The Irony…

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. I know this subject is going to touch a lot of sore spots and most likely there will be those offended by this page. I suggest then that if such is the case, you should stop here.

First, let's explore some terminology, as definited by Merriam-Webster ©2006:

Lifestyle
Function: noun
Date: 1939
       "The typical way of life of an individual, group, or culture."

Function: adjective
Etymology: life-style, noun
       "Associated with, reflecting, or promoting an enhanced or more desirable lifestyle."

Role-Play
Function: transitive verb
       "To act out [students were asked to role-play the thoughts and feelings of each character — R.G.Lambert]."

Function: intransitive verb
       "To play a role."

Play
Function: noun
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: Middle English play, pley, from Old English plega; akin to Old English plegan to play, Middle Dutch pleyen, playen
       "To frolic, play:
       -- an act of briskly handling, using, or plying a sword or other weapon or instrument;
       -- a particular amusement;
       -- the conduct or carrying on of a game;
       -- a particular act, maneuver, or point in a game;
       -- recreational activity;
       -- brisk, lively, or light activity involving change, variation, transition, or alternation; dynamic activity."

Function: verb, intransitive verb
       "To engage in recreational activity, amuse or divert oneself;
       to engage in a game of make-believe; assume a role in or as if in sport."

Function: transitive verb
       "To engage in or occupy oneself with (a game or other amusement);
       to engage in (some activity) as if in a game;
       to treat, practice, or deal with in a spirit of play : pretend to engage in; imitate in play
         [the children were playing house… playing that they were cowboys and Indians… let's play soldiers];
       to put on a performance;
       to act in the character or part of ; represent by acting."

Gamer
Function: noun
       "A player who is game; an athlete who relishes competition."

Well, there you go. Yes, folks, it's a game, just like D&D worlds. Roleplay… is a form of game.

Gor is not a true lifestyle. Lifestyles are realities, based on very real cultures in the very real world. Gor is a fantasy; thusly there can be no Gorean culture. The next thing I'll be reading is that there are "true" WoD (World of Darkness) lifestylers. And "true" Trekkie lifestylers.

Though a "real" Gor is a horror in the making, roleplay Gor is indeed fun. It offers for many the opportunity to explore one's submissive side or dominant side, among other things. But, it is still just a game — a roleplaying game. I play and enjoy many roleplaying games: EverQuest, Final Fantasy, D&D (online and tabletop) — and Gor — just to name a few.

Let's look at some roleplaying game aspects, such as those D&D based, versus Gor.

Game Master

  • D&D:   There is a Game Master that dictates the roleplay.
  • Gor:   There is no character with the role of"Game Master." However it is not uncommon for the Ubar, Administrator, High Jarl, et al, (room leader) of a home to dictate the roleplay (i.e., spar night, dance contests, raids on other homes, etc.).

Rules of Play

  • D&D:   There is a standardized set of rules, however, even so, the Game Master may at his or her option, create his or her own.
  • Gor:   There are rules, and though there have been attempts at standardizing the rules of play, the various leaders may at his option, create their own.

Role Play Script

  • D&D:   Although there is a standardization on how each person is to play a role, there is no set script for the roleplay; it is meant to be spontaneous and eventful, with varying twists and turns and surprises.
  • Gor:   Although there is a standardization on how each person is to play a role, there is no set script for the roleplay; it is meant to be spontaneous and eventful, with varying twists and turns and surprises.

The World

  • D&D:   Imaginary worlds based on legends and stories (i.e., vampire legends, Celtic legends, and books written based on ideas by Gene Rodenberry).
  • Gor:   Imaginary world based on books and ideas written by John Norman.

Miscellaneous

  • D&D:   Some people believe Gene Roddenberry is a god.
  • Gor:   Some people believe John Norman is a god.

Signing Off…

  • D&D:   After the game is done for the night, roleplayers return to their regularly scheduled lives of homework, family, television…
  • Gor:   After the game is done for the night, most roleplayers return to their regularly scheduled lives of homework, family, television… while the "true Gorean lifestylers" ride off on their tarn or kaiila after discarding their slave in a sleen pit…

Oh the Agony…

I've found it fascinating, the word "gamer." Do you realize, that it is only on online Gor that such a word is used with contempt? Of course, it's not used in its true meaning, which basically means the player in a game, but rather it is used to denote a cheating roleplayer.

Interesting, isn't it? If, in their argument they claim there are people that cheat on Gor, then by such declaration, they also infer and admit that Gor is a roleplaying… game.

You cheat at playing in a game — not a lifestyle.

 

 

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Disclaimer

These pages are not written for any specific home, but rather as informational pages for those not able to get ahold of the books and read them yourself. Opinions and commentaries are strictly my own personal views, therefore, if you don't like what you are reading — then don't. The information in these pages is realistic to what is found within the books.