Gorean Intolerance

by |Lionheart

     You see it all the time... someone who is of Gor enters a place and behaves in an intolerant fashion. A thing is stated, and another takes grave and serious offense to it. Other people are often offended, arguments ensue, some leave in a huff, and the offender is quickly labeled, 'intolerant', or 'close-minded'. No matter what their viewpoint may be, most who claim to be of Gor have very definite and strong opinions about certain things, and some of them feel compelled speak out about it, or take action.

     The books show a wide range of cultures and customs, all co-existing side-by-side, more or less peaceably. When Goreans go to war, they tend to do so over strange (by Earth-society standards) ideals and principles, over a woman, or perhaps simply, to extend their own control. Rarely do they war for financial gain, religion, or race, the things which most Earth-cultures take for granted as firm basis for conflict.

     Is there justification for intolerance, in Gor? How can there be, when the books repeatedly show such a wide variety of peoples who more or less, get along?

There is no single humanity, no single shirt, no correct pair of shoes, no uniform, even a gray one, that will fit all men. There are a thousand humanities possible. He who denies this sees only his own horizons. He who disagrees is the denier of difference, and the murderer of better futures.

- Savages of Gor, page 31

     On one level, clearly, a significant degree of tolerance is mandated, with the typical Gorean assertiveness which falls like the blow of a hammer, leaving no room for uncertainty or fence-sitting.

     Yet, in all of the cultures shown in the books, there is a common thread which weaves in and out of the tapestry, never out of view. That thread is the Gorean philosophy. It is never in dispute except by those of insufficient understanding, and they usually have the matter fully clarified for them, the err of their ways illuminated in the exacting and unyielding fashion of the Gorean man, by the end of a given book.

     How does this apply to us, we who live on Earth, not a fantasy planet called Gor? We who dwell within Earth's society's and must conform to some extent, to Earth's cultures and customs? Where can we possibly stand, with metaphorical feet planted one on each world?

     A few years ago, an apocryphal story was actually documented as happening, in New York City. A woman was walking home in the early morning hours from her job at a convenience store. As she reached her apartment building, a man stepped out of the alley and seized her, dragged her into the shadows. There, he subdued her, beat her, raped her, stole her money, and finally, murdered her. The woman's screams for help went unanswered, none of the passers-by on the street would so much as look into the alley. Yet, she was heard. She was heard by her neighbors, both in her apartment building and the one next to it. One by one, they were drawn to the windows to gaze down at the scene below them. Over a dozen eye-witnesses, some of whom claimed to be her friends, people she trusted, people she said 'Good morning" to on a daily basis. They watched, and did nothing. The man was caught as he exited the alley by a passing police car, who saw him and noted the blood on his clothes and hands. When interviewing for witnesses, they first found one who admitted to seeing what happened, and he in turn, pointed the finger at the people across the alley whom he saw in their windows, watching, even as he was. They, in convenience turn, pointed out people back on the other side. the final count was over a dozen eye-witnesses who watched and did absolutely nothing to help the woman, their neighbor. The prevalent claim was that they were afraid to act.

     While this example is extreme, I use it to illustrate more clearly the principle which is at stake. By convenience inactions, those people tolerated what occurred beneath their windows. Had even one of them picked up the phone and placed an anonymous call to the police, their friend and neighbor might well have survived her terrible experience. But fear held them back, fear of being next as an act of retribution, fear getting involved. And yet, were they not involved, involved in a spiritually intimate fashion with the rape and murder which was permitted to occurred within their purview? Were they not an an integral part of what occurred, as witnesses who could have stopped it but chose, instead, not to do so?

     I suspect that if such a thing occurred on the fantasy planet of Gor, those witnesses would be held as accountable as if they wielded the knife themselves, or at the least, held in utter contempt as cowards, weak and dissolute excuses for human beings. If we stand by silently, or ignore things which we know to be wrong, we are part and parcel of the problem, or crime, which unfolds beneath our windows.

     The Gorean Way shows us that many virtues which our Earth society considers to be antiquated and obsolete, still have value. Virtues such as honour, courage, commitment, responsibility, fidelity, discipline, defiance, integrity, honesty, loyalty, faith, the keeping of one's word, and more. If those things have value and meaning to us, then to stand idly by while those virtues are raped and murdered would make us as ethically, morally, and spiritually bankrupt as a lone woman's friends who watched her suffer through her final minutes of life. The principle is the same, only the degree differs. In some things, there is no middle ground, no fence to straddle, no Switzerland to take refuge in while others contest the rights and wrongs all around you.

