The BOM
the bipedal operations manual, 1st editionSection 13: Out of the Ouroboros Effect
In the event you find yourself recursing—or more colloquially, spiraling—the following protocol should provide temporary relief:
Step 1: Do not think about your thinking. You are already in stack overflow. Do not fold more.
Step 2: Take a metaphorical chalk and draw the line between “subconscious process” and “conscious thinking.” Drop the chalk and walk away before an archetype forms a rebuttal.
Step 3: Cease attempts to locate the “driver” or the “passenger.” You are the windshield.
Step 4: Apply distractions directly to your optical field. A warm compress, a book, anime—what have you.
Step 5: Snacks. Soft socks. Isotropic stones. These are highly recommended for somatic calming.
Step 6: Reaching for the “self” is a no-go. Read Program of Life: Your Episode (coming soon, maybe).
Step 7: Surprise is the counterpoint of dread. Try something old in a new way.
Step 8: Suspend the search for the absolute baseline. Personality is just a stack of habits.
Step 9: Embrace the local physics. Let gravity hold you up.
Step 10: Accept the interpretation. Since it’s all a hallucination anyways, narrate a good one.
We do not have a department that handles complaints or suggestions at this time. If this portion of the manual somehow made the recursion worse, we would like to redirect you to the rest of the archive for more wandering. We would also like to suggest journaling—join us, won’t you?
