>> Hmmmm. Cool. That *is* a different way of thinking about it. <<
Sooth.
>> Would also tend to limit the spread of assholes, no? <<
It does! Getting onto a hiveship crew requires fluent community skills, because you have to interface not just with the ship (who is basically a plural person) but also with your human crewmates. It's a long-term relationship, carefully assembled. Assholes are not usually good at this.
Plus you have to have some affinity for the jumptech in general. This varies from low to high. Some people actually have an aversion to it. Shapeshifters tend to have high affinity. So do people with other prominent modifications; each planet has its own challenges and jumptech has been used to try and compensate for those, sometimes leaving vivid genetic changes. A lower affinity is required for traveling as a passenger than for becoming crew.
On the downside, you know how bullies sometimes form gangs? That's a thing that can happen with a hiveship, and they'll attract a human crew with compatible personalities and interests. The affinity comes in subtly varied bandwidths so not everyone is all attracted to each other, although there's a general pull toward anyone with affinity. This compound negativity is uncommon, but it can get really ugly when it happens. Alas, no galaxy or species is free of assholes.
It's just harder for them to travel through the jump network. The more hostile, less congenial people tend to have lower group function and lower affinity for biotech. If they want to go somewhere, they're more likely to seek a plain metal ship -- which do still exist -- but the travel hazards are higher. Sometimes the gate decides to change the destination, or the passengers, or it just kills people. Most gates are reliable, but you just never know for sure.
And it's never going to stop being funny watching mistreated guns bite people.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dancing_serpent
Re: Thank you!
Date: 2014-03-16 05:26 am (UTC)Sooth.
>> Would also tend to limit the spread of assholes, no? <<
It does! Getting onto a hiveship crew requires fluent community skills, because you have to interface not just with the ship (who is basically a plural person) but also with your human crewmates. It's a long-term relationship, carefully assembled. Assholes are not usually good at this.
Plus you have to have some affinity for the jumptech in general. This varies from low to high. Some people actually have an aversion to it. Shapeshifters tend to have high affinity. So do people with other prominent modifications; each planet has its own challenges and jumptech has been used to try and compensate for those, sometimes leaving vivid genetic changes. A lower affinity is required for traveling as a passenger than for becoming crew.
On the downside, you know how bullies sometimes form gangs? That's a thing that can happen with a hiveship, and they'll attract a human crew with compatible personalities and interests. The affinity comes in subtly varied bandwidths so not everyone is all attracted to each other, although there's a general pull toward anyone with affinity. This compound negativity is uncommon, but it can get really ugly when it happens. Alas, no galaxy or species is free of assholes.
It's just harder for them to travel through the jump network. The more hostile, less congenial people tend to have lower group function and lower affinity for biotech. If they want to go somewhere, they're more likely to seek a plain metal ship -- which do still exist -- but the travel hazards are higher. Sometimes the gate decides to change the destination, or the passengers, or it just kills people. Most gates are reliable, but you just never know for sure.
And it's never going to stop being funny watching mistreated guns bite people.