(no subject)

[rabbitsystem.livejournal.com]

Just out of curiosity, how do other systems switch fronter? Do you have triggers, or prearranged times, or switch according to the situation, or what?

Edit: It seems the accepted word for 'deliberate trigger' is 'hook', meaning something used to bring someone to the front when needed. We use something of this sort and were wondering if anyone else does.

Comments

[ricktboy.livejournal.com]

we switch according to who wants to be out.

[liliana-warsaw.livejournal.com]

Ditto that.

[linacrow.livejournal.com]

Ditto...to be repetitive.

[tessagratton.livejournal.com]

We switch according to desire, and to some triggers. Though Tynan can control the switching when he wants to. When he wants to be a bastard, that is.

Dev et al

[browncoatrebel.livejournal.com]

We often co-front. I am the "main front." (Our system's term for it, not meant to demean anyone else.) I am almost always present, mainly for functional reasons. We are in a position where very bad consequences would result if people found out I am multiple, so it's the safest way for things to happen. Then anyone who wants to be out is welcome to interact through me, though most of the time when interacting face-to-face we can't admit to who we are.

Sara

[gryphons.livejournal.com]

we pretty much switch depending on situation.. and quite frequently even then.. luckily communication is pretty good.. though usually there's a guardian watching .. somewhere.
-Micah

A little from column A

[worldnamer.livejournal.com]

Mostly, it's based on what we're doing, but occasionally some people force their way through because they want out. Often, when I'm particularly tired, others step forward to take over things.

[linnai.livejournal.com]

The way we work (and wear with me, because we're all only just figuring this out to begin with) is that we have a "set". A group of people that co-front interchangeable with one that sort of acts like the term "host".

Right now, I'm the so-called host, but our hosting changes every few weeks with little control by us. Two weeks around the guys were hosting, right now, it's myself, and three of my sisters.

With our group, the co-hosts interchangeable front and it's not switching out completely. We don't really have much control over who/when/how/why. Sometimes it's situational. Someone gets angry about X and fronts to do something about it or say something or whatever. Sometimes it's that someone is upset and needs the catharsis of tears. Sometimes it's the SO of choice is around or they want to do something on the computer or whatever.

[rhymer-713.livejournal.com]

Generally it's situational with us. If say, some one wants to help with the homework and it's a subject they know, they front. But we can be "triggered" too, as in some one likes a certain musical group etc. etc. But they have tow want to come out or it doesn't work that well.
Jess

[drleanne.livejournal.com]

Sometimes its a trigger, sometimes its prearranged, sometimes its situational, sometimes it's because the one who was out is tired or stressed, sometimes its because someone has cabin fever and just needs to strech out, sometimes its for no reason at all and someone "falls" out.

I am th usual bus driver tho. At work we have an adult group that circultes through out the day sharing. at home we have a domestic group that circulates, but im the driver of each circulation, and i rely on each group heavily.

[tempusfrangit.livejournal.com]

Seconded.

[debonnairejacob.livejournal.com]

Say my name, I come to the front, or at least very close. I'm often in the background though, helping keep track of various things.

Selene comes to the front via various triggers, or also by being called.

Ballari doesn't even co-front much, preferring to only, so far, come out consitently when we're around one specific person as she feels safest then.

And then of course we can always just happen to be around during any given time of day.

- Jacob

[hold-me-coldly.livejournal.com]

Triggers (which can and do involve situations sometimes), sometimes if I simply can't handle something I will ask one of my alters to front for me. However, when I'm really tired or have jusy woken up, I dissociate very easily. So there isn't always a trigger or situation then.

[liliana-warsaw.livejournal.com]

Re-examining... some things can trigger us out or back. For instance I have recently had Sebastian run up one side and down the other of someone's head for being... er... inappropriate with me more than once. We can also retreat sometimes if we get emotional or come out when getting protective of each other. Also certain subjects will sometimes bring out certain people. But for the most part, it's whoever wants to be out is out.

[ridetothesea.livejournal.com]

Triggers (most good but some bad) work, but usually only if the person is close to front to notice in the first place. Otherwise it's situational. We don't have prearranged times, but it does seem that certain people tend to front at certain times. Our most switchy part of the day is mid-afternoon going into evening, and people don't tend to switch out as much during early morning or at night.

[refined-mirages.livejournal.com]

For a long time, we'd rarely 'switch' - whoever was stronger and more apt at being dominant would be the one the outside world knew...unfortunately, this led to a whole crap load of problems because it made us appear semi-Schizotypical due to a change in the primary interests, hobbies, etc. every few years. One of us even got married without consulting the rest and the marriage was very bad for all of us. After the 16 months of the hellish marriage were over, we all got in a big fight and since then, none of us take primary control. We switch based on triggers, situations and interests. However given the vast array of interests we each have, people who don't know we're a multiple think we're absolutely bonkers.

