In the natural order of things, we as humans seek safety in numbers; such provides for survival, despite that it does tend to dampen individual thinking. 

And so, we have rooms filled with those of like minds, perhaps people drawn to such room because the leader proclaims his belief of Gor as 1, 2 and 3 with no ifs ands or butts.  Some people may have similar ideals, others simply think, “man this fellow has his shit together” and then others who simply look to the numbers in the room and decide well something must be right, and it looks safe.

Without room to debate, because the leader of the room has already decided that Gor is his way, rather than more in accordance with what John Norman has provided, to deviate that line of thinking, to offer your own individual opinion and suggestions, is to ultimately divide you; you against him, or them, however you want to view it.  Each individual who raises their hand and questions eventually breaks off and seeks to find that place that will allow them to ask questions.

I remember the church I was raised in and when I got older and braver and started questioning specific doctrine of that church (not of Christianity, per se, but the particular belief of that sect), I was met with a mix of reactions; some favorable, and a lot of wide shocked faces.  Who knew inside that shy dutiful girl laid a mind ticking away at all the inconsistencies and then daring to question.  -chuckles-  Ah, good times. 

Comparatively, that questioning girl left that sect as much as the questioning girl left a home on Gor under quite similar conditions. 

And comparatively, that questioning girl has since enjoyed many a conversation with others within the Christian faith, but of different sects, sharing and exploring the differences of philosophical opinion, just as that questioning girl had enjoyed many a conversation with others in the Gorean community about the differences of opinion about Gor.  On occasion, that girl is met with those that take the stance that their opinion (be it of religion, Gor, et al)  is the sole correct and absolute opinion; kind of sad really when you think about it.

Gorean Leaders, those rulers of a chat room, are nobody special. They are human. They are infallible. They do not know everything.

What really irks me are people who say, “I’m quitting Gor because there are too many idiots. I cannot love Gor anymore.”

To love Gor is to love not only the good, but the bad.  Even in the books, there were encountered the idiots.  You didn’t see those Goreans throwing up their hands and crying, “OH! The idiots are destroying our love of our world! *sobsobsob*”

More on this subject shortly…

It’s a problematic thing — using quotes from the books.

You see, people do not always use quotes from the books properly. They will take one sentence and declare it as absolute law. However, if one reads the entire passage or scene, they will discover that the one particular sentence means something altogether different.

Everytime I see someone use one or two sentences to drive in their point on a particular matter, I’m always prompted to leap for my book and read the few pages leading up to the sentences quoted, as well as a page or two thereafter to get the real feel of what was being said.

An example is this quote:

“Face-stripping a free woman, against her will, can be a serious crime on Gor.” ~ Kajria of Gor, pg. 183.

However, this is the entire paragraph.

“Then he jerked away the veil of state from my features. I, though a free woman, had been face-stripped before free men. My face was as bare to them as though I might be a slave. Face-stripping a free woman, against her will, can be a serious crime on Gor. On the other hand, Corcyrus had now fallen. Her women, thusly, now at the feet of her conquerors, would be little better than slaves. Any fate could now be inflicted on them that the conquerors might wish, including making them actual slaves. The hand of Miles of Argentum then brushed back my robes, that my whole head and features, to the throat, might be revealed to the crowd.” ~ Kajria of Gor, pg. 183.

It reads much differently, doesn’t it? -s-

Whenever I use a quote to bring out a point, I make sure read to read the few pages leading up to the sentences quoted, as well as a page or two thereafter to get the real feel of what was being said.

The following are my personal views, thoughts and opinions on this subject that I have carried with me and believed for these many years I have been a part of online Gor.  It is not my intent to offend, but simply to offer a different perspective and perhaps clear up some questioning of my commitment and love of Gor.  It is never my intention when I make a post to offend anyone; I certainly don’t like to be offended and it’s just not my style to treat others with such disregard.  Please refer to my full Disclaimer page.

Can a person truly be serious about Gor and not live the lifestyle in their real-lfe? Can such a person truly understand the extent and complexities of that which is the culmination of the philosophies that is Gor?

It’s something that I have seen discussed, and there is always a great degree of dissention on the subject. Die-hard lifestylers often feel that those who do not life the lifestyle as they are, are not earnest or serious, or love Gor as much as they do.

My answer to the question posed? Absolutely. Living the lifestyle may instill yet deeper the philosophies of Gor, but to say that just because one doesn’t live it in real life, they love it less. How can you measure love? Truly?

There are various reasons why a person may not live a Gorean lifestyle.

Perhaps they have a spouse or significant-other who may not even chat online, let alone do any sort of roleplay, be it online or even tabletop, that might lead them to happen upon Gor. Or perhaps that spouse or significant-other is simply not interested in the subject, or is not in agreement with the philosophies of those common in Gor.

Perhaps a person doesn’t want to lose their fantasy escape(s) by drawing them into a real situation.

Perhaps there are children involved or other family obligations and responsibilities.

Perhaps there are medical reasons; physical and/or mental. Without a doubt, a person must be healthy physically, as well as mentally and emotionally. Both persons need to be free of such disorders as alcoholism, et al, and bi-polarism, while treatable, still could affect mental capabilities, just to name a few.

I know many that fit all of the above, and then some.

