\"Writing.Com
*Magnify*
SPONSORED LINKS
Printed from https://writing.com/main/forums/message_id/3400225
by Seuzz Author IconMail Icon
Rated: 18+ · Message Forum · Fantasy · #2180090
Message forum for readers of the BoM/TWS interactive universe.
<< Previous  •  Message List  •  Next >>
Reply  •  Post New
Jan 31, 2021 at 1:50pm
#3400225
Re: Re: For Any with Questions on Libra Magic: Post Them ...
by Seuzz Author IconMail Icon
This is a question the presupposes clear answers to certain questions about the nature of the mind. Never mind the answers: I wonder if those "certain questions" can even be asked with any clarity.

So, I approach this issue by asking what it would look like, from a story/writing perspective, if you could make such a mind blend.

To start with, when I write about Will having someone else's brain inside with his, I try to make it clear that, to him, this is just like having an "inside" mask that he take on and off. Or like switching between looking through a red-filter lens and a green-filter lens. He can think with one of the brains, or with the other. Sometimes, he finds himself slipping from one to the other without realizing it, and sometimes he might not be sure which brain is influencing him. But in all cases, there is a pretty strong difference between the memories and personality that are his, and those that are of the mind band.

First question: Would it be possible to create a mind band that contained two discrete mind/personalities, so that wearing such a thing would allow Will to flip between his mind, and each of the others? In other words, a mind-band that would give him three brains to flip between in the above way? I suppose so. It would be just like the above case, but with three choices of minds to think/look with, rather than two.

But I don't take that to be the question here, which asks about a "blend."

How would such an experience be written?

Someone more ingenious than me might be able to pull it off, but I don't think I could. Because, for a start, all the memories would be jumbled up. What would that be like? When I remember my sixth birthday party, I remember it as being something that happened to me. If I had someone else's brain inside mine (as above) I could "remember" it as happening to "me", but the "me" would be that other person. But if I blended two other people, shuffling memories, etc., together, what would be the "me" that goes with the memory of a sixth birthday party? Particularly if there are two different birthday parties? Would I (wearing the band) know that one party went with the "me" that was Jenny and the other went with the "me" that was Yumi? In that case, the two personalities aren't blended, they're just chaotically jumbled up, without any kind of pattern. But if they are blended, then the "Yeni" "me" would remember two very different birthday parties as being "mine."

And so on for all the other memories.

The result would be a confusing mess, hard to write and unprofitable to wrestle with.

Through these reflections, one might begin to glimpse the philosophical problems that the question points toward. Memories are like the colors on a surface: there is not only a "color" there, but a surface that is that color. Similarly, there are not just memories, but there is (at least in one's own experience) a person whose memories those are. But memories don't "blend" -- how can one have a memory of a birthday party that was held both in California and in Texas, in February and also in November, where there were ten friends in attendance and also no more than eight? And if memories can't blend, how can the people whose memories those are blend?

