If someone says “are you sure you’re otherkin?” in the community, they’re not trying to be rude. Especially with the uprising of Tumblr, people have been taking any indication of a new kintype and rolling with it, regardless of whether or not it may be legitimate.
It also goes to mention that otherkin and fictionkin are not identifying with something, but as something. Since the “if you identify with (blank) you’re otherkin!” is so rampant, and characters are generally easy to relate to, you end up with people with 10+ kintypes (usually, but not always, fictionkin) who don’t bother to expand upon that knowledge.
What people are saying when they ask that is really “have you taken the time to explore yourself and rule out any other options?” There are people like me who literally spend 2+ years making absolutely sure we’re the kintypes we think we are or even if they’re really otherkin at all.
I wish it could go without saying that liking an animal or a character doesn’t make you otherkin. Feeling and knowing that you truly are those things is what otherkin is. And if you’ve spent large periods of time exploring yourself, make that known. Be confident in who you are. If you sound hesitant or defensive, people are more likely to press you for information.
