Your perspective of a mermaid.

Your perspective of a mermaid.
I hope this hasn't been chat up yet:

“Lately, the wheels in my head have been turning. . .” as the quote goes and I feel like I must express my excitement to hear and learn what you all have to say on personal perspectives of a mermaid. In this topic you are limitless and greatly opinion encouraged, for these mythical beings are surreal. Honestly, I am most interested in if you feel a mermaid has more creature or human properties? Either one, do you apply it to your mermaiding/public appearances?

For example: In my personal opinion I find mermaids to be greatly creature-like. I picture them with great beauty, big flashy eyes, luxurious hair, long fancy webbed ears and hands, and make creature like noises instead of speaking. Which are some of the things I would like to add to my mermaiding in the future. Because I see mermaids as more creature instead of human, I would love to make long prosthetic webbed ears and hands to wear and swim in, and only make creature-istic: purr/chirp/whoop/-ing sounds when talking with my audience.

So, what are your personal perspectives?

TheSoitarySiren

o: Yeah, there is a post like this already up. About the question, for me, it would be nice if mermaids were like characters you see in movies and t.v shows as people with supernatural abilities and such. But in all reality, and logic, mermaids would be more like other animals in the sea, they definitely wouldn't look like the way shows and movies make them appear. They most likely wouldn't look very human at all.

mermaid meshpa does that! the noises i mean, here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9-asBj4clU
i thought it was super cool. i think they would sound like that, but also be able to speak MANY languages from travelling the ocean. and i agree, siren, with the big eyes and webbed ears and hands. :D thats how i picture them, at least.

also, i think this picture is sort of relevant, and its funny too.

http://browse.deviantart.com/?q=merm...+boat#/d2te4gm

I like the idea of merpeople being purely human above the waist (which the exception of obscurely-coloured hair, or webbed fingers, perhaps), and purely fish/cetacean below. I like the idea, but realistically, they'd probably be more "creature" than human, especially if they were to live in the deepest pockets of the ocean.
Still, the "traditional" look of a mermaid could surely be possible, somehow, and let's face it ~ it's all fun and fantasies anyway, so I don't think realism matters as much as our preferences do. ;)

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Originally Posted by TheSolitarySiren

Your perspective of a mermaid.

For example: In my personal opinion I find mermaids to be greatly creature-like. I picture them with great beauty, big flashy eyes, luxurious hair, long fancy webbed ears and hands, and make creature like noises instead of speaking.

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Thought you might enjoy this little scene from Splash, SolitarySiren!

http://youtu.be/4z848FFClBM

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Originally Posted by AptaMer

Thought you might enjoy this little scene from Splash, SolitarySiren!

http://youtu.be/4z848FFClBM

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^

One of the best scenes in the entire movie!~

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mermaid meshpa does that! the noises i mean, here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9-asBj4clU
i thought it was super cool. i think they would sound like that, but also be able to speak MANY languages from travelling the ocean. and i agree, siren, with the big eyes and webbed ears and hands. :D thats how i picture them, at least.

also, i think this picture is sort of relevant, and its funny too.

http://browse.deviantart.com/?q=merm...+boat#/d2te4gm

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Actually, All of the lovely Merbellas and a few other mers do that. When I first found out by watching one of their videos I felt jealous because I thought they had stole the idea from me. XD. All mers just think alike I suppose. They are beautiful.

And that picture is perfect!~ I love the artist's idea in the photo. I can see that happening to ALOT of sailors during the day. Being lured in by a beautiful woman only for the creature attached to her to eat them!

Don't know if I'm late to the conversation, but I've thought a lot about the "scientific probabilities" of mermaid looks.
I think that if mermaids had scales (and this is assuming that mermaids are mammals) they would be more like the scales on rat tails. Not true scales, but with the same affect as those of cold-blooded animals. I haven't really thought about hair, or ears, but I think they would have sharp teeth(at least sharper than humans.) But that's just me and what makes sense in my mind. I also like the thing about making clicking/chirping sounds while in character.

Hahaha i didint even knw merbella mermaids did that..

I worked with marine animals so long Ive picked up on imitating certain sound like dolphin clicking noises and the squeals when im excited, also a few other sounds here and there. great to use in mermaid form with kids. I use the clicking noise both opened and close mouthed its freaks people out, I also make the loud exhale noise, like whales do.. I guess thats why my hubby says im "part dolphin". Im so use to doing it, it slips out in my human form every once in a blue :D

I personally believe my perception of a mermaid isint the enticing siren, but more of what we all look like, all different and beautiful in our own way, shape or form, some scaled and some smooth. maybe like a shark skin, soft one way, rough another. I guess thats why those stories of mermaids in human form are told.

I don't see merfolk as being the product of evolution. My mermaids are created by magic (The Accidental Mermaid) or genetically engineered (Spindrift). As such they are not limited to just one type.

Al, if they were genetically engineered, wouldnt that be a form of evolution? sorry just thinking about SF class.