This isn't meant to settle the question decisively. It is only to suggest that it would be too hard to write. For that reason -- to put the thing beyond temptation -- I am strongly inclined to rule the answer as: No, this couldn't be done even via magic.
MESSAGE THREAD
For Any with Questions on Libra Magic: Post Them Here · 09-09-20 3:19pm
by Seuzz Author IconMail Icon
Re: For Any with Questions on Libra Magic: Post Them Here · 09-13-20 3:34pm
by Masktrix Author IconMail Icon
Re: Re: For Any with Questions on Libra Magic: Post Them ... · 09-13-20 3:45pm
by A Non-Existent User
Re: Re: For Any with Questions on Libra Magic: Post Them ... · 09-13-20 4:28pm
by rugal b. Author IconMail Icon
Re: Re: Re: For Any with Questions on Libra Magic: Post T... · 09-13-20 5:16pm
by Seuzz Author IconMail Icon
Re: Re: Re: Re: For Any with Questions on Libra Magic: Po... · 09-13-20 5:18pm
by A Non-Existent User
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: For Any with Questions on Libra Magic... · 09-13-20 5:27pm
by Seuzz Author IconMail Icon
Re: Re: Re: For Any with Questions on Libra Magic: Post T... · 09-13-20 6:32pm
by Nostrum Author IconMail Icon
Re: Re: Re: Re: For Any with Questions on Libra Magic: Po... · 09-13-20 7:10pm
by A Non-Existent User
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: For Any with Questions on Libra Magic... · 09-13-20 8:07pm
by Kenny Author IconMail Icon
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: For Any with Questions on Libra M... · 09-13-20 8:16pm
by A Non-Existent User
Re: For Any with Questions on Libra Magic: Post Them Here · 09-14-20 6:07pm
by A Non-Existent User
Re: Re: For Any with Questions on Libra Magic: Post Them ... · 09-14-20 6:24pm
by Seuzz Author IconMail Icon
Re: Re: Re: For Any with Questions on Libra Magic: Post T... · 09-14-20 7:10pm
by Wordsmitty ✍️ Author IconMail Icon
Re: For Any with Questions on Libra Magic: Post Them Here · 09-17-20 2:09pm
by imaj Author IconMail Icon
Re: Re: For Any with Questions on Libra Magic: Post Them ... · 09-17-20 2:40pm
by A Non-Existent User
Re: Re: Re: For Any with Questions on Libra Magic: Post T... · 09-17-20 2:58pm
by imaj Author IconMail Icon
Re: Re: Re: Re: For Any with Questions on Libra Magic: Po... · 09-17-20 3:09pm
by A Non-Existent User
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: For Any with Questions on Libra Magic... · 09-17-20 3:31pm
by Seuzz Author IconMail Icon
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: For Any with Questions on Libra Magic... · 09-17-20 4:47pm
by Nostrum Author IconMail Icon
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: For Any with Questions on Libra M... · 09-19-20 12:28am
by lexos02 Author IconMail Icon
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: For Any with Questions on Lib... · 09-19-20 2:05am
by A Non-Existent User
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: For Any with Questions on Lib... · 09-19-20 2:54am
by Wordsmitty ✍️ Author IconMail Icon
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: For Any with Questions on... · 09-19-20 3:33am
by A Non-Existent User
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: For Any with Question... · 09-19-20 2:40pm
by imaj Author IconMail Icon
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: For Any with Ques... · 09-19-20 4:44pm
by Masktrix Author IconMail Icon
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: For Any with ... · 09-19-20 5:35pm
by A Non-Existent User
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: For Any with ... · 09-19-20 6:06pm
by Wordsmitty ✍️ Author IconMail Icon
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: For Any w... · 09-19-20 6:11pm
by A Non-Existent User
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: For A... · 09-19-20 10:18pm
by lexos02 Author IconMail Icon
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: F... · 09-19-20 10:33pm
by A Non-Existent User
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: F... · 09-19-20 10:33pm
by Seuzz Author IconMail Icon
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: R... · 09-19-20 10:55pm
by lexos02 Author IconMail Icon
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: R... · 09-19-20 10:59pm
by A Non-Existent User
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: R... · 09-19-20 11:26pm
by Masktrix Author IconMail Icon
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: R... · 09-19-20 11:31pm
by A Non-Existent User
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: R... · 09-20-20 12:32am
by Seuzz Author IconMail Icon
Re: For Any with Questions on Libra Magic: Post Them Here · 09-20-20 6:23pm
by A Non-Existent User
Re: Re: For Any with Questions on Libra Magic: Post Them ... · 09-21-20 12:51pm
by imaj Author IconMail Icon
Re: Re: Re: For Any with Questions on Libra Magic: Post T... · 09-21-20 1:32pm
by Nostrum Author IconMail Icon
Re: Re: Re: Re: For Any with Questions on Libra Magic: Po... · 09-21-20 2:50pm
by imaj Author IconMail Icon
Re: Re: Re: Re: For Any with Questions on Libra Magic: Po... · 09-21-20 3:52pm
by A Non-Existent User
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: For Any with Questions on Libra Magic... · 09-27-20 7:46pm
by Masktrix Author IconMail Icon
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: For Any with Questions on Libra M... · 09-27-20 8:09pm
by Seuzz Author IconMail Icon
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: For Any with Questions on Lib... · 09-29-20 5:56am
by lexos02 Author IconMail Icon
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: For Any with Questions on... · 09-29-20 8:42am
by Seuzz Author IconMail Icon
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: For Any with Question... · 10-04-20 10:38pm
by Nostrum Author IconMail Icon
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: For Any with Ques... · 10-05-20 8:39am
by Seuzz Author IconMail Icon
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: For Any with ... · 10-05-20 8:58am
by Nostrum Author IconMail Icon
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: For Any w... · 10-05-20 9:04am
by Seuzz Author IconMail Icon
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: For A... · 10-05-20 9:11am
by A Non-Existent User
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: F... · 10-05-20 10:47am
by Seuzz Author IconMail Icon
