Question:
we’ve been pondering the language of multiplicity for a while now and we find it sadly lacking. this is probably the result of being made up by persons suffering from single-personality-disorder. for example, the term "host". "host" refers to a person who has either guests, or tapeworms, at least in the english language. perhaps the intention is to indicate that the person is like the "host" in a restaurant, who seats the customers, and makes them feel welcome ("hi, im paul, the maitre de of system pwyll, tonights special is intellectual conversation, your wait-personality will be with you in a moment, would you like a cup of small talk while you wait?:). if so, we have an even bigger problem, like, we aren’t selling anything, and as much as we love some of our outside people, they are definitely NOT invited into us, usually. and anyway,if *i*m the host, who’s the dishwasher? then theres "parts". this is america right, so parts is parts, right?, interchangable, right?( anybody got a 3/4-sullen-teenaged-bitch-alter we can borrow?) am i just a transmission? or are they trying to imply that we’re all just pieces of some "greater" whole. but then how come some of us are whole people, with the full range of feelings and memories that go back further than this body? "alter" is another classic. the word implies that the rest of me are alternative versions of some "original" person. who, exactly?, and how can someone of a different race and or gender be an alternative version of a self? or are we all members of the same baseball team, ya know, 2 primary selves,and a bunch of alternates in case someone gets ill (well it’s the bottm of the 9th,and the other teams been doing well, time to switch in a pinch-feeling-alter). this seems, at first to be a little closer to reality, but then, who decides, and does that mean the rest of us aren’t "really" me? we think NOT not to be forgotten is ‘multiple personality disorder". is it automatic that if there’s more than one of you, you’re sick? some of us are extremely functional, and this world is confusing and full of enough double and triple binds to make multiplicity one of the few viable alternatives. even Dr. Ross talks about treating people to "*nt*gr*t**n", and having them come out "a single person with posttraumatic stress disorder, which cannot then be cured". did he do them any good?. personally we’d much rather be a happy system than a traumatically stressed singleton. so anyway, thats the language we’ve got,and maybe it’s time we started thinking in terms of making up some of our own — *)O(* Pwyll
Response:
that is so so good you made me laugh alot thankyou love caroline and her interchangable parts[sounds like a 60's rock group] – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – we’ve been pondering the language of multiplicity for a while now and we find it sadly lacking. this is probably the result of being made up by persons suffering from single-personality-disorder. for example, the term "host". "host" refers to a person who has either guests, or tapeworms, at least in the english language. perhaps the intention is to indicate that the person is like the "host" in a restaurant, who seats the customers, and makes them feel welcome ("hi, im paul, the maitre de of system pwyll, tonights special is intellectual conversation, your wait-personality will be with you in a moment, would you like a cup of small talk while you wait?:). if so, we have an even bigger problem, like, we aren’t selling anything, and as much as we love some of our outside people, they are definitely NOT invited into us, usually. and anyway,if *i*m the host, who’s the dishwasher? then theres "parts". this is america right, so parts is parts, right?, interchangable, right?( anybody got a 3/4-sullen-teenaged-bitch-alter we can borrow?) am i just a transmission? or are they trying to imply that we’re all just pieces of some "greater" whole. but then how come some of us are whole people, with the full range of feelings and memories that go back further than this body? "alter" is another classic. the word implies that the rest of me are alternative versions of some "original" person. who, exactly?, and how can someone of a different race and or gender be an alternative version of a self? or are we all members of the same baseball team, ya know, 2 primary selves,and a bunch of alternates in case someone gets ill (well it’s the bottm of the 9th,and the other teams been doing well, time to switch in a pinch-feeling-alter). this seems, at first to be a little closer to reality, but then, who decides, and does that mean the rest of us aren’t "really" me? we think NOT not to be forgotten is ‘multiple personality disorder". is it automatic that if there’s more than one of you, you’re sick? some of us are extremely functional, and this world is confusing and full of enough double and triple binds to make multiplicity one of the few viable alternatives. even Dr. Ross talks about treating people to "*nt*gr*t**n", and having them come out "a single person with posttraumatic stress disorder, which cannot then be cured". did he do them any good?. personally we’d much rather be a happy system than a traumatically stressed singleton. so anyway, thats the language we’ve got,and maybe it’s time we started thinking in terms of making up some of our own — *)O(* Pwyll
