Multiplicity

Indeed. :P

I could do that with my smaller system:

A1 <-> Andras

But the main system needs a little more attention.

From:

We have a book of names and that is about as far as we ever get.

We're a HUGE system though, so mapping is often difficult and sometimes impossible.

What we do however is we tend to have a whiteboard or chalkboard which allows us to map things which are necessary for day to day relations and allotment of time fronting. Normally, the only people included on the whiteboard are the ones who frontrun. The people who prefer to stay contently in the inner world for most of the time haven't been mapped.

But they are in the book of names. Everyone is in the book of names. One name per line, sometimes with a gender indicated and small details indicated, sometimes not and just relying on our memory.

- Alice and Star, of the Blackwater-Teq' Nations Camp

From:

And by huge, we mean well over 3000 people. And we vary in personality and experiences all across the spectrum of what happens. Some of us are one way, and we span all ages and sometimes most cultures too, within the system. So mapping is one of those things that we think we'll get around to some day.

And we never do.

- Alice and Star, of the Blackwater-Teq' Nations Camp

From:

That does sound like it would be difficult. Do you mind if I ask what kind of connections and relationships you mean?

I cannot imagine making one that expressed all of our connections accurately. Of course, that probably means that someone is going to try.

From:

That's how we felt before we discovered a method that worked for us. Nothing looked right. --By that, I'm not saying the same is true for you, of course, just mentioning it.

I suppose we might not need a map to function, but it's definitely helpful for knowing how we work. I can see how a group wouldn't need it, however.

From:

ridetothesea.livejournal.com

That's my problem. I'm the one that wants to do it (everybody else goes "Eh...") and I'd want to put everything in before I'd be satisfied.

Connections like "This person is in a relationship with this person, and this is his brother, and this is his friend, and this is his adopted daughter, and this person he doesn't get along well with at all..." Something that showed the dynamics of all the relationships here. Which would be impossible. And I've tried simple ones, but I'm never satisfied with them, so I just give up. :D

Dylan

From:

The other thing we have done is taken a piece of paper, and started to draw constellation-type thingies to represent the distances between the main membres of the system. it's be moderately useful, expecially after we play connect the dots in varying light colours of pencil.

From:

That is huge. Can you recognize people and remember everyone's name? Or is that the purpose of the book of names? If you don't mind answering, that is.

The whiteboard or chalkboard sounds like it would be useful. As for mapping--I think I can see why you wouldn't get around to it.

From:

Our system has about 60-70 normal frontrunners. We know everyone else. Between that, it's like living in a large city.

Although we call ourselves the Blackwater-Teq' Nations, or inner world is a highly technologcal city, and so think of it like that. There is enough of knowing everyone else to not have conflict all the time ... but sometimes it gets confusing, like when we hold town meetings to discuss what is going on in the physical world.

The book of names does help with making sure that people don't change their name every day though. In large systems like ours, some people seem to want to do it.

Also, the map we do have shows who cofronts and why they do so.

I personally cofront with Star because she is my twin and our abilities complement one another. On my own, I'm deaf, and on Star's own, she's mute, so when we cofront, we can both hear and speak. I also cofront with 1321-4 because he is one of the most stable members of the system and can keep me from freaking out, and he understands what I say when I screw up.

- Alice, of the Blackwater-Teq' Nations camp.

[additionally: Some of us really just go about our business. With our system, I think that if everyone knew everyone, we'd go a bit nuts.

- Iliya]

From:

Have you tried mind mapping software (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_mind_mapping_software)? It seems like that might help, if you could change the line colors and connect people in different ways. Doing that would probably be very difficult, if not impossible as you said. Maybe giving up is the better solution. :P

From:

coma-white-01.livejournal.com

I've considered mapping as well...and I mean, it would be pretty easy for me, because I've only got 4 other people with me (so far).

But, things get a little mixed up because one of my guys is an actual celebrity out there in the real world...and well, he doesn't really fit with the rest of us. But you know, it would still be interesting to map out =)

From:

"...because I've only got 4 other people with me (so far)."

You're expecting your group to grow? --The number of people in ours fluctuates, but that's considered annoying rather than enjoyable. More people means more sharing and more distraction. But then, if they show up, there often isn't much you can do about it.

Anyway, when we map our system, we've decided to map only those who have no media or real-life source. It makes it far easier for us.

If you think mapping would be interesting, you could try it. I'd be interested in seeing it if you get around to it.

From:

coma-white-01.livejournal.com

"You're expecting your group to grow?" --

Well, I'm not expecting it to reach high numbers or anything, but every once in a while...I'll feel someone lurking. Almost like they're in the shadows. I'm not sure what they're waiting for, but they sure have caught my attention. So, needless to say, I'm expecting =)

The ones I have now can be rather annoying...when we can't decide on something or other, but you know, I guess that's life...and like you said, there isn't really much you can do.

Oh..you have real-life sources too??? (Is that what they're called? I don't know much of the terminology).

I think maybe I'll make a scrapbook...and then some other kind of "family tree" type thing. I'll keep you posted =)

From:

We used to get that lurking feeling sometimes. Often it meant that someone was there waiting. Or, in one case, it meant that I was there and hiding from them. ;)

As for sharing a body with a group of people, that can indeed get annoying. You're right. That's life.

"Oh..you have real-life sources too??? (Is that what they're called? I don't know much of the terminology)."

We have no real-life sources. (I'm not sure what they're called. The media-sources, such as from movies or books, are usually called soubonds. But I don't know about the real-life ones.) I meant that as an example. We do have some from fictional sources, however.