~Giamilla

[weirdiguess.livejournal.com]

Mostly we seem to do things based on whoever feels like it. Some people have triggers that bring them out a little, some don't. Some people like certain situations, sometimes we'll set a time limit. Sometimes we'll just get dumped at front. I get that happening to me a lot. It's all mostly about what people want though. I mean if people don't want to be out, they either don't come out or they go right back inside.

Except me, I generally get locked out here.

[rabbitsystem.livejournal.com]

Gah, I hate that. He goes to sleep and I'm left in front thinking "okay, this is Sebastian's job, why exactly am I here doing it?"
He wishes to point out that I have an equally bad habit of muscling in when it's his turn, which is true.

[fadingtogrey.livejournal.com]

Sometimes there are triggers, sometimes it's a conscious choice, and sometimes it just happens.

[jerseytwo.livejournal.com]

There are some things that I almost always do, and some things that Jes almost always does. We both have a really bad habit of yanking the other one up front when we don't want to mess with something. She does it when she gets upset or when she's been out front for a really long time (family vacations, extended weekends with people, etc). She freaks out and runs back inside, sort-of-asking if I'll take over for a while. If I'm not ready, sometimes it takes a minute or so for me to actually pull it together and get control. The only time that was bad was when she got claustrophobic driving through a big city on a highway. There was some fuzzy driving for a little while there.

She's better than me at taking over when she wants. I can push and poke and basically annoy the crap out of her until she lets me take over, but I'm not real good at just shoving her out, which she can (usually accidentally) do to me. But I'm also real bad about yanking her out with no warning. I haven't gotten the hang of talking to people, cause it's not something I've ever done, so hearing myself talk with the voice I think of as hers still weirds me out. When she's hanging around watching, it's easy and I just let her slide in and respond. When she's off somewhere else, I get a little shaky and demanding and try to force her out. I'm working on that, cause I want to talk to people, but it's a process.

Anyway. Definitely a longer answer than you probably wanted. We switch really fluidly, and can co-front as well. Sometimes we frustrate each other, but so far it's worked.

[ksol1460.livejournal.com]

We have very little control, few triggers in the usual sense, and often get headaches or head pressure when we try to force people to front out of "turn". If someone is near the front or not too far away, he or she might be encouraged to come up if there's something they enjoy in the offing (a trip to the library, something good on History Channel, that sort of thing). It helps if the event is known about ahead of time, especially if the person is further away.

We do things based on what needs to be done, since most of the skills are in common knowledge. It's very rare that somebody can't access the "tape" or skillset for a daily or ordinary task. Hope this helps.

[catchild.livejournal.com]

actually jfor us its a combination of all of the above.

sometimes it's situational, like Rinn is good with plants so she will take care of any plants, teh Gaurdians of the system are good at dealing with pain so they are front for Physical Therepy ect

Sometimes soemthing triggers and this is not always a bad thing. Our mate growling softly at teh back of our neck will blessed near garuntee puppy to take front even if it's only for a second or two.

we prearrange times as well, especially adult playtime or certian adult activites that some enjoy and the rest find disturbing or unpleasent.

For us the hardest part is scheduling times so everyone who wants to front alone can. (we generally co-front a lot)

[catskillmarina.livejournal.com]

We work it out amoungst ourselves, though sometimes people ask for different ones
of us and we often accomodate them.

Occassionally i fight with Constance about front time.

Sometimes one or another of us will come front because we see something of ours or
because we want to say something. April likes to go out for ice cream ;-)

--- Miri

[redrainstorm.livejournal.com]

We have triggers that some times make people come out automatically, but most of the time it's who ever wants to be out comes out.
I am usually always out while on the college campus and in class and in counseling, the teens come out when they want to watch a good movie or tv show, the little ones come out to watch their movies or spend time with the pets, etc.
Most of the time the younger kids come out when we're at home, but some of the teen/adults come out for the responsible stuff (like homework).

[terendel.livejournal.com]

I switch most easily when someone speaks directly to me. Other than that, I have a couple of triggers. Driving is one. I love to drive, and I'm often fronting behind the wheel now.

I still mostly don't front. Watching the world go by while Juli deals with everything is fine with me. I can talk, heckle, whatever, and otherwise not have to deal with much.

Don't take it the wrong way, though. I support my mind mate in other ways.

Richard

[ksol1460.livejournal.com]

What you call "hooks" we call "cues". There can be more than one "accepted word" -- there doesn't have to be a -the- right word for any of this.

[ex-memepr0g.livejournal.com]

Switching occurs when it is needed, although very occasionally it is involuntary. At times, there is a 'hook' for certain members, and it is usually when one of us is angered. If we are angered severely enough, and want to retaliate, our most combative member tends to appear, and the Luke (fellow fronter) and I recede to allow Hess (the combative one) to do what he needs to.

- Richard of the Fen System.