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – we’ve been pondering the language of multiplicity for a while now and we find it sadly lacking. this is probably the result of being made up by persons suffering from single-personality-disorder. for example, the term "host". "host" refers to a person who has either guests, or tapeworms, at least in the english language. perhaps the intention is to indicate that the person is like the "host" in a restaurant, who seats the customers, and makes them feel welcome ("hi, im paul, the maitre de of system pwyll, tonights special is intellectual conversation, your wait-personality will be with you in a moment, would you like a cup of small talk while you wait?:). if so, we have an even bigger problem, like, we aren’t selling anything, and as much as we love some of our outside people, they are definitely NOT invited into us, usually. and anyway,if *i*m the host, who’s the dishwasher? then theres "parts". this is america right, so parts is parts, right?, interchangable, right?( anybody got a 3/4-sullen-teenaged-bitch-alter we can borrow?) am i just a transmission? or are they trying to imply that we’re all just pieces of some "greater" whole. but then how come some of us are whole people, with the full range of feelings and memories that go back further than this body? "alter" is another classic. the word implies that the rest of me are alternative versions of some "original" person. who, exactly?, and how can someone of a different race and or gender be an alternative version of a self? or are we all members of the same baseball team, ya know, 2 primary selves,and a bunch of alternates in case someone gets ill (well it’s the bottm of the 9th,and the other teams been doing well, time to switch in a pinch-feeling-alter). this seems, at first to be a little closer to reality, but then, who decides, and does that mean the rest of us aren’t "really" me? we think NOT not to be forgotten is ‘multiple personality disorder". is it automatic that if there’s more than one of you, you’re sick? some of us are extremely functional, and this world is confusing and full of enough double and triple binds to make multiplicity one of the few viable alternatives. even Dr. Ross talks about treating people to "*nt*gr*t**n", and having them come out "a single person with posttraumatic stress disorder, which cannot then be cured". did he do them any good?. personally we’d much rather be a happy system than a traumatically stressed singleton. so anyway, thats the language we’ve got,and maybe it’s time we started thinking in terms of making up some of our own — *)O(* Pwyll
Wow pwyll! Fab post! Im so stoked somebody broyght this up. I personally use "alters" as my term cause thats what they were called by the folks who found em. I dunno if I object to "alter" I think it just basically implies "other" to me, which is not objectionable, I am not her and she is not me but we are both Jackie so we are *both* alters. I dont typically apply singular thinking to it, I think theres nothing inherent in the term to suggest that there is one person(ality) who is *not* an alter, plus which it sound latinate and fancy:) But then I oughtta check so… Lets see, the American Heritage Dictionary says: 1. Alter (verb) to change or become different. Oooh that sounds good, What else? 2.To adjust a garment for a better fit. Well, you could adjust yourself for a better fit to the situation, but it sounds offtrack as far as a sewing metaphor. 3. (informal) to spay an animal. Oh my, that wont do. But I might just ignore that bit… What would be good for "part"? As in the sense of something or someone that *belongs* ( singulars are big on viewing a "part" as extraneous) and is a distinct thing not lost in the mix? Hmm. What word could replace alter? Chamber? Like chambers in the nautilus? Theres never only one….hmmm . I dive for my thesaurus and type the ones that are not singular-oriented or negative. Multiple, many, several,sundry,diverse,various.myriad.profusion. Assemblage, throng,tribe,crew,gang,party,school,flock,covey. Array bevy galaxy. Component – integral part. Element. Constituent. Inherent. Belong. Constitute. Compose. I like element a *lot*. I could be an Element! Or even fancier an Elemental. Component I’m toying with as well. I typically do not believe in "hosts". I believe in presenters. A host is the guy who owns the house you visit, and is too singulary