---
slug: "ProximateOptions"
name: "ProximateOptions"
type: "Strategy"
layer: "Mind"
ref: "ProximateOptions#9b4d"
sema_id: "sema:ProximateOptions#mh:SHA-256:9b4d9572f268a6bfba63e1edf49f10434b15e7f0fed79e57e815d689317b0ddb"
tags: ["Mind","Strategy"]
updated: 2026-11-11
mindscape: "origin-of-risk"
index_url: https://mindscape.world/scapes/origin-of-risk.json
url: https://mindscape.world/origin-of-risk/ProximateOptions/
related: ["ComputationalEntropyRate","MetaAccuracy","FractionalMetaModel"]
---

# ProximateOptions

Inputs that are generated but currently rejected are cheap, latent options sitting in the gap between the generator's and the acceptor's languages

Layer: Mind · Category: Strategy

## Mechanism

In a computational channel, a generator language produces inputs (memorable passwords, a writer's drafts, a population's mutations, a team's proposals) and an acceptor language decides which are valid (a strength rule, an editor, an environment, a manager). The rejected inputs, which drive the [ComputationalEntropyRate](https://mindscape.world/scapes/origin-of-risk/ComputationalEntropyRate.md) up, are not just mistakes. They were produced by a process that already holds information, so they are proximate: small changes to the acceptor (or the generator) would turn them into valid outputs. The channel's friction therefore stores options. Narrowing the gap can be done from either side, accepting more of what is generated or generating more of what is accepted, and which side to move depends on the environment. Choosing which acceptor to improve against is a meta-option, and having several acceptors available raises [MetaAccuracy](https://mindscape.world/scapes/origin-of-risk/MetaAccuracy.md).

## Invariants

- Rejected inputs from an informed generator carry information and are cheap to make valid
- The options sit in the difference between two languages, generator and acceptor
- Zero friction (every input accepted) means no stored options

## Failure modes

- Driving rejection to zero and losing the stored options
- Treating all rejected inputs as random noise
- Always moving the acceptor toward the generator or always the reverse, regardless of environment

## Builds on

- [ComputationalEntropyRate](https://mindscape.world/scapes/origin-of-risk/ComputationalEntropyRate.md) (Infrastructure; References)
- [MetaAccuracy](https://mindscape.world/scapes/origin-of-risk/MetaAccuracy.md) (Mind; References)

## Used by

- [FractionalMetaModel](https://mindscape.world/scapes/origin-of-risk/FractionalMetaModel.md) (Mind; References)

## Identity

- Sema ID: `sema:ProximateOptions#mh:SHA-256:9b4d9572f268a6bfba63e1edf49f10434b15e7f0fed79e57e815d689317b0ddb`
- Ref: `ProximateOptions#9b4d`

## Links

- [Pattern page](https://mindscape.world/origin-of-risk/ProximateOptions/)
- [View in the interactive graph](https://mindscape.world/origin-of-risk/#ProximateOptions)
- [JSON](https://mindscape.world/scapes/origin-of-risk/ProximateOptions.json)
- [Index of all patterns](https://mindscape.world/scapes/origin-of-risk.json)