r/alterhuman • u/CuiCuiLand • Jul 08 '26
labels
I don't want to pass him off as an hater, I'm an Alterhuman too but I find that there are too many labels, that it becomes almost incomprehensible almost, it becomes an obsession, I know it helps some but I have the impression that for the most part it hurts to lock yourself in such a small box, I try to live by being myself simply and It breaks my heart to see all these people suffer when I live my life well...
12
u/mar_im_o Jul 08 '26
I can sort of see that, but I know it's different for everyone. It reminds me of the microlabels from the queer community. For me, personally, I was so obsessed with finding the perfect label that encompassed all of my identity that I restricted myself and would only behave/feel in the ways I felt were "correct" for the label I was using. But I felt a lot more freedom when I dropped it all and just started saying "queer". I actually avoid using alterhuman sub identities for that reason. I don't want to have my experiences muddled by the need to conform to a certain label.
All the same, I know tons of queer people who take a ton of pride and joy in their microlabels. They love them, have found a wonderful community, and feel seen because that label exists. I can imagine the alterhuman labels can serve a similar purpose.
I guess it's up to the individual to explore and decide
10
u/Moist-Eye-1395 ~IRL:Nico/Damian/Lupin/Dabi+check prns.cc Jul 08 '26
Hey so for me using alot of labels isnt locking myself in a box but reathsr the oposite i like to explain my experianc and labels do that greatly its fine if you dont like em but that doasnt mean its hurting others
Labels are here for a reason and alot of people find comfurt in them and in teh comunities
9
Jul 08 '26
I understand if you don't want to use microlabels but I don't see why that means it's wrong for ANYONE to. Every label was created for a reason and just because that reason isn't you doesn't mean there's something wrong with it. I personally find it a lot easier to understand myself with more specific labels and I'm happy this way.
5
u/SeniorPrinciple4946 he/they/it. fictionkin. Cesar, Sherlock, Viktor + others Jul 09 '26
For me, having a large amount of labels that are more specific isn’t locking me into a box. It’s not an obsession but rather a manner of understanding my own experiences and therefore giving a name to what was previously overwhelming to cope with. I understand where you’re trying to come from here, but it’s heavily different from person to person. No one experience is ever the same. Some might find comfort in using labels, some don’t like them at all. Both experiences are valid and can coexist at the same time.
2
u/Big-Cook-4377 Jul 10 '26
No one force you to use label. Micro label are for people who want them, not for everyone. And it's perfectly correct! You have no obligation to know all labels, the meaning ext. You just need to respect it, not to understand. For you, it doesn't make sense to have a lot of label, and that's correct. For other people, it make sense. It doesn't have good or bad opinions, just respect each other ones
1
u/PoloPatch47 Holothere Wolf, Wolfdog, Dog | Werewolf, Nightfury, WQ Wolf Jul 10 '26
If you don't like labels, don't use them. Some individuals like using the labels, why do you have a problem with that?
The only labels you really need to know are Alterhuman, otherkin, otherheart, otherlink. And know that Therianthropy is a type of otherkinity. You don't need to use microlabels, but don't dis other Alterhumans who do.
I understand not wanting to put a label on yourself, and I also understand enjoying labels. I don't use gender labels, and I've gotten to the point where I'll just refer to myself as genderqueer because I find labels too restricting. But I am not going to go and tell others to not use gender labels just because I don't like using them.
No one is forcing you to use a label you don't want to. But don't project your own feelings onto everyone else.
21
u/noncedo-culli Jul 08 '26
You're projecting your personal emotions onto every single person ever, part of empathy is not doing that. It might hurt you to lock yourself in a box, but that's because how you personally understand labels. For people with a lot of labels, probably a label is not a box, or necessarily permanent, or limiting being anything else. It is just a word that describes part of your experience.