Multi-generational bonding

Since the series probably won't last long enough to actually cover it, I guess it should be ok to bring it up.

We all know that it was a Harrington that was first "adopted", And if we assume that at least 1 Harrington from each generation in a direct line leading up to Honor herself was also similarly adopted, it leads to a rather interesting thought: the effects of that adoption on each successive person down the line.

If you figure that it started with Stephanie, it could explain not only Honor's abilities but what could be in store for either her immediate children, or it could take as far off as her grandchildren.

What I'm suspecting is that each bonding permanently changes the adopted human's neural pathways, and when that person has children then the minds of those children tend to be somewhat altered/different from normal humanity. Then factor in that one or more of those children get adopted themselves - which further alters their brains.

Do you see what I mean?
It could easily explain WHY the link between Honor and Nimitz allows them to more readily communicate on a mental level! Which would mean that if one or more of the children she has with Hammish wind up ALSO getting adopted by a treecat (Particularly at a young age, as both Stephanie and Honor were), either they or their own children (Honor's grandchildren) could very well develop the ability to communicate telepathically with their treecats, much as the 'cats do with each other!!!!!

MIND-BLOWING, huh?

I do indeed see what you mean. It seems that RFC is following that logic himself.

Take Raoul for instance. I think it was Raoul, someone'll correct me if not, what happens when a treecat is right there during birth, an advantage no other treecat or human prior had enjoyed. A time when a human baby's sensors are first turned to the world and asks "Where the heck am I and what is all this light?" When a baby's first real contact is with a treecat.

Another rabbit hole these meanderings lead to, is whether the "dependency itself" between the human - cat bond will become as strong as well, resulting in certain death of the human upon death of his/her treecat?

Problem there is that Alfred wasn't adopted, nor was Alison.

I'm also pretty sure that whilst Harringtons have had the highest proportion of adoptions, it's not quite a once-per-generation thing - but it can't be far off either (as the Wintons are number 2, and theirs have been almost generational).

WLBjork wrote:Problem there is that Alfred wasn't adopted, nor was Alison.

I'm also pretty sure that whilst Harringtons have had the highest proportion of adoptions, it's not quite a once-per-generation thing - but it can't be far off either (as the Wintons are number 2, and theirs have been almost generational).

Yet at the same time, the adoptions in the Winton line have tended to be when they were a lot closer to adulthood. And while I could be wrong, I thought I remember reading that Stephanie Harrington was long dead by the time the first Winton became adopted.

WLBjork wrote:Problem there is that Alfred wasn't adopted, nor was Alison.

I'm also pretty sure that whilst Harringtons have had the highest proportion of adoptions, it's not quite a once-per-generation thing - but it can't be far off either (as the Wintons are number 2, and theirs have been almost generational).

Remember though, that the treecats had to "decide" to trust humans. Their interaction with humans was limited. They even hid their intelligence.

Now that they've "fairly recently" decided to step up their interaction with humans they even have a colony on Grayson. This level of interaction with possible bondees broadens the horizon, and gives the treecats a much more varied grocery store in which to shop for "tastes."

I'm sure humanity has far too many wholeasses and not enough Harringtons and Wintons. Treecats don't like the taste of human wholeass any more than I do.

Not sure what mechanism you are proposing to pass on the trait?
If it's mother to child bonding (either in the womb or childhood) that alters the pathways then that makes sense.
If you are talking about traits being passed on genetically that are reinforced by the parent having bonded, that doesn't make sense. As one researcher said if that process works there wouldn't be a need to circumcise Jewish boy children anymore.

RedBaron wrote:Since the series probably won't last long enough to actually cover it, I guess it should be ok to bring it up.

We all know that it was a Harrington that was first "adopted", And if we assume that at least 1 Harrington from each generation in a direct line leading up to Honor herself was also similarly adopted, it leads to a rather interesting thought: the effects of that adoption on each successive person down the line.

If you figure that it started with Stephanie, it could explain not only Honor's abilities but what could be in store for either her immediate children, or it could take as far off as her grandchildren.

What I'm suspecting is that each bonding permanently changes the adopted human's neural pathways, and when that person has children then the minds of those children tend to be somewhat altered/different from normal humanity. Then factor in that one or more of those children get adopted themselves - which further alters their brains.

