Article

Damien Ferguson

Published by Damien Ferguson on the 2nd of May 2016

State of the Otherkin/Therian Communities

The state of the otherkin and therian communities is quite in disarray. You have some safe havens that exist in a sea of chaos. Most of those safe havens focus on growing, learning, teaching and community. However outside of the safe havens you have places plagued by bullies, fluff hunters, disinformation and all kinds of things.

It may seem hopeless at times with all of these things going on. It is quite damaging to individuals as well as to the communities themselves. Not only does it promote bad manners and harm, it also takes away from learning, growing and truly becoming a community. However there are things that can be done to help change the community.

Some of those things can be done are really basic. Stop being in groups which promote such stuff, leave them. Staying in them only helps legitimize them. Stop talking about them. Talking only gives them promotion. Block those who are apart of them or do not allow them into the safe havens. Basically a community wide shut out of the bad folks and their behavior.

Of course who determines who the bad folks are or what bad behavior is? This is a good question and something the leaders, admins and board/website owners need to iron out. It cannot be just because you do not like someone or disagree with them. It has to be done in a way that is based on the guilty being the ones and not based off ego, pride, jealousy or other such emotions.

Once this is done then we need to begin to rebuild, as well as build something new. Something that will help keep all this from happening again. A network of leaders, group admin, board/website owners who can stand together and help fight for everyone. To help protect, keep it positive, and continue to grow and build the communities.

What is a bad group and what is a good group you ask? Well for the ones we are focusing on. A good group would be one who protects its members, helps teach them, has discussions, lets people be weird and a bit out there in topics but also will reel them in if truly need be.

A bad group is those who give out gross misinformation, especially those who hinder or harm the one seeking information OR the types of groups who focus on tearing others down, talking shit about them, bullying them, harassing and stalking them, attacking any member who they think is “fluff”. Those are the groups we need to stop, and move away from.

Sometimes though those who are skeptical or ask hard questions do get lumped into this. Or even those who do not believe every single far out there thing that people say. It is where the confusion sometimes comes in as that simply is not bullying. Sure it can become it if it goes over a fine line, but many who do so do not cross that line. However there are also some who do cross such a line and it is those that we are talking about.

I do hope that this helps some folk and some communities in building into something great and helpful for many as time goes on. Thank you for your time!