oriented. "Shell" is rather perjorative as well as innacurate. A shell is an inorganic dead thing like a toenail. If you had to do " the one on the outside" skin would be a better metaphor. Exterior, Bandage, wrapping, pelt ( naw, ya take those ) envelope, Cortex , Face, epi something. I’m looking either for a sense of "outer layer" or "in the world". For protector alters I’m looking for something implying that protective function. We could say protector in plain english, and some type of fancy latin root as well para (against) monde ( world ) or something. As for MP well, I just subtly leave off the D and I feel my statement is made;) I would personally love to use words that dont either imply something incomplete or overcomplete about me. I’d like to use words that dont imply a center, an original, a one true self. Anybody wanna play with what I brought up, anybody got suggestions? Nation of Jackie this account borrowed from jcash
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – we’ve been pondering the language of multiplicity for a while now and we find it sadly lacking. this is probably the result of being made up by persons suffering from single-personality-disorder. for example, the term "host". "host" refers to a person who has either guests, or tapeworms, at least in the english language. perhaps the intention is to indicate that the person is like the "host" in a restaurant, who seats the customers, and makes them feel welcome ("hi, im paul, the maitre de of system pwyll, tonights special is intellectual conversation, your wait-personality will be with you in a moment, would you like a cup of small talk while you wait?:). if so, we have an even bigger problem, like, we aren’t selling anything, and as much as we love some of our outside people, they are definitely NOT invited into us, usually. and anyway,if *i*m the host, who’s the dishwasher?
Hi Pwyll! You made me laugh with all this! Well, I don’t really like the word host either. Our Host’s name is *not* Host, but she has the legal name and we needed to keep that private, and so… She chooses to see herself as someone inhabited by parasites lately. (I guess that makes me a tapeworm,-NOT 
In fact she’s more dependent on me!) Even if you use the word host as someone who in their home is a gracious host to others and shares their space, it still implies that the host is the one who belongs and the others are just guests! (I’ve been around longer than our current Host. That doesn’t make me a visitor!) I had hoped that *at least* our Host could see herself that way since she can’t seem to admit that we belong here as much as she does! Ahh… I think she’ll accept sometime. Looking forward to that. then theres "parts". this is america right, so parts is parts, right?, interchangable, right?( anybody got a 3/4-sullen-teenaged-bitch-alter we can borrow?) am i just a transmission? or are they trying to imply that we’re all just pieces of some "greater" whole. but then how come some of us are whole people, with the full range of feelings and memories that go back further than this body?
Our therp used "parts" and I finally told her that was *not* acceptable to us! I am not a "part" *anything*. I am a real person! That was when we described ourselves as a special Family with Family Members. Therp uses this language now, and I like it much better. Hee hee on the 3/4-Sullen-Teenaged-Bitch-Alter! Ha! I’m still real happy about that slogan! But 3/4"?????? :-) Naw! I’m at least 20 feet tall, thanks! Part? I don’t think so! "alter" is another classic. the word implies that the rest of me are alternative versions of some "original" person. who, exactly?, and how can someone of a different race and or gender be an alternative version of a self? or are we all members of the same baseball team, ya know, 2 primary selves,and a bunch of alternates in case someone gets ill (well it’s the bottm of the 9th,and the other teams been doing well, time to switch in a pinch-feeling-alter). this seems, at first to be a little closer to reality, but then, who decides, and does that mean the rest of us aren’t "really" me? we think NOT
Alter I feel more neutral on, but only because it seems like more of a technical term. I prefer to be dealt with as a person, which is who I am. not to be forgotten is ‘multiple personality disorder". is it automatic that if there’s more than one of you, you’re sick? some of us are extremely functional, and this world is confusing and full of enough double and triple binds to make multiplicity one of the few viable alternatives. even Dr. Ross talks about treating people to "*nt*gr*t**n", and having them come out "a single person with posttraumatic stress disorder, which cannot then be cured". did he do them any good?.
Argh! Did he really say that?? I don’t *like* that! personally we’d much rather be a happy system than a traumatically stressed singleton.