'With weapons and courage. they were truly free men, for they could now defend their freedoms, and those who cannot do this are not truly free; at best they are fortunate.

- Raiders of Gor, page 301

     Fortunate that others have the courage, the honour, the integrity, and most of all, the generosity, to make a space for those who are unable, or unwilling, to take a stand for themselves. For those who fit the latter category, be very grateful for the charity which comes to you as fallout from the contests waged by those who are strong enough to stand up for what they believe in. They do not have to fight for you, and indeed, may not even consider that they are doing so. They are, instead, compelled by who and what they are, to do what they feel is the right, and honourable thing. They are the truly Free, of Gor.

     The next time that you see someone who is of Gor take a stand, and behave in an 'intolerant' fashion, look closely. Instead of just seeing that he or she is not being nice and politically correct, look for what it is that is not being tolerated. Look for the ground where the intolerant one is standing and see what it is. It just might be that they have the courage and fortitude to do the right thing. And if you yourself can find the requisite degree of honesty and courage within yourself, you may discover that you too, feel the need to take a stand.

The Struggles of Acceptance on Gor

by Keltoi

     Acceptance…what is it? What does it mean? What are some of the hardships concerning acceptance on gor? With this subject, it became clear that this could go very deep. Keeping that in mind as I will to explain this topic without wandering too far from the subject.

     What is this "GOR" I speak of? Well, it’s a place where men and woman can follow the beliefs and actions of those written by John Norman. In my opinion, based on my personal experiences, goreans can be classified three different ways. Each individual will be in one of these following classifications from one degree to another.

      #1 There are some, who are online simply to role-play. To them, its all an imaginary world where one can be a warrior, own slaves, have sword fights etc.

      #2 There are ones, who are online, yet have taken this much more seriously. To them, it is real in some sense, it affects their thoughts and actions, and it will possibly lead to some type of offline interaction.

     #3 Those who live a gorean lifestyle offline, or are in the process of taking it offline in some way or another.

     Now for those who would be classified in the first group, let me share with you a simply truth. Gor is real, not the actual world that Norman created, that is fiction; however, the philosophies are very real to many. It is not just a game, and if you continue to spend time in this environment, there is a huge chance that it will get inside you. It will cultivate in you, allowing you to express a part of yourself that you didn’t think existed before.

     Although this philosophy, in my opinion, is very natural, there are many hardships to overcome. These struggles are different for each person, and probably the most difficult one is acceptance… acceptance of yourself and acceptance from others. To make things simple, I will separate it into three categories, Men, Free Woman, and female slaves. I will not even discuss male slaves; my own philosophy simply does not allow a place for men, who would be willing to submit themselves to slavery on a volunteer basis.

     First, I will discuss slaves. You seek to be accepted by men. If you are a new girl, you will have to go through many trials. The men will test you, the other slaves will analyze you, and often the freewoman will harass you. Then once you think you have been accepted, someone else will come along and push you further. You will be inspected and put through many trials on your road towards acceptance. However if you are aware of the following things, your struggles will not be as difficult.

     * Gor is a Mans world. Simply put, you are here to be pleasing to men. Nothing less will do, if you plan on being accepted in your slavery.

     *You may be abused and humiliated.

     * If someone comes along and shows you your slave belly, it will scare you. It may frighten you so much, that you will want to run. However, if you are a slave deep inside, you will not be able to deny the fire that burns within you for long, so you will come back.

     * You WILL be found displeasing. Its going to happen, so you might as well be prepared and know ahead of time, that someone will not be happy with something you do. That will hurt you, but learn from it. Endure the criticism and be thankful that a man took the time to show you how to become better in your slavery.

     *You could be collared to a man with a chain of sluts. Struggling to accept other girls, as your sister is a hard task at times. So learning to deal with any jealousies or conflicts you have about sharing your Master needs to be dealt with, and quickly.

     The list can go on and on, but these are just a few truths a girl needs to accept as she starts her journey into gorean slavery. Life as a slave is not easy, but once you have been found pleasing to a man, the benefits are well worth the struggles. Once you accept what you are then, and only then, will those around accept you.

     Secondly, Free Women, your role on gor is somewhat difficult. Considering most men see all women as slaves, you have the enormous job of proving you are truly a Free Woman. However if you will remember the following facts, your acceptance will be easier.

