AHWW MINI FAQ

Welcome to alt.horror.werewolves! This newsgroup is probably a little
different than most groups you've come across in Usenet. If you're
reading it based on the name, then chances are you have an interest in
werewolves and horror-genre fiction. So do we... but there's more to
it than that.

When alt.horror.werewolves was first grouped, lo those many years ago,
it was basically for discussion of werewolf fiction. There really
wasn't a lot of traffic in it; maybe two or three messages a day. It
attracted the attention of folks who were interested in just more than
horror fiction, folks who were interested in legends and folklore and
fact. And, also, folks who felt a special attraction to werewolves and
shapeshifters. Gradually, the talk turned to address those feelings
and thoughts, and a new concept was formed: Spritual therianthropy.

A Theriomorph is a shapeshifter; a being who can assume an animal as
well as a human form. A spiritual theriomorph is someone who sees
aspects of animals in his or her personality and actions, and those
aspects more or less shape who he or she is. Many of us feel an animal
spirit that is an integral part of our being, affecting how we
interact with others, what we do, where we go... and in that sense, we
are shapeshifters. We exist mentally as both animal and human. When we
shift, mentally, the outside world usually notices it... the change in
thought produces a change in demeanor that's readily recognizable.

Some of us are role-playing gamers, yes... but this newsgroup is not a
role-playing game. It is for real, and we are for real. We discuss
pretty much everything here; we like to have fun as well as be
serious. We've discussed arcade games, books, movies, how to combat
shedding problems, virtual snowball fights, serious philosophy,
original fiction and poetry, parties, RPG games, methods of
transforming, physical vs. spiritual... you name it; if it has
something to do with shapeshifting or one's personal search for
enlightenment it'll get talked about here. BUT! We don't live-role
play here. There are better places for that, and we'd rather not
confuse folks into thinking that we're just role-playing and not
actually serious. alt.games.white-wolf is a good place for discussing
the finer points of RPG's like _Werewolf: The Apocalypse_.
alt.fan.furry is a good place for discussing anthropomorphic cartoons,
animation, and artwork. alt.games.furrymuck for muck/mud/moo
environments... you get the picture.

The Frequently Asked Questions file is posted monthly on the group,
and is also available from the Keeper Of The FAQ, KatmanDu,
via email at katmandu@negia.net or FTP at ftp.negia.net/users/katmandu. 
It answers a lot of questions that folks seem to have, but there's nothing like
a one-on-one conversation for specific problems. Read the group a while, read 
the FAQ, and find someone who's writing you admire and email 'em... most 
everyone on the group would be happy to answer your questions.

Again, welcome to alt.horror.werewolves! We hope you'll enjoy the
conversations here.