A Mutant's Guide To Mutation
Chapter 1
Mutant
Mutant (myūt'nt)
n. In biology and especially genetics, a mutant is an individual, organism, or new genetic character, arising or resulting from an instance of mutation, or an unfortunate series of events involving gamma radiation, and life's proverbial bitch slap of an organism, resulting in the creation of a new character or trait not found in the wild. The unnatural occurrence of genetic social mutations is integral to the process of evolution. The study of mutants is an integral part of sociology, by understanding the effect that a mutation has in an individual it is possible to establish the abnormal new function of said individual within its environment.
Slang. One that is suggestive of a genetic or social mutation, as in bizarre ideology, attitude or behavior.
adj. Resulting from or undergoing mutation: a mutant strain of human.
Slang. Suggestive of a social mutant.
See mutation, Collective Arsenal, Mutant Art, four headed turtles.
Greetings to all our Mutant neophytes. Drop your bags. Kick off your shoes. Relax. At this point there might be a couple of raised eyebrows in the room. Things will all become clearer in a few minutes. Allow me to make introductions. We are The Collective Arsenal. The patriarchs of the Mutant movement. The first to embrace the violent, yet beautiful, evolution you may all be going through.
Making the assumption that the very title of our mouth piece caught your attention, you have already begun to take the necessary steps towards the curious world of Mutation. This is good. We are beginning to make progress. But before the start of the initiations, and congratulations, we would like to present a check list. Consider it one of the most important self revealing test you will ever take. Remember there are no wrong answers. Just Mutants and
non-mutants. So pour a cup of coffee, light up a smoke,
and let's have a bit of fun.
Chapter 1
Mutant
Mutant (myūt'nt)
n. In biology and especially genetics, a mutant is an individual, organism, or new genetic character, arising or resulting from an instance of mutation, or an unfortunate series of events involving gamma radiation, and life's proverbial bitch slap of an organism, resulting in the creation of a new character or trait not found in the wild. The unnatural occurrence of genetic social mutations is integral to the process of evolution. The study of mutants is an integral part of sociology, by understanding the effect that a mutation has in an individual it is possible to establish the abnormal new function of said individual within its environment.
Slang. One that is suggestive of a genetic or social mutation, as in bizarre ideology, attitude or behavior.
adj. Resulting from or undergoing mutation: a mutant strain of human.
Slang. Suggestive of a social mutant.
See mutation, Collective Arsenal, Mutant Art, four headed turtles.
Greetings to all our Mutant neophytes. Drop your bags. Kick off your shoes. Relax. At this point there might be a couple of raised eyebrows in the room. Things will all become clearer in a few minutes. Allow me to make introductions. We are The Collective Arsenal. The patriarchs of the Mutant movement. The first to embrace the violent, yet beautiful, evolution you may all be going through.
Making the assumption that the very title of our mouth piece caught your attention, you have already begun to take the necessary steps towards the curious world of Mutation. This is good. We are beginning to make progress. But before the start of the initiations, and congratulations, we would like to present a check list. Consider it one of the most important self revealing test you will ever take. Remember there are no wrong answers. Just Mutants and
non-mutants. So pour a cup of coffee, light up a smoke,
and let's have a bit of fun.
So You Think You're A Mutant?
- Are you unhappy?
- Are you perpetually dissatisfied with your life and everything you do?
- Do you wish your life was more like a rap video?
- Is promiscuity an acceptable social behavior for you?
- Do you find yourself beginning to resent family, friends, and familiar places?
- Does your library contain an unhealthy amount of books by Bukowski, the Marque de Sade, Ernest Hemingway and other such writers?
- Do the shackles of accepted social conduct confuse and irritate you?
- Have you ever been to a Turkish bath?
- Regardless of what your friends think, do you still enjoy the musical stylings of John Denver and Jimmy Buffett?
- Can you leave it all behind without hesitation?
- Do you sometimes cry after masturbating?.....No?... Nevermind, forget I asked.
- Have you spent countless hours contemplating which "dock" Otis was singing about?
- Are you becoming accustom to being called an Asshole?
- Are you losing the ability to pretend to care?
So, how do you think you did? Somewhat revealing is it not?
Well friends, if you answered in the positive to five or more of these questions, specially the "Turkish bath" one (no one is judging), then perhaps you are beginning to experience the cradle symptoms of mutation.
