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--- plural_glossary:source [2026/06/05 16:21] – created jaime
+++ plural_glossary:source [2026/06/05 16:58] (current) – jaime
@@ Line 6: / Line 6: @@
 ^ Synonyms or near-synonyms | See [[start#headmate sources and roles]]; particularly, [[introject]] |
 ^ Antonyms or near-antonyms | [[Core]], [[host]], [[original]], [[self]] |
+A [[headmate|headmate's]] source is how //they specifically// came to be, as distinct from the [[origin]] of the entire [[system]]. Some headmates are sourced, and some are not.
+===== Sourced headmates =====
 Some [[headmate|headmates]] in a [[system]] may be sourced.
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 For example, a headmate might be sourced [[factive|from a real person]]---often, but not always, someone the system knows---or [[fictive|from a work of fiction]].
-There is a subtle difference between //source// and //sourced.// Because of this, the terminology gets confusing around the antonyms listed above: [[core]], [[host]], [[original]], and [[self]] might all be considered sources (well, host is usually considered more of a [[role]], actually) and yet, a headmate whose source is one of these is usually //not// considered //sourced.// So, for example, you might say a self's //source// is that they are one of the system's selves, but you wouldn't say that that self is one of the system's //sourced// headmates.
+===== Distinction between "source" and "sourced" =====
+There is a subtle difference between //source// and //sourced.// Because of this, the terminology gets confusing around the antonyms listed above: [[core]], [[host]], [[original]], and [[self]] might all be considered //sources// (well, host is usually considered more of a [[role]], actually) and yet, a headmate whose source is one of these is usually //not// considered //sourced.// So, for example, you might say a self's //source// is that they are one of the system's selves, but you wouldn't say that that self is one of the system's //sourced// headmates.
+Perhaps the most sensible way to look at it is this: If you were to ask a headmate, "//what// is your source," then consider the following possible answers:
+  * "I'm the real one;"
+  * "I'm the one who was here to begin with;"
+  * "I'm just me;"
+These are all valid and meaningfully distinct answers to the question, right? Even though they all amount to "you're asking the wrong question."
+Thus, asking a headmate "//are// you sourced" really means "//if// I were to ask you //what// your source is, would you give an answer that does //not// amount to telling me I'm asking the wrong question."
+That is to say, //every// headmate has a "source," which is just //however// they specifically came to be (as distinct from the system's [[origin]]), //regardless// of whether they came //from// somewhere; whereas a //"sourced"// headmate is //specifically one who came from somewhere.//