Rule 34 - What Qualifies As A "Monster" To You?

Lothar_The_Elder

06/08/23 09:59PM

What Qualifies As A "Monster" To You?

In the Tag Discussion Thread someone mentioned they thought of Goblins as "monsters", and this raised the thread title question in my mind.

To me, a "monster" has to be really out there concept-wise and usually a candidate for the "nightmare_fuel" tag as well. A "monster" is a creature that makes you really have to think about whether it is Humanoid, Anthro, or Feral, or all three, or something that can only be described as "monster" because it doesn't quite fit into any of the aforementioned categories.

For me none of the common humanoid or anthro characters such as Goblins, Orcs, Trolls, Draenei, or Werewolves would qualify as monsters, though some werewolves might come close.

However, when I searched the "monster_girl" tag, I saw a lot of images of not-at-all monstrous characters such as gals with cow horns or one or two other non-human traits, none of which seemed remarkably monstrous to me.

I wanted to get a general idea of what the folks here considered a monster, and why, hence this thread.

MGTra

06/08/23 10:07PM

A “monster girl” is just a term for a girl with creature or monster parts that’s been used for a while. A “monster” has a pretty broad definition.

BiEmilia

06/08/23 10:14PM

People sometimes claim elves qualify as a monstergirl, so I guess rather be overinclusive?

There isn't really a hard and fast rule for me, but if I had to make one up, I guess I'd say two non-human traits (ears + tail count as one.)

Ass_lover_RP

06/08/23 10:15PM

A very interesting question!

In my head cannon - "monsters" and "monster girls" are two separate entities.

If we go from DND perspective, there are monsters and playable races.
While some monsters are capable of speech, thought usage of tools and artistry (mindflayers) they posses the trait of disregarding of other sapient species life. Be it seeing others as food/sustanance/playthings/breeding vessels (as I said disregard for sentience of the other from the human-centric perspective.)

As for monster girls - they are very humanized with very exadurated and sexualised animalistic traits. For sxample: Dom-hyenas, bimbo-cows, bandage-arachnids and the while cast of "mu life with monster girl.

BiEmilia

06/08/23 10:25PM

Ass_lover_RP said:
A very interesting question!

In my head cannon - "monsters" and "monster girls" are two separate entities.

If we go from DND perspective, there are monsters and playable races.
While some monsters are capable of speech, thought usage of tools and artistry (mindflayers) they posses the trait of disregarding of other sapient species life. Be it seeing others as food/sustanance/playthings/breeding vessels (as I said disregard for sentience of the other from the human-centric perspective.)

As for monster girls - they are very humanized with very exadurated and sexualised animalistic traits. For sxample: Dom-hyenas, bimbo-cows, bandage-arachnids and the while cast of "mu life with monster girl.

Oh yeah I completely overlooked that. In my head a monsterperson is sapient-but-monstrous where a monster is basically just an animal but fictional.

Smut-Fanatic

06/08/23 10:25PM

This thread is reminding of this video that talks about the difference between monster girls and furries. Maybe this will illuminate the thread’s question in some way?

youtu.be/i4Wy7knpzW0

Ass_lover_RP

06/08/23 10:28PM

BiEmilia said:
People sometimes claim elves qualify as a monstergirl, so I guess rather be overinclusive?

There isn't really a hard and fast rule for me, but if I had to make one up, I guess I'd say two non-human traits (ears + tail count as one.)

As for elves and other "playable races" - fuck elves( and not in a good way)
In classical settings elves are always romanticized while un actuality there a society build on stagnation and lack of innovation.
Always reliant on old ways and being snobbish/rasist regarding purity of their blood.
Living for thousands of years and creating nothing new, honing the skill of the blade, occupying only familiar lands - that's basically a weeb race living in forest-bacement.

BiEmilia

06/08/23 10:30PM

Ass_lover_RP said:

BiEmilia said:
People sometimes claim elves qualify as a monstergirl, so I guess rather be overinclusive?

There isn't really a hard and fast rule for me, but if I had to make one up, I guess I'd say two non-human traits (ears + tail count as one.)

