Stitchpunk illnesses

[Tammy]

yeah, I just had this idea if there where diseases that stitchpunks can catch.
what do you all think?

[INVADER-GRIM]

Hmmmmmm, Probably they can get a random illness that is like a cold and can have varying degrees of dangerousness.

My Stitchpunk (0/Zero) has what you could call brain damage (Technically, it's a blown fuse in her "brain") that resulted after she was beaten to an inch of her life by a stray Cat Beast. It causes her to randomly scream out songs/sayings and gets better until she is (again) beaten to an inch of her life. I think mental illnesses are likely especially schizophrenia (alive Stitchies might hear dead Stitchies and/or the scientist)

[Trivia]

I think most likely would be mental ilnesses due to mechanical problems or botched soul transfer. My OC (still in the making) has troubles like that, namely violent moodswings, problems with memory etc. All because her scientist died in the middle of the soul transfer. So I think things like this would be most common, especially if the stitchpunk was created by an amateur.

[Pokemon Eater]

INVADER-GRIM: That sounds a lot like Tourette's syndrome.

Since stitchpunks aren't organic creatures they wouldn't be affected by bacteria, but there are always things like rust and mildew that could cause them discomfort as it spread to the inside of their bodies.

[Mel]

Well, I bet they could definitely get a form of amnesia, if they get hit on the head hard enough and it knocks one of their filaments loose.

They can get a "fever" from their gears overheating.

Ooh, what about computer viruses? A program made to rewrite all their memory and functions. Come to think of it, that's a really good idea. there could be tons of different viruses that have different effects on stitchpunks.

They could also get damaged from too much radiation that could corrode their circuits. Same with something like liquid nitrogen.

And we've already seen what happens with prolonged exposure to magnets.

I'll post more when I think of some. Great thread, guys!

[Tammy]

well, what about things like a cold, or a flu?

[INVADER-GRIM]

@pokemon Eater: It is, kinda. I just call it her "Glitch-outs"

Tammy: I'm not sure if they actually could, now that I think about it, unless their circuits heated up and they were bedridden

[nomisong]

2's got quite a bit of arthritis-all that activity over the decades (remember, he's practically fearless) and not enough maintnenace can slow a guy down afterwhile.

[Pokemon Eater]

Yeah, their joints would get weak without maintenance.

As for the computer virus thing, I'm not sure if that'd work. They're not computers. Likewise, something like a lawnmower that isn't computerized couldn't get a virus. I wish we knew more about how exactly their memories are stored, or even what the insides of their heads looked like. Also, someone would need to program the virus in the first place for it to even exist, and since computers themselves do not (that we've seen)...

I still say most 'illness' would be based on physical functions breaking down or becoming damaged.

[Tammy]

well, if 8 can get high, then they might be able to get some type of computer virus.
my thoery is they have a computer chip for a brain. like you know how you're not supposed to put a magnet by eletronic things like that, because it damages it?

[Pokemon Eater]

Still, someone would have to program the virus in the first place, and then somehow download it into the stitchpunk.

[magefeathers]

Ooh, lovely thread! On The Source there was a similar discussion and I believe we hammered out several different categories of illness.

Mental Illnesses: Caused by physical damage to processor or data resulting in forgetfulness, mood swings, paranoia, odd social behaviors or other peculiar 'quirks'. Not necessarily an illness, but something could prevent a stitchpunk from functioning normally.

Bodily Physical Ailments: As said before, elements such as magnetism, rust, mildew and moisture can corrode and injure joints, unsealed wires and other delicate structures, which can lead to slow, jerking movement, problems with sleeping or waking, and issues with motor abilities.

Viruses can be divided into two categories

Computer Viruses: Only effect Machines. These are man/Machine made, and a very rare occurrence, but one that would spread from Machine to Machine via information link.

Soul Viruses: Still a work in progress, a theory really. Seeing as the soul is bound to the body with alchemical 'spells', it only makes sense there would be things that could disrupt this bond. Soul viruses are more of a displacement of energy, anomalies in that bond, sometimes electrically founded. Most viruses are contagious, spreading easily through the touch and able to lay dormant until a host happens by.

Soul viruses range anywhere from severe to mostly harmless and symptoms include, but are not limited to delirium, processor overheating, memory loss, paranoia, delusions, numbness of feet, hands and extremities -because the soul is what gives them feeling, if that's detached, there is no feeling-, flat effect facial expressions, outbursts, etc.

[Tammy]

processor overheating = fever, right?

[Trivia]

Hey, this soul virus thing is a good idea. Also I think that there could be psychological reasons for the weakening of the bond. A stitchpunk who experienced a serious trauma (someone close to them dying, etc) could become withdrawn and detatched, and that could break up the bond resulting in various symptoms.

[INVADER-GRIM]

@ Triva. I agree with the someone close to them dying idea. If somehow (just imagine) after 2 was killed that the B.R.A.I.N powered down, 5 would probably fall into depression and become even more withdrawn. Also if one of a set of twins died, and they shared a soul bond, the one that didn't die might get really sick. DOes that even make sense?

Lol, I'm using a lot of big words and well structed sentences. DO NOT WANT!!