Well, I have a friend who considers himself an otherkin/therian. I think that stuff is weird but I don't want to tell him that I'm weirded out by it. I've mostly been saying "interesting" or "cool" to his stuff while dreading Skype conversations. Anyone have any tips on talking/coping?
Ru1138 (
talk) 18:28, 16 February 2016 (UTC)
talk to them like you would any other human being whose beliefs/interests do not affect you in any way.
AMassiveGay (
talk) 18:33, 16 February 2016 (UTC)
Well... he's also trying to get me to do stuff I'm uncomfortable with. He thinks dream sharing is a thing and he wants us to meet up. I just get anxious around him.
Ru1138 (
talk) 19:04, 16 February 2016 (UTC)
Then, yeeeeeah I'd say try to let him down gently. Like, "Hey, I think it's really cool that you've found what works for you and all, but I'm not really comfortable doing something like this." Chances are, they might not get the hint and you may need to be a little more blunt -- I've had a number of online friends like this myself. I'd also recommend switching to more neutral tone rather than the this-could-come-off-sounding-like-I'm-fascinated-in-a-medium-without-vocal-signals tone of "interesting" or "cool". Something more like "I see", or "That so?", or "Huh."
Then again, I'm probably not the best person to ask -- I can be as blunt as the wrong end of an axe and too milquetoast to be anywhere close to confrontational about it to someone who might be using it as a mental crutch.
ℕoir LeSable (
talk) 19:57, 16 February 2016 (UTC)
Okay, I'll keep that in mind. Thank you.
Ru1138 (
talk) 22:21, 16 February 2016 (UTC)