As for elves and other "playable races" - fuck elves( and not in a good way)
In classical settings elves are always romanticized while un actuality there a society build on stagnation and lack of innovation.
Always reliant on old ways and being snobbish/rasist regarding purity of their blood.
Living for thousands of years and creating nothing new, honing the skill of the blade, occupying only familiar lands - that's basically a weeb race living in forest-bacement.

Not like the dynamic and forward-thinking dwarves.

Ass_lover_RP

06/08/23 10:37PM

BiEmilia said:
Oh yeah I completely overlooked that. In my head a monsterperson is sapient-but-monstrous where a monster is basically just an animal but fictional.

Well sapient monsters: orks, mindflayers, dragons, Naga and such. - they have their own culture, hierarchy, tools and traditions, but they see others as inferior beings used only for meat, and other use in head Canon of aughtors.

And beasts/abortions - too stupid or only driven by basic instincts. There you got your tentacle monsters, various flora and fauna, slimes, Ktulhu mythos.

(kind of reminds me "if DNA difference between human and monkey is 1%, what would happen if we find a race who is 1% better tan us, and would they see us as monkeys)

Lothar_The_Elder

06/08/23 10:38PM

BiEmilia said:

Ass_lover_RP said:
A very interesting question!

In my head cannon - "monsters" and "monster girls" are two separate entities.

If we go from DND perspective, there are monsters and playable races.
While some monsters are capable of speech, thought usage of tools and artistry (mindflayers) they posses the trait of disregarding of other sapient species life. Be it seeing others as food/sustanance/playthings/breeding vessels (as I said disregard for sentience of the other from the human-centric perspective.)

As for monster girls - they are very humanized with very exadurated and sexualised animalistic traits. For sxample: Dom-hyenas, bimbo-cows, bandage-arachnids and the while cast of "mu life with monster girl.

Oh yeah I completely overlooked that. In my head a monsterperson is sapient-but-monstrous where a monster is basically just an animal but fictional.

Hmmm... Several interesting and informative takes so far.

I like the idea of sapience as a general pass/fail for true "monster" status.

I'm genuinely surprised that a human having one or two non-human traits qualifies them for "monster_girl" or "monster_boy" status, but today was the first time I've searched either of those terms.

Ass_lover_RP

06/08/23 10:50PM

BiEmilia said:
Not like the dynamic and forward-thinking dwarves.

Off topic - on LARP games the best guys and gals are always either humans, dwarves or goblins(occasional aaracocras or something very obscured). All elves - have a stick up their ass and act as everyone is inferior to them basking in their self entitlement and "oh my costume is too good to be a sacrifice for a wedding"
And worst if the game is elf-centric with them having more HP, no limit on archers(80% of whom just suck) and to top it off - no shields allowed.

P.S. dwarves always bring the most amount of homebrew booze to games, as goblins - best raves xD

(Sorry an old LARP'ers trauma)

Blarghonator

06/08/23 11:33PM

"Monster Girl" specifically refers to a girl with monster traits. Some are mostly humanoid, such as aforementioned girls with cow horns, others are very much inhuman, yet still present as sexy women, my favorite example being a Lamia or an Arachne.

It's simply a way to define a sub-category of monster.

doltscanttag

06/08/23 11:44PM

Ass_lover_RP said:
As for elves and other "playable races" - fuck elves( and not in a good way)
In classical settings elves are always romanticized while un actuality there a society build on stagnation and lack of innovation.
Always reliant on old ways and being snobbish/rasist regarding purity of their blood.
Living for thousands of years and creating nothing new, honing the skill of the blade, occupying only familiar lands - that's basically a weeb race living in forest-bacement.

If you're limiting the scope to Tolkien/D&D elves, sure. What about all the ones that came before that (mythological/folklore elves, Santa's elves, etc.) and after (Warcraft elves)?

Ass_lover_RP

06/09/23 01:42AM

doltscanttag said:
If you're limiting the scope to Tolkien/D&D elves, sure. What about all the ones that came before that (mythological/folklore elves, Santa's elves, etc.) and after (Warcraft elves)?

Everything said below is a personal opinion regurgitated by lack of sleep and alcohol.

