[OOC][PLOT] The Fourth Thread of Planning for Arc 1 - Arrivals

[robkelk]

Old thread is old.

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This is intriguing:

"Disease dynamics and costly punishment can foster socially imposed monogamy", Chris T. Bauch & Richard McElreath, ''Nature Communications'', 12 April 2016

Here's the abstract:

Socially imposed monogamy in humans is an evolutionary puzzle because it requires costly punishment by those who impose the norm. Moreover, most societies were—and are—polygynous; yet many larger human societies transitioned from polygyny to socially imposed monogamy beginning with the advent of agriculture and larger residential groups. We use a simulation model to explore how interactions between group size, sexually transmitted infection (STI) dynamics and social norms can explain the timing and emergence of socially imposed monogamy. Polygyny dominates when groups are too small to sustain STIs. However, in larger groups, STIs become endemic (especially in concurrent polygynist networks) and have an impact on fertility, thereby mediating multilevel selection. Punishment of polygynists improves monogamist fitness within groups by reducing their STI exposure, and between groups by enabling punishing monogamist groups to outcompete polygynists. This suggests pathways for the emergence of socially imposed monogamy, and enriches our understanding of costly punishment evolution.

And here's a pop-science report on the paper.


So, why post this here? Well, both Ben and Rob have started collecting girlfriends... so have a scene that takes place while Rob, Mii, Ami, and Hyoga are off having a pizza lunch.


Blossom Apartments, Ottawa, ON, Canada
December 22, 2016
11:57am ET

"So, now he has three girlfriends." Mamoru sighed, secretly dreading the possibility that he himself might end up in the same situation.

"Isn't it romantic?"

Minako grinned ar Usagi's comment. "Oh, yeah, I remember that happened all the time back in the Silver Millennium, when we didn't have to worry about sexually-transmitted diseases."

"What, really?"

"Yes, Mikoto, really."

"But doesn't that lead to the objectification of women?" Kuroko asked.

"Only if the woman doesn't have a choice. Back in the Silver Millennium, it was always up to the woman whether she wanted to join an existing relationship, polyamourous or not. And before anybody asks, it was up to a man whether he wanted to join an existing relationship, too."

"So... were... well, were we...?"

"No, Rei, Princess Serenity and Prince Endymion were just beginning their relationship when Beryl's forces attacked. They were still exclusive to each other. As far as I know."

"Hey, did any relationship ever start as a threesome?"

Minako thought for a moment, then replied to Ruiko. "It was rare, but it did happen on occasion."

Kazari and Ruiko just smiled at each other.