Does anyone have recommended readings on understanding my having a furry identity that clearly runs a lot deeper than it feeling like a costume or surface affectation?

@Fuego @starkatt oh, the discussions I've had on the parallels. my experiences with being trans, and my understanding thereof, has played a big role in me accepting this part of myself as realness and fact ^^'

@starkatt Now I'm thinking I should do some writing on this myself. :)

A piece of the answer, I think, is the realization that this sort of stuff arose _out of_ costume/RP fan activity. And it happened multiple times. Independently.

Therians out of alt.horror.werewolves

Psychic vampires out of V:tM

Otherkin out of fantasy novels

Lifestylers out of funny animal fandom.

It's _defined as_ "this feels deeper than fan activity" and it _keeps happening_

@starkatt My best understanding of it is as a subjective experience that is, at least initially, defined negatively. "It feels like there is more here than fan-appreciation for me. Does anyone else feel the same way?" And in each of the above cases, other folks said "Yes" and started building a community out of that. It's intrinsically built on drawing connections between internal/subjective experiences.

@indi @starkatt soooooo many people came to alt.fan.dragons with "I just really like dragons and I can RP a dragon here?" and left with "yeah... I'm a dragon." we didn't have much in the way of philosophical/spiritual discussions (that I remember) out in public... it just sort of happened. repeatedly. XD

@starkatt Well, if you're REALLY bored and desperate, you can check the memories of my old LJ accounts for relevant rants, of which there were many. XD

yulicorn.livejournal.com
circuit-four.livejournal.com
queenofstripes.livejournal.com

Someday I might go through and compile a more helpful and precise list of links. :)

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