Do you see what I mean?
It could easily explain WHY the link between Honor and Nimitz allows them to more readily communicate on a mental level! Which would mean that if one or more of the children she has with Hammish wind up ALSO getting adopted by a treecat (Particularly at a young age, as both Stephanie and Honor were), either they or their own children (Honor's grandchildren) could very well develop the ability to communicate telepathically with their treecats, much as the 'cats do with each other!!!!!

MIND-BLOWING, huh?

Daryl wrote:Can't can't can't can't can't can't can't can't can't can't can't can't can't can't can't can't can't can't can't can't can't can't can't can't can't can't can't can't can't can't can't can't can't can't can't can't can't can't can't can't can't can't can't can't can't

Great, here we go again.

WLBjork wrote:Problem there is that Alfred wasn't adopted, nor was Alison.

I'm also pretty sure that whilst Harringtons have had the highest proportion of adoptions, it's not quite a once-per-generation thing - but it can't be far off either (as the Wintons are number 2, and theirs have been almost generational).

Yet, how exposed were Alfred and Alison to treecats as a whole during their time? And I wonder if occupation and age would have a bearing on the fruit.

I see bonding as the same concept as a human finding his/her soulmate. If you exclude certain races, religions, occupations and also factor in geographic separation then the chance of finding one's soulmate seriously dwindles.

Geographic separation seems to be changing for the cats, which is a positive. And if certain genetic modifications are a necessity, that becomes a limiting factor.

And hopefully the human hosts' minds will be more acceptable as youths, before they become too hardwired in their ways.

At any rate, I suspect that the larger overall interaction between species will see more adoptions.

What I always wondered, is why treecats can't taste a human's mindglow and know whether it's suitable for him or her without ever actually meeting him -- from the taste of that mindglow from his colleague.

<Gather around cats, I've got a wealth of new minds for you all to taste. "Acts Wildly" I've got one I think you'll like quite well>

cthia wrote:

WLBjork wrote:Problem there is that Alfred wasn't adopted, nor was Alison.

I'm also pretty sure that whilst Harringtons have had the highest proportion of adoptions, it's not quite a once-per-generation thing - but it can't be far off either (as the Wintons are number 2, and theirs have been almost generational).

Yet, how exposed were Alfred and Alison to treecats as a whole during their time? And I wonder if occupation and age would have a bearing on the fruit.

I see bonding as the same concept as a human finding his/her soulmate. If you exclude certain races, religions, occupations and also factor in geographic separation then the chance of finding one's soulmate seriously dwindles.

Geographic separation seems to be changing for the cats, which is a positive. And if certain genetic modifications are a necessity, that becomes a limiting factor.

And hopefully the human hosts' minds will be more acceptable as youths, before they become too hardwired in their ways.

At any rate, I suspect that the larger overall interaction between species will see more adoptions.

What I always wondered, is why treecats can't taste a human's mindglow and know whether it's suitable for him or her without ever actually meeting him -- from the taste of that mindglow from his colleague.

<Gather around cats, I've got a wealth of new minds for you all to taste. "Acts Wildly" I've got one I think you'll like quite well>

IIRC, from Worlds of Honor 6 (Beginnings) in the short story Beauty and the Beast, the link between Alison & Alfred was akin to bonding, and in the Best Laid Plans story before he bonded with Honor Nimitz mentioned that he may have bonded with Alfred if Alfred had not "bonded" with Alison.

It seems as though changes have manifested in the thought processes of the Harrington clan.

RedBaron wrote:

Daryl wrote:Can't can't can't can't can't can't can't can't can't can't can't can't can't can't can't can't can't can't can't can't can't can't can't can't can't can't can't can't can't can't can't can't can't can't can't can't can't can't can't can't can't can't can't can't can't

Great, here we go again.

That you don't understand neurological development in humans is your problem, not Daryl's. From what we can tell, while the predisposition towards emphatic sensitivity is genetic, it's also an ability that has to be triggered by outside stimuli. While the predisposition can be inherited, the environmental factors that helped Honor and Nimitz along can not easily be recreated.

It's possible that having treecats around from infancy may help in this regard. But it's not a given, and at any rate, something that would have to be studied over a long time period.