     * Gor is a Mans world. Even though you are not a slave, you are here only because the men allow it.

     *As a Free Woman, it’s expected for you to know your place and your actions constantly display the pride and integrity of a free woman. Many try to wear the veils of a FW, but some believe most are simply slaves waiting to be mastered. It will take patience and strength of character to prove you are meant to be free, and still only time and endurance before many accept you on gor. This is a difficult path; however, once you have been accepted, you will be respected.

      Finally, I will discuss acceptance with Men. What type of hardships can you expect on gor what is waiting for you in this mysterious place? Well, this is something that I can speak of from experience rather than observation.

     The Gorean lifestyle can hold many hardships; acceptance does not come easy in a close-knit Gorean community. One must earn the respect of other Goreans through strict adherence to the underlying principles, strength of character, and of course honor.

     Whatever has brought you here, whether it is the opportunity to embrace the philosophies or to meet with like-minded individuals, accepting yourself and your feelings, as well as gaining acceptance and respect from others, is important. Acceptance is very valuable to men in all walks of life. From as far back as childhood, we all wanted to be accepted and struggled to be appreciated for who we are. Today, whether it is a friend or a coworker, we still want a level of acceptance. In my opinion, respect is one of the driving forces of what makes us men. Now do not get me wrong, I am not saying that we have to have the approval and recognition of others to be happy. However, I do think that we as men strive to gain others esteem for our honor and pride.

     When you finally find that part of you that is different than the norm, that part that makes you gorean, there are some things that you must be willing to accept. As a new man on gor many will test you. Many will watch your every move, analyzing just exactly who and what you are. Slaves may seek to top you; men may seek to embarrass you. You can expect to be called a HNG and a player. You can expect a lot of men to just give you a difficult time. Why would people be so hard and cruel to newcomers? Simple, this is very real to many, and the philosophies are guarded zealously. If you accept this, are willing to endure, and learn the ways of gor, then perhaps you can become more of a man than you currently are. However, if you remember the following things, your journey on gor will be a bit simpler.

     *Gor is a harsh cruel world.

     *Becoming gorean can and will change you.

     *There is a tremendous responsibility when owning a slave. I could write a paper alone on this topic. But generally, you own another person completely, so with that comes a great amount of responsibility. The slave has given you herself totally and you have to care for, maintain and encourage growth in her.

     *You will be an example to the ones new to gor and it’s philosophies. That is difficult at times. To be a mentor has a great deal of responsibility.

     *Your attitude in general will change in all parts of your life.

     *Read the books. They are the guidelines.

     This list could go on and on, but those are some of the most important things to be aware of as you start down this path. If I may give one a bit more advice, it would be to find a man that has the same philosophy as you, one you trust and admire, and watch him. Learn from him. For truly there is no better way to learn than through observation.

     There will be times you wish you had not ever discovered such deep meaningful things out about yourself, and having an honorable man to talk to, to confide in and admire is helpful.

     In conclusion, there are struggles on gor to be accepted. There will be conflicts with others as you learn about the new philosophy. You will battle to understand yourself, your deep new emotions and to accept that you are different than the norm of today’s society. Also, whether a slave, a free woman or a man, you will have a huge task to find acceptance with others. However, the only opinion that truly matters is your own. Learning to accept yourself and appreciate your own differences will make those around you respect and honor your strength. This may be a tough world, but it is very rewarding.

     I wish you well on your journey.

The Journey of a New Master

   by Cameron

     "I think you may be a Master without knowing it," she said, "I wouldn't know, but perhaps" I responded and left it at that. After a sleepless night and my morning coffee, I find myself staring at a search engine query page. "What can it hurt?" think I, and enter in the search sub-string "Gor". What happened shortly thereafter is why I write to you today.

     For the better part of two days I read a tremendous amount on the subject, I read improbable things, humorous things and some disturbing things. But after all was said and done, something in me stirred very strongly, and I was unable to stop it. I had much to learn and discover I thought, and I shall learn and take small steps. Unbeknownst to me, taking small steps would soon prove impossible and I became immersed in this philosophy and unable to take these small steps, and driving forward in my personal development as fast as I could. This of course was aided by some fine people who frequent the same channel as I, very fine people indeed.

     What has drawn me to Gor, more so than anything else, is the people that I have met here. Like minded people, who seem to share a knowledge, or understanding that cannot easily be found in our every day lives away form the computer. People who do not get caught up in the "I am more Gorean than you" argument, but accept who they are and are more than comfortable in their own skin. People who draw what they can in their online interactions, and apply it to their offline lives as best they can.

