The following is a posting that I made a ways back. It is unchanged from its original form, except for the links. I'd love to think that it has sparked ideas in the minds of other polyfolk about what would and would not make good symbols. After posting this, I got thoughtful responses from various folks, including a graphic artist. I enjoyed the discussion.

Nowadays there are a large number of poly symbols about, and I have a non-exhaustive list of them.

Date: Sat, 19 Jul 1997 14:36:48 -0700
From: me
To: Multiple recipients of list <poly@polyamory.org>
Subject: FLUFF: Re: :-) Poly Symbols


On Fri, 18 Jul 1997, jerseyj wrote:
> On Fri, 18 Jul 1997, Derien wrote:
> > 
> > more than one, infinity might be stretching it a bit.  Isn't there any
> > symbol which means "an unknown number more than 1", besides the x commonly
> > used in algebra?  I'm no math person.
> 
> 	I'm no mathematician, but I recall that "x" can equal any value,
> 	including less than, equal to, or greater than zero. It's not
> 	an very artistic expression but "more than 1" is probably 
> 	expressed as 1+N.

I, on the other hand, *am* a mathematician. :-) [Blows chalk dust off
fingers, pulls "Mathematica 3.0" manual out of pocket, etc.] And, frankly,
I love it!  :-) (But that's another story . . .)

Down to details:
	1) "x" can _indeed_ equal any value, positive, negative, real or 
imaginary.  Also, it has many nonmathematical associations for different 
folks, ranging from "X marks the spot" (not bad inside a heart, but not 
necessarily poly) to "'X' stands for all that is dark and mysterious!"  
Again, not bad inside a heart shape, but not necessarily poly.  For the 
above reasons and others, I'd say just say no.
	2) Using N is better, since typically N >= 0  (read that as "N is 
greater than or equal to zero").  Even better, N is usually a whole 
number, rather than a fraction or somesuch.  Even on the poly list, I 
don't know many folks with 2.1428571 lovers (and I can just imagine the 
responses I'm going to get for *that* one).  Tradition recommends that 
we write N+1 rather than 1+N, but I suppose that depends on whether you 
are a top or not. :) :p :)
	However, since often N=0, saying N+1 could still be saying that 
you were single . . . hmmmm . . . thinking about that, perhaps that is 
not such a bad idea.  After all, even though I (for example) am currently 
single, I still consider myself polyamorous.  (No, this is not a 
wannawhatever. :-)  Hee hee hee, a math wannafuck, what an idea . . .)
	Also, relationships change over time, as many of us here know to 
our sorrow or our joy or, bittersweetly, both.  (Ah, antinomy, curling 
unsettled on the tongue . . .)  Thus it makes sense to use N+1, a variable 
to represent a variable state.  However, I think I have an even better 
idea, to wit:
	3) Get away from something algebraic entirely, and go instead to
geometry, mathematics' oft-abused other half.  Perhaps a 'V' inside a
heart is too prosaic for some, even though it does represent a connected
graph of the relationships involved in a V (like, duh).  But for some of
the relationships I have heard about on this list, you could get a nice
star shape.  If that floateth not your boat, what about several hearts
interlinked?  A heart drawn out of little teeny hearts, fractal-style?  A 
cube with hearts on each face (or for smaller relationships, a 
tetrahedron)?  The possibilities are endless.
	Hmm.  Given how identified math is with algebra for most folks,
maybe the N+1 with heart would be the most appropriate for me personally. 
Non-polyfolk would probably take it as "well, he's some nut who loves
math," which is fine with me.  At any rate, to answer Derien's original
question: I cannot think of *any* symbol that represents specifically "an
unknown number more than 1," but I hope that my suggestions will help (in 
some small way) you decide what to do.

me

P.S. On another thread entirely, back when *I* was a newbie, I decided to 
give this list several _months_ to prove itself, before making a final 
decision.  I am glad I waited, rather than rushing my judgement.  I, 
though I post tres rarement, am here to stay.
        Just another data point . . 

(Last updated 5/9/98)