#plural terminology

[multiplicity-positivity]

Defining Terms

This post aims to define some common terms we use on this blog in our own words. We’re just one system, and we’re always learning and growing, so if any of our internal definitions for these words are wrong in any way, feel free to correct us.

These definitions are not organized in any particular way - sorry about that!

Plural - the experience of existing as more than one. Sharing your mind with multiple beings. Living, feeling, and experiencing the world as multiple.

Multiple - a synonym for plural.

System - a collective of headmates who share one body.

Community/Space - the plural community and plural spaces, especially those that exist online or here on Tumblr!

Headmate - A system member. May also be referred to as “alter,” “sysmate,” or “part,” but we use “headmate” in general or the specific language preferred by the systems we engage with when we’re answering questions or offering advice.

Alter - A system member, part, or headmate. We use this term exclusively for members of systems with complex dissociative disorders.

Introject - A system member whose identity is based on something or someone outside of their system.

Factive - An introject who is based on a real person.

Fictive - An introject who is based on a fictional character.

System origins - the catalyst that caused a system to form. Systems may form for a wide variety of reasons!

Headspace/inner world - an internal, visualized space where headmates can interact with each other. It is not a physical space, but it may feel like it, and events can occur inside that have lasting effects.

Dissociation - disconnection as a symptom, be it from the world, one’s thoughts, memories, feelings, actions, sense of self, body, or other headmates.

Fronting - when a headmate is able to perceive, interact with, and make choices in real life

Cofronting - when two or more headmates are fronting at once

Coconscious - when a headmate is able to perceive the world and potentially influence decisions, but does not have the agency to interact directly or make concrete choices

Blending/merging - when two or more headmates temporarily combine into a single entity

Fusion - where two or more headmates combine permanently or semi-permanently into a single entity

Blurry - often associated with dissociation, when a system is having difficulties determining who they are or who is fronting

Are there any terms you’ve seen us use on this blog that you’d like us to define? Let us know and we will gladly update this list.

[pastelroswell]

I've been told many times that I (plural non-system) am allowed to use terminology intended for systems/that use system in their definitions and that may be true but I think we really could use terminology of our own, or to at least be acknowledged in plural terms in general. Like I'm not a system so using a term that only refers to system in the definition feels wrong. Not like dysphoric, more that it reminds me that I'm not intended to be included a lot of the time and that most people don't even know plurals like me exist. Not every plural is going to be comfortable with "system" and for some (like me) it's even inaccurate to describe ourselves that way. I don't know any other plural non-systems. I feel really isolated in the plural community because my experiences are so similar, yet so different.

[liomipsum]

[pt: thaumahuman]

[pt: examples of thaumahumans: elsa from frozen, atleast pre-frozen ii's ending (brown with powers/familial] benders from avatar the last airbender (born with powers/familial) the madrigal family, encanto (born with powers/familial) carrie (2013) (born with powers familial) non-examples: spider-man (mutation, not innate, metahuman) jack frost, rise of the guardians (transformation, no longer "human")

[Image ID: Image 1: The image 4 flag with the image 2 symbol in the center. the white line of the flag is split so that it joins into the symbol. End image 1.

Image 2: A white symbol with a purple outline. the symbol consists of two vertical lines which interwine, creating the effect of a bubble between them and half-circle openings on the top and bottom. In each of these three openings is a horizontal line. End image 2.

Image 3: The image 5 flag with the image 2 symbol in the center. End image 3.

Image 4: A flag with 3 equally sized horizontal stripes. From top to bottom the colors are purple, pale indigo, purple. Horizontally across the middle is a thin white line, outlined in purple. End image 4.

Image 5: A flag with 7 equally sized horizontal stripes. From top to bottom the colors are purple, deep indigo, pale indigo, white, pale indigo, deep indigo, purple. End image 5. End ID]

☆ thaumahuman

may also be called thauman or thaumian thauma- (”miracle, wonder, amazement, astonishment”) and -human

☆ a human who has magical or innate abilities that are beyond the typical that did not come from a mutation or transformation. it may be of unknown origins, genetics, nature, or otherwise. it typically is within one at birth and discovered in childhood or later.

this is intended to be used for alterhuman identities, however it is free to be used for fictional characters, system members, and other places it may fit.

for better understanding, we listed some personal examples below. however, this label is for however the user sees it fit.

examples of thaumahumans:

elsa from frozen, at least pre-frozen ii’s ending (born with powers/familial) benders from avatar the last airbender (born with powers/familial) the madrigal family, encanto (born with powers/familial) carrie (2013) (born with powers/familial)

non-examples:

spider-man (mutation, not innate, metahuman) jack frost, rise of the guardians (transformation, no longer “human”)

[anomalymon]

Polymind is a bit fascinating because it ends up unintentionally showing why system terminology ends up not being exclusive to any one specific group.

Like when you try to describe plural experiences in a way that tries not to use an existing plural definitions, it shows a lot more blatantly that at its core we do all have the same experience of being more than one. Any term you make has a high chance of applying to the other group.

Then when you get into the terminology needed to actually describe those experiences, you find you kind of need most of the shared terminology otherwise you need to recreate the whole damn lexicon.

Like the reason terms get shared is more like "We have DID need a fast and easy way to describe fictional alters. Oh, soulbonders have a lot of terminology for this already that fits what we need, we'll start using fictive and source."

Or "We're a non-disordered system and need a way to describe one headmate taking over. Oh, medically there's switching and front, that's a fast and simple way to describe it."

And like a lot of subcultures online are like that and when you try to fight it you end up with complicated and not very practical terms. Especially when there's terms that have been used for over 30 goddamn years that are simpler and easier to use.

Hell even trying not to use any existing plural terminology, Polymind ended taking a lot of them unintentionally (i.e. part, ageling, little, protector).

It also highlights an issue where unless you do deeper introspection, which is not always practical for... obvious reasons, you probably won't know exactly what you fall under. Expecting people to look in depth trauma history to figure out what terminology they're allowed to use is despicable.

Also that the problem is at its core that people don't think we should exist at all and that the terminology stink ends up being more of a way to make harassment and fakeclaiming seem "justified" and also a method of erasing history and separating systems from resources/making them harder to find but eh

[gorefix]

HOST. A flag for headmates who are the most active, most responsible for day-to-day activities, or otherwise are fronting most often.

This is a redesign of the host flag to better suit our collective.

[plurality-galaxy]

here's some positivity for language.

you use "parts" language? hey, that's awesome! it's not inherently dehumanizing. for some people, parts language actually makes them feel more close to their system and more human. that's beautiful!

you prefer to use the term "alters"? totally understandable and badass of you. it's a great word for a very unique experience! it also often makes for a good umbrella term, i've seen. "alter" is easy to apply to anyone ranging from a fragment to a fully fleshed out guy.

or how about if you use "headmates"? that's such a fun word. it's like roommates, but more personal. very great choice! it's a wonderful term to use and for many people, it's a perfect fit to describe their experience.

for those who prefer "facets" or "states", that's an awesome specific term for your experience, which is cool as hell! it's great to see language that isn't always considered as "mainstream", and you + your system belong in the community just as much as everyone else does.

let's come together today and appreciate all the different ways to refer to each other. what works for me may not work for you. that's why we have different terms, and this list is by no means all-inclusive. make sure to ask people what they prefer when referring to them, and don't belittle others for the terms they choose to use.

what language do you use? why? feel free to share!

no hate to anyone else in the notes, please! this is a positivity blog.

[plural-culture-is]

Hii could you tell me what CDD means? Thankies

It stands for complex dissociative disorder, which is an umbrella term for things like DID, OSDD-1, etc. (basically medical plurality)

[the-cosmic-collective-sys-blog]

My stance on transplurals is that paromancy and willogenesis are literally right there🧍

[multiplicity-positivity]

hi!! I only confirmed my plurality recently as a median system, but the issue actually is that I’m not sure what term to use. I’ve been using ‘plural’ instead of ‘collective’ or ‘system’ since it feels strange as I’m only aware of having one facet/medianmate, so it just doesn’t feel like ‘enough’ to be considered a collective/system? any sort of advice would be great if possible !! thank you so much ^^” 🫶

hey, as long as you are more than one, exist as more than one, perceive yourselves as more than one, identify with the plural experience, or feel like you’re multiple, that is enough to be considered plural, a collective, or a system. even with just one other headmate or facet, even with half of another headmate or facet. 1.00001 is still more than one, and folks who find themselves in those positions can call themselves plural as long as that terminology works well for them.

you can call yourself/yourselves plural, a system, a collective, a median, midcontinuum, multiple, or whatever feels right, and anything you choose will be correct. the only potential problems here would be saying that you have a dissociative disorder when in fact you do not, or calling yourself and/or your facet “alters,” as “alter” as a term has specific medical connotations and is reserved for those who have complex dissociative disorders (p-did, did, osdd, etc).

we’ve definitely heard the term “plural” as a noun before and sometimes use it ourselves. so you definitely can keep using that language if it works for you. but know that you are not confined to that specific label, and may use whatever terminology you like to refer to yourselves collectively.

hope this helps - good luck with finding the right labels and language that brings you and your facet happiness and fulfillment.

[daybreaksys]

That's a Gatekeeper in our system, the host doesn't manage the front (what I mean is it's not universal)

I think "Prime" has worse connotations than "host", it sounds like they're the first and most important alter. And the host is also not universally the first alter. In our system for example he's not

What's an alternative to "host" as a system term? We've got a fictive who's a parasite and he feels kinda awkward calling me that because of the implications.

You know, host is actually a weird term when you think about it, since it does sort of give the impression of parasites or demonic possession.

It doesn't really seem like a word that would just refer to the headmate who fronts the most.

Personally, I think a more accurate term would be "Primary Fronter." That is obviously a mouthful, but it could be shortened to Primary or even Prime.

[thelunastusco]

We’re sad and horrified that parts of the plural community are at a point where they don’t even know what the term “median” is, or where it came from.

From our reply on twitter to someone asking if it was “new” and “endogenic jargon”:

"Median" ("neither multiple nor singlet") was coined in 2002 by the Blackbirds. It replaced "midcontinuum" ("somewhere on the spectrum between multiple and singlet"), coined in 1997 by an inclusive trauma-formed system named the Vickis.

It was coined in 2002. It’s been 21 years.

We get that that’s “a long time” ago if you’re like, 15 years old, but it’s... not. It’s not that long ago. But younger and newer systems are just, as far as we know, not even looking at resources or even googling things. Some terms are hard to find or trace back, yeah, but “median” isn’t one of them.

It’s disheartening, and frustrating. Especially when you have anti-endogenic/anti-nontraumagenic systems barking about RESEARCH! and SCIENCE! and COMMUNITY HISTORY! when... a good portion of them don’t seem to even have a clue. They don’t know the research. They don’t know the science. They really don’t know the community history.

The only fake thing in the plural community is the confidence of sysmeds...

Genuinely hoping that some day, this changes. Community history is vital.

[mongoose-bytes]

I don’t know much about plural/system stuff, but since there’s a lot of overlap with dæmonism, I’m curious to see how many folks in the community are plurals and systems. Please be respectful to eachother in the notes! This poll is intended in good faith for community demographics, and not to cause any arguments.

[strawberry-graveyard]

shout out to systems who use super common roles and terms!!

shout out to systems who use super niche roles and terms!!

shout out to systems who use “outdated” roles and terms!!

shout out to systems who coin their own roles and terms even if similar ones already exist!!

shout out to systems who don’t use roles and terms to describe themselves!!

shout out to systems who use a ton of roles and terms to describe themselves!!

and shout out to to everyone in between!! you should always use whatever terms you feel comfortable with. as long as it’s not inherently harmful then go nuts!!

plurality and it’s descriptors are not a monolith, and what works for someone else might not work for you!! use what makes you comfortable, and don’t let anyone make you feel bad about it.

[vanilla-gardens]

(I'm not the original posting member, but I am of a subsystem in the same system.) Hmm, "forward-facing" is one way to describe it, for certain. Personally, I have been using the term "mindfront", derivative of "mindform"; I find it quite useful. I do agree they are different concepts from a dominant member, as that implies control within the system or being the one to front the most. Our subsystem does not have a consistent host, so whomever is "dominant" changes depending on the aspects of our life. However, we still all try to have relatively equal fronting time, even if it is just our mindform in headspace.

we need a word for "fronting within a subsystem, but not necessarily bodily fronting" so bad

[granulesofsand]

I know when people refer to their sysmates as AFAB/AMAB, they’re referring to something like the visualized characteristics of the member or the felt sense of identity they hold.

But it’s funnier to think that another sysmate is ominously pushing up their glasses and clicking their pen ready to assign some newbie their sex.

[soup-mother]

I'm sure there's contexts where it's being used in a productive manner but i really do always raise an eyebrow at the use of the term "ritual/ritualistic abuse", maybe there's some bigger context for it in modern use but It's hard for me to seperate that from satanic ritual abuse conspiracy shit.