Otherkin

After a couple of years self-imposed exile/hiatus from the various Otherkin communities online, I now find myself gravitating back towards them. (If you’ve never heard of Otherkin, or are just curious as to what I’m referring to, feel free to click the “Google This” link in the byline at the end of this post.) I’ve recently joined a couple of (new-to-me) mailing lists over at yahoogroups, and am posting a few tentative messages to get a feel for the people on these lists. It seems strange to me that there are now so many of these lists/communities online because I remember back in 1996 when there were almost none. (Goodness, has it really been eight years?) At this point, what with people changing nicks and email addresses as often as they change their clothes, I don’t recognize many of the list members out there, so if I’ve joined a list that you’re on, give a shout (either on the list or privately). I have also noticed that most of the lists I looked at were pretty inactive. I don’t know if it’s because we’re all talked out, or if, like I was, people are just taking a break, but I do know that the discussions seem to break down after a while and those that would further discuss things get tired of continually bringing up topics. One person can’t be expected to carry the entire thing either, and that’s primarily what wore me out. On the other hand, in my past experience I remember often feeling like I was either preaching to the choir or muttering to myself in the corner, and I don’t particularly like either thing. Pretenders and trolls and so-called “power struggles” and various other problems seem to accumulate in communities of this kind, as well, probably because many of the people involved have old histories together and hold strong ideas about their beliefs. {sarcasm} Of course, we Danaans have never been known for such things, right? {/sarcasm} So, for now at least, I will dip my tootsies in the water and determine if that’s a place I want to swim or not. We’ll see.