#theriform

Theriform

Adjective (can be applied as a noun in certain phrasing, see examples)

From θηρίον (thēríon) [diminutive of θήρ thḗr, “wild beast”] and μορφή (morphe) ["shape"/"figure"/"look"].

Definition:

A theriform animal is one which was born into a body that is typical/expected of it's species and observable as such by everyone, with species-typical levels of sapience/intelligence and whose behaviour etc is unaltered by being born into a human body/raised in a form perceived as human*. All components must be present to count.

It is not the 'opposite' of therian despite similar etymology but is instead to be viewed as a complimentary term to therian, nonhuman, alterhuman, otherkin etc as it exists to specify certain details of a species whilst not invalidating the identities of those who are not theriform. It is made to replace potentially invalidating phrases like 'bio(logical) animal' or 'real animal'.

It is not an identity label and therefore has no flag or symbol and does not need one. Do not create these things please, or use the term to describe yourself on a personal level.

Alternative versions for non-animals could include: floraform, nat(ur)form, technoform, fictoform*, feyform, voidform, starform, divineform etc

FAQ HERE

Examples:

"Lol it's so funny being a cat and having a theriform cat as a pet we're both just kitties vibing but with different body shapes."

"Just because they're the same species as you does not mean you are able to take care of wild theriforms."

"The fact that there aren't that many theriforms of my species is so saddening."

"I wanna do quads alongside a pack of theriform wolves so bad!"

"I am transspecies, here is what I do/what I want to do to look more theriform."

"I wonder if theriforms get species dysphoria?"

Like, theriform animals don’t really have the same concept of freedom as our societies do (if at all). Freedom is commonly associated with independence or liberation from something besides yourself; in the case of our community, it’s associated with releasing oneself from humanity, any dependence on humans or human society, and/or the constructs therein. Theriform animals who’re wild or feral are viewed as animals who’re “born free”. Yet, that doesn’t make sense when you look at it from their point-of-view.

They are intelligent, make no mistake. That said, their perception of the world doesn’t factor the same concepts as ours. Typically, they don’t go about their existence with a concept of freedom— at least not akin to how our societies understand freedom. That’s simply their means of survival.

Some folks look to wild or feral theriform animals and think they understand themselves in the way, for example, Spirit understood himself in his titular film. But that’s a fictionalized perspective. It was depicted by human beings using a concept of freedom that they personally understand, not that of theriform mustangs.

somebody get me out of hereeeee

I wanted to bring this up to see what beings here think about it because this is something interesting to me!

Theriform animals are unable to give informed consent to sexual activities. Period.

It's immoral for me to have a sexual or romantic relationship with a Theriform animal.

I am currently dating a non Theriform animal, a Therian, and she means the world to me.

She, in opposition to Theriform animals, is able to consent.

There is zero reason for me to cheat on my girlfriend with an animal that cannot even understand what sexual intercourse truly means.

I do not *need* therapy in order to not act on my paraphilias, I do not need another human to tell me that fucking animals is wrong, I am fully aware of that...

That's why I don't, and never will!

I am not a hypocrite.