Notes for "The Condition of Your Selfhood"

[ysabetwordsmith]

These are the notes for "The Condition of Your Selfhood."


"Displacement results in a tenuous relationship with the past, with the self that used to exist and operate in a different place, where the qualities that constituted us were in no need of negotiation. Immigration is an ontological crisis because you are forced to negotiate the conditions of your self-hood under perpetually changing existential circumstances."
-- Aleksandar Hemon

Raymond's doppel lived in a renovated carriage house.

The living room has a hardwood floor with a small rug under the easy chair, leaving most of the space convenient for wheeling. There is an entertainment center but no television set, just a music system. The books include some on coin collecting. The photographs are of children whom Raymond saved.

The kitchen includes a refrigerator, stove, microwave (which is out of reach), and a sink in a separate bar. The sink is made more accessible by the simple expedient of ripping out the cabinet that used to hide the pipes, making a roll-under space.

The bathroom has actually been renovated for accessibility. It includes a toilet, a roll-in shower with seat, and a roll-under sink.

The bedroom has a full-size bed and two end tables on a hardwood floor left clear for easy wheeling.

The upstairs guest room includes a full bed, a chair, two end tables, a dresser, and a mini-microwave.

The attic is full of boxes and other stuff.

A birdfeeding station offers peanuts, thistle seed, sunflower seed, mixed seed, and other things.


Accessibility can be provided through universal design or renovation. However, bear in mind that nothing is truly universal; features that make things easier for one person may make things harder for another. Frex, a lever door handle is nice for people with lower dexterity, but a snagging hazard for people with poor balance. Laws mandating that everything be the same for everyone are disabling for those whose needs vary from whatever some lawmaker thought they "should need." Always adapt for the individual.

Doppelgänger is an old term for a lookalike or copy -- literally, double-goer.

Raymond first mentioned Hentry in "The Spectrum of Your Being."

Cats convey many benefits, especially by purring. Thus they make excellent therapy animals. Apparently a feline demon can serve similar purposes.

Many hobbies are suited for wheelchair users. Raymond is also underestimating what wheelchair users can do, although individual abilities do vary.

Displacement is traumatizing; Raymond and Gideon are effectively refugees, even though nobody else knows it except them. Learn about trauma-informed care of displaced people.

Comments

[zeeth_kyrah]

... just thought of something. If summoning is so well-developed in that world, then it's likely that this sort of dimensional transference has happened before. Knowing the exact circumstances isn't guaranteed, but there may be relevant research that's not normally available.

There may be guides or spirits of history or wisdom available, as well, though they might have to be summoned and/or paid in order to gain access.

Thoughts

[ysabetwordsmith]

It's possible. I suspect that little is known about it because the circumstances for a transfer are so freaky. This isn't like switching between two worlds that are equal in power type. The resonance is very different. Transits involving a world with little power are notoriously difficult, whereas demons and angels freely interact with not-quite-Kansas.

Re: Thoughts

[zeeth_kyrah]

I suspect it would involve extending a little bit of one place into another, or matching a specific resonance and then enabling the swap.. but there are different ways this is likely to work. If one dimension suppresses magic, the method would be to lift that suppression in order to enable the transference; but if one is simply more heavy with power in some way, that would have to be supplied.

Maybe this swap was about correcting an imbalance. They usually are.

[(Anonymous)]

If dimensional swapping is common, might they have a government office or pamphlets available? Or at the very least "Talk to Professor Sanderson; she knows the most about this wierd stuff."

[kellan_the_tabby]

... lever-style door handles are ALSO a difficulty if you have smart cats, ask me how I know. :P

Yes ...

[ysabetwordsmith]

Door handles are among the most salient reasons why there is no such thing as universal design. People have different needs. UD typically mandates only lever door handles, forgetting that the others have important features too and that levers are hazardous in some situations.

Lever handle:
Good for people with strength or dexterity issues, as it's the easiest to open. Also great for anyone who wants to be able to manipulate it with a knee or elbow. This is the only style that can be fiddled open with a hook if you lock yourself out; the others require lockpicks or other tools.
Bad for households with pets or toddlers who should be kept out of some areas. Downright dangerous for anyone with balance issues, and a real nuisance if you favor wrap-style clothes, due to snagging. This is all the worse if you fasten garments with velcro or magnets instead of buttons or zippers.

Mushroom handle:
Classic for a reason. It comes in many stylistic variations, from completely smooth to faceted, for different grips and aesthetics. Comfortable to hold for most people and requires only moderate dexterity to operate. Discourages pets and toddlers from opening doors, but may not prevent them entirely.
Less than ideal for people with balance issues, as it can still snag. Some with bad dexterity issues may not be able to grip it.

Tubular handle:
Requires a good grip and dexterity to open, so pets and toddlers can't get past it. You can even get a sort of slipcover that makes it even harder to open. Almost no chance of snagging, so best for people with balance issues or wrap clothing.
Unusable by most people with strength or dexterity issues. Also a real pain in the ass for anyone carrying bulky items; even everyday things like a load of laundry can turn this into an obstacle.

It's all about the needs, strengths and weaknesses of your individual household. There is no one door handle that works equally well for everyone. The closest is the mushroom handle, which works moderately well for most purposes, but doesn't excel at anything except variety.