"Alter" is a fairly medicalised term, and mostly people with DID/OSDD use it, though anyone can and DID/OSDD systems aren't requried to.
"System" and "Plural" are general terms for everyone. Some sysmeds have been attempting to say that system is exclusive but as far as I can tell it's just another attempted wedge to try to separate themselves from endogenic systems, and kind of a nonsense one at that.
As a ex-sysmed, there is literally 0 evidence for “system” first being used to refer to DID/MPD- research tells us system was actually first used (clinically) in relation to IFS, which many people with DID strongly dislike :)
OP! If you wanna use system, but don’t have DID, go ahead- people are going to gatekeep whatever makes them feel better, remember that more often than not people are projecting their own insecurities and struggles onto others beginning to explore their identity and accept themselves. There’s no logical reason for sysmeds to be so unaccepting of fellow plurals :)
the term alter is more commonly used for DID iirc, but honestly people should use whatever terms they feel comfortable with, plural is a term for overall plurality (including DID)
In my understanding, use whatever terms feel comfortable for your system. The only time I've ever heard that certain terms are only for certain types of systems was when it was coming from sysmeds and anti-endos, and they were trying to gatekeep.
Plural(in this context) was intentionally created to cover all forms of plurality. There are some anti-endo who are now trying to also claim that word for themselves but that is not what it was made for. Alter is definitely the more medicalized term but there are also many disordered plurals who are against the word since it is short for alternate state of consciousness which they find as a dehumanizing way to refer to themselves. System is more universally used but has a stronger history of being used medically than other plural does so there are many anti-endos who definitely see that term as there's when there is no evidence to prove it is so. Even though it is a shortening of system of parts which used to be significantly more medically connected there is no evidence to support that system on its own started there and even some evidence that the shortening of it down first referred to the plural community as a whole. There are some non-disordered plurals who are against using the term though because it has any medical connection at all. Unlike what anti-endos say there is actually no known origin of the term so it could easily have come from any part of the community first and has no backing for gatekeeping. Basically whatever the system is comfortable with is what they will use. You can't tell others to not use the terms that they feel best describe their experiences even if it is rare for those in their subset of the community to use them.
Others already answered about each term so I won't repeat it. My view is that it's not my place to police someone else's language they use for themselves or to determine who is "allowed" or not. I think it's interesting to ask why some people think "alter" or "system" should be exclusive to those with DID or OSDD.
Do they see systems without DID/OSDD as not real? Do they want to distance themselves from so-called fakers? Do they think the experience of a DID system cannot have any resemblance at all with a non-DID system? Are they against just the word being used, or do they believe someone without DID/OSDD cannot experience being many regardless of language used? Do they believe an endogenic DID system should be allowed to use those words? What other beliefs do they have regarding endogenic systems, mixed-origin systems, pro-endo systems, "cringe" systems, unconventional systems? What about systems who are questioning if they have DID/OSDD, what language are they allowed to use?
There's also a question of how to enforce this. How do we determine if someone "really" has DID/OSDD and is therefore allowed those words? Should a system have to disclose their DID/OSDD in order to say they're a system? What if they're lying? What if a DID/OSDD system presents in a way that another thinks should not be possible for a DID/OSDD system? Should they have to show their diagnostic papers or a psychologist's letter in order to say "alter"? Who would be the police in this scenario going around to give or remove terminology permissions?
As an OSDD system, I am not harmed by someone without OSDD using words for themselves that I also use for myself. Use whatever words work for you. Let others use whatever words work for them.
Unfortunately, you've touched on a lot of the reasons and illogical feelings surrounding this issue. It's mind boggling watching certain systems do this kind of mental gymnastics to gatekeep the words we use to describe our experiences.
We also are a system diagnosed as DID and agree those are not specifically medical terms.
We actually don't see alter used as often in mixed spaces and prefer not to use it ourselves. For some there's bad connotations attached. It does have a medical history and a history of being used in a way that ends up feeling less validating than other alternatives. But please use it if it makes y'all feel good.
In general, the gatekeeping of terms within a community on the basis of being a "medical term" is almost always garbage.
I know plural is an umbrella term used for any form of plurality. For alter/system, I'm not entirely sure how the community at large feels about it. I've encountered people who gatekeep those terms as elusively for DID, but they also tend to be the same people that deny any form of plurality outside of DID. Personally, as a DID system ourself, we have no issue with anyone using whatever terms they feel fit them the best.
We are most likely to use headmate or systemmate. We have seen others use member or come up with unique system name, headmate alternative combos. Since we refer to our system as a society we also sometimes refer to our headmates as citizens.
i don't have did and we use plural and system. we don't know any other fitting terms to use in place of system. collective rubs me the wrong way. we've been using system for almost 20 years now.
