Artifact # 2

In the first half of the 22nd century, Polyamory attained unrivaled global popularity as the dominant form of human interrelationship on Earth. Much like early Christianity, Polyamory experienced a meteoric rise from a small, coastal cult into a center pillar of civilization. Initially conceived as a bespoke social dynamic, Polyamory evolved through the 2100’s into a life philosophy, academic field (called Amorous Synergistics), and a sweeping range of economics and governance protocols which revolutionized global geopolitics. 

Despite initial successes in heart-felt sharing forums such as the United Nations and reductions in trans-boundary resource conflict, cracks began to emerge. Consenting adults with >0 but <2 partners faced unfair taxation and social persecution; and “couples therapy” was shunned as malpractice. The crisis peaked with the 2121 collapse of the monolithic Polycule Insurance Corporation. Per company policy, Polycule financial and data systems only recognized numbers “more than two”, this led to compounded accounting errors that left billions of customer funds missing from balance sheets and entire teams of the company were “deescalated”.

Despite 11th hour meetings with regulators and shareholders calling for Compersion, the damage was already done. The Polycule Corporation was dissolved on November 11th, 2121 with all extent claims settled by the FRIC (Federal Relation Insurance Corporation) or hastily re-bundled with riskier dynamics that flooded the trading floors [the notorious Thruple Thursday]. The ensuing market collapse and global depression: The Polycrisis, lasted for 4 years and cost an estimated $3.7 Quadrillion dollars (current equivalent). 

In Hindsight, these perfectly preserved Polycule Insurance brochures tell us a deeper story of ourselves and our innate fallibility to seek connection at any cost. It reminds us that no matter the temptation of the rewards offered, we must always read the fine print of our own humanity.