Until recently, I've tried pretty hard to segregate my writings into a variety of arbitrary categories that tends to force my thoughts down a particular line. In doing so, it's allowed me to somewhat compartmentalize each away from each other so there wasn't much overlap between the BDSM/polyamory/sexuality writings, the pagan writings, and my fiction to tone down objectionable thoughts or ideas for each set of people that I was aiming the article to. This also, incidentally, allowed me to drop particular topics out entirely as being "not good topics" for any of the groups.
The problem as it stands now, however, is that I've come to a point where they do overlap a great deal and I can integrate one into another or into a third and I find myself editing out what people may find strange. And, here I sit doing it again and leaving everyone to wonder what the hell I'm talking about.
The things I talk about fairly frequently and openly:
I am polyamorous
I am kinked.
I am a witch.
The things I don't talk about at all and try to hide from folks:
I consider myself Otherkin.
Now. Before you all scratch me off your lists as having gone around the bend completely, I don't think I'm a dragon or a fairy or anything else trapped in a human body. I don't think that's what 'kin are. I know we've all seen teens running around saying that they're a dragon trapped in a human's body and they just don't fit in anywhere. (Some adults, too...)
In my opinion (so take this for what it's worth), otherkin is a category somewhat like "shaman" in that people often have experiences that they can't explain and need to find a name for it. Without the correct training to recognize a shamanic experience, people undergoing one are often left puzzled as to what has happened. The same can be said for 'kin.
Perhaps it's something from our pasts being overlaid onto our souls (oooh..here we go with the mystical stuff...) or perhaps it's an over identification with a totemic guide that we don't understand how to interpret correctly. Or, perhaps in another life we were something other than human. (Hey, I won't discount the improbable, just to make some people feel better.) Hell, maybe we just have really overactive imaginations.
The point is, being 'kin doesn't mean you have the right to simply not function in the body you were given, nor does it excuse learning proper social behavior. It's no an excuse to say "oh, well, he just doesn't understand what an advanced/grand being I really am. If he did, he'd know that (insert whatever grievance is coming out of their mouths today).
It's no different from being poly, or kinky, or pagan. Each has advantages and drawbacks. And each sub-culture has to learn to deal with the larger culture around us. If you want to tune out and just be a whack job, fine. Just don't pretend to not understand why people who aren't X don't believe you or understand you. It's also not an excuse to not shower, hold down a job, be rude, or any one of hundreds of other types of clueless behavior I've seen over the years.
If you want people to think you're NOT a nutjob, don't act like one. It's really that simple. And if we, as whatever community, don't want people to think group X are nutjobs, then it would behoove those of us that are (mostly) sane individuals to speak up, be heard, and be seen, otherwise all people will see are the folks we don't want associated with the word "otherkin".