Maybe instead of evolution I should have wrote natural selection. :) Genetic engineering then would be unnatural selection.

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Originally Posted by Alveric

Maybe instead of evolution I should have wrote natural selection. :) Genetic engineering then would be unnatural selection.

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when i was little, i used to think mermaids were caveman-humans first but then they decided to return to the sea with all the other creatures (like the manatee) and became dolphins. but before they become dolphins they were mermaids.

is that wierd?

Hm...for me, I really love the idea of them being beautiful, long hair, large and very detailed eyes...all of that. Not sure about the webbed fingers. I love the idea of them chirping and clicking, and I'd love to do that when I'm "in character", but I want to communicate more than that with children so I can tell stories, so I think I'm going to speak both English and some name of Mer-ysian/Mer-lish/etc.

My perspective is pretty much like that...their own language and culture. I'm still thinking about it a lot, though.

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Originally Posted by mermaidandrea

when i was little, i used to think mermaids were caveman-humans first but then they decided to return to the sea with all the other creatures (like the manatee) and became dolphins. but before they become dolphins they were mermaids.

is that wierd?

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I don't know whether humans are genetically related to dolphins, but we share many similar traits, so, if you wanted to expand on the mermaid mithos somewhat, that wouldn't be a bad theory. ;) You’d have to go with the notion that all mermaids were cetacean-like, and not at all fish-like, of course.

I wonder if in the future we will evolve to be more able bodied for water - selective breeding of amazing freedivers and swimmers ... adapt with change

Perhaps - but athletic ability is also a personal choice as well as genetic disposition. A low heart rate also helps but how many people train for that? Unless there is a significant lifestyle change amongst the world peoples it will always be in selected communities...

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Originally Posted by OceanicStory

I don't know whether humans are genetically related to dolphins, but we share many similar traits, so, if you wanted to expand on the mermaid mithos somewhat, that wouldn't be a bad theory. ;) You’d have to go with the notion that all mermaids were cetacean-like, and not at all fish-like, of course.

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i do go with the notion that mermaids were cetacean-like, because clicking, squeeing and whistling sounds would be possible.... if in theory they were real. but for now, i let my fantasies unwind and in my mind there are different types of mers~~ jellyfish mers.. octo mers... crustacean mers...

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Originally Posted by Mermaid Melanie

I wonder if in the future we will evolve to be more able bodied for water - selective breeding of amazing freedivers and swimmers ... adapt with change

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Throw in a tail with that evolution, and I'd be happy! :lol:

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Originally Posted by mermaidandrea

i do go with the notion that mermaids were cetacean-like, because clicking, squeeing and whistling sounds would be possible.... if in theory they were real. but for now, i let my fantasies unwind and in my mind there are different types of mers~~ jellyfish mers.. octo mers... crustacean mers...

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That's what to do. Employ too much sense, and fantasy just loses it's shine a little. ^^

I think that they're more towards the realistic predatory merfolk rather than the fuzzy pink and rainbow hair (sailor moon comes to mind)

I like it when they give off the feeling of "this is one old old old (attractive) immortal being and I'm not sure if they're good or bad, aggressive or not!"

Kinda like a wolf or lions and tigers and bears........oh my! (Sorry couldn't resist)

I am a mermaid who doesn't speak. It just doesn't feel natural to me. I smile and gesture, but that's it.

I like the image of mermaids as being more surreal. Human enough to be intriguing and exciting, all really nice images of mermaids I've seen have been really provocative, but at the same time have an alien edge. Just enough to lure you close only so they can drag you under. I like mermaids as a dark predatory creature that come up from the deep or tail boats and swimmers until they can attack. Sort of like Gollum from the lord of the rings, you might catch a glimpse or see a sign, but you never really know where he is until he pounces.

For me, I see mermaids as more of a creature… Human bits here and there, but tend to envision them more scaly and fish-like. Well, I envision them lots of ways, actually. But the spirit of all mer is very visible to me: They are beings totally comfortable with their bodies and aware what surrounds them. Timeless and wise, but also childlike and playful. I really want to write more, but I'm exhausted and it's so late… I'll be back, thread!

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Originally Posted by Coradion

I like the image of mermaids as being more surreal. Human enough to be intriguing and exciting, all really nice images of mermaids I've seen have been really provocative, but at the same time have an alien edge. Just enough to lure you close only so they can drag you under. I like mermaids as a dark predatory creature that come up from the deep or tail boats and swimmers until they can attack. Sort of like Gollum from the lord of the rings, you might catch a glimpse or see a sign, but you never really know where he is until he pounces.

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I very much agree with you. Very well said.

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Originally Posted by azaiya

For me, I see mermaids as more of a creature… Human bits here and there, but tend to envision them more scaly and fish-like. Well, I envision them lots of ways, actually. But the spirit of all mer is very visible to me: They are beings totally comfortable with their bodies and aware what surrounds them. Timeless and wise, but also childlike and playful. I really want to write more, but I'm exhausted and it's so late… I'll be back, thread!

