A sidesystem is a community term that relates to system structure. It describes a separate group of system members that exist metaphorically "to the side" of the main system, with more separation than would be seen in a Separated Subsystem. The term was coined by Wandering Worlds[1]. A group of sidesystems in one body is called a polyplex (term also coined by Wandering Worlds). An alternate term for Sidesystem with the same meaning is Parallel System, and that term was coined by The Wasteland Compound. An alternative term for polyplex is magistien, coined by The Hollow Willow[2].
A plural with many sidesystems may experience that members of one sidesystem front more frequently than others, or there may be no difference at all.
Metaphorically, if a system is a bookcase, layers of a system would be the shelves, whereas a polyplex would have multiple bookshelves, and it may be more difficult to have communication with system members from other sidesystems than communication between layers would be.
Sidesystems are frequently thought of as an endogenic plurality-only phenomenon, although they exist in systems with Dissociative Identity Disorder as well, often specifically those who are survivors of Ritual Abuse[3], although there was not a specific term in circulation about having multiple systems in one body.
Flags[]
The flag for sidesystems was designed by genderings on Tumblr[4]. The dark blue represents divisions between sidesystems, and the light brown represents the connections/interactions between sidesystems. The dark brown color represents the individual members of the sidesystems. There is a simplified version of the flag as well.
- ↑ Sidesystem term credit on Blossom
- ↑ Magistien coining post by cluster-brains
- ↑ Thread about system hopping by TimeWillNel on Twitter
- ↑ Sidesystem/Parallel System flag by genderings on tumblr