Rhuen wrote:A werewolf. Anything that is a combination of man and wolf, having features of both can and is called a werewolf depending on the source.
No
[ Edit: "...depending on the source." True Enough. ]
Rhuen wrote:Its not the name that makes them what they are, its how the name is used with what is labled.
Hunh?
It's not the name that makes them what they are...what they actually
ARE makes them what they are.
It's not the
wording of the name that defines it's meaning...it is what it was meant to apply to when the word was coined that defines that.
"Werewolf" = The people/creatures in those old stories who turn into wolves, (and all of the traits they displayed in said stories).
"Navy Seal" = A specific class of Soldier of the US Navy trained to very high standards for very difficult types of missions.
Rhuen wrote:If I had a half human/half wolf hybrid creature that couldn't transform, someone might look at it and still call it a werewolf even if it lacks the power to transform.
Probably...but that would not make it TRUE.
Rhuen wrote:In other words so long as your creature combines human traits with wolf traits someone can easily call it a werewolf.
"Call it that" ... yes ...
Make it a true statement ... no.
Rhuen wrote:a werewolf is a physically descriptive title.
No it isn't. Look it up. Choose whichever Dictionary or Encyclopedia you want to check.
It means a "Human shapeshifting wolf monster" everywhere except Wikipidia when referring to Therian and Furry fiction, or on Furry and Therian Websites in which they made up their own definition just because they like that better.
Rhuen wrote:In other words.
Werewolf: human and wolf traits mixed.
Therianthrope: human and animal traits mixed.
Therian: person who makes a special connection with an animal.
So therian is more akin to Berserker (bear warrior) or simular such totem mind sets than either the werewolf or Navy Seal type usuages of animal and human descriptions.
No, no, no, no, no...
You are just generalizing and making up whatever definition you like better.
The description of a "Therian"
(an abbreviation used ONLY by the recent subculture, and not strictly connected to the original meaning), as someone with a special connection with an animal is the only wholely true statement you made. ...but your definitions of 'Werewolf' and 'Theriantrope' are inappropriately vague.
But comparing 'Therians' to 'Berserkers, as if they are essentially the same thing, is just not right, which makes your Therian definition flawed as well.
I'm sorry if I seem like a real jerk right now, but if anyone can decide a word can mean anything they want, then the word ceases to mean anything at all...
...and if words no longer mean anything, how can we possibly expect to understand each other.
Sometimes a Words definition needs to stay restrictive to very specific meanings. ...otherwise, it becomes increasingly difficult to convey specific concepts between each other.