You mean the child predators?
Oh and Santa's elves created by Coca-Cola mythos after they took and bastardized a Christian/celtic hollyday ?

If I recall correctly the folklore elves were created as coping mechanism for women that birthed autistic children. The legend went as: elves(fay) would kidnap a healthy child, and change it with one of their own; small, big heads, small arms, weird eyes, does sound familiar?

And Santa's elves - yeah you mean midget slaves, on white man's factory making presents for kids (and reacher parents kids have better presents) oh and that man also has a list of everything you do, "he's making a list"

<s>He sees you when you're sleeping
And he knows when you're awake
He knows if you've been bad or good
So be good for goodness sake

Just like NSA

SWAT team is coming for you</s>

Warcraft elves - colour swap of Tolkien, boring and stuck up. How do they procreate? The idea of whisks as souls of elves is very simmilar to Warhammer elves and their soul stones.

Warhammer 40k elves - progressed and started fucking to the point of birthing Rape God- Nice.
(Dark Eldar- community of pain addicted sadists dor whom pain of others = life force, and they hate other elves. Based.

Warhammer FB/AoS - stuck up community of boring fucks refusing to advance in their technology for thousands of years. Fid not fuck to the point of creating rape God- sad.
Dark Eldar- followers of a whining manchild who was seduced by his mother - hot and Grose- mid.

The Elder Scrolls on the other hand have a very well fleshed out elves in my opinion. All are "mer" not everyone is limited to being 'good' elf or 'bad' elf. Dunmers are supremasists, Altmer are rasists, Bosmer are cannibals, Orcumer (orks) are decended from shitted out God and everyone is rasist and hates each other. But this doesn't correspond to personal beliefs of every other elf.

(Same as banchies were a mechanism to shut up children while parents have loud sex. Whailing woman at night in the middle of village, and to not anger her you need to close your ears and eyes)

Smut-Fanatic

06/09/23 01:52AM

Ass_lover_RP said:

doltscanttag said:
If you're limiting the scope to Tolkien/D&D elves, sure. What about all the ones that came before that (mythological/folklore elves, Santa's elves, etc.) and after (Warcraft elves)?

Everything said below is a personal opinion regurgitated by lack of sleep and alcohol.

You mean the child predators?
Oh and Santa's elves created by Coca-Cola mythos after they took and bastardized a Christian/celtic hollyday ?

If I recall correctly the folklore elves were created as coping mechanism for women that birthed autistic children. The legend went as: elves(fay) would kidnap a healthy child, and change it with one of their own; small, big heads, small arms, weird eyes, does sound familiar?

And Santa's elves - yeah you mean midget slaves, on white man's factory making presents for kids (and reacher parents kids have better presents) oh and that man also has a list of everything you do, "he's making a list"

<s>He sees you when you're sleeping
And he knows when you're awake
He knows if you've been bad or good
So be good for goodness sake

Just like NSA

SWAT team is coming for you</s>

Warcraft elves - colour swap of Tolkien, boring and stuck up. How do they procreate? The idea of whisks as souls of elves is very simmilar to Warhammer elves and their soul stones.

Warhammer 40k elves - progressed and started fucking to the point of birthing Rape God- Nice.
(Dark Eldar- community of pain addicted sadists dor whom pain of others = life force, and they hate other elves. Based.

Warhammer FB/AoS - stuck up community of boring fucks refusing to advance in their technology for thousands of years. Fid not fuck to the point of creating rape God- sad.
Dark Eldar- followers of a whining manchild who was seduced by his mother - hot and Grose- mid.

The Elder Scrolls on the other hand have a very well fleshed out elves in my opinion. All are "mer" not everyone is limited to being 'good' elf or 'bad' elf. Dunmers are supremasists, Altmer are rasists, Boomer are cannibals, Orcumer (orks) are decended from shitted out God and everyone is rasist and hates each other. But this doesn't correspond to personal beliefs of every other elf.

(Same as banchies were a mechanism to shut up children while parents have loud sex. Whailing woman at night in the middle of village, and to not anger her you need to close your ears and eyes)

I can’t imagine writing a response nearly as uh… rigorous as yours. You seem a little wound up right now