THE MINORITY WHO UNDERSTAND
   by _Marcus_ of Ar

It may very well be a fact that only 5% of those who claim to be Gorean in any sense of the word have the slightest idea what is actually going on with those books.

It may also be a fact that of the remaining 95% of the "Goreans" out there, half of THOSE do not really give a shit about anything other than owning their personal little chunk of cyberspace and imagining themselves to be something which they have not yet found for themselves, and perhaps never will.

Those things may be "fact." Or they may not be. I simply do not know.

However, if they ARE fact, that does not mean that you, or I, or anyone else, is required to be HAPPY about such facts.

Nor does that mean we cannot attempt to change those percentages, if possible, so that more people will actually begin to consider trying to BE strong men and complete women, rather than merely pretending to be those things in some IRC channel somewhere.

It is a dream I have. If those of Earth could again find within themselves what is noble, and natural, and great, then there would be no need for books about Gor.

Because we would have found within us what it takes to become not "Goreans," but natural and unapologetic Human Beings. And if such giants once again strode the surface of Earth, who knows what they might accomplish?

The knowledge, the technology, and the ability to communicate with millions, combined with the fulfillment of a natural existence, but unfettered by the cloying guilts and counter-instinctual foolishness of the modern Western age.

How magnificent we might be, then! How great we might become. In such a world there could again be heroes, and leaders. In such a world men might reasonably begin long journeys.

Naive I may be. But I still believe somewhere within each of us is the larl, awaiting its chance to once again spring forth and shout to the heavens: "Here I am! I am what I am, and I am not afraid! And I will not be kept from assuming my rightful place in the cosmos, whatever that may be!"

It is just a dream. Perhaps it means nothing. Then again, perhaps songs are simply vibrations in the air and love is a chemical stirring in the glands.

Becoming Gorean by Greylin `//olffe

Part VI - Why Gorean?

The question "Why?" arises in every man's life, at various moments. Why did you do that? Why do you believe that?

Why...why...why...

Why Gorean?

I suppose, to determine why, you have to look at what has happened in your life; how you grew up, what values you were instilled with, and which ones you chose to carry into your adult life. What circumstances surrounded your life - events which, for one reason or another, changed your outlook, attitude...

Another thing that needs to be looked at, is how you perceive the world around you. What do you feel is the natural order? Do you accept yourself, work on the things that you can change around you, accept the things you cannot change.

Looking at myself now, and back on what I had been, I realize I had been a 'believer'. I believed what the world around me told me, accepted the way things were, how they had changed from long ago to now. I look to the history books, and compare the events as they have unfolded in the last thirty years, to those events that took place at the turn of the century...or centuries long ago.

I have always been a student of history, especially that of medieval times. I look at the way things had been back then, with the strong noble families, and the serfs...how the men were strong of mind, skilled...and how the women served their men. There might not have been slavery, as written in the books. But there were still servants, and pleasing women.

Most of all, there was Honor. Loyalty. Brotherhood.

Another man, one I highly respect, shared a story of his growing up, learning about these principles and accepting them as a test for life. He grew up in a very localized ethnic society, predominantly one heritage. After deciding college wasn't for him, he returned home, and was eventually offered a job with a certain company in town - but it wouldn't be the normal work that company did, but rather, working on the inside. Not sure he would like the idea of this position, he politely turned it down, and went on his own way. Now, he is a fairly successful businessman of his own accord, and a highly respected Gorean within our the community.

It was after this job offer, that he came across the books by John Norman, and started reading. First off (like most who enjoy science fiction), he was taken away with the thought of a Counter-Earth, and riding tarns, capturing the girls. But he discovered more. As most of us have found, there is an underlying philosophy of life, which incorporates those principles we hold within ourselves.

In them I found, immersed in the fiction of the imaginary setting, truths that resonated in me. They spoke of honor - not the "honor" we see in our society today, but an internally-focused one. The concept of holding oneself to a standard - and that cheating that standard even when no one will know harms only yourself - is a very different concept in a society that views actual truth and honor as a weakness to be exploited. They spoke of the codes - an ideal to live by, and further broke them down by ones occupation. They spoke of loyalty - to oneself, ones brothers, ones Home Stone - even unto death. They spoke of law, tradition, and respect for both. And they finally spoke of the rightful place that men and women assume, that our society has worked so hard to subvert in the name of emasculated equality.*

Today, as it was thirty years ago, we are finding ourselves adrift in modern society. We look to how things are, with criminals going free, people who basically amount to nothing more than liars and thieves, running our governments, our businesses. There are so many people who find themselves in the daily grind - the same people who look at comic strips like Dilbert and laugh on the outside, to hide the tears on the inside that they can directly relate to what they see in those frames.

As far as I can tell, today's society, as a whole, no longer has a defined purpose or direction. Most of us feel cast adrift, struggling to make ends meet from day to day, week to week. We wonder why our lot in life is as bad as it has gotten, and if there is no end to the turmoils we face, the stresses we endure. Trying to live the "American Dream", and yet never quite feeling we have achieved it. Or some new law comes into play, restricting our rights to enjoy life again, because we're not being kind to the forests, or the animals, or this or that big activist group lobbying in Washington this week.