Now, no need to worry weapon X, there is nothing wrong with you or what you are going through. And for creatures like us it is perfectly normal. Unfortunately, like puberty, there is also no cure for it and you're just going to have to roll with it. Once the mutation process has begun it's best to not fight it, so relax and embrace the coming changes because, though there will be some rough roads ahead, the journey you are about to embark on will be an
unforgettable one.
--- Mutant ---
Mutant is an interesting word. It is a word that, to us, represents the constant flux in the character of an individual, led by the changes of the seasons and the illusion of time. A flux inspired by a choice once made to separate from the flock in order to explore the world beyond. A choice fueled by the force of powerful desires in perpetual motion, resulting in the inevitable mutation of the subject's genetic makeup. This mutation changes the very core of the person's psyche, forever pushing the Mutant further and further away from society's smiling shake of hand, and building a great wall between us and them.
Travel is the method by which the Mutant gene is awakened. Like sugar for yeast, travel feeds and speeds up the growth of the Mutant gene. In truth it is not the crossing of imaginary state, and country lines that mutates the person, but the constant crossing of one's own lines of experience that blur the lines of what we once perceived to be true. This is
what begins the transformation of,
the would be, traveler.
"If one does as God does enough times,
one becomes as God is."
This is the core idea that breeds real change. When a person chooses to travel in order to experience the world, and chooses to blur the lines of his understanding in order to begin to understand something new, the experience itself begins to take hold, and the person will awaken anew when the journey comes to an end.
If the person traveling crosses these lines enough times, the lines eventually disappear forever, and the person no longer is just one who travels, he/she becomes A Traveler. A seeker of honest and true experience, and one who cannot live without it again. A Mutant.
The Mutant is the journey and the experience, all and the same,
and can never go back to the life he once thought he knew.
what begins the transformation of,
the would be, traveler.
"If one does as God does enough times,
one becomes as God is."
This is the core idea that breeds real change. When a person chooses to travel in order to experience the world, and chooses to blur the lines of his understanding in order to begin to understand something new, the experience itself begins to take hold, and the person will awaken anew when the journey comes to an end.
If the person traveling crosses these lines enough times, the lines eventually disappear forever, and the person no longer is just one who travels, he/she becomes A Traveler. A seeker of honest and true experience, and one who cannot live without it again. A Mutant.
The Mutant is the journey and the experience, all and the same,
and can never go back to the life he once thought he knew.
--- Mutating With Class ---
The beginnings of mutation are always hard.
Life gets confusing when there seems to be no anchor
to your ship. In the beginning of the transformation, it is difficult to distinguish your true emotions from the sporadic emotional outburst of your mutating condition. Think teenage hormonal rage on meth-amphetamines. Try to pay attention to the subtle changes within your psyche for it is there that the Mutant gene first
presents itself.
Life gets confusing when there seems to be no anchor
to your ship. In the beginning of the transformation, it is difficult to distinguish your true emotions from the sporadic emotional outburst of your mutating condition. Think teenage hormonal rage on meth-amphetamines. Try to pay attention to the subtle changes within your psyche for it is there that the Mutant gene first
presents itself.
No Mutant can remain stagnant. This is where the inner conflict rises. Like the great white shark, a Mutant needs to live a life of constant motion in order to survive. Backpackers, freight hoppers, nomads and the like, are our kin and short lived lost brothers and sisters. The road, our lifelong lover and friend. Mutants migrate, it is our gift and our burden, and the core nature of our existence. So make peace with it, learn to pack light, and get ready to leave your baggage behind young Mutant. The world is a bright shining star that is now
ready for you to reach.
Now, we will not pretend to know you, so we will not speak of what specific things you should do, or where you should go in the world. Everyone's journey is different. But here are some small nuggets of wisdom we've gathered over the years that we wish we would've known
when we first began to quantum leap.
ready for you to reach.
Now, we will not pretend to know you, so we will not speak of what specific things you should do, or where you should go in the world. Everyone's journey is different. But here are some small nuggets of wisdom we've gathered over the years that we wish we would've known
when we first began to quantum leap.
