mindstalk | (Reply)

I can't speak to Otakukin - I don't know any, or if I do, they haven't admitted it - but I know a bunchload of Otherkin (half-raises hand) and all I can say is that, like virtually everything else in life, it totally, utterly depends on the Otherkin in question, and to a large extent on where they hang out and who they listen to. Some Otherkin are very loudly defensive about everything; some (of us, I like to think) are quiet, laid-back, more than willing to discuss such stuff reasonably, and just as willing to simply walk away from what we percieve as strident hysteria, blatant trolling, or otherwise completely untenable situations.

Me, I think that Otakukin... how to put it politely. I think they've jumped to conclusions, generally speaking. I do know that, on the one hand, wish-fulfilment is an extremely powerful drive for us humans, and we're willing to jump through seriously crazy hoops to feel like we belong, safe and wanted. On the other hand, regardless of your faith, real spiritual understanding is a long, difficult, not always sparkly fluffy bunny journey; it takes fucking years, and you'll never really know until you die (maybe), and you have to be willing to boldly and honestly question your bedrock assumptions. But, y'know... easier to say "I'm a reincarnation of Buffy the Vampire Slayer!", just as it's easier to say "Jesus loves me and His blood will save me from Eternal Damnation (TM)!" or "Allah knows everything in His infinite wisdom and has assigned me a place at His side in Paradise (TM)!" or whatever else.

So, I guess it can be summed up that I think that Otakukin are in general latching on to "easy" explanations, and wallowing in their own imaginations, rather than... doing that other thing, you know. With the thinking. And stuff.

For bonus fun, I give my religion as Polypantheistic Zen Discordian agnostic, which roughly translates that I may or may not believe in a variety of different gods simultaneously, and I'm not sure it matters anyway. I put great value in personal experience, because that's ultimately all I have to go on, and I've had personal experiences that lend credence to some fairly wacky idea(r)s; but I wouldn't say that it's anything that would, fr'ex, convince Randi enough to part with a big wad of cash, or that couldn't be explained by a combination of coincidence, a very active imagination, and the Power of Wishful Thinking (TM).

... I'm sleepy. :P