what is alterhuman?

most people would say, "to have identity or experience not fully human" - or little less broadly, "when something that not human is important part in identity." but how far do that really stretch?
earthly animals, of course . mythical creatures, maybe someone out there complain, but when consider mythicals make community groundwork… this hold no water.
characters and species from fiction, not folklore? less in numbers now, but some people draw line right there. but OK, we will say you, reader, do not.

what about plants? do they fit bill? they live, yet not have consciousness in way people understand... and you know, some people out there try ruin with their troll efforts. "as grasskin, you oppress us by walk on grass 🌸" and all that. so… maybe not, just for community safety.
…huh? what all this about objects and concepts? songs, foods, toys? ugh, just because like something do not make identity!

...and that where make mistake.
for one thing, if you understand identity or not do not decide if that identity "real."
if someone have spiritual identity in these things, that not give right argue. can have total different experience and still respect others.

offer all these ideas below so that, if want understand where these identity might come from, maybe help make sense.
if not interest in that, please jump to final thoughts.

objects

consider animism for moment here. many people who believe in souls would say animals have them, but less would say objects do. things in natural world, yes. but maybe not everyday objects like phones and pillows.
"but that not make sense," you say. "no one make things by hand anymore. no one pour in love, devotion, and soul anymore. nothing about objects even alive."

yet still, everyday, those things happen. people spend days, months, years on make things and perfect craft. they tenderly care for objects, put back where belong gently, they chitter "no no, stay like this," when fold, and make sure everything in comfortable place on shelf, that nothing too squish or cover up, and kiss beloved toy before bed as if child.
and of course, many materials that people use come from sources that live - even if very long ago - or from very earth. wool from sheep, oil from life long long in past, wood from trees…

can you so clearly say that impossible for objects ever have life to anyone, even if not personally experience same?
would you really prefer shut out new and interest world view like that?

do you feel that object identity means someone want be treat as if not have thought or feeling just like you?
if understand that rabbit kin do not literally want be in hutch without outside world access just because this what do with pet rabbits. then should be able understand that doll kin do not literally want get throw around or have hair pull out just because this what some people do with dolls.

you not need "save" someone from object kin identity. no, not even if this identity come from disability or trauma - you can not decide for others what to do.

food

food important piece in culture for many. when far from home, far from others who understand, food might be only real way connect.
food also something everyone need. since life exist in world, everything eat something. over history, people invent recipes, techniques, combinations. they care for crops, nurture, so that one grain may become hundred, and what once could hardly feed single person can feed community.

food something that maybe not have individual spirit, but think can argue - and indeed some people experience - food have spirit that live on.
people pound and knead and chop and boil, with love for family, anger for someone that not want around, grief for those who leave before they ready accept.
maybe food from home culture so important, can not take away from very identity. or they feel that love from in past, that spirit, and see that inside them too.

concepts

maybe someone with identity in concept is faery, demon, or other creature that have domain - something which may rule over, protect, or represent. if one is nature spirit that represent fire, then can not expect them take away from identity just because personally can not understand experience.

maybe they have synesthesia, even. synesthesia cross sensory wires, and many people have more than one type. someone could experience that song and their name have same colours, same smells, same anything - and for that reason, make sense as identity.
or their synesthesia could personify these things, give letters or numbers personalities and histories . with that, they might find identity within.
to some degree, some animists might feel same - especially if have linguistic interest, to see how letters change over time and where in world even find each one.

places

as with concepts, one could have place as domain: they could represent caves, protect specific forest, or otherwise.
they could feel that this place so much like home that can not separate from identity, past what that person would consider heart home.
they could feel that have piece from that place's energy inside them. maybe live there once and experiences there shape how understand, feel, and identify in some way.

or more abstract, could feel that make sense identify as non-specific state, country, or so on. maybe as plural, have structures in place that feel as if single body country. maybe with neurodivergence, make sense think about brain as have cities and landmarks.

final thoughts

if nothing here resonate, if still can not understand, that honestly fine. only thing really ask you take away here is that not do community any service in try decide who deserve respect, and who OK to hurt.
if others have hurt you for "weird" identity, and that make feel like need pass shame on: why? you and your "weirdest" parts deserve embrace, people who respect and care for even when nothing make sense to them.
hope you get that someday.