What's not a werewolf?

This is the place for discussion and voting on various aspects of werewolf life, social ideas, physical appearance, etc. Also a place to vote on how a werewolf should look.
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What's not a werewolf?

Post by Set »

What, to you, is not a werewolf? Where do you draw the line between a werewolf and a creature that's simply wolflike?

If it looks like a demon I'm not going to call it a werewolf. Giant ape things and cat faced monsters are not werewolves. It actually has to resemble a WOLF to be called a werewolf in my book. Anthro wolves also are not werewolves. Anything that can't shift isn't. And skinny rats. Definately not.
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Re: What's not a werewolf?

Post by Renorei »

Set wrote:What, to you, is not a werewolf? Where do you draw the line between a werewolf and a creature that's simply wolflike?

If it looks like a demon I'm not going to call it a werewolf. Giant ape things and cat faced monsters are not werewolves. It actually has to resemble a WOLF to be called a werewolf in my book. Anthro wolves also are not werewolves. Anything that can't shift isn't. And skinny rats. Definately not.

This pretty much sums it up for me. Though you and I have somewhat differing ideas about certain facets of werewolf anatomy and such, this post pretty much accurately describes what I think a werewolf is not.


I'd also like to add that wolf therians are not werewolves. It really annoys me when they call themselves werewolves.
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Post by Morkulv »

- Upright standing wolves aren't werewolves.
- Hairy men aren't werewolves
- Mutants aren't werewolves
- Complete wolves (or 'big wolves') aren't werewolves

I know what you'r thinking; "Then what IS a werewolf according to you!!". Well, I think its gotta be a fine line between human and wolf-elements. But I rather see more human elements then wolf-elements because anything else would make it look too sci-fi, in my opinion. And I believe there is a way to be done without making werewolves look like mutants, or upright standing wolves.
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Post by Set »

Just thought of this: wolves that can transform into humans. Interesting, but no.
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Post by Renorei »

Yeah, that too.
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Post by Lupin »

If it can't shift, then it's not a werewolf.
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Post by Figarou »

Lupin wrote:If it can't shift, then it's not a werewolf.

Oh look!! He is shifting!! Image


:jester:
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Post by Silverclaw »

Yeah, no shifting=not a werewolf.

And a werewolf should look SOMETHING like a wolf. If not, just call it something else. A shapeshifting alien; mutent, shifting rats, whatever. :roll: :P
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Post by Lupin »

Silverclaw wrote:If not, just call it something else. A shapeshifting alien; mutent, shifting rats, whatever. :roll: :P
Yeah, looking like a wolf does help.
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Post by JoshuaMadoc »

Morkulv wrote:- Upright standing wolves aren't werewolves.
For some disturbing reason i feel very intimidated by that statement.
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Post by Scott Gardener »

Were.wolf (we^r' wulf): n. see: lycanthrope.
Ly.can.thrope (li can' thro-p, or, li' can thro-p): n. see: werewolf.

Don't you love dictionaries?

I define "werewolf," definition one, as any one of several different archetypal categories of beings characterized by the ability to transform between human and wolf, and/or with the ability to shift from human to a hybridized Gestalt form between human and wolf. The category excludes broader shapeshifting entities that are capable of assuming other forms as well.

Archetypes include classical folklore werewolves, horror genre werewolves, heroic figure werewolves, and sympathetic model werewolves, and fantasy genre werewolves. For details, I refer you to my monogram on werewolf archetypes. (Sounds so cool and scholarly when I phrase it that way. I'm glad I typed this thing, because it's really been useful for making a number of points lately.)

http://www.calypso-blue.com/werewolf/vi ... php?t=2132

I consider definition two a colloquial use of the word to describe a wolf therian, acknowledging that most do not consider wolf therians "real werewolves." There's also other potential definitions, such as members of a hypothetical sports team, but we'll skip those.
Taking a Gestalt approach, since it's the "in" thing...
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Post by Apokryltaros »

Morkulv wrote:- Upright standing wolves aren't werewolves.
- Hairy men aren't werewolves
- Mutants aren't werewolves
- Complete wolves (or 'big wolves') aren't werewolves
Weren't all of the old, medieval werewolves depicted as either being normal, albeit sinister-looking wolves, or as wolves that walked on their hindlegs, and otherwise acted like people?
...
And I think you're confusing the Lon Chaney-werewolf with the wild men of the Black Forest.
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Post by Aki »

Apokryltaros wrote:
Morkulv wrote:- Upright standing wolves aren't werewolves.
- Hairy men aren't werewolves
- Mutants aren't werewolves
- Complete wolves (or 'big wolves') aren't werewolves
Weren't all of the old, medieval werewolves depicted as either being normal, albeit sinister-looking wolves
Sure were. Plenty of depictions of such. Besides, who would have though of a man-wolf back in that day and age? Turning into real wolves was bad enough back then. :lol:
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Post by Vuldari »

Hmmm...thats a tough one.


