this is true. though I still think, at least in an ideal beta hierarchy, you wouldn't have some ******/ubermensch/whatever as the sole guiding force; but rather, it would be comprised of individuals whose respective aptitudes balanced each other out, rendering the 'leader' simply the individual with the personality most suited, not the statue others bowed to. but I guess when you're dealing with large amounts of betas, this isn't really possible.
yeah, well it's more that the boundaries of interaction are implicit. 'rules' per say tend to be seen as largely unnecessary, because everyone within the hierarchy knows they are there for a specific reason. NiFe gauges how a person's energy/wavelength 'collides' with the others'; understanding this serves as a beacon for their potential usefulness. I can't count the number of times I've observed a beta (typically a chick) dismiss someone from a small group setting because of 'bad vibes' – seemingly out of nowhere to others. but that is how it works, you have to consistently monitor any underlying nuance in your behavior as they pertain to what are seen as very obvious boundaries.The downsides to this (depending on perspective) is, as you say, the rules of the hierarchy are extremely subjective and most enforcement is carried out implicitly.
right. I usually figure that if people are able to operate autonomously, and choose to partake in a specific group, they should 'get' the rules. but this is where delta establishes their power: they don't segregate groups based on alignment of personal interest like beta; they create an overarching, implicit group that everyone knows they are part of, which is only maintained because of their ostensible focus on individuality and the pursuit of personal potential. there's a seemingly laid-back, each-to-his-own attitude, but that's only because the giant shackle is already there. this is where I think betas are more fair; we won't bind you to anything you don't commit to; groups are means toward an end, not the end itself.As opposed to having clearly defined and measurable 'objective' rules and regulations where everybody knows vis-a-vis where they stand in the eyes of the law at any given time (supposedly), which tend to be more a feature in Delta aristocracy.
yeah, this is what I was getting at in the first comment. I really loathe the idea of being in a group that has one figurehead, like some fucking shining light. I wouldn't associate with anyone I didn't consider an equal, and am hard-pressed to find superiors.Unfortunately for Beta, since the strength of their hierarchies depends so much on interpersonal factors, they typically don't outlast the death of the charismatic leader who forged them.
I wonder how this differs in the octants though. most of the p-subs I've met seem to operate in a similar 'closed-circuit' manner, where the personal experiences are judged as vital to any broader social effect; my impression of j-subs, is like a domino sequence of whispers, where everyone retains individuality but knows they are acting toward something significant.