Good luck with your scrapbook and "family tree". :)

From:

ridetothesea.livejournal.com

Actually I haven't, but I will now. :)

From:

coma-white-01.livejournal.com

Ah, I've been curious for a while now if any body else felt that lurking feeling, and I'm kind of releived to hear that you know what I'm talking about. It's a strange feeling, isn't it?

Fictional sources? Really? Isn't it amazing how our minds really have no limits? I'm amazed everyday at being a multiple. I'm not sure if that's just me or what, but we all sit and think about it a lot. How lucky we actually are....

Anyways, now I'm rambling.
And thanks, I hope we can figure out a way to make everything make sense =)

From:

coldironkiss.livejournal.com

Not yet, but we've thought about it. Thank you for the article; we may try out some of those ideas.

-D.

From:

sethrenn.livejournal.com

I drew a (partial) map of my world? That counts... ;p

-someone

From:

This is not a map but a family tree for Tej Agni. Tej Agni is a tiny group of 10 (or so) individuals. The Kasiyan Epitome/Group is the larger group Tej Agni is part of.

http://kasiya.net/graphics/group/tejagni2.jpg

We do have other maps of a couple home worlds and solar systems too. Mostly are hand drawn for now.

From:

That's a very helpful family tree. I wish we could make one that made that much sense.

I'm just wondering. Do you know about how many people are in the Kasiyan Epitome? Or would you not care to tell? Also, this is unrelated, but where do you get those wonderful images of people?

From:

If your group/system is based around a world, then I suppose it could count. ;)

From:

When asked we usually say there's around 35-50 of us, but that's based on usual Fronters.

Others in our group either will Front rarely or never. There are quite a few that are mentioned by some of us who also rarely or never Front.

Our actual honest answer is this: The main world, Tei Ekullas, which is relatively close to the Front here is a planet with a large population (not as many as on this Earth though). So with Earth as a reference and nearly equal to one world population, imagine several solar systems - some containing more than one habitable world. That is our answer.

From:

about finding the images, a lot are found at stock image sites or using google. :)

From:

oh! and we have an icon gallery here which has a bunch of blank icons of people and other stuff if you're interested XD
http://pics.livejournal.com/tej_agni/gallery/0000cx1x

From:

Wow. That must be...an uncountable amount of people. It seems like saying 35-50 would be much easier. :)

From:

Thank you for the link. :) We're trying to learn to make icons, so those should be very helpful. I appreciate your mentioning it.

From:

ksol1460.livejournal.com

Mapping the system, no. Mapping our world, yes.

http://www.box.net/shared/328327ihye

More about mapping here (http://www.livejournal.com/tools/memories.bml?user=multiplicity&keyword=mapping&filter=all)

From:

That's a neat map. What a complicated place.

Thanks for the link to the mapping memories. I missed those when I was looking around earlier.

From:

rabbitsystem.livejournal.com

Fictional sources. Really. Trust me.

Explanations are harder, but fiction-based people aren't uncommon around here.

-Durza.

From:

spiral-seeds.livejournal.com

I've tried mapping our system. Mainly just to make a visual. And in this sense, the maps were successful. I did three maps that look like various scientific drawings. The one that turned out the best was one with interconnected cell bodies because it shows relative closeness and interconnections. It's not very complex, as we are just seven.

From:

rabbitsystem.livejournal.com

This icon is almost a map of us. We happen to each have a different eye colour so we used them.

Seb and Ellen (blue and green respectively) are twins. JT (brown) is closer to Seb and Durza (red) is closer to Ellen. That's not exactly a blood relationship, it's mostly the way our personalities work out, although there is a deeper connection than just friendship. Durza and JT are in some respects an echo of Ellen and Seb. They repeat the same pattern over again. We're individuals, but there's a pattern there.
Essentially, people we're next to in the diagram we have a direct connection to, and people opposite we happen to share a head with.

From:

It is easier to say the lower numbers. That way if we're not in the mood, we don't have to explain the reasons why there are so many, or where they are, or why not everyone uses the body. Questions are fine, but some days it's hard to explain it without people looking at you weird.

Basically, there is no reason why. No, not everyone is "stuffed" into one body. No, we don't feel crowded. No, everyone doesn't Front at the same time. No, everyone isn't all inside one person's head. No, everyone is not split from one person.

Those are some of the questions we've been asked. :)

From:

This is a good community to find icon tutorials.

icon_tutorial. I've used so many from this place. This is Sukey.

From:

Thanks for the link. Maybe we'll try something like this for something.

From:

crystalseraph.livejournal.com

We are gearing up to draw a big map fairly soon, just freehand in photoshop.

From:

freakshownia.livejournal.com

This all seems much too complicated for only 8 people...

From:

If it's the one you posted in your journal, I like it. Maps seem to express a lot about a group.

From:

Yes, I can see how it would.

If your group isn't too complicated on the inside, then making a map probably wouldn't be very helpful. And if it wouldn't be helpful, and a group wouldn't find it fun, then there probably isn't a reason to do it.

From:

Thank you for the link. We need to try that. It seems like we could maybe use that more to get our system somewhat mapped.

From:

We have much of that problem too.

It seems that our city ... well, we can venture beyond it, and there're more people, which some of us have been vaguely aware of the existance of. We don't feel crowded either, and we get that question a lot.

We just use 3000 as a nice round figure.

For us, approximately 100-300 front at different times within one month. We're fairly antisocial as a group so that is one of the ways that we deal with this sort of thing.

From:

crystalseraph.livejournal.com

Yep, that's the one.

From: