opnet [OpNet] Relationships, Quantum, Taint.

[Wakinyan]

In order to have a succesful working relationship with a fellow Nova is it a good idea to have QEs that are closely alike? In other words should Conduit go out with Mettala or Iron Rose, Long date Vixen etc etc etc.

I don't want to encourage segregation among our people but I have to think there are common bonds that would help bind people together.

Of course some would say we must redefine relationships all together. Slattern favors Lemmy but she has many other relationships at various levels. But would she best be served dating the Master or someone with a focus like her own?

I want and value all input so please share your thoughts.

[Ghostwriter]

Hell no, honey!

I'm a mentalist/feral nova whose fiancee is a nigh-invulnerable brick whose powers revolve around self-improvement. We're as different as chalk and cheese, and I love it!

[Wakinyan]

Well as long as you two get what you want out of a relationship I guess they don't have to perfectly align. (Nice eyes by the way. You adopting more of my traits again?)

Still I wonder how often Frank has to consciously worry about hurting you. Just cuddling watching TV seems like it would be perilous.

Anyone else?

[Alex Craft]

Currently, it is probably not all that great an issue (the above being a nice example). However, as we continue to diverge from our common point of origin (humanity), those of us with wildly different expressions will likely grow more and more apart.

It is interesting that despite our posthuman condition, the one thing that we all have in common is our human roots.

[Ashnod]

Quote:

Originally posted by Alex Craft:


It is interesting that despite our posthuman condition, the one thing that we all have in common is our human roots.

Your opinion, and it most certainly does not apply to all of us.

[Wakinyan]

Quote:

Originally posted by Ashnod:

Your opinion, and it most certainly does not apply to all of us.

Could you then add your opinion to the mix Ma'am? I did ask for everyone's that included Mr. Craft and yourself. Instead of just being contrary I would value your input.

[Ashnod]

Quote:

Originally posted by Totem:

Quote:

Originally posted by Ashnod:

Your opinion, and it most certainly does not apply to all of us.

Could you then add your opinion to the mix Ma'am? I did ask for everyone's that included Mr. Craft and yourself. Instead of just being contrary I would value your input.

I am not being "contrary" Totem. Alex said "All" as in totality or absolute. I am not saying that his point does not have merit for some, rather that it does not for all.

[Xeno]

Diversification is good. ... Segregation possibly less so.

Practical example: A society/team/household of very smart Novas vs. a group of very strong Novas vs a group composed of both.

...

If the latter is not optimal, all else being equal, the above example is fundamentally flawed.

...

Unity in sentience was going to be promoted, but consensus indicates that would sound excessively cliche.

[Long]

It's nice when things match up but it just doesn't work that way all the time. I can't think of very many female novas with a similar quantum expression to mine, so I'm glad that I can feel comfortable with those who have dissimilar patterns.

[Alex Craft]

"Your opinion, and it most certainly does not apply to all of us."

Of course it does - or at least as nearly so as to make little difference. Some of us may be more radically diverged from others, but we still have some connection to past humanity. As much as you might like to cut yourself loose, all you can ever do is move further away from human. The progression is infinite - there is no point at which you can say, "It is no longer possible for me to be less like a human."

Even our children bear this, since they were brought up by ourselves, and must in turn have had at least some trace of humanity passed on to them.

Of course, I speak of humanity in the behavioral and sociological sense, and yes - there are conceivable exceptions in which a nova is totally reconfigured, loosing all existing mental and physical traits during or after eruption. This situation is rare enough that I'm comfortable with the generalization.

Xeno:

Coincidence, but you're actually the only potential example of the aforementioned example that I can think of. Can't say for sure without further study.

Good point, and it will be interesting to see how that is playing out in a couple centuries.

[Ashnod]

Quote:

Originally posted by Alex Craft:

Of course it does - or at least as nearly so as to make little difference. Some of us may be more radically diverged from others, but we still have some connection to past humanity. As much as you might like to cut yourself loose, all you can ever do is move further away from human. The progression is infinite - there is no point at which you can say, "It is no longer possible for me to be less like a human."

Convenient measuring stick. Flawed and untrue, but convenient.

[Wakinyan]

I wonder if any thread started these days can get started without being Hijacked by 'disagreements'.

I still haven't actually seen your opinion on my orginal question Ashnod. Are you only going to post to disagree with Mr. Craft or would you like to add some input on the topic at hand?

[Xeno]

Alex: The present hypothesis indicates: Nothing was lost, It is new. Howard is with The Others. Inside. This does not call for exclusion from the category in question, note.

Ashnod: Your assertion is based on the existence of nova-kind (with Nova probably being defined as 'Directly Quantum Manipulating') derived from non-human stock?

(No other obvious interpretation was immediately observable, though the potential existence of some philosophical/practical alternative is not denied.)

[Ashnod]

Fair enough, Totem. It is your thread. I will remove myself from it.

[Wakinyan]

I didn't ask you to stop posting. I asked you and anyone who would like to add their opinion to do so. I would very much like to hear your opinion on how you view Nova relationships and how they work.

If all you want to do is come in and simpley disagree with someone elses opinion and not bother giving your own then why bother?

[Tarot]

No, I think the field is pretty much open. I've spent time with some truly memorable and remarkable people and each time is always different. I figure you would understand if I said there are sometimes problems.

Solving them get pretty involved.

[Wakinyan]

Wait a second Tarot? Do you feel you really even have a good gauge of Nova relationships yet? Your going on six months now give or take right? Have you been in a serious relationship with another Nova yet?

For that matter what is a serious relationship with another Nova at this point. I have to say my question is somewhat selfish but this whole thread is somewhat selfish I guess.

[Xeno]

It is thought that Ashnod interacts largely via negative input. When she speaks, it is to remove those things she sees as flawed, often, rather than provide new things.

Thus, to extract maximal utility from her communications, one says reasonable things, and then pays attention to what she says is wrong.

It is very good. If she is listened to enough what she says is-not will reveal what is. Something useful/interesting will be understood. Perhaps.

This is relevant to the topic at hand: Different modes of communication between increasingly divergent Nova-things necessitate some level of compromise in interpretation. Assuming hostility may lead to loss of relevant data/resources/people/things. ... Disregarding hostility also. It is possibly not often easy.

(The preceding data is highly questionable speculation and should not be considered accurate. ... Even if Ashnod does not say it is not accurate.)

[Tarot]

Quote:

Originally posted by Totem:
I asked you and anyone who would like to add their opinion to do so.

You asked and I answered.

Honestly? Ask me again in ten years but yeah, I think I've got some serious relationships going.

[Slattern]

Quote:

Originally posted by Totem:
Slattern favors Lemmy but she has many other relationships at various levels. But would she best be served dating the Master or someone with a focus like her own?

Honey?

Sweetie?

My slut-to-be?

You so very need to buy a clue.

The Master, for all of his reputation is not even in my league. Too focused. A one note symphony.

I am God's Own Whore. I am passion and desire. "Dating"? I do not "date".

I am.

Please don't try to limit me.

[Wakinyan]

Hey I know I did. I appreciate you sharing. I just wanted more info.

[Wakinyan]

Quote:

Originally posted by Slattern:
Please don't try to limit me.

By all means then enlighten me on the subject. I was only theorizing about what you do, are and feel. I am not even sure I can grasp the levels you do in this arena. I am sure at the end of the day I will be just as one track as you call The Master. But I need to know. Do you love? Just one person, no one at all, everyone you are with? Does love even mean anything to you. Are you beyond it, beneath it? Is their any Nova you have ever wanted so bad that he stands out over all others? I guess Lemmy but I understand it is only a guess.

This is your realm Slattern and I am only someone asking for enlightenment.

[Slattern]

Love?

Yes. No. Sometimes. All the times.

I'm sorry sweet lover, but those all apply.

To some passion and love are indistinguishable. To others they only interact occasionally. And still others see them as night and day.

I cannot define emotion, it is unique and individual to each of us.

Do I feel if I love?

Absolutely. Every moment of every day, alone, one on one or in a crowd. Watching or participating.

[Wakinyan]

Swoosh!

That was your attempt of explaining flying right past my head! Don't worry though it was my fault. I just get confused about all of this.

You can drool over one thing. You want to tear out your soul and offer it to someone. You want to horde the things you hold dear and covet them like a priceless jewel. You want to leave them free so they can be what they are.

Love is a Fire that burns bright but casts a long dark Shadow.

[Gerald Haney]

Okay. In addition to my duties as part-time Igor I tend bar at the Amp Room (YAY ME!)

And, given the magic peepers I tend to notice what and who is going down. You know what I notice? There ain't no rhyme or reason for who gets freaky with who. Specially since most of us are at least good looking from the neck down.

I've seen tainted out homies with flaming hair and glowing like angels hooking up with pristine queens. And, I know it ain't good, but there is a fine and upstanding member of T2M that has been rocking it 9 1/2 Weeks style with a very mean Elite.

So, when it comes to matters of the heart or pink parts I don't think there is any playbook.

[Wakinyan]

Thanks for the drinks when I stopped by last month Gerald. Thanks also for the info.

Let me ask you this since you see the goings on there.

What lasting relationships do you see? Jake and Andy of course. What else? Is there a comminality link among them? What about opposites? Do you see Earth man and Air Lass hooking up? Is it really so random even with the long term relationships?

