opinions from a basket of eggheads
#collective – #tulpamancy #guides #howto
This is a repost of a guide we wrote long ago for Tulpa.io. We feel much more mixed these days about the topic of personality and creation, but established systems and singlets have told us that they find it helpful beyond just creation, so we've decided to preserve it. It probably won't receive many updates, though.
#collective – #general #introductory #infoposts
Last updated: 6/7/18
This is a continuation of our 101 + Glossary, breaking down some plural labels and communities a little further along with a few that we hadn't included in the glossary. If you're unfamiliar with the concept of plurality itself, we recommend you start there.
Just like with the 101, this primer is neither complete nor absolute. It does not capture every facet of every community or subcommunity. It is not a reflection of the one true way these labels are used by all people, nor does it include every labels that has been coined, nor does it dictate what the “correct” labels are. It is our attempt at sharing what we've personally gathered and understood over our years in the community, and is thus subject to change as we gain new understandings and the community itself changes. Labels shift in meaning, usage, and connotations; communities merge, split, and bicker; there will always be edge cases, overlaps, and those for whom categories simply do not apply. We strongly encourage anyone deeply interested in the subject of plurality to not stop their learning here.
(Content notes: some brief discussion of integration, drama over labels.)
#byArchitect – #tulpamancy #opinions
A time back, a prospective tulpamancer asked us what we thought of the community. I wrote her a long answer explaining my personal cynicisms. More recently, some people within the community asked us to explain what specific toxic attitudes we've seen there. In answer to them and any future askers, I'm reposting a slightly modified copy of the answer I gave the prospective tulpamancer. This is far from complete in my view, but it should at least answer the basic question and then some.
And I feel the need to elaborate that these problems are not limited to the tulpamancy community. I've seen variations of them everywhere in the wider plural community. I've seen them in mixed communities, in DID communities, and in endogenic communities. I do think that the particular nature of the tulpamancy community “institutionalizes” these issues more, but honestly, considering that the bigger plural community is also a mess of cults, toxic codependencies, persecutory paranoia, and pointless bickering, I'd say we're even. I also don't think these issues are a symptom specific to plural community, but specialized ways that issues found in general society manifest. Humans are just inept at treating each other well in general and this is simply another way that it happens.
In any case, warnings for the following: abuse (especially in-system abuse), forced integration, dehumanization (including the context of having to do pointless “tests” to prove you're a person), and a brief mention of sex with dubious circumstances.