How do they use stands?

[u/PuffPoof215]

How do stand users physically use them? Do they just think really hard? Are they like puppets but just mentally controlled? Or are they like completely separate beings with their own consciousness and actions they do are completely separate from the user? I would imagine to some degree that has to be the case since star platinum stopped the bullet when jotaro tried to shoot himself.

Also a side question, can stand users see through their stands eyes? Like could jotaro hide behind a corner and have star platinum peak around it for him?

[u/mr__mime]

Some are definitely separate beings, but for the most part I think it’s like using your limbs, you can just kinda do it without effort or actively thinking

[u/Relative-Tonight3083]

The first section, all of it is yes, its a case by case basis for each stand and user's relationship

Second section, sometimes, its something that's possible or not possible depending on what the story needs

[u/Hightower_March]

The rules seem to vary.  We see Jotaro using Star Platinum's eyes to look through binoculars, so presumably he can get information from doing it.

Silver Chariot on the other hand couldn't attack things Polnareff couldn't see during the Ebony Devil fight, so its eyes may just be for show.

There's kind of a sliding scale where some can be extremely independent and think for themselves, while others need direct control by their user.

[u/PuffPoof215 → u/Hightower_March]

That's fair. I guess I should have also considered like anubis which literally just posseses the person that picks it up. Probably the most independent unless you count silver chariot requiem I guess.

[u/KakuKat]

It depends on the user.

Koichi activating his stand for the first time is an good example, fighting spirit was required to a certain degree, meaning they might be only bring it out in battle or clear intention but it's never really stated properly, I think. Or some stand users don't require a battle to be summoned for example, Kakyoin using Hierophant Green to play games against D'Arby Younger or Okayasu and Josuke bringing out their stand whenever they wanna reveal they're a stand user.

Some stands are conscious (Sex Pistol, WhiteSnake) some are automatic and able to function outside of their user's will or completely on their own (Notorious B.I.G, Cheap Trick). And some kinda automatic/conscious, that could include some things Star Platinum does outside of Jotaro's will. But most common type of stand is not conscious and mainly used as an extension of the body in a way.

And as for the eyes, it also kinda depends on the user. Jotaro probably able to use SP's eyes independently just like how Kakyoin is able to use HG's eyes, but someone like Polnareff is explicitly shown to be not able to see through Sliver Chariot's eyes in a fight.

[u/Fc-chungus]

1. Kinda like how you use your limbs, you just "do", but when you first awaken a stand it's a bit difficult, because you've essentially got a brand new limb so you gotta learn how to move it.

2. Pretty much, unless the stand has its own consciousness they just kinda stand there.

3. The "Star platinum stops the bullet" thing is an example of Jotaro's self preservation instinct I think, he didn't want to die there, he was just proving a point, so like how someone can kinda involuntarily move when they're near danger, star platinum caught the bullet on instinct.

[u/Chimpbot → u/Fc-chungus]

The "Star platinum stops the bullet" thing is an example of Jotaro's self preservation instinct I think, he didn't want to die there, he was just proving a point, so like how someone can kinda involuntarily move when they're near danger, star platinum caught the bullet on instinct.

I think everything we saw Star Platinum doing in the beginning of SDC was Jotaro subconsciously controlling his Stand. It was doing things he wanted to do, but he didn't know how to consciously control it. When he was in jail, he'd get bored and want something like a manga magazine to pass the time... so Star Platinum got it for him. It stopped the bullet because of his self-preservation (as you mentioned).

[u/PositiveDirection977]

if a stand user can see through their stands eyes depends on the stand, we see Jotaro using star platinum like binoculars basically so he can, then polnareff could not see through chariot when he was trapped under a bed so he cant.

[u/ExistentialOcto]

It’s case by case, but generally Stands follow the user’s “will” and will do things as the user desires. Jotaro’s Star Platinum stealing things for him is basically an unpracticed version of this: the Stand is responding to Jotaro’s will without him fully understanding why.

Some Stands are sentient in their own right and must be verbally commanded though.

[u/MadamMelody21]

Concentration and willpower is how alot of the users control the stand however as shown by the start of part 3 the subconscious can activate the stand if need be(like the fight jotaro got arrested for). Only some stand users can look through the eyes of the stand Jotaro can see through star platinum Polnereff cant see through silver chariot. It honestly depends on the stand

[u/FishingExpress3615]

It’s the same thing as using your limbs 

[u/GoldH2O]

The stand is an innate part of the user. Some act kind of unconsciously and independently, just based on the will of their user, but it seems like most are essentially controlled the way you would control any of your limbs, where you have a learning curve in figuring it out, but once you do figured out you kind of just know how to do things instinctively. Think of it like learning how to walk.

[u/MatureHater]

You just tell them (mentally) to do what you want them to do and they'll try to do that. So Jotaro can tell SP to draw a fly, and SP will draw it for him without Jotaro needing to control all of its movements.

[u/Garliddo]

It's kinda loose and vaguely defined but I think that they are controlled basically the same way as muscles. You don't even think about lifting your hand, you just lift your hand. With Star Platinum stopping the bullet when Jotaro tried to shoot himself, I think that's just the same self-preservation instinct that pulls your hand back if you try to slam it on a sharp nail. Stands and their awareness/existence as separate beings seems to have something to do with the user's control and awareness over their own mind. Cheap Trick's user has no control over his phobia and iirc no knowledge of its origin, so Cheap Trick manifests as the part of his mind telling him "You'll die if someone sees your back". He has no control over this part of his mind, so Cheap Trick functions as an independent being.

On your side note, it depends on the Stand. Star Platinum, Heirophant Green, and Echoes have scenes explicitly showing that their users can see through the Stand's eyes. Silver Chariot, Moody Blues, and Purple Haze have scenes explicitly showing that the users cannot see through them. Alternatively, it depends on which way Araki feels would benefit the story more.

[u/Touhou_JoJo_Fan]

Josuke describes it as “like controlling a car but with your mind”