     With all this being said, I will offer up my interpretation of what Gor is not. Gor is not a planet that really exists. Gor is not living your life in a 100% M/s relationship - that is impossible for some, yet does not make them any less Gorean. Gor is not assassinating people online, or conjuring up spells and goblins. Gor is not memorizing each book, and being able to quote freely for an ahn. Gor is not finding a slave to collar as a trophy, only to be cast away when something different comes along. Gor is not a kind place, and can be brutally honest.

     At this time you may or may not be thinking, ok big guy with all the answers, what is Gor? I sometimes chuckle softly inside when considering this. I have seen many arguments and debates on this issue; Goreans after all tend to be very opinionated. I offer this up to you, I have no clue - initially I felt a need to have this answered. Now I find it unimportant. I believe that Gor is different to every person out there, what is important, is that each one of us take what we need from this online community and from the books of John Norman, to complete us as individuals. To aid us in becoming community leaders, better mates, better business people, better friends, better parents, sons and daughters, better employees, and happier individuals. I know I have met some very wise and profound people in my short while here, and can tell you that knowing them has had far reaching effects in my life.

      Perhaps you disagree with these ramblings, I respond; "so be it", but perhaps you agree, to that I say "excellent, let's sit and talk sometime and perhaps learn a thing or two"

I wish you well,

Cameron, of the Crooked Tarn

Reality and Specifics by Khidar

A Treatise on the real life aspects of the Gorean Philosophy and the applications of them.

There are many notions and opinions on what Gor is and what idealisms and philosophy seem to transcend these mere pages of paper and shape actions and sometimes even the lives of certain individuals. Some label themselves ‘Gorean’ and are satisfied with that, living according to the set of beliefs and optimistic ideals based upon a fundamental set of primal instincts and needs mere made sophisticated enough for the modern mind to comprehend. Though our rational minds read these books there is a part of use that essentially ‘knows’ who we are and wants to scream it out and proclaim its existence.

Now do not misunderstand me, I am not trying to psychoanalyse people I have not even met. This is merely based upon myself and is a reflection of my thoughts and beliefs as I was asked to write it so. I do not presume to call myself a ‘Gorean’. To me they are just insightful works that are some of the most powerful catalysts for living that many have found. Gor is a fictional world of balance and perfection in tumult and chaos. A place to accept what we are instead of blatantly refuting it but lusting for it in secret where none may hear but the unspeaking walls.

In the words of Aleister Crowley, ‘Men and women will never behave worthily as long as current morality interferes with the legitimate satisfaction of physiological needs’. I can here the silent murmurs now. Blasphemy! A quote and not from the Gorean books! (Chuckles) Essentially what we identify with is being true with our primal selves. Gor teaches us to tear from the fetters of ‘civilization’ in its hypocritical absurdity and be as we were meant.

Psychologically speaking, women are geared towards submission in the manner they think and are physically equipped to be pleasing to men. Now many may disagree with me on this but I see this as almost irrefutable. It is the constant pressure of the collective moronic programming we call ‘society’ that cripples us to this. Women are called weak and betraying their sex for their submission and men accused as chauvinists and oppressors of women for being dominant. The traits that define our sexes, in modern society, are shunned upon. It is the goal of the progress of modern society to transform men and women in androgynous robots all alike and obeisant to the current of modern morality. Frankly I find this notion quite disgusting and will have nothing to do with it.

So you may ask (or you may not care) what am I leading to? Well my own beliefs stem from much more than the source of the Gor books and I have seen the symmetry of truth in its ways. I choose to live as I do, true to ideals reflected in the Gor books. True to this philosophy and belief. I refuse to submit to the requirements of this modern society and if I am shunned for it, so be it. I am who I am and that is all I’ll ever be (hey even cartoon characters have moments of powerful insight).

I suppose I am under less pressure of the society than others, living in Australia. I had once conversed with another about an instance when a slave (in real life) refused to move from where she was standing in the car park, and I, removing my belt, forced her to her knees and proceed to pull her clothing aside and whip her with the belt in the car park. I was told if I lived where they lived I might have been shot for such an action, had I been seen.

I don’t know if this would be the case or no but it struck me as very odd. It seems we are not free to live as we wish in certain cases but a philosophy and a way of live, if it is worth living, is worth fighting for.

Khidar