It is ironic that the men of the Silk & Steel are affectionately known as "Bearians" or "Zebites" by their enemies. I have never known a collection of more independent men. Men from such diverse backgrounds, and yet with so much in common. It is particularly ironic, when you consider the tension between certain members of the group. The strength of the S&S comes not from mindless obedience of the Bearians or the Zebites, nor from a mutual friendship of all involved. We do not all get along. The strength of the S&S comes from the simple fact that we all share a Home Stone. Ask a Gorean what that means, and he will simply look at you, baffled, amazed you do not know. I suspect that we all know what it means to share a Home Stone...somewhere within ourselves we suspect we know the truth, and we do. It is the pack instinct combined with an ancient thing called 'honour'. Ahh, that word again, so over-used by those that do not understand it, as if it is some "get out of jail free" card in this world called on-line Gor - say it once, and all about you will know you are Gorean. Say it often, and you can lead armies of gamers.

Here is another word so commonly over-used by those that do not understand its meaning: Brother. There is no limit to what I would do for my brother. Those men whom I have recently shared salt with, and held grass and earth with, know this. Those whom are not privy to such opportunities might use the word as if "Tal" could not be said by itself. I no longer have a desire to share the knowledge I have regarding brotherhood and honour with such men. It is like giving a gun to someone with a track record for armed robbery. I write this merely so that others who already understand, but were not there, can know what took place.

I have the opportunity to spend the next three months with one such brother of mine, and, if it is at all possible to do so, I will take it. Being Gorean is a lonely way of life, you see. With few men can you be yourself, talking about things you do not need to stop and explain. As a Gorean you can be at your most lonely in a crowd.

A meeting off-line with such men does something else, too. It puts into perspective some of the trivialities of on-line Gor. The humour that was once there has been replaced instead by the absurd. What was once said as a joke is now said in seriousness. We have moved on from lumpy paga and the immortal celane melon, and have entered the era of irc deaths and cyberfighting/bragging, conducted under the yoke of honour, as defined in a million different ways by a million different gamers. Sadly, all of these things were first said as jokes in S&S or by those of S&S. Is the defense "we knew what we meant, it was said in jest, they do not understand" actually a defense? And if it is not, can anything be done? The answer to both questions is a resigned, "No". You might question what there is to defend against. The answer manifests itself in numerous forms on several nets. The answer is but a joke, and yet it has gained a foot-hold because it is treated so seriously. Perhaps, once again, it is time it was regarded as nothing but a joke, and the absurd and incomprehensible mocked for what it is.

The Stranger's name is "Ignorance". The help we offer is called "Education". The defense we have left when our help is refused, but the stranger still comes forward is a two-bladed weapon; one called, "Mockery" and the other, "Indifference". It is a weapon that achieves little unless used correctly.

Once the men of Gor had got over their surprise at the ridiculous notions that persist in much of Gorean irc, they would have thrown back their head and laughed till the tears ran down their cheeks. It is a fictional planet, but not a fictional way of life. It is not a way of life based on anything as insubstantial as physical objects like swords, tarns and (lumpy) paga; it is a way of life based on something as definite as a philosophy, and outlined in no vague terms.

I wish you well, those of you who live it.