wet dream. I'm writing this because this sort of thing has been a part of my life for going on 15 years now and every time I see an obvious "new person" spout their "endowed knowledge" on the subject it makes me angry. Especially when said spouting ends spawning articles.
(Most of the following you've probably already considered, I apologize for being repetitive if that is the case). I can say with a fair amount of confidence that I saw the birth of "Fictionkindom" as the mainstream is coming to know it. Back in 2001 this sort of thing was practically unheard of. I can also say that the sudden burst is the direct result of the influx of Japanese pop culture into the United States and Europe as well as a higher rate of depression, obesity, etc. Call it superficial or elitist but there is a certain pattern to the way these waves happen. Have any popular anime come over and not a month later you will have 50 Narutos and Rukias from varying worlds suddenly pop up, searching for their past lovers and recalling the "glory days". As the popularity of these shows dwindle so will the number of people claiming to be X person. It's common sense that a large majority of people(as with anything else) grasp onto it because it makes them feel better on some personal level. People want to feel special, it's hard to top being someone that saved an entire world. On that same note, were you to follow the patterns, if a person claims to be X heroine then there is a very good chance that this person will claim to be the leading lady(or as close to leading as possible, definitely the object of affection for hero boy/girl) of several shows following. If you claim to be side kick in series X then there is a good chance you might claim to be the sidekick in series Y. Etc etc, you get the point. It's a phase for a lot of people, but not for everyone.
Back before this became the popular thing the few people that did claim this sort of belief kept quiet about it so you'd be lucky to meet a handful of people in the course of a years time hunting. The people that did believe all had their own reasons. Some people ended up being honest to God insane(and committed in some cases) while others grew out of it. Then you had the group that just sort of accepted it for what it was. I'm one of those people.
The problem I have with this new generation of people is the way they treat things. The way they accept what people say without a second thought. The way they roll their eyes and call people who ask questions to be closed minded. Now they call it acceptance and understanding. I call it a fear of confrontation and a fear of having to defend what they believe.
Reincarnation is one of those areas where you're always going to have people think you're insane. It's difficult/near impossible to prove as is, let alone when you claim you're from another world entirely. Ultimately though, it shouldn't be about proving anything.I have memories of other times and places. I look at them as I look at memories of my childhood. There are lessons, laughs and tears to be had from them. They can help me to learn more about who I am as a person and help me to be better but ultimately, they are memories. It can expand past memories but all of this is a matter of personal experience. You can't show the blind what blue is, likewise you can't really show others matters of the spiritual. It's something you have to experience for yourself.
This is in no way a religion for me and it never has been. It's not even a belief system so much as it's just a matter of who I am. I'd like to think I live a relatively normal life(as normal of a life as I'll allow myself anyways. Suits and ties are a very enthusiastic no for me.) and I'm just taking the lessons I've learned and am applying them to the here and now and trying to help others do the same.
There is more to this than what I've said(which seems to have been a lot of rambling on my part) but I'll stop as I don't want to waste any more of your time.
Basically what I'm trying to say is that there are going to be people in every group that seem completely off the wagon. I wanted to write to you for myself and to say that if you honestly had any questions, even if it was a simple "wtf", I'd be glad to answer as best I can. I don't speak for the whole "community"(which is hardly organized, the few websites out there really only speak for small islands of people as far as I'm concerned) but I'd like to think that I've got a decent handle on my own beliefs.
Sorry again for wasting your time if you got this far. I'm kind of hoping I got lucky and you'll think I'm just a little crazy instead of in need of medication. It's always nice to be understood a little more than before.
Sincerely,
A Random Someone
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