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: R... · 10-05-20 11:04am
by A Non-Existent User
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: R... · 10-07-20 1:03pm
by Seuzz Author IconMail Icon
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: R... · 10-07-20 1:08pm
by A Non-Existent User
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: R... · 11-10-20 5:27pm
by A Non-Existent User
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: R... · 11-10-20 6:03pm
by Seuzz Author IconMail Icon
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: R... · 11-10-20 9:54pm
by A Non-Existent User
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: R... · 11-11-20 1:52pm
by Seuzz Author IconMail Icon
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: R... · 11-11-20 1:53pm
by A Non-Existent User
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: R... · 11-11-20 2:01pm
by Seuzz Author IconMail Icon
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: R... · 11-21-20 8:13am
by lexos02 Author IconMail Icon
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: R... · 11-21-20 8:31am
by Seuzz Author IconMail Icon
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: R... · 11-22-20 2:02pm
by ThePrussian Author IconMail Icon
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: R... · 11-23-20 8:02am
by Seuzz Author IconMail Icon
Re: For Any with Questions on Libra Magic: Post Them Here · 01-31-21 12:22pm
by rugal b. Author IconMail Icon
*Star* Re: Re: For Any with Questions on Libra Magic: Post Them ... · 01-31-21 1:50pm
by Seuzz Author IconMail Icon
Re: Re: Re: For Any with Questions on Libra Magic: Post T... · 01-31-21 4:08pm
by Wordsmitty ✍️ Author IconMail Icon
Re: Re: Re: For Any with Questions on Libra Magic: Post T... · 01-31-21 10:16pm
by Nostrum Author IconMail Icon
Re: Re: Re: Re: For Any with Questions on Libra Magic: Po... · 02-01-21 3:46am
by imaj Author IconMail Icon
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: For Any with Questions on Libra Magic... · 02-01-21 1:01pm
by ThePrussian Author IconMail Icon
Re: For Any with Questions on Libra Magic: Post Them Here · 11-29-21 11:06pm
by rugal b. Author IconMail Icon
Re: Re: For Any with Questions on Libra Magic: Post Them ... · 11-30-21 10:22am
by ThePrussian Author IconMail Icon
Re: For Any with Questions on Libra Magic: Post Them Here · 11-30-21 1:59pm
by ThePrussian Author IconMail Icon
Re: Re: For Any with Questions on Libra Magic: Post Them ... · 12-24-21 6:01am
by ThePrussian Author IconMail Icon
Re: Re: Re: For Any with Questions on Libra Magic: Post T... · 12-24-21 8:11am
by Seuzz Author IconMail Icon
Re: Re: Re: Re: For Any with Questions on Libra Magic: Po... · 12-24-21 8:26am
by ThePrussian Author IconMail Icon
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: For Any with Questions on Libra Magic... · 12-24-21 9:27am
by Seuzz Author IconMail Icon
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: For Any with Questions on Libra M... · 12-24-21 12:00pm
by ThePrussian Author IconMail Icon
Re: For Any with Questions on Libra Magic: Post Them Here · 01-01-22 5:18pm
by rugal b. Author IconMail Icon
Re: Re: For Any with Questions on Libra Magic: Post Them ... · 01-01-22 6:11pm
by Nostrum Author IconMail Icon
Re: Re: Re: For Any with Questions on Libra Magic: Post T... · 01-01-22 7:46pm
by ThePrussian Author IconMail Icon
Re: Re: Re: Re: For Any with Questions on Libra Magic: Po... · 01-02-22 7:15am
by Seuzz Author IconMail Icon
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: For Any with Questions on Libra Magic... · 08-02-22 9:03am
by Seuzz Author IconMail Icon
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: For Any with Questions on Libra M... · 08-02-22 6:32pm
by ThePrussian Author IconMail Icon
Re: Re: For Any with Questions on Libra Magic: Post Them ... · 01-01-22 7:19pm
by ThePrussian Author IconMail Icon
Re: For Any with Questions on Libra Magic: Post Them Here · 07-26-23 8:11pm
by rugal b. Author IconMail Icon
Re: Re: For Any with Questions on Libra Magic: Post Them ... · 07-26-23 8:44pm
by Nostrum Author IconMail Icon
Re: Re: Re: For Any with Questions on Libra Magic: Post T... · 07-26-23 9:51pm
by Wordsmitty ✍️ Author IconMail Icon
Re: Re: Re: Re: For Any with Questions on Libra Magic: Po... · 07-27-23 7:49am
by Seuzz Author IconMail Icon
Re: For Any with Questions on Libra Magic: Post Them Here · 03-21-24 1:56am
by ThePrussian Author IconMail Icon
Re: Re: For Any with Questions on Libra Magic: Post Them ... · 03-21-24 2:49am
by Nostrum Author IconMail Icon
Re: Re: Re: For Any with Questions on Libra Magic: Post T... · 03-22-24 10:41pm
by ThePrussian Author IconMail Icon
Re: For Any with Questions on Libra Magic: Post Them Here · 04-09-24 12:19pm
by ThePrussian Author IconMail Icon
Re: Re: For Any with Questions on Libra Magic: Post Them ... · 04-09-24 6:08pm
by Nostrum Author IconMail Icon
Re: Re: Re: For Any with Questions on Libra Magic: Post T... · 04-10-24 5:47am
by ThePrussian Author IconMail Icon
Re: Re: Re: Re: For Any with Questions on Libra Magic: Po... · 09-14-24 9:53pm
by rugal b. Author IconMail Icon
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: For Any with Questions on Libra Magic... · 09-14-24 11:08pm
by T.G.Almeida Author IconMail Icon
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: For Any with Questions on Libra M... · 09-15-24 4:25pm
by rugal b. Author IconMail Icon
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: For Any with Questions on Lib... · 09-15-24 7:18pm
by Nostrum Author IconMail Icon
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: For Any with Questions on... · 09-15-24 7:31pm
by rugal b. Author IconMail Icon
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: For Any with Question... · 09-15-24 7:51pm
by Wordsmitty ✍️ Author IconMail Icon
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: For Any with Ques... · 09-15-24 11:58pm
by ThePrussian Author IconMail Icon
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: For Any with Questions on Libra Magic... · 09-15-24 11:44pm
by ThePrussian Author IconMail Icon

The following section applies to this forum item as a whole, not this individual post.
Any feedback sent through it will go to the forum's owner, Seuzz.
Printed from https://writing.com/main/forums/message_id/3400225