| otherlink ( n., adj.) | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Other forms | otherlinker (n.), otherlinking (v.) |
| Applies to | headmates |
Otherlink refers to individuals who identify as a non-human, fictional, or factual being (called a link) not because of a spiritual or ingrained psychological belief (like otherkin, fictionkin, and factkin), or as a coping mechanism (like copinglink), but for any other reason; often for fun and/or to express themselves, though not always.[1]
It is not a label that should be forced onto others without their consent; just as with any other identity, using it is voluntary. Individuals have their own reasons for identifying in a certain way, and it is no one's place to tell them how to identify, even if they think an individual's experience may fit better under a different name.
Related Terms[edit | edit source]
Alterhuman is an umbrella term for anyone who identifies as non-human or as experiencing an alternative form of humanity. Otherlink falls under this category.
Otherhearted and synpath are terms that refer to having a deep connection/bond with something, such as strongly relating to it, acting like it, or understanding it, but not quite being it; identifying with instead of as something. The two terms are technically synonymous, though in practice, otherhearted is often used to refer to non-human and/or animal connections, while synpath is more commonly used for fictional characters.