[Walker]

Having magic peepers myself I sometimes find that I have to make a real, real effort to tear my eyes away and shut my mouth whenever a super-cute nova walks into the room. I know they have that effect anyway but the way my preternatural senses work... Wow, words don't even come close. I see all the buttons and they're definitely being pushed

In my experience proper romantic type love strikes pretty much at random (kicks you in the nads might be a good metaphor here) and it does seem to have quite a nasty sense of humour sometimes. I don't think this necessarily means that all relationships with a Nova drastically different from yourself are doomed though. Just different problems to overcome than Baselines have. Simple as.

I would also disagree with Alex. I understand what you mean when you say that Novas start from baseline roots however I think with Novas the one thing we have in common is that we are different from Baselines. We do stuff they don't. It is our very unhumanity that binds us. I think a comment I made in another thread applies here. Just because I am capable of love does not mean that I am being Baseline. Since when is love a Baseline exclusive trait?

[Magus]

Since no other species possessing self awareness and the charateristics of "an interior life" demonstrate the capacity for love.

Added:

I see I was being rude in commenting while overlooking the main question. What you term quantum expressions can compliment, hinder, interfere with or outright preclude a relationship. None the less, what begins a relationship is some form of interest.

[Juri 'Salamander' McClendon]

Quote:

Originally posted by Totem:
What about opposites? Do you see Earth man and Air Lass hooking up? Is it really so random even with the long term relationships?

Is that a subtle way of asking if Fire gal ends up with Freeze boy?

[Wakinyan]

......

Am I that obvious?

[Longboard]

Well, I used to put in some work with ice boy, or whatever the hell his name is. no we didnt get a long. but like I've always said, Ive always had a thing for Splash. it less about her powers than Ive got this thing for hot hindu chicks. Also, the fact that she could manipulate water into one massive wave is awesome. Alos, she kicked my ass one time. and thats sexy

[Alex Craft]

"... I think with Novas the one thing we have in common is that we are different from Baselines. We do stuff they don't. It is our very unhumanity that binds us."

I get where you are coming from, but I think it's an inaccurate argument. We are all different from humans, but the specific differences also make us different from each other. A cat and a dog are also different from humans, yet they are not particularly similar.

Granted, all of our divergences are rooted in the ability to tap into quantum, but that doesn't give us any real connection yet. It's possible that at some point in our autoevolution we will find ourselves converging again - making the step from individual quantum expressions to pure, uninflected quantum manipulation.

However, for the time being, we seem to be all running off in different directions (developmentally speaking). These might all be paths to the same place, but it remains that we are currently wandering far afield from one another.

It helps for the time being that we are in such a minority. Right now, it is very easy for us to group ourselves as 'novas,' since we have baselines to compare ourselves to. In an environment in which we only had each other to compare ourselves with, I suspect that we would be segregating to a greater extent. Note that even here, we are using humans as the baseline from which we diverge.

[Morninglight2]

Huh, I got with Amped 'cause we're both teenage novas an' he's kinda cute.

[Jager]

Love comes when you least expect it.

It works when both of you are into it, and hurts when that's not the case.

Expect the fact that there will be differnces. Let's just hope they can be overcome.

It isn't our humanity, or inhumanity that binds. Its magic.

[Lemmy Chillmeister]

The heart wants what the heart wants.

The dick? Well, it wants everything.

[Neil Preston]

Just looking around should be a good guide post to us all. It takes all kinds, but its going to be breath-taking.

[Violette 'V' D'Aronique]

Note that even here, we are using humans as the baseline from which we diverge.

Isn't the natural comparison how we diverge from the parent species, though?

[Walker]

Quote:

Originally posted by Psimon:
Since no other species possessing self awareness and the charateristics of "an interior life" demonstrate the capacity for love.

I'm kinda interested to know what you base that argument on. What else drives certain species of male spider onto the fangs of a female if not love? That's the way they tell it to me when I ask them. I realise that this information may be subjective but it informs my opinion none the less.

Alex All very resonable and good arguments, I particularly liked the one... It's possible that at some point in our autoevolution we will find ourselves converging again - making the step from individual quantum expressions to pure, uninflected quantum manipulation. However not all subjects are amenable to reason so I still think my argument is more accurate. But hey at least I don't think you're a dick

[Neil Preston]

Walker, I will debate you on the spider love-thing. Genetic hardwiring (ie: every male spider will act in the same manner) is not love, though we it could be said that we are genetically pre-conditioned for love. We don't always act the same when engaged in courtship.

What I am more interested in is the bonding species that form emotional ties (shows of effection, signs of grief when their other is lost, ect.), especially porpi and orcas. We could learn alot about love from a non-human perspective.

[Walker]

Neil Spider feels that it will never meet another so lovely and throws itself willing forward to feed it's lover and it's potential young. Good genetic reason beacuse spiders meet so infrequently in the wild, etc.

It's all biochemistry and hormones and stuff but that says nothing about the actual exprience of what it means to be in love and feel it. That's more poetic and stuff. Like.