I'm human I'm human I'm HUMAN I'M HUMAN

[mackerelgray]

Written by Jude Rook-Machina on August 8th, 2024.

A vent piece.

Transcript:

I’m human

I’m human

I’m human

I’m HUMAN

I’m not an animal
or a beast
or a creature
or a being
or a thing
or a machine
or a doll
or a toy

I’m a human

fucking

person!

and I know!

“not everything is about humans!”

“nonhumans never get to be themselves!”

but come on

do you really think

I ever

get to be human

when nobody knows I exist?

(I don’t)

(if you were wondering)

(I’m tired)
(just call me a person)

Comments

[gossamer_musings]

Just commenting to say this fucks severely.

[mackerelgray]

It DOES fuck severely thank you <3

[leo9ish]

Seconding that this is fantastic, and I feel it way too hard. but i'll refrain from ranting up a storm under your post ^^;

[mackerelgray]

i mean if you want to rant, go ahead! commiserate!! i want to know im less alone in feeling Othered (in a bad way) by all this lol

[leo9ish]

If you insiiist. I wasn't sure if you were okay with people going off on a vent post like this ;w;

I personally find the whole "person" discourse really inane, both from the perspective that so many proposed "universal" alternatives to the word feel very...biased towards nonhuman identity, but also--my nonhuman kintype is a person and not an animal/beast/etc, sooo wtf are you talking about? Personhood is fundamental to my alterhuman identity either way. It affirms both my humanity and nonhumanity!

More broadly, it's SO frustrating how folks run with this extremely specific idea of what a human is. Especially in alterhuman spaces, because they should know better! Even if you're talking strictly nonhumans, they're challenging the idea of what it means to be a wolf or a dragon just by existing as themselves, so WHY are we limiting what a human can be?

It feels extra frustrating when your human fictotype is so absurd that it's impossible to just file off the serial numbers and be on my way. I already worry about my identity as an over-designed kid from the world's stupidest crossover series being taken serious in alterhuman spaces; you think it's going to be taken any more seriously outside of those spaces? Do you think they're more likely to take my belief in many forms of humanity seriously??

We deserve a chance to be ourselves too.

...cough I think I'm losing the plot here. Rant over!

I'll be generous and say I think most of this issue stems from lack of awareness, which means I really need to get louder and more annoying about my humanity. But man, I wish folks would be more thoughtful about what they say and where they say it. The way some folks talk about humans in alterhuman spaces is... not very inspiring. 🙃

[mackerelgray]

aghhhh yeah, I know exactly what you mean by how nonhuman-centric so many alternatives are - I mean, I put several ones I dislike up there, and there's more! I'm not a critter or anything, I'm a person, person is not a slur!! it's a good word for people!! and nonpeople can use Different words, I'm okay with that, I just doooon't like being bundled together with the bots and creatures and beings. I can respect their words, I just want them to respect mine? And also perhaps every other human being who's a person??

and you're RIGHT alterhumanity is already expanding the definition of nonhumanity, we have so many nonhumans in unorthodox forms doing their best to live their lives how they want to, can we please extend that same grace to humanity? humans aren't only defined by being the opposite of the revolutionary swag nonhuman, we have depth and complexity too!!

I'm hoping it's something folks realize they're being ignorant about if we get louder about it! being loud and annoying IS how to leave a mark on the community! never stop yapping because you have very cool thoughts to say! \o/

[voxel]

Thank you. Just, thank you. I needed this, apparently. 💜

[mackerelgray]

Oh, you're welcome! I didn't expect this to get the attention it did, honestly, but I'm really happy it helps other people. <3

[329production]

I've said this several times already but I really felt this post. If anyone ever insists that I'm not human, my train of thought wouldn't be too far off from this post. God.

- Kogane Tsukioka 👑 (she/her)

[mackerelgray]

I'm glad it could help you feel seen! It sure helped me to put it into rant form! :V

--Jude (they/them)