Can one stop being otherkin?

[arethinn]

There's been some Discourse™ lately on Tumblr about whether it is possible to stop being otherkin in any circumstances. All parties seem to basically agree that if you can easily "turn it off" then you weren't actually otherkin (or some specific thing wasn't actually a kintype) in the first place, but do not agree on whether it is possible to stop or change as a result of a long process of personal transformation ("ego alteration", one participant dubbed it). Your thoughts?

Comments

[citrakayah]

People change enormously over time. They can develop depression, or cease having it. They can develop entirely new habits and lose deeply ingrained ones, even addictions. They can completely change personality and beliefs. And self-identity changes over time--and I don't think that it's all revelations as to an immutable state. I know personally that I was more attracted to men when I was younger, and that's pretty ingrained and non-voluntary.

So--why not? An identity is, typically, due to something. This thing can cease, but that doesn't mean that the original feelings were false.