#linker

Omg yes🫶

(Motherfucking site deleted my response before I could save. FUUUUC-)

Anyways :)

(may God help you, cause this is long. Sorry about that lmao)

｡o ⭒𖤐⭒ o ｡ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~｡o ⭒𖤐⭒ o ｡

According to Google (☝️🤓)"...An otherlink (or 'link) is a voluntary, non-therian, and non-spiritual alterhuman identity where a person chooses a non-human, fictional, or factual identity ("linktype") for reasons such as self-expression, exploration, or comfort. Unlike involuntary identities like otherkin, otherlinks are consciously adopted and can be changed or dropped."

Tl;Dr - you choose your linktype (whether it be an animal, fictional, or other). It can be chosen because of aesthetics, connection, fun, or for no reason at all. You can change it or drop it based off of your preferences. (Not to be confused with copelinkers, who link with their linktype to cope with stress or trauma)

The difference between a therian/otherpaw/otherheart/kin of any kind is that their type(s) are involuntary. They didn't choose their types. They can feel it physically, spiritually, mentally, and so on. Therianthropy/alterhumanity is a spectrum much like most things, so every alterhuman experience is uniquely

This doesn't make mine, or anyone else's, experience as an otherlink any less valid, however. We are still all under the alterhuman/non human umbrella, meaning we are just as important and valuable to the community as anyone else

｡o ⭒𖤐⭒ o ｡ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~｡o ⭒𖤐⭒ o ｡

Personally, I chose my fawn linktype somewhat for aesthetics but mainly based off of the connection I felt to the animal. I feel connected to the energy, clumsiness, and cautiousness of the fawn. I spent about a week deeply considering why I kept feeling drawn to the fawn, and eventually came to this conclusion. Me and the fawn are one in the same

My other linktype, a desert coyote, was chosen for different reasons though. There is still a connection to the animal, but it's more of the shared habitat that I feel connected to. We both live in sandy, cactus ridden deserts. I've lived in a desert for well over a decade now. It's my home, same as the coyot (how we say coyote where I'm from). I don't feel like I am the coyot, but more of a connection with it

Idk if that makes sense, but it's basically-

Fawn: I feel like I am the animal. We are intertwined as one. I am the fawn and the fawn is me. I can imagine myself as a fawn and feel happy and content

Desert coyot: I feel more of a connection with the animal and the habitat. It's not like I am the animal, but rather like we could run along side one another; alterhuman and coyot together, each our own separate species but sharing the same land. Sure, I can imagine myself as the coyot, but I feel better when I imagine myself with coyot gear and running along side it still as an alterhuman

｡o ⭒𖤐⭒ o ｡ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~｡o ⭒𖤐⭒ o ｡

Sadly, there is almost no knowledge of otherlinks in the alterhuman community. I actually stayed away from the community for years because I didn't see a way I could choose my type and still be welcomed. I had no idea that otherlinking was an option. It wasn't until a random therian video popped on my Pinterest feed that I started to research deeper into alterhumanity and learned by myself what otherlinking is

This just isn't common knowledge and frankly, it breaks my heart. There are who knows how many newly awakeneds who are shoved away from the alterhuman community all because they said they were a therian and chose their type. They don't know better!!! Instead of baring our teeth at the misinformed beings and invalidating their real experience, we should be showing kindness by gently guiding them towards information that might be better suited for them.

And don't even get me started on the misinformation about otherlinking as a whole. People only know about therianthropy and maybe kins. Because of this over generalization of the community, so many otherlinkers (and other non mainstream types as well) are forgotten or pushed away because we don't fit what's being presented. Everyone says "oh, you can't just choose your theriotype" blah blah blah. While this is technically true (because therianthropy is completely involuntary), there are other options. Beings need to educate themselves more on the different types of alterhumans before making general statements like that that leave no room for discussion or growth

(Disclaimer: there is obviously nothing wrong with being a therian. This is not a dig towards any therians. It is specifically talking about the MAJOR problem within our community about the prejudice and biases other beings face)

All of that to say, I've sort of given myself the job to inform as many beings as possible about otherlinking. In fact, I met an otherheart at Ren faire recently that was shocked when I told him about otherlinking. He said (based off my definition) that he might actually be an otherlinker instead of an otherhearted. And that's great!!! I also told two younger therians that I was an otherlinker and explained to them what it is.

I am in no way ever going to shame someone for being misinformed. Especially the younger ones. I'm going to continue to be loud about my otherlink identity and share it with the alterhuman community, because God knows we need more representation for us linkers. And I won't stop, even if I migrate off of Tumblr. Because I feel that it's almost my duty as an under represented otherlinker to be loud and proud

Probably because of the nature of linking, I feel like we, the linkers, are very chill with origin theory. Or, well, linking is the act of defining that beginning, literally writing our own origin story of how the identity forms.

It's pretty cool.

We aren't busy talking (read: arguing, sometimes) about if it's spiritual, psychological, metaphysical, symbolic, etc. We share about the how and speak about the then what. An identity in process, and we define the path ourselves.

Traditional Chinese translation below.

2025-003 Blue jay - 2.75" x 1" x 1" - acrylic on basswood

Based on the Doug Linker Youtube tutorial:

+ Ei, bora treinar? (por @yoonswan )

Título: Caju.

8. Inspirada em uma música

Idol: Taeyeon

App: Ibis Paint X

Data: 25.08.24

Linker eVTOL,