normal about lamps

ゾウムシ

United Front: Breasts Without the Airbrush

The shocking thing about Laura Dodsworth’s pictures of 100 women’s breasts isn’t the flesh on show, or the many shapes and sizes, but the realisation that images of unairbrushed, non-uniform breasts seem to be so rare. “We see images of breasts everywhere,” says the 41-year-old photographer, “but they’re unreal. They create an unflattering comparison but also an unobtainable ideal. I wanted to rehumanise women through honest photography.”

Something that is a constant point of talk in the Alterhuman community is "Where are the Elders at?" "Why don't Elders post as much anymore?"

And as someone who's been in the community for over 10 years now, I distinctly remember thinking "Hah, that'll never be me. I love posting about my alterhumanity" But low and behold, I've kinda fallen off from posting daily. Heck its a miracle if I make a post once a month! Sure I lurk around the tags and forums. I'm active in the comments at least. But I've definitely noticed my presence in the community falling to the back burner.

So I'm calling all "Elders" and "Greymuzzles"

Go ahead and pick a couple of questions from the following and answer them (or answer them all, I'm not a cop) vvvvvv

What are some ways that you still struggle with Alterhumanity?

What are some Alterhuman Success stories you have? (Whether it be finding a neat hack for dealing with species dysphoria or a fun affirming encounter you had such as coming out to a friend)

What are some lessons that you've learned after all these years?

What are some writings that you've done that you think are still relevant now? (feel free to link to them!)

What are some major differences in what the community was like when you discovered it vs how it is now?

How did you deal with the "Hype" of discovering your Alterhumanity wearing off?

1. I have trouble with how much i’m brutally honest about my own nonhumanity and the experiences i have with that, especially in differing environments. Sure, my friends are more than happy to let me spill my guts completely, but i’ve also been burned a number of times. Pretty much every subculture i’ve joined outside of the alterhuman sphere had at least one brutal interaction in which it was made clear i was very very not welcome. Plenty of people who aren’t fully privy to my species still get the sparknotes version, but i’m not sure the percentage that sees this as a metaphor versus incredibly literal. Professional life even more so. Not sure i’ve ever been open about that in say, a public speaking context, even if it’s sort of an ideal format to do so. Pretty much every aspect of my identity stays on the DL there, though. I’ve always been hyperprofessional to a detrimental degree. Not even sure i’ve mentioned being gay just cuz it has little to do with anything i’m speaking about. Sure there are MANY sets yet to be written there; i just have no idea how or when to bring it up, and it’s an intimidating thought

2. There are a number of non-alterhuman communities that are perfect for being yourself! I remember my first steps into adulthood being followed by my first steps into vampyre-adjacent spaces, which i was THRILLED to discover were still kicking and happy to have me, especially since this was sort of the first identity i rejestured in early childhood. I’d been so convinced i’d be forever isolated if anyone found out i drank blood from the way people reacted to it as a child; turns out there’s spaces for everyone! Same goes for kink, objectum, and pagan/occult/etc coms! Talking about my life in terms of past ones is also surprisingly chill, even amongst the most human of humans. You’d be surprised how accepting people can be with that framing. Might even discover some comrades! I’ve met a number of “100% humans” that identify heavily with a nonhuman past life, even if it’s just collecting themed tchotchke. If you’ve ever met an old lady with something like butterflies or faries or sea creatures in EVERY space available, you might be familiar with this type. One time i met a retiree in FULL holographic alien invasion getup, told me she’s always been an alien at her core. I was like fourteen and it was at a suburban sprawl whole foods and this random interaction still makes my day to think about. It’s never just a youth thing! I think friendships spanning generations are incredibly important, especially here and now. Never be afraid to kick it with a 60-year-old dragon and walk away with both new understanding and a familiar sense of home

3. People are more likely to have your back than you may believe! I remember when the KFF phenomenon was taking off and how many people went to bat (heh) for me so i wouldn’t have to anymore, because they genuinely cared. People can also be deceptively closed-minded. Be prepared even in the safest of enviornments. It’s never great to have such an integral part of your life shot to shreds; especially when it’s preceded by something like “i hope you heal” or some shit. I’m great, thanks. Oddly enough, medical professions have always been pretty cool, especially in comparison to my average jackoff peer. Very little can surprise someone if you’re already in treatment for DID, for which nonhuman alters are fairly common.

4. Hooooooo fuck man. most of it isn’t published lol. i still have a particular soft spot for that post i made ages ago referring to some of my alterhuman inspirations with something like “they’re so cool and well-spoken and irl they’re vriska homestuck living with the cast of Seinfeld in their heads” which got a lovely reply from someone saying they used to get drunk and talk philosophy with a group that almost all turned out to be sonic. Still waiting on the “10 different sonics passing a blunt and deeptalking about dialectics” fanart i was promised. I need it

5. I won’t lie, i discovered these communities from those less-than-stellar shock documentaries a la “what? I think i’m an animal.” Around the time there were alternative alterhuman tags here because harassment and gore were so bad on the straightforward ones. Not sure “alterhuman” was even a word in rotation by then. I remember when searching pretty much any ID i fell under was near-exclusively anti-SJW memes and cringe comps later on. Not sure if i can say there’s more or less misinfo, just different. We have varying vectors for it, though. Algorithms were barely if at all a thing up until recently, which has its pros and cons. Can only speak limitedly on that considering i just straight-up don’t use any social media that relies on them. I’m constantly fascinated by how this factors into the self-discovery process, especially in an age where we’re fed so much of our lives, interests, whatever by a screen. I see younger people emphasizing the importance of being alterhuman offline, which was a post i saw a lot in the forum days that’s always stuck around. I appreciate that familiarity

6. I barely remember if i even had hype to begin with, outside of just generally being stoked that starting some of my earliest memories with being the weird nonhuman kid wasn’t the isolating experience i’d learned it to be. I didn’t know any other nonhumans, and i didn’t use social media, so this was more an internal victory. However, the warmth of being accepted by those closest to you is evergreen, and it never gets old.