Plural Culture Is "ive Been Fronting For Quite A While, I Should Probably Take A Break" (doesnt Leave

me: "i dont know how i ever coped as a singlet"

my headmate Ashley: "poorly"

me: "ok i mean that is true but theres no need to call me out like that"

Im not a girl trapped in a boys body!!

im several girls and a bird trapped in a boys body,

really should have gone to a different doctor.

I can't stop thinking about a plural future. I can't stop thinking about the day a plural kid goes to school and won't be forced to "get rid" of his "imaginary" friend when he gets older. About the day a plural kid goes to university and joins a plurality affinity group and takes a class about disability, neurodivergency, and plurality in society. About the day a parade rushes through Washington D.C. flaunting icons of intersecting rings and ampersands, joyous and unafraid. About the day non-discrimination policies say that you can't discriminate against someone on the basis of their multiplicity. About the day a system can introduce themselves in public as Jackie and Johnny, not just Jackie. About the day a presidential candidate gets on stage and tells the nation that they believe plurality is real and worthy of respect. About the day someone talking about their sysmate is as normal as talking about their partner. About the day a system dies and the names of all of their sysmates are carved on their gravestone. I can't stop thinking about the day that we are unbound and happy. May we never lose sight of that day.

if you make a special box in your head called "thoughts that aren't mine" and put every thought that doesn't feel like your own into that box. let's just say. something magical happens

might be plural btw

sometimes I doubt my plurality and think I'm just a faker but honestly I'm not surprised I am plural as well considering the shit I went through plus growing up in a doomsday cult. my own experiences are quite complex, and like I talk about it because I want other systems to know they shouldn't be scared or feel ashamed. it just sucks when people think they know me better than I do and try to fake claim me and that in result, messes with my own consciousness.

When the game is named after you and you finally get to be the protagonist

Hey, system originals and hosts--or whatever word you'd use. And anyone else who needs to hear it.

It's ok if you want to put your headmates first, before even IRL connections you have. It's not wrong. You're not "cringe". You're not evil or selfish or "worsening your condition" by default. You share your body with your headmates. Whether you view them as parts of your'self' or not, you share a singular form you all have to coexist inside of. People outside your body shouldn't get a say as to what you do with it.

It's ok if you want to do things for them that you wouldn't otherwise do with your life. It's ok if you need to make compromises together about what path you wanna take, and change up some life plans until you can all agree or at least be okay with them. It's ok if the closest connections to anyone you have are those within your own body. It's ok to not want to be close to people unless they accept everyone in your system.

You're not anti-recovery. You're not "giving up" your body to some evil parasite. You're not "throwing your life away because of an illness". You're not bad if you "make everything about your system" because those people are a part of your life as much as any other friend or partner or coworker, you should be able to talk about them.

If you want to make decisions about your body as a collective, please do. You can live a happy and fulfilling life, connected closely with your headmates and all being happy together. It doesn't have to be a struggle 24/7. There will be good days, there will be bad. You won't always agree easily. Things can be difficult, but you aren't wrong for wanting your system to be as big of a part in your life as you yourself are.

some system positivity art!!

(with the lovely "the future is plural" phrase by(?) @sophieinwonderland !! [hope the @ is alright uaug])

As awareness of plurality continues to spread online, that also means more and more people will realize they are plural. And unfortunately, there will be a response from certain gatekeepy exclusionist types, who will push back against these newfound systems and insist on invalidating them. They’ll insist they’re just hopping on a trend, or just fooling themselves, or whatever other justification they can make up to maintain the idea that being plural is extremely rare and being plural means suffering for it.

Don’t fall for it. Being plural presents challenges and difficulties without question, but being plural also can bring joys and clarity that weren’t possible otherwise. Being plural can be hard, and it can be beautiful.

No two systems present and function exactly the same ways. No two systems are plural for the exact same reasons. So we can’t expect there to be an absolute common trait present in every system. So any attempt to weed out the “fakers” is pointless and malicious.

If someone believes themself to be plural, they have good reason to. No further “proof” needed. If someone comes to us believing themself to be plural, we will help them along without critique or question. And above all we will be happy for them. Even if someday they realize they aren’t plural, that process of being allowed to question and experiment is so important, and they should be allowed to do so regardless of where they end up.

Plurality is a spectrum that encompasses a vast swathe of experiences and outlooks. It can be difficult to reckon with, which is why community is so vital. And as that community online grows and becomes more and more visible, we should all do our part, systems and singlets, to make sure these newfound systems feel safe, seen, and welcome.