I say dissociating was a healthy response to survive a bunch of sicko disordered abusers in our lives. so anyway, thats the language we’ve got,and maybe it’s time we started thinking in terms of making up some of our own
Hear, hear! — *)O(* Pwyll
Mary — For more information about this service, send e-mail to:
Response:
Hi Jackie, I *really* enjoyed your response here! <snip Lets see, the American Heritage Dictionary says: 1. Alter (verb) to change or become different. Oooh that sounds good, What else? 2.To adjust a garment for a better fit. Well, you could adjust yourself for a better fit to the situation, but it sounds offtrack as far as a sewing metaphor.
Hey, watch it, I don’t like that needle!! eeeek! 3. (informal) to spay an animal. Oh my, that wont do. But I might just ignore that bit…
Double eeeeeeeeeeeeeeek!! What would be good for "part"? As in the sense of something or someone that *belongs* ( singulars are big on viewing a "part" as extraneous) and is a distinct thing not lost in the mix?
Well, a distinct thing not lost in the mix….. that sounds okay. But most people see "part" as something incomplete and small. I am neither incomplete or small. Some people would argue that I am incomplete, but I don’t feel that way. I have my own identity and name, my own friends, experiences, ways of dealing with life. I am a protector, but I am not flat, not one who only feels anger or one who only comes out to protect. I have the whole range of thoughts, emotions, experiences, activities. I am capable of great tenderness as well as indignation. I don’t feel I am unable to stand on my own. I choose to be who I am, and to protect the Family. I am not a "part" But I could accept it as a "distinct *person* not lost in the mix." Don’t think I’m a *thing* Except maybe when I’m really p*ssed! 
The SO might think of me as godzilla but I’m really human! Hmm. What word could replace alter? Chamber? Like chambers in the nautilus? Theres never only one….hmmm . I dive for my thesaurus and type the ones that are not singular-oriented or negative. Multiple, many, several,sundry,diverse,various.myriad.profusion. Assemblage, throng,tribe,crew,gang,party,school,flock,covey. Array bevy galaxy. Component – integral part. Element. Constituent. Inherent. Belong. Constitute. Compose. I like element a *lot*. I could be an Element! Or even fancier an Elemental. Component I’m toying with as well.
Whewee! I am whirling with the thought of being a profusion in a a galaxy! Wow! I typically do not believe in "hosts". I believe in presenters. A host is the guy who owns the house you visit, and is too singulary oriented. "Shell" is rather perjorative as well as innacurate. A shell is an inorganic dead thing like a toenail.
Yuck! Our Host is definitely alive and worthy. If you had to do " the one on the outside" skin would be a better metaphor. Exterior, Bandage, wrapping, pelt ( naw, ya take those ) envelope, Cortex , Face, epi something. I’m looking either for a sense of "outer layer" or "in the world". For protector alters I’m looking for something implying that protective function. We could say protector in plain english, and some type of fancy latin root as well para (against) monde ( world ) or something.
Paramonde! Wow! a Paramonde in a profusion galaxy! Holy moley! I like to be called a protector and/or guardian. As for MP well, I just subtly leave off the D and I feel my statement is made;)
Cheering! I would personally love to use words that dont either imply something incomplete or overcomplete about me. I’d like to use words that dont imply a center, an original, a one true self. Anybody wanna play with what I brought up, anybody got suggestions?
Nothing to add except that I’m having a lot of fun! Thanks Jackie. Nation of Jackie this account borrowed from jcash
Mary Family of Promise — For more information about this service, send e-mail to:
Response:
we’ve been pondering the language of multiplicity for a while now and we find it sadly lacking. this is probably the result of being made up by persons suffering from single-personality-disorder.
We enjoyed this post, it was amusing and interesting. As for terminology we’ve been trying to think in terms that don’t undervalue our individual selves and don’t imply internal inequality. for example, the term "host".
<very satirical piece on ‘host’ snipped for BW Never felt comfortable with the term host; must be because I did do biology. And although I referred to myself as a co-ordinator, even that’s changed a bit now that Sara has finally recognised wildflower. Tuesday night they were talking away without me, I felt left out. then theres "parts". this is america right, so parts is parts, right?, interchangable, right?( anybody got a 3/4-sullen-teenaged-bitch-alter we can borrow?) am i just a transmission? or are they trying to imply that we’re all just pieces of some "greater" whole. but then how come some of us are whole people, with the full range of feelings and memories that go back further than this body?
