CAVE CANUM

Some alterhumans are nonhumans.

But, not all alterhumans are nonhumans and vice versa.

Alterhumanity is defined as:

A category of personal identity which encompasses identification that is alternative to the common societal idea of humanity. [1]

Alterhumanity is a form of identity that is alternative to humanity, not exclusively without humanity— which is something that a lot of alterhumans overlook.

The reason why some folks don’t like using alterhuman for themselves, and instead use alterbeing or whatever their preferred label is (or lack thereof), is because of that allusion to humanity still being involved, depending on the individual. Which is fine, of course. That’s your choice to make. However, the bigger this community gets, the more common it is to see folks associate alterhumanity only with nonhumanity.

Alterhuman doesn’t exclusively mean nonhuman. It is an umbrella term. It is broad and meant to encompass many experiences.

some experiences of being alterhuman (I'm completely making this up and I can be wrong):

not feeling human at all

feeling like multiple people in one body, plurality, and even median systems. even dissociative disorders can fall under it, too

feeling like an animal or mythical being, aka therians, otherkins, theriomythic, etc

feeling a bit human, but not completely

feeling spiritually something different than completely human

anything related to spirituality, really

feeling like your body is not human

I think furries are also alterhuman? I can be wrong tho

being any label that the community uses like therian, otherkin, otherhearted, etc

I think daemonism is also alterhuman?

uhhhh archetropes are too I think

copinglink, otherlink and other chosen identities

Other alterhuman experiences can be feeling completely human but occasionally having shifts of different ears or claws unrelated to a kintype, feeling othered by human society for whatever reason, feeling like your neurodivergency makes you experience humanity in an alternative way, feeling so connected to a fictional character (in a non-identifying way) that it affects your sense of self, or feeling both completely human and completely your kintype.

It is not a synonym for otherkin, plural, or therian. It also isn't just a combination of 'kin and plural. It's an umbrella term, and it's a HUGE one that extends well beyond the kinmunity!

Also, it is strictly an opt-in label. You can't armchair diagnose someone as alterhuman; if they don't want to claim it, it's not their label. Some kin folks might not feel human at all, and don't want a word with "human" in their label list. Some people want to be known as completely 'kin and not alterhuman. Some people are plural but don't experience that as a shift in their humanity.

Orion Scribner wrote a really good post compiling explanations from its coiner here:

You Always Have Options II

Tianhao 田浩

Even if it’s coming from a genuine place of not understanding nonhumanity, it irritates me when folks claim it’s hard to believe since “all” animalfolk identify as “cool” animals somehow (be them therian, otherkin, transspecies, etc). It’s such a blatant generalization that I can’t help but be skeptical right back at them and question why they would assume this when no experience is that linear. “Why aren’t there more bugs? They’re one of the largest animal populations in the world!” I’ve seen many a vent post from bugs who’re rightfully angry that they’re expected to trigger-tag their species when they discuss their experiences. I promise the world is bigger than whoever you see on TikTok or YouTube.

I am a member of a lot of species, but in context to my first paragraph, I am a vulture. Vultures are regularly poisoned while feeding because of either the drugs given to cattle and other livestock OR bait deliberately poisoned by human farmers/agriculturalists to “keep pests away from their land” (WE are the “pests” in question in case that wasn’t clear). We’re also considered generally “ugly”, and since we aren’t aesthetically appealing to a lot of humans, efforts for our conservation are often ignored. It’s always a disgrace to learn when wildlife are being exploited and/or killed thoughtlessly for another’s gain. Imagine learning this information and having to navigate how most people view or treat said animals while BEING one of them. Worst of all, folks are comfortable projecting their views of your species onto you because they don’t see you as you are. It’s infuriating.

So no, not every animal is a “cool” animal by human standards. Some of us are widely hated, so much so that there’s endlings in our community without the world even knowing it. Even some culturally “cool” animals have been vulnerable at some point. The fact that tigers are considered “cool” doesn’t stop some humans from poaching them. Folks often point out wolves and their presence, but whatever “coolness” folks associate with wolves doesn’t change the fact that red wolves are still critically endangered in my region despite southern conversationists’ many attempts at increasing their wild populations through captive breeding and releases since the 1980s.