Plurality: Subsystems

Tuesday, January 31st, 2023

It turns out that the plural community is currently seriously lacking in information on subsystems, with only a few vague and poorly sourced wiki pages on the topic.

As a collective that both doesn't shut up and has a lot of personal experience with subsystems, we'd like to try to fill that gap!

What Is a Subsystem?

This plural term is one of the few that can be defined by the dictionary; "a system that is part of a larger system" (Merriam-Webster). This is basically the definition used by plural wikis, too. It's also extremely vague.

Some wikis will go farther and describe it as a system within a system that is not the same as a sidesystem or layer (Pluralpedia, Plural Fandom Wiki), but the most specific that gets is by noting that sidesystems and layers generally function as independent groups.

The most summarized but clear definition we can come up with is that a subsystem is a system/collective that functions within a larger system, but holds a position similar to a headmate in the main system & is often contained within a headmate.

In this case, the larger system (which we'll be calling the "main" or "host" system) is pretty much whatever a system usually is, and is to a subsystem what a body is to a host system. Like system tupperware.

Types of Subsystem

The most "common" kind of subsystem are ringed subsystems and container subsystems. While they likely aren't actually the most common, they are typically the easiest to identify.

A ringed subsystem is a median subsystem based on one core identity (like a planet) with a 'ring' of differences/traits/quality that are applied to the core identity. For example, Headmate A, a ringed subsystem, may have their core identity as Headmate A and the orbiting rings of their kintypes/kinshifts, 1, 2, and 3. Headmate A may become Headmate A, A1, A2, or A3. (That example would be a chariklo ringed system.)

A container subsystem is a system that shares the same body inside of their host system/headspace. These systems are basically the same as any system, with the same level of diversity as any system--their shared body just isn't tangible.

Of course, not all subsystems are part of one headmate or part of one body--and there's far more types than those two.

For example, a seperated subsystem is a subsystem of distinct headmates who are still grouped together or especially close for one reason or another. Often this can be from splitting off the same person, which is the case with the "Sols" in a body et al. (who split off from someone called Sol, go figure).

Identifying a Subsystem

That sure was a lot of semantic fluff--time to apply it practically! You know the definition and concept of a subsystem, so now let's go through some "criteria." A subsystem will generally be at least one (but typically not all) of the following:

1. Especially tight-knit compared to the rest of the system, ie a "clique"
2. Contained in the same headspace body, area, location, or similar
3. The same headmate with different facets, fragments, modes, and/or layers
4. The same person at different times in life, with different genders, etc.
5. Easily grouped by a prominent shared trait, ie all being introjects from the same source
6. Part of one fronting group that is rarely seperate in co-con or front

The thing is, subsystems are about as diverse as any other system. If you&'re questioning having or being a subsystem, you'll likely benefit from regular questioning resources on some level. Subsystems can range from a massive group with an inexplicable bond to the same alter wearing a couple funny hats.

Examples From Our Experience

As we mentioned, we have and have had a couple of subsystems. We're going to go through three of ours today with you!

Exhibit A: The Murder/Crow&

Contrary to popular belief, "Crow" isn't actually one singular headmate, but a polyfragmented subsystem, and was specifically formed by BPD fragmentation, with some other influences on its current structure.

The murder (of Crows, get it) is made up of many entities that have extremely similar identities, no identity at all, layer on eachother, or are just literal crows. Because all the Crows share a name, general identity, perspective, etc. we identify ourself as the singular headmate Crow, or Crow&. Members of the murder who get names are usually members that embody delusions (such as cadaver/Cotard's Crow and the xanín), 'types (ie kitty crow), or entities like dæmons (ie Korṓnē).

When discussing the murder, the crow who is The Crow is called "the King Crow" because, really, do you have a better idea?

We call the murder/Crow& a subsystem because they are a collective of pieces/entities/beings who share a core identity and exist inside of our system.

Exhibit B: The Sols

The Sols aren't so much a subsystem as a category at this point, but in the Sol Days(tm), they were a median subsystem based around, well, Sol. It was made up of facets/fragments that layered over Sol.

Pretty quickly, these fragments and facets became full headmates, and for a brief time operated as a multiple subsystem where everyone identified as Sol on some level, but were still seperate people. This is also why no one in the current system is called Sol, but the body is--there were just too many people who identified as Sol to give that name to anyone in particular once the subsystem split up.

Eventually, the subsystem split entirely into (if I recal correctly) about four people with their own distinct identities. Those of us from the original Sol Subsystem who remain sometimes call ourselves the Sols when talking about the past subsystem. From oldest to newest, the current active ex-Sols are the writer, myself/Crow&, and AJ.

Exhibit C: Splitzoid

[REDACTED] won't let us use its name for for this, so we're going to just be calling it "the schizoid" for convenience, and its subsystem "the splitzoid."

As a tiny baby crash course in Schizoid Personality Disorder (SzPD) splits: Plurality is an extremely common experience in SzPD. Schizoids are generally very withdrawn and isolationist, and experience intense anxiety, boredom, and/or irritation when socializing. Because of this, many will have a mask--which is often a headmate of sorts--to help themselves withdraw and not have to deal with people. Usually a splitzoid (which is a term we coined for a collective caused by this) is made up of two beings; this mask, and the schizoid themself.

This is the case with our splitzoid. Its masks have historically not been too similar to itself, and as far as we know, the only surviving mask is a headmate who hasn't been a mask for a year. The only reason we know they are/consider them a subsystem is that the masks function in direct relation to the schizoid and are heavily influenced by their own SzPD, something that doens't carry across with other headmates.