Now Sara & wildflower were giggling over the idea of borrowing a sullen-teenaged-bitch-alter, but you’re right, many of us are very much whole people, and often there are more than one who has certain skills. "alter" is another classic. the word implies that the rest of me are alternative versions of some "original" person. who, exactly?, and how can someone of a different race and or gender be an alternative version of a self? <snipped , but then, who decides, and does that mean the rest of us aren’t "really" me? we think NOT
Well, I’d like to think I’m the oiginal, but then so would the others. That is the term I use when being non-specific: ‘others’ not to be forgotten is ‘multiple personality disorder". is it automatic that if there’s more than one of you, you’re sick? <snipped
Oh the psychs do seem to like to call things disorders. Now I may have had a disorder before becoming aware of, and accepting the others, but now there’s a feeling of order and wholeness. I know of transgendered people who hate the term Gender Identity Disorder for similar reasons; they don’t feel that it is a disorder. so anyway, thats the language we’ve got,and maybe it’s time we started thinking in terms of making up some of our own
Yeah! (Mostly) Ashley Geography Department, Auckland University
Response:
: we’ve been pondering the language of multiplicity for a while now and we : find it sadly lacking. this is probably the result of being made up by : persons suffering from single-personality-disorder. yep. we have terrible troubles with personal pronouns and verb tenses. : for example, the term "host". "host" refers to a person who has either : guests, or tapeworms, at least in the english language. perhaps the : intention is to indicate that the person is like the "host" in a : restaurant, who seats the customers, and makes them feel welcome ("hi, im : paul, the maitre de of system pwyll, tonights special is intellectual : conversation, your wait-personality will be with you in a moment, would : you like a cup of small talk while you wait?:). if so, we have an even : bigger problem, like, we aren’t selling anything, and as much as we love : some of our outside people, they are definitely NOT invited into us, : usually. and anyway,if *i*m the host, who’s the dishwasher? we have never liked the term "host." it has those biological overtones to us, like you mentioned. like if we have a host, then the rest of us are parasites. yuk. : then theres "parts". this is america right, so parts is parts, right?, : interchangable, right?( anybody got a 3/4-sullen-teenaged-bitch-alter we : can borrow?) am i just a transmission? or are they trying to imply that : we’re all just pieces of some "greater" whole. but then how come some of : us are whole people, with the full range of feelings and memories that go : back further than this body? : "alter" is another classic. the word implies that the rest of me are : alternative versions of some "original" person. who, exactly?, and how can : someone of a different race and or gender be an alternative version of a : self? or are we all members of the same baseball team, ya know, 2 primary : selves,and a bunch of alternates in case someone gets ill (well it’s the : bottm of the 9th,and the other teams been doing well, time to switch in a : pinch-feeling-alter). this seems, at first to be a little closer to : reality, but then, who decides, and does that mean the rest of us aren’t : "really" me? we think NOT a couple of years ago we decided that we are all "principles," according to this definition of principle from our oxford english dictionary: "a fundamental quality which constitutes the source of action." alas, hypocrites that we are, we continue to refer to ourselves as parts. : not to be forgotten is ‘multiple personality disorder". is it automatic : that if there’s more than one of you, you’re sick? some of us are : extremely functional, and this world is confusing and full of enough : double and triple binds to make multiplicity one of the few viable : alternatives. even Dr. Ross talks about treating people to "*nt*gr*t**n", : and having them come out "a single person with posttraumatic stress : disorder, which cannot then be cured". did he do them any good?. : personally we’d much rather be a happy system than a traumatically : stressed singleton. us too. tess : so anyway, thats the language we’ve got,and maybe it’s time we started : thinking in terms of making up some of our own : — : *)O(* : Pwyll — ~* _ ~* After the final no there comes a yes | |_ ___ ___ ___ ~* And on that yes the future world depends. | _| / -_) (_-< (_-< ~* No was the night. Yes is this present sun. __| ___| /__/ /__/ ~* -Wallace Stevens ~*
Response:
