What do you guys think about "soulbonding"? | Headspace | Forums

Jarandhel Dreamsinger said:

Anyone else have any thoughts?  I'm trying to figure out where the line really falls between fictionkin and soulbonding… some resources out there explicitly address one, some explicitly address the other, some address both, and I'm trying to figure out what would be useful to include in the Links Project and what would not.

Re the line between soulbonding and fictionkin: as I use the terms, “soulbonding” refers to multiple systems in which one or more members can be considered a fictional character. “Fictionkin” on the other hand is something I use to refer to otherkin who read works of fiction as literally true and believe themselves to be from that fictional world, while not really realising it's fiction in the first place. In my experience the most common “fictionkin” are Paradise Lost angels and Tolkien elves.

IMO they're two very separate situations. One is saying “I have some kind of mental bond with the character of Captain Sisko. It's possible that he really exists out there and Deep Space 9 is some kind of channeled information about him. It's possible that the weight of Trek fans beliefs has somehow turned him into a real person on some other level of existence. It's also possible that he's such a strong archetype for a leader that I have integrated his image into my own self.” The other says “I was the third redshirt on the left, and by the way the new movie sucked because Kirk was not like that! It's all real, btw. Why are you talking about fiction? There's nothing fictional about it!”

Part of the line is that soulbonding and fictionkin are not equivlent terms. Soulbonding is used by the group to refer to the group, whereas I have personally only seen “fictionkin” used in a derogatory sense.

As such, asking “what's the difference between fictionkin and soulbonding?” is, to me, more like asking “what's the difference between dumb crackers and black people?” than “what's the difference between white and black people?”

Old thread, I know, but…

Jarandhel Dreamsinger said:

Anyone else have any thoughts?  I'm trying to figure out where the line really falls between fictionkin and soulbonding… some resources out there explicitly address one, some explicitly address the other, some address both, and I'm trying to figure out what would be useful to include in the Links Project and what would not.

IMO, there is a bit of overlap with the terms, but in general… A soulbonder is a body that hosts two or more entities from various origins, whereas a fictionkin tends to be singular person who feels connected to a fictional person or world in some way. Soulbonders can be fictionkin, fictionkin can be soulbonders, but they're still different.

Archer said:

“Fictionkin” on the other hand is something I use to refer to otherkin who read works of fiction as literally true and believe themselves to be from that fictional world, while not really realising it's fiction in the first place. In my experience the most common “fictionkin” are Paradise Lost angels and Tolkien elves.

I… am not sure that's exactly how I would describe it. Biased of course, since I am fictionkin myself, but I don't see my “source media” as literally true. I see it more like the movie Titanic; based on things that could have happened elsewhere, but through an author's filter. The author's version gets published and becomes canon, but it's still one version of many possible versions. Most fictionkin aren't going to point out a media and go “homg that is literally how it went down to the paint color on the walls”. And while that sounds strange to you, I'm sure… we do realize the movie/book/show/game is fiction. Hence “fictionkin”. The point being, most fictionkin see fiction not as “fake”, but as “a story that could stem from a world/realm/planet/universe/plane/whatever that isn't here”. An interpretation of events and/or people from elsewhere. So… it's not “these kooks who don't get that Sephiroth is fake” or whatever. ^^;

Archer said:

Part of the line is that soulbonding and fictionkin are not equivlent terms. Soulbonding is used by the group to refer to the group, whereas I have personally only seen “fictionkin” used in a derogatory sense.

 

As such, asking “what's the difference between fictionkin and soulbonding?” is, to me, more like asking “what's the difference between dumb crackers and black people?” than “what's the difference between white and black people?”

… I have never, ever seen that. o_o Fictionkin is an entirely different thing than soulbonding, and while a type of otherkin, not exactly the same as otherkin either. Sure, some people look down on fictionkin, but the term isn't derogatory any more than “dragonkin” would be derogatory. It's just a specific type of kin is all. “What's the difference between fictionkin and soulbounding?” is much closer to “what's the difference between the nerdy girl in the corner reading Naruto and that group of con girls over there dressed like Sailor Senshi?” than anything else.

Jarandhel Dreamsinger said:

Arethinn said:

Strange, my thought and experience is the other way around: soulbonders think of them as separate (and it makes more sense: how do you bond with something not external?) and fictionkin are whatever thing.

I've seen a lot of soulbonders who consider soulbonding little more than having an imaginary friend or using characters to express parts of your personality.  Fictionkin, whether they're multiples or singletons, tend to view the experience as real.  Plus, the focus of the communities seem rather different… soulbonders seem to write a lot of fanfiction dealing with their soulbonds.  Fictionkin rarely write much fanfiction about their fictionalized lives.

Huh. Most of the soulbonders I know consider themselves multiple a good deal of the time, and accept that the experience… regardless of the cause… is real. They see their headmates as real people and treat them as such. And I think the reason for the fanfic writing and roleplaying has to do with the fact that… soulbonding, the term sort of originated in writing circles if I remember correctly. ^^; I wouldn't say fictionkin rarely write fanfictiion. Most of the ones I know, and myself, do so. That said, most of the ones I know… and myself… like to express things through creative outlets, and for a majority of us, our preferred outlet is writing. Some of my friends prefer music, some prefer art. But yeah… it's more because writing is useful, I think… kin or not, multiple or not, soulbonder or not.

To my knowledge, headmates (or soulbonds or whatever you'd want to call them) can and do come from anywhere. I have seen soulbonders with a Harry Potter, and I have seen a soulbonder that apparently housed all of the band members from Panic! At The Disco. Both people considered themselves soulbonders. Granted, there are many terms out there for the same or similar phenomena, so it doesn't surprise me that there's another term for that sort of thing.

And hm… Maybe things have changed. I arrived a bit late onto the soulbonding “scene”. ^^; But the people I know do state they are multiple/median/etc. Perhaps that's just the overlapping thing, or perhaps terms have changed to be more inclusive to soulbonders who identify as multiple… I don't know.

As for the writing thing, maybe. I don't tend to share my writing with others; I'm sure most people either keep it to themselves or don't directly state that it's a kin thing. Of course not all of the memories are pleasant… many of mine certainly aren't… but writing in general can be quite useful for getting it out of one's system. Sort of like art therapy. :] But not everyone feels that way. People deal with things differently. Some people move on quickly, some steam over it for a bit and then heal, and some of us poke it with sticks until it becomes boring. Eh. If that makes sense… o_o