Understanding this, we who would be called "Gorean" dare to go against the standards of society. We realize that everything that has transpired in the past years is what has caused this slow degradation of our world community. We dare to stand against this, because we know we don't fit into what has been decided is "politically correct" today. We hold onto those intrinsic beliefs that have stayed the harshest test of all - that of Time itself. Throughout history, civilizations have come and gone, but in all, there has always been a set order of things. We stand, as men, because we believe if we don't stand, this order will be lost, and so will our modern society. We stand, because we hold ourselves with dignity, pride, and acceptance of a higher standard for ourselves than what we see around us.

We stand, because we feel the call to duty, the essence of integrity, the value of respect, the affluence of Honour

Why Gorean?

..I have to ask, why be anything less?

I wish you well.

Greylin `//olffe

* reprinted with permission. The original full text can be found at the Gorean Public Boards in the posting Why Gorean? by Bear.

The Decision   by Rakella

As a woman on Gor, you have two choices; slavery or freedom. Once that choice has been made, you are expected to stick to it. Choose wisely.

What you start out as on Gor is not in my opinion yet a choice… you come rightly or wrongly as either a free woman or a slave… most of you (not all) do not yet know enough to have chosen your status. You have so far made a guess as to which status suits you better based on your past and what you have heard, impressions gathered etc. etc. but you do not *know* yet.

Take your time, learn, listen, absorb and read but most of all… think, ponder and reflect.

Whatever you first came on as… try to truly stick it out for more then a few days or weeks. Try to understand the deeper differences in the mindsets of a free woman and a slave and compare them to yours. Don't change your status every time *something* does not fit in with your self.

Only when most of the elements are in your hands, can you truly make any lasting decision based upon your knowledge of free women and slaves… but really based on the knowledge of yourself in light of this new information.

Others, books, and sites will show you how things are, what is expected of people. Only you can know where and how you fit into this philosophy.

Therefore... your first task upon embarking on the path to Gorean philosophy is to learn this philosophy, to absorb as much as you can, to digest it as long as it is needed in order for *you* to understand it, that is your first task… but it is by no way the hardest…

The second task is for you to know yourself. Some of you may already have the answers, and some won't… some may think they know and yet not know… it's not easy to look at yourself straight in the eyes… and come clean about innermost feelings and thoughts.

The third task… it's now time for you to choose… you have learned of this philosophy and you have learned of yourself… now you can make an educated decision. Where do you fit in? Are you already there? Or did you start off on the wrong foot?

Or maybe just maybe, though you may have grown to love this philosophy and its people you do not really fit in? It happens and there is no shame in that.

On your path you will ask yourself questions… you will question what you hear, what you see and what you read.

At first you must be cautious, ask questions but try not to make judgments yet, let what you learn sink in… Debate and question, if you don’t understand something return to it read the archives, read the books, read the forums, read the voice, the site… ask and ask again. If you have a sincere desire to understand, you will not be turned aside, people will take time to either answer you or direct you to those that can.

Lots of the answers you will get may seem contradictory… but remember *everyone* views things from their own perspective and background. It is not really that the answers are contradictory, but mostly that different people and cultures have interpreted them differently… as you yourself will.

Do not settle for anyone’s personal opinion as to what something means unless you really understand and agree with it. Make up your own mind and form your own opinions which may or may not coincide with others… but will be your own and therefore something, which you can defend without reverting to "but X or Y says".

There are certain traits of character are praised amongst those that follow the Gorean philosophy, indeed those that have lacked these qualities have quickly found themselves shunned to the point of being cast out:

Honesty

Integrity

Loyalty

Honor

Bravery

Courage

Strength of character

Personality

And for a woman one of the most pleasing qualities she can have is simply to be pleasing.

And there are things that will quickly get you ignored

Lying

Hypocrisy

Deceit

Betrayal

As a new comer, some will make allowances for you and some will not that is just how things are life are in general. As a woman new to Gor, this is even more so, as men will expect you new or not… to have been led to this philosophy from at least some sort of recognition of the natural order of life. For that reason, they will expect from you one thing free or slave and that is for you to act like a woman and to remember your place in this natural order.

Whether you are disagreeing with their opinions or not, whether you are a slave or free, you will do so in a pleasing manner and kneeling at their feet and you will never forget that you are in a man’s world.

You will always remember that you are only allowed here, because men allow you to stay, for that reason you will show them your gratitude and be pleasant and respectful.

Do not think that men here are ignorant who cannot tell when a male is weak. Do not think, men here were just waiting for some woman to come and show them by belittling such a male… how weak and really ungorean he was. Men here are not fools, they know or if they don’t they will find out. Trying to take down a male for any reason may reveal or confirm to them what a weak male he was… but it will also show them that you really have no true understanding of your place as a woman.

In this philosophy and especially in this medium, nothing speaks for you but your words and actions… by those will you be judged… here a pretty face or nice body cannot be used to your advantage. You look like everyone else. What makes you stand out here is your mind. Use it.

This is not a place to run away from whatever problems you may have in your life, it will not resolve them. It is not a fantasy to escape the burdens of your life, it is life. It has its own problems, its own trials and rewards.

This is not a place for the weak, for those with low self-esteem, or those who have a lack of self-confidence. With your every actions and thoughts under scrutiny, the weak would most likely crumble.

This is Gor.

Love it and live it.

Or

Hate it and leave it.

Rakella

Rakella@usa.net