Long time ago we used to yell "Shotgun" when getting in the car and that meant we could sit up front. Not that that should replace "host", but sometimes even now when we are going to do something adventuresome or fun, someone inside always yells this We refer to our other selves, as "inners". Not comfortable with alter or parts.Cause they sound too "dead"..too invalidating. in our opinion. Have enjoyed this thread tho. Thanks to all who’ve kept it going AllofDark
Wow! I like all these terms. I love shotgun! Inners feels real good too. Much better than parts or alters. Thanks for sharing AllofDark. Mooncalf
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – ROTFL! You are completely right on all of these. I’d like to add my current ‘favorite’ _executive control_ I’m supposedly this, or have this or whatever. Like I told my therapist yesterday ‘_I’m_ in control?’ Now, that’s scarey! I’m controlling _what_? As for being an executive, should I wear a tie? I don’t wear skirts, so that’s right out. I _won’t_ wear heels, so can I be an executive in jeans? And wouldn’t you think, if I’m in control I could give it away periodically? Well, it gets _taken_ away, but I rarely delegate. Maybe it should be unconsciously in executive control, but that sounds _really_ odd!!! I’d think ‘pointperson’ or ’shoved out front most often’ fits better I think that the word ‘host’ should be replaced with ‘wrangler’. In movies they have ‘baby wrangler’, ‘animal wrangler’ etc. which means the person in charge of knowing who’s where/when. That fits better than host! It still isn’t completely right, but it’s better.
Long time ago we used to yell "Shotgun" when getting in the car and that meant we could sit up front. Not that that should replace "host", but sometimes even now when we are going to do something adventuresome or fun, someone inside always yells this We refer to our other selves, as "inners". Not comfortable with alter or parts.Cause they sound too "dead"..too invalidating. in our opinion. Have enjoyed this thread tho. Thanks to all who’ve kept it going AllofDark – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Rainbow Colors (Jill, executively in control, quick someone tell me what to do!) we’ve been pondering the language of multiplicity for a while now and we find it sadly lacking. this is probably the result of being made up by persons suffering from single-personality-disorder. for example, the term "host". "host" refers to a person who has either guests, or tapeworms, at least in the english language. perhaps the intention is to indicate that the person is like the "host" in a restaurant, who seats the customers, and makes them feel welcome ("hi, im paul, the maitre de of system pwyll, tonights special is intellectual conversation, your wait-personality will be with you in a moment, would you like a cup of small talk while you wait?:). if so, we have an even bigger problem, like, we aren’t selling anything, and as much as we love some of our outside people, they are definitely NOT invited into us, usually. and anyway,if *i*m the host, who’s the dishwasher? then theres "parts". this is america right, so parts is parts, right?, interchangable, right?( anybody got a 3/4-sullen-teenaged-bitch-alter we can borrow?) am i just a transmission? or are they trying to imply that we’re all just pieces of some "greater" whole. but then how come some of us are whole people, with the full range of feelings and memories that go back further than this body? "alter" is another classic. the word implies that the rest of me are alternative versions of some "original" person. who, exactly?, and how can someone of a different race and or gender be an alternative version of a self? or are we all members of the same baseball team, ya know, 2 primary selves,and a bunch of alternates in case someone gets ill (well it’s the bottm of the 9th,and the other teams been doing well, time to switch in a pinch-feeling-alter). this seems, at first to be a little closer to reality, but then, who decides, and does that mean the rest of us aren’t "really" me? we think NOT not to be forgotten is ‘multiple personality disorder". is it automatic that if there’s more than one of you, you’re sick? some of us are extremely functional, and this world is confusing and full of enough double and triple binds to make multiplicity one of the few viable alternatives. even Dr. Ross talks about treating people to "*nt*gr*t**n", and having them come out "a single person with posttraumatic stress disorder, which cannot then be cured". did he do them any good?. personally we’d much rather be a happy system than a traumatically stressed singleton. so anyway, thats the language we’ve got,and maybe it’s time we started thinking in terms of making up some of our own — *)O(* Pwyll — I choose to post non-anon because my abusers are afraid. They would have to admit something happened in order to confront me; this they will never do. They are the only people who will be upset if they know who I am, and they are too afraid to admit to what they did. Black of Rainbow Colors
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