System Rules
Date First Written: June 2012 ; Date Last Updated: January 2020
What Is This: Some systems create "house rules" for their personal system. Such rules can be helpful for their internal cooperation and functionality. The simplicity or complexity and if the rules are even written down or not, varies widely even among systems with "system rules."
Our system has our own System Rules. Back in 2011, we decided to write down our own “house” rules for our multiple system. At the time we were still struggling to function as a plural system and having defined rules helped us get our act together. Ever since then, we have slowly added to it a few times but mostly just have edited it to make more concise.
If our multiple system didn’t have a religion/spiritual practice that included spirit keeping/companionship, spirit possession, and the like we likely wouldn’t be so keen on having our rules written down so clearly. However, given our spirituality, the possibility ending up with more residents is there. So having a clear list of rules to follow for new people makes it easier.
The following rules apply to all residents of the multiple system referred to as House of Chimeras be they long-term or short-term residents:
Article 1 - General Etiquette
1) Everyone who joins this multiple system is expected to follow the System Rules for this system.
2) Protecting the system as a whole from harm (physical or otherwise) is a top priority.
3) Acknowledge and respect all members of this multiple system as real people.
4) All residents of this multiple system are equals.
5) No resident of this multiple system may physically, verbally, or emotionally abuse anyone in the system or any person outside the system.
6) No resident of this multiple system may harass or assault (physical, emotional, or otherwise) other members of the system or people outside the system.
7) No resident of this multiple system may feed from another system member without their consent.
8) No resident of this multiple system may interfere with any personal relationships between other members of the system.
9) No resident of this multiple system may prevent another system member from carrying out their individual lives within the system.
10) All residents of this multiple system have a right to self-identify and choose or reject personal labels as they see fit.
Article 2 - Mask Etiquette
1) The singlet persona we assume to people we are not out to is to be called our "Mask."
2) The characteristics of our Mask are decided upon by Council vote.
3) The collective name of the multiple system inhabiting this body is called is House of Chimeras.
4) All residents interested in fronting MUST be willing answer to the name on our physical body's birth certificate while fronting.
5) The proclaimed gender identity for this body is non-binary/genderqueer if anyone asks whom we are not out as multiple too.
6) The proclaimed sexual orientation for this body is queer/demisexual to whom we are not out as multiple too.
7) The proclaimed religious label for this body is pagan to whom we are not out as multiple too.
Article 3 - Fronting Etiquette
1) No resident of this multiple system is expected to front unless they wish to do so.
2) All residents of this multiple system must share the front.
3) Removing another active control of the body against their will is frowned upon unless they, at the time, pose a risk to our system's physical body, the social functioning of our system, or to a person outside our system.
4) While fronting, one must follow the laws and code of that world.
5) Any resident of this multiple system who fronts is expected to uphold the presentation of being a singlet unless that person is someone we are out to.
6) Any resident of this multiple system who fronts is expected to uphold the presentation of being human unless that person is someone we are out to.
7) No resident of this multiple system may harm or do any physical damage to the body we reside in. (Neglect to the body counts as harm.)
8) No resident of this multiple system may take any unnecessary risks while fronting that may endanger the body we reside in.
9) While fronting, members need to keep the amount of capital connected to this body and the Council approved budget in mind when considering buying anything.
10) No member may make life changing or permanent decisions relating to our physical body or our life together outside without a vote from the Council.
11) Less permanent changes to the body should still be brought up and voted on at Council.
12) If someone "makes a mess" while fronting (may it be a literal mess or not) they should be the one to clean it up.
13) That said, all residents of this multiple system must take responsibility for the actions of the multiple system as a whole.
14) Any resident of this multiple system can lose some of their privileges to be allowed to front if they do not follow the rules related to fronting.
Article 4 - Coming Out & Being Out Etiquette
1) No resident of this multiple system may come out or be out to a singlet about our existence as a multiple system unless decided upon by council vote.
2) No resident of this multiple system may divulge personal information of other members to a non-system person without their consent.
Article 5 - Council Etiquette
1) Meetings in our multiple system will be called Councils.
2) Anyone may call for a special Council to take place.
3) Attending Council meetings is not required, but it is warmly recommended.
4) A proper Council should consist of at least 70% of all members of the system.
5) No resident of this multiple system may invite non-system members to be a part of our system without a Council agreement.
6) During Council, everyone has a right to speak their peace, but interrupting others will not be tolerated. (Take turns.)
7) Every member in our multiple system has a voice and a vote.
8) Council discussion should continue on a subject until all are at least mostly satisfied with the amount of discussion given on it.
9) A deciding vote of a Council is weighed by majority (over 50%).
10) If the minority disagrees strongly, their stance should influence the final decision.
11) A proper Council session is to be moderated by Titus, Lacunae, & Blindsight.
12) Possible Council topics can include anything worth discussing or sharing. (Examples: Current life events inside or outside, etc.)
Article 6 - Rule Breaking
1) Breaking any of these rules will result in a trial made-up of a Council who will decide a punishment based on nature of the misconduct.
2) Appropriate punishment for rules broken will be handed down based on manner and severity of offense.
3) People caught "skirting" the rules will be punished as if they had broken them.
4) No resident of this multiple system may exploit any loopholes in our system’s rules.
5) If any member of this system discovers any loopholes in our system rules, they are obligated to bring them to attention so they may be corrected.
Article 7 - Spirituality Etiquette
1) No residents of this multiple system may try to proselytize their beliefs to others in the system or any person outside the system.
2) No residents of this multiple system may interfere with the religious practices of others in our multiple system.
Article 8 - Addendum
1) Consent must not have been obtained under duress, through manipulation, or deceit.
2) Consent may be revoked by any person at any time.
3) If there are any questions of ethics not covered above may these phrases provide possible answers:
a) "As long as you harm none, do as you will."
b) "Strive to act with compassion and empathy toward all in accordance with reason."
c) "What you do not want to happen to you, do not do it yourself either."