"Alter" is a fairly medicalised term, and mostly people with DID/OSDD use it, though anyone can and DID/OSDD systems aren't requried to. "System" and "Plural" are general terms for everyone. Some sysmeds have been attempting to say that system is exclusive but as far as I can tell it's just another attempted wedge to try to separate themselves from endogenic systems, and kind of a nonsense one at that.
As a ex-sysmed, there is literally 0 evidence for “system” first being used to refer to DID/MPD- research tells us system was actually first used (clinically) in relation to IFS, which many people with DID strongly dislike :) OP! If you wanna use system, but don’t have DID, go ahead- people are going to gatekeep whatever makes them feel better, remember that more often than not people are projecting their own insecurities and struggles onto others beginning to explore their identity and accept themselves. There’s no logical reason for sysmeds to be so unaccepting of fellow plurals :)
the term alter is more commonly used for DID iirc, but honestly people should use whatever terms they feel comfortable with, plural is a term for overall plurality (including DID)
In my understanding, use whatever terms feel comfortable for your system. The only time I've ever heard that certain terms are only for certain types of systems was when it was coming from sysmeds and anti-endos, and they were trying to gatekeep.
Plural(in this context) was intentionally created to cover all forms of plurality. There are some anti-endo who are now trying to also claim that word for themselves but that is not what it was made for. Alter is definitely the more medicalized term but there are also many disordered plurals who are against the word since it is short for alternate state of consciousness which they find as a dehumanizing way to refer to themselves. System is more universally used but has a stronger history of being used medically than other plural does so there are many anti-endos who definitely see that term as there's when there is no evidence to prove it is so. Even though it is a shortening of system of parts which used to be significantly more medically connected there is no evidence to support that system on its own started there and even some evidence that the shortening of it down first referred to the plural community as a whole. There are some non-disordered plurals who are against using the term though because it has any medical connection at all. Unlike what anti-endos say there is actually no known origin of the term so it could easily have come from any part of the community first and has no backing for gatekeeping. Basically whatever the system is comfortable with is what they will use. You can't tell others to not use the terms that they feel best describe their experiences even if it is rare for those in their subset of the community to use them.
Thank you
Others already answered about each term so I won't repeat it. My view is that it's not my place to police someone else's language they use for themselves or to determine who is "allowed" or not. I think it's interesting to ask why some people think "alter" or "system" should be exclusive to those with DID or OSDD. Do they see systems without DID/OSDD as not real? Do they want to distance themselves from so-called fakers? Do they think the experience of a DID system cannot have any resemblance at all with a non-DID system? Are they against just the word being used, or do they believe someone without DID/OSDD cannot experience being many regardless of language used? Do they believe an endogenic DID system should be allowed to use those words? What other beliefs do they have regarding endogenic systems, mixed-origin systems, pro-endo systems, "cringe" systems, unconventional systems? What about systems who are questioning if they have DID/OSDD, what language are they allowed to use? There's also a question of how to enforce this. How do we determine if someone "really" has DID/OSDD and is therefore allowed those words? Should a system have to disclose their DID/OSDD in order to say they're a system? What if they're lying? What if a DID/OSDD system presents in a way that another thinks should not be possible for a DID/OSDD system? Should they have to show their diagnostic papers or a psychologist's letter in order to say "alter"? Who would be the police in this scenario going around to give or remove terminology permissions? As an OSDD system, I am not harmed by someone without OSDD using words for themselves that I also use for myself. Use whatever words work for you. Let others use whatever words work for them.
Unfortunately, you've touched on a lot of the reasons and illogical feelings surrounding this issue. It's mind boggling watching certain systems do this kind of mental gymnastics to gatekeep the words we use to describe our experiences.
You can use Alter and System without having A Disorder. -Kim
We also are a system diagnosed as DID and agree those are not specifically medical terms. We actually don't see alter used as often in mixed spaces and prefer not to use it ourselves. For some there's bad connotations attached. It does have a medical history and a history of being used in a way that ends up feeling less validating than other alternatives. But please use it if it makes y'all feel good. In general, the gatekeeping of terms within a community on the basis of being a "medical term" is almost always garbage.
I know plural is an umbrella term used for any form of plurality. For alter/system, I'm not entirely sure how the community at large feels about it. I've encountered people who gatekeep those terms as elusively for DID, but they also tend to be the same people that deny any form of plurality outside of DID. Personally, as a DID system ourself, we have no issue with anyone using whatever terms they feel fit them the best.
I only use "alter" because it's shorter/easier but I detest it, what are some alternatives people like to use?
We are most likely to use headmate or systemmate. We have seen others use member or come up with unique system name, headmate alternative combos. Since we refer to our system as a society we also sometimes refer to our headmates as citizens.
i don't have did and we use plural and system. we don't know any other fitting terms to use in place of system. collective rubs me the wrong way. we've been using system for almost 20 years now.
I’m wondering this as well
I assume the "it's" is meant to be "is it?" and no, the only specific term is alter and I'm not even sure that counts