Wasn’t there any trade between the Exaltation and other V factions?
Exaltationists pride themselves on being self-reliant. Of course, some trade with other V factions existed, but only played a minor role for the Exaltation. For example, Exaltationists could sell pieces of art in exchange for more mundane goods or resources. Occasionally, Exaltationists would go headhunting in other V factions by looking for talented and promising individuals and offering deals involving mentoring them, in the hope that they will switch to the Exaltation.
I suppose those headhunters weren’t welcomed too warmly in the other V factions?
The clashes between the Exaltationist headhunters with other V factions were certainly challenging. There were usually very mixed feelings about them. The Unity was the least worried about them, since individuals had so little value for it that potentially losing some to the Exaltation wasn’t considered as real problem. Members of the Exuberance usually ended up as manics within Exaltationist society, so the Exuberance wasn’t terribly adverse to those headhunters. Freedomists of course respected the liberty of individuals to join the Exaltation, but that didn’t mean they liked losing one of them to the Exaltation. However, the Freedom was good at making deals involving rights for the headhunters to be active for a certain period of time in exchange for valuable goods and resources.
Are there any other special types of Exaltationists?
There is a class of group minds called “dividuals ”. Those are group minds consisting of individuals which form a very tight unit, while still allowing the constituent individuals to exit without too serious consequences for the leaving individual and the remaining dividual. Within a dividual there are very strong telepathic and empathic bonds, but the integrity of the constituent individuals is maintained at all times. Dividuals also exist in other V factions, in particular in the Freedom, but in the Exaltation they are more frequent.
Sounds a bit like a very intimate form of group marriage.
That’s a fair comparison. Dividuals have aspirations that they can pursue much better as a very tight group than as individuals. Therefore, it’s usually a marriage out of utility rather than love.
Why are dividuals more frequent than in the other V factions?
Exaltationists are fiercely competitive. Excelling as individual is an extreme challenge in Exaltationist society, so the route of joining a dividual represents an alternative with potentially much better chances of succeeding at achieving true excellence.
Does it happen that Exaltationists burn out due to the immense pressure within their society?
It often happens that Exaltationists get so frustrated that they give up their current pursuit, or even their membership in the Exaltation. They don’t suffer from actual burnout, since the medical technology can prevent such conditions reliably. Sometimes, individuals leave the Exaltation, because they want a break from the demanding lifestyle, and later rejoin it invigorated from their time in another V faction.
Like taking a vacation or sabbatical? Wouldn’t that be something that is frowned upon in Exaltationist society?
Well, it is typically perceived as low status behavior, but it’s still tolerated. It is acknowledged that even Exaltationists can get “stuck” sometimes.
Would you actually want to join the Exaltation?
Possibly. The pursuit of excellence does resonate strongly with a part of me. What about you?
Maybe after I have explored the other V factions and experience a sudden desire for an extreme challenge. The concept of the dividual does sound intriguing, though. Would you like to join a dividual?
That depends on whether people with a sufficient degree of alignment exist. I think that will be the greatest obstacle, at first.
Yeah, sounds reasonable. Anyway, this has been another phenomenal interview with a lot of intriguing concepts. Thank you again for these interviews!
You are welcome, as always!