When first arriving to a new city,
life is grand and full of possibility; people are new and exciting, and the next more attractive than the last. But like romance, or the first hit of crack, after a while the flickering flames, the sparkles and magic disappear, and cannot be rekindled no matter how hard one tries. Sooner or later, the whole scene becomes a dull grey painting that you cannot stand to look at any longer, and you'd rather burn the city down like Nero, to see it alive and bright once more, than to live in its decay a minute longer. The city, and everyone in it, takes an all consuming sickening taste that is unbearable, and the Mutant must leave at all costs. This is natural, but it must be contained so that one does not
lash out on innocent bystanders.
life is grand and full of possibility; people are new and exciting, and the next more attractive than the last. But like romance, or the first hit of crack, after a while the flickering flames, the sparkles and magic disappear, and cannot be rekindled no matter how hard one tries. Sooner or later, the whole scene becomes a dull grey painting that you cannot stand to look at any longer, and you'd rather burn the city down like Nero, to see it alive and bright once more, than to live in its decay a minute longer. The city, and everyone in it, takes an all consuming sickening taste that is unbearable, and the Mutant must leave at all costs. This is natural, but it must be contained so that one does not
lash out on innocent bystanders.
Although all mutants exist in a perpetual state of
migration, never setting roots, most of us learn to leave
seeds behind. These seeds can sometimes grow to be future safe havens for our travel weary shoes. This is an important part of the Mutant's journey, for it provides a soothing replacement for emotional ties, as well as a critical survival tool that must be mastered in order to retain the necessary social skills to remain a positive force in the human world, and keep us from becoming social pariahs. But more on this later.
migration, never setting roots, most of us learn to leave
seeds behind. These seeds can sometimes grow to be future safe havens for our travel weary shoes. This is an important part of the Mutant's journey, for it provides a soothing replacement for emotional ties, as well as a critical survival tool that must be mastered in order to retain the necessary social skills to remain a positive force in the human world, and keep us from becoming social pariahs. But more on this later.
Constant migration and lack of stability
changes a person. Over time, this lifestyle makes it increasingly difficult to connect with non-mutants. Sure, we make great small talk and can readily charm the pants off half the people around; while the other half, more often than not, hates us. But true connection is a hard thing to come by. Nevertheless, all Mutants seem to long for a deeper connection, that unfortunately once found tends to lead to boredom and inevitable disappointment. It is for this reason that the mutation impels one's approach to goodbyes to be rather cold and inconsiderate, and oftentimes unnecessarily ill-mannered.
What new born Mutants don't understand is that this attitude towards non-mutants at the
time of departure is a common defense mechanism found in most of our kin. This behavior is an evolutionary trait that helps us cope with leaving places, an ego built shield to protect us from the pain of departure. All Mutants must leave sooner or later, but it is important to
learn to do it gracefully and with dignity.
changes a person. Over time, this lifestyle makes it increasingly difficult to connect with non-mutants. Sure, we make great small talk and can readily charm the pants off half the people around; while the other half, more often than not, hates us. But true connection is a hard thing to come by. Nevertheless, all Mutants seem to long for a deeper connection, that unfortunately once found tends to lead to boredom and inevitable disappointment. It is for this reason that the mutation impels one's approach to goodbyes to be rather cold and inconsiderate, and oftentimes unnecessarily ill-mannered.
What new born Mutants don't understand is that this attitude towards non-mutants at the
time of departure is a common defense mechanism found in most of our kin. This behavior is an evolutionary trait that helps us cope with leaving places, an ego built shield to protect us from the pain of departure. All Mutants must leave sooner or later, but it is important to
learn to do it gracefully and with dignity.
NEVER
burn bridges when the city gates are closing, young Mutant. Remember the good times you had in that place, and the people that were kind to you and helped you along the experience. These characters become an integral part in the story of your life and you shouldn't have them all think you are an asshole once you leave. Try your hardest to resist the urge to burn bridges, you've be surprised how often you find yourself back in familiar places, and Mutants are always in need of a helping hand ... or a reliable booty call.
burn bridges when the city gates are closing, young Mutant. Remember the good times you had in that place, and the people that were kind to you and helped you along the experience. These characters become an integral part in the story of your life and you shouldn't have them all think you are an asshole once you leave. Try your hardest to resist the urge to burn bridges, you've be surprised how often you find yourself back in familiar places, and Mutants are always in need of a helping hand ... or a reliable booty call.
Follow your journey wherever it may take you. Take risks, be fearless, and enjoy the gifts your mutation has bestowed upon you. They are different for all of us. Discover yours and exploit it. Live long, see far, and build a life worth writing about. We are the storytellers and dream weavers of this world. Your existence must, and will be grander than life, this is your birthright. Don't be afraid to sink your teeth in the journey and live your Mutant life
proud and free.
"The way of the traveler follows many unknown roads, but those roads often lead back to familiar places"
The Wandering Mutant