MY Requirements to be considered a Werewolf:


*Must Transform between Human and Beast.


*Must be a Dual-Spirit.

(...Human and Wolf, or Civilized and Bloodthirsty Ferral Predator... Whatever the story they exist in calls for.)
(Human and only one non-human alternate. {Ferral and Gestalt Variations are okay} Alternate form/side must also carry with it a new animal mindset/perspective, {maintaining human memories, inteligence and most of their personality is OPTIONAL}...and not just be a different shape the human can wear on command)


*There must be a "WOLF" connection.

( I'm open minded enough to accept alternative looks...but there has to be some "Lupine" in it's look or personality somehow. ...it at least has to HOWL or something.)
(There can be people cursed to turn into snarling monsters durring a full moon that are NOT "WereWolves".)



**It must be a Human that has no choice but to become a Werewolf.

(They can accept it and appreciate it...or hate it and fight against it, but they can't just say "Yeah...I have the power to transform...but I choose not to use it." Like it or despise it, they MUST become Both.)




...I'm sure I'm forgetting or overlooking something...but there you go.
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Post by Figarou »

Vuldari wrote:

...I'm sure I'm forgetting or overlooking somthing...but there you go.

The letter "e" :jester:
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Post by Vuldari »

Figarou wrote:
Vuldari wrote:

...I'm sure I'm forgetting or overlooking somthing...but there you go.

The letter "e" :jester:
Arrrghhh!...

Sometimes I really wish this forum had a built in spell checker. I try to be careful...but I still slip up alot.

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Post by Apokryltaros »

Figarou wrote:
Vuldari wrote:

...I'm sure I'm forgetting or overlooking somthing...but there you go.

The letter "e" :jester:
And for that, HE MUST DIE!!!
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Post by Figarou »

Vuldari wrote: Arrrghhh!...

Sometimes I really wish this forum had a built in spell checker. I try to be careful...but I still slip up alot.

Image

There is a spell checker. Thing is, its not turned on. Why? Because this place will be full of pop ups and advertisements.
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Post by wolfbound »

What, to you, is not a werewolf? Where do you draw the line between a werewolf and a creature that's simply wolflike?

If it looks like a demon I'm not going to call it a werewolf. Giant ape things and cat faced monsters are not werewolves. It actually has to resemble a WOLF to be called a werewolf in my book. Anthro wolves also are not werewolves. Anything that can't shift isn't. And skinny rats. Definately not.
you say it bud. and i thought i bitched allot about how they look. lol
you never know just how you look through other peoples' eyes.
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Post by JoshuaMadoc »

giant Smeagol/Gollum lookalikes like the one in Harry Potter 3.
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Post by Vuldari »

kitetsu wrote:giant Smeagol/Gollum lookalikes like the one in Harry Potter 3.
It may not have been a very cool, frightening or likable werewolf...

...but COME ON...

A "LAME" werewolf is still a werewolf. Not liking something does not negate what it is.

He was bitten...he howled at the moon (and transformed under it), and looked like a shaved, skinny wolf. (Yes...somewhat "Ratty", but still...)

...if the HP werewolf is not a werewolf, what is it?


That's my opinion anyway.
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Post by vrikasatma »

There is a spellchecker. YOU! :lol:

On Topic: My definition of werewolf:

Were — Man

Wolf — Wolf.

It must at least have the ability to shift between humanoid and lupinoid. Exercise of the ability is up to the individual.
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Post by Apokryltaros »

Vuldari wrote: A "LAME" werewolf is still a werewolf. Not liking something does not negate what it is.

He was bitten...he howled at the moon (and transformed under it), and looked like a shaved, skinny wolf. (Yes...somewhat "Ratty", but still...)

...if the HP werewolf is not a werewolf, what is it?


That's my opinion anyway.
A werechihuahua?
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Post by Figarou »

Apokryltaros wrote:
Vuldari wrote: A "LAME" werewolf is still a werewolf. Not liking something does not negate what it is.

He was bitten...he howled at the moon (and transformed under it), and looked like a shaved, skinny wolf. (Yes...somewhat "Ratty", but still...)

...if the HP werewolf is not a werewolf, what is it?


That's my opinion anyway.
A werechihuahua?

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Post by Renorei »

I'll agree with Vuldari that the HP werewolf was indeed a werewolf...

...but it was a TERRIBLE werewolf. I hope that one of the future HP movies has a shifted werewolf that is not as sickly and ugly as Lupin. No werewolf should look like that. He was the Stephen Hawking of werewolves (minus the expert knowledge on physics).
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