Abyss

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====== Source ======

(Namespace: [[plural glossary:start]])

^ Type of term | Attribute of a [[headmate]] |
^ 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.

This means, rather than being invented wholesale or directly representing a version of the system's collective person, the headmate represents someone or something //else,// that already existed //outside// the system (//or,// in the case of some types of [[autoject|autojects]], already existed as a //different// part of the system).

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]].

===== 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.//