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Your description is beautiful. I picture this as well. There is something so mythical about them it really puts a creative play to everything.

All the merfolk in my stories (so far) either were human or are descended from humans in the distant past. They get along easily with their bipedal kin, but every now and again they do something which makes one do a double-take; a reminder that this isn't just a person wearing a tail.

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Originally Posted by Traveling Merman

I think that they're more towards the realistic predatory merfolk rather than the fuzzy pink and rainbow hair (sailor moon comes to mind)

I like it when they give off the feeling of "this is one old old old (attractive) immortal being and I'm not sure if they're good or bad, aggressive or not!"

Kinda like a wolf or lions and tigers and bears........oh my! (Sorry couldn't resist)

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Sailor Moon has blonde hair
Sailor Mercury has blue/green/black hair (it varies per episode)
Sailor Mars has black hair
Sailor Jupiter has brown(slightly red) hair
Sailor Venus has blonde hair
Chibiusa (Sailor moon/Tuxedo Masks daughter) has light pink hair (like cotton candy)
Tuxedo Mask has black hair
Sailor Pluto has deep green hair (almost black sometimes)
Sailor Uranus has a dirty blonde type hair
Sailor Neptune has green hair (varies in shades)
Sailor Saturn has black hair....
Aside from the blue/green/pink mostly normal hair colors (the pink is the lightest one) no rainbows from the main characters :P lol :D
　
　

For me I've always loved the surreal beauty mythical mermaids seem to have, but in the context of how i believe they would look if they were real would be very close to how they looked in that documentary they did on animal planet( i think that's the channel that did it).No hair to reduce drag and very smooth skin without much outward anatomy. Though i see them having long nails to tear things apart and sharp maybe shark like teeth for cutting through things. Not specifically pretty in most ways.lol

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Originally Posted by drucilla

Sailor Moon has blonde hair
Sailor Mercury has blue/green/black hair (it varies per episode)
Sailor Mars has black hair
Sailor Jupiter has brown(slightly red) hair
Sailor Venus has blonde hair
Chibiusa (Sailor moon/Tuxedo Masks daughter) has light pink hair (like cotton candy)
Tuxedo Mask has black hair
Sailor Pluto has deep green hair (almost black sometimes)
Sailor Uranus has a dirty blonde type hair
Sailor Neptune has green hair (varies in shades)
Sailor Saturn has black hair....
Aside from the blue/green/pink mostly normal hair colors (the pink is the lightest one) no rainbows from the main characters :P lol :D
　
　

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xDD and lets not forget sailor chibichibi moon who has RED hair xD

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Originally Posted by mermaidandrea

xDD and lets not forget sailor chibichibi moon who has RED hair xD

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I'm not alone out here?! :jawdrop: :P

Attachment 9433 I found this about 6 months back on a website when i was web surfing

For me personally, mermaids have always been more creature with hissing clicking signs, perhaps only half understanding what humans say (tilting heads wide open eyes) that can go from intrigued to dangerous in a split second, that i what always drew me to them, the wild untamed nature......mind you i am very much like a cat myself, i hiss when i dont like something, growl when angry and purr when happy (something that was just natural to me even as a kid) ....i think mermaids would be beautiful but not in a beautiful siren way, but in the same way as when you see a new animal you have never known about. I think mermaids have a song but alot like a whale or dolphins, perhaps a little more advanced that it resounds all through you into your deepest psyche.
:)

DRUCILLA..... i LOVE Sailor Moon xD

Very nice, Mermanjr!

I picture mermaids more like this:

http://images-mediawiki-sites.theful...3907231477.jpg

(Thank you Google and http://misc.thefullwiki.org/Selkie)

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Originally Posted by Mermaid Celissa

I picture mermaids more like this:

http://images-mediawiki-sites.theful...3907231477.jpg

(Thank you Google and http://misc.thefullwiki.org/Selkie)

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Judging by your signature, Celissa, I'm rather surprised! :D

Lol, Oceanic! Is it the GIF that put you off?

I love looking at colorful costuming tails, but if mermaids were real, I'd picture them more as aquatic humanoids rather than the traditional mermaid. Kind of like the ones on the Mermaids: Body Found mockumentary, or the picture I posted.

It was the "Because legs are too complicated" bit, actually. ;P
Your picture probably is a good idea as to what they'd look like, but I get the feeling the limbs would be far less humanoid, for dynamics' sake.

Oh, I got the "Legs are too complicated" bit from someone on the chatbox. We were talking about hiding ankles, and she said, "See, that's why mermaids have tails, because legs are too complicated!" And you're right, the limbs would need to be much more flexible for advanced swimming speed and agility.

Ahh, that answers that, then! :lol:

I think you're right about the limbs. The notion of them having tails probably isn't so farfetched for that reason, actually - fish and ceteceans have them for a reason, of course. It's the hands and arms that would probably be a lot different than anything we have in mind.