For myself, I fit several categories. The most prominent being that my husband is not a chatter online, has no interest in roleplay of any sort, and while harboring some of the basic philosophies that man should be dominant over woman, the thought of lifting a hand to strike a woman abhors him, and there are indeed medical issues involved. I have handed him a book to read, but am met with complete disinterest. We have talked about the world I roleplay, and I am met with stony resistance. I have children, family, who would not understand, and I value them more than life itself to lose them.

Lastly, though far lesser in comparison to the other issues previously mentioned, the online world is my escape from reality, from the stresses of everyday life that can wear me down mentally and physically. When I enter the online world of Gor, I can lose myself in my fantasies, while being around a group of people I respect and adore, who share similar views.

While I know many who suffer physical ailments and live the lifestyle, and manage to do so, there are limitations that must be set in that lifestyle.

While I personally do not feel that Gor can be lived realistically in the real-world, or at least fully and completely with the inclusion of the laws that are found within the books (i.e., concerning the rules of property), I do feel that at least on the philosophical sense it is possible. While such lifestyle is impossible for myself, my circumstances of life, I would never begrudge others who do so; in fact, I rather congratulate those who acquire such a lifestyle successfully.

I think what irks me are those that are fad followers, those who seek to life such a lifestyle just because he or she wants to be in the “in” crowd of others who believe in what they are doing, and not merely following a fad. If they don’t believe in what they are living, they make a mockery of it for those that do choose that direction.

John Norman himself, who never proclaims himself as a man of Gor, does not live a Gorean lifestyle.

For me, Gor is a fantasy because it can only be a fantasy. It’s a fantasy that I love, in heart, soul and mind. While I may apply a few Gorean principles in how I conduct my life in the real world, the whole of Gor is a place that I can only access through the online world because of my circumstances, but my seriousness and love of Gor is not diminished by the fact that I cannot kneel in real life to a master and feel the true sting of a whip.

I must live my Gorean life then vicariously through my online character.

I have only been two characters in my well-beyond a decade in this world. The first, Talena, while there were indeed some wonderful Gorean experiences, I never fully reaped the true experience until years down the road when I was owned by a man named Sirius, or rather, even before I had been placed in his collar; the fires igniting when I first spied him and saw a man who knew well how to handle a slave. It was devastating to lose him, when the real world took him away after the death of one of his sons. Perhaps I could have continued in the growth of Talena had there been frees in the home I was living in that I truly saw as a capable master. The home was too much mush-and-squish, where slaves were coddled like children.

While Talena had been placed on a shelf of emptiness, I had ventured to another realm where I had known another of Gor. Though the venue was not Gorean, it was seeded with Gorean philosophy, but in a more whimsical manner. It kept my love for Gor alive, while myself as Talena felt stagnant. I should have left the home then at that point, continued on elsewhere in Gor, but I had hopes that Sirius would return.

Additionally, to help keep my love of Gor alive and burning, I immersed myself in my books, jotted down notes, worked on my website, a site which is offered to those who cannot afford to purchase the books, though neigher do I offer illegal copies of downloadable books nor do I support any who would. What I do offer are links to Fictionwise, which offers the legal e-book versions, as well as sites that sell in used books. Even still, in my research, I learn each time I open a book, and I study that new knowledge, embrace it and devour it.

With the other non-Gorean home closed down when two of our crucial members passed away, I was in an emotional quandry; I wanted Gor back, and mourned not being a part of Gor, but I could not be Talena anymore. If I left my home, I would be no doubt losing friends I had been around for 8, 9 years, because I felt there would be many who would not understand. I would hurt them, and that was something I didn’t want to do.

Ultimately, I did leave, realizing that people that I thought I knew were far different than the people they truly were. I brought Ayelen — and myself again — to Gor where she (and myself) without a doubt belonged. It has not been easy this past year, but I am glad it hasn’t been. I have grown so much in spirit and heart, in soul and mind, with each passing day spent. I have enjoyed the hands of good firm masters, though sadly, for one reason or another they departed Gor. I have been forced to look deep into my very being, to learn about myself right to the very core. Every day, I learn something new, be it from an experience online, or picking up a book and re-reading it. The day I stop learning, will be the day I no longer exist.

I am now owned by a man who is incredible, who takes my breath away, who frightens me, thrills me. He is without a doubt Gorean; his hand is firm, his temper easy, malevolent, and he expects nothing but perfection. He molds me as he wants me to be as his slave. He does not coddle. He may from time to time show affection or smile even. He is strict, stern, unrelenting. Each day spent he teaches me yet something new he expects of me; he helps teach me something new about myself. When I meet with his displeasure, I cry real tears, my heart lurches and aches, my stomach tightens into knots; not simply writing words that I am crying, or feeling an ache. When I find myself in a quandry of not understanding something, it is to him I direct myself to help me understand.

Right now, I ache for his return, and hopefully he will. If not, then as with any slave of Gor, I must move on.

I’ve heard the term used as “Soulplayers;” those who cannot live the lifestyle in the real world, but feels the life in heart, mind and soul and while in roleplay, consumes, fears, aches, and all those other emotions beyond the scope of a computer monitor.  Perhaps that is a fitting term, I don’t really know.

I also think, that since I can only live this beautiful world of Gor in fantasy online, it makes it that more special to me.

For the complete version of Living Gorean, please refer to the Miscellaneous section of my Gorean website.