Sandbox:Cladist: Difference between revisions

At the point when a cladist forks into a new instance, the two instances are identical in terms of their history, though their memories from that point immediately begin to diverge, if only by virtue of them having two different physical viewpoints. In most cases, the new instance will retain the same identity as their down-tree instance at first, though over time this may drift. The point at which an instance becomes a new cladist, adopting their own identity (and, often, name) unique from their down-tree, is called ''individuation.'' This is a matter of intent — even if only subconscious or half-sensed — on behalf of the instance, rather than simply a mechanical process.

In "[[Assignment]]", Ioan Bălan#Tracker forks Ioan Bălan#5f39bccd7 to write an article on a [[Religion on the System|flashcult]]. Although this instance remains separate from eir down-tree instance for some time, ey retains the identity of Ioan Bălan. Not only does ey not diverge very long, but it was always eir intent to merge back down.

In ''[[Qoheleth]]'', the instance of Ioan Bălan#Tracker assigned to work on the project with [[Dear]] finds that ey has changed enough in the process as to have individuated. When #Tracker requests that ey merge down, there is a sense of rankling against identity, a sense of jealousy surrounding the hard-won experiences of the project. While ey does merge down, ey first forks in order to remain eir own individual, adopting the name [[Codrin Bălan]], becoming the second member in [[the Bălan clade]].

In ''[[Nevi'im]]'', [[Codrin Bălan Castor|Codrin Bălan#Castor]] decides to send an instance to [[Artemis]] to continue living there. Ey forks and, over the course of a few minutes, the new instance continues to change both physically and in terms of identity, adopting the name [[Sorina Bălan]]. In this sense, given the intent begun before the point of forking, Sorina exists as a unique cladist at the moment of forking, before even changing her name.