This is Earth; this is not Gor! We've all heard it more times than we can count. Yet, there still seems to be some general insistence that there are such people as Goreans.

Why Goreans and not Normanites or Normanists? It is the writings of Norman that so-called Goreans adhere to, not the fictional nationality of the books. Why not Normanites?

Probably because those who study and attempt to distill a coherent philosophy from the Gor books do so in such a way as to emulate the traits found among certain inhabitants of Gor, rather than to emulate the personal habits and behavior of the author of those books. Norman did not invent his philosophical base; he distilled it from countless other philosophers who came before him. We could all call our ourselves "Aristotlian-Epictetan-Aurelian-Neitzchean-Malthusian-Normanites" I suppose, but "Gorean" is shorter and more pleasing to the ear. Also, I personally consider the appellation "Gorean" to be something of a compliment, since that word has come to be imbued with certain qualities which I find to be both positive and constructive in a human being.

I was recently asked:
"How can a man call himself Gorean simply because he believes in HONOR and a following of the codes? Is that not what any man of Earth should be doing in the first place?"

How can a man call himself Gorean? Easy. Like this: I am Gorean.

"Is that not what any Man of Earth should be doing in the first place?"

Should be. Unfortunately, there are many who don't bother to do so. Then again, there are certainly more out there who are doing so than one might expect. I keep meeting them, every day, off-line, and am surprised by their number. Fortunately, my study of Gor and the distillation and exploration of those "Gorean" qualities gives me a new appreciation for those who possess those qualities, whether they purport to be "Gorean" or not.

I was then asked:
"If the Gorean men of Earth are so adamant about living with honor and adhering to a set of rules/codes which have been laid down by a social group (i.e. society), why don't they get involved with local governments, political groups, and associations to promote such things on EARTH?"

Who says we aren't?

And what is all of this on-line Gorean interaction, if not an "association" dedicated to exploring and furthering common attributes and goals which we all feel will contribute to the common well being of our society?

I was asked:
"How is sitting at a computer spouting off rhetoric about the way to live from a bunch of books helping society?"

Why, by altering the perceptions and value systems of those who share similar viewpoints, allowing them to maintain contact with one another, and exploring a shared philosophy which might be applied to various aspects of our on-line existence. Of course.

Perhaps you ought to redefine "society."

I deal with those around me in a scrupulously honorable manner. Those around me also do so. We police one another in this, and keep one another honest. We all believe the same basic things about life, how best to live it, and how natural law applies to each of us.

We do this by contrasting and comparing our beliefs, and exploring a set of fictional works which contain references to certain modes of behavior which seem fundamentally correct to us.

What, therefore, is the difference between our doing so on-line, or our meeting in a conference hall, on the steps of the Parthenon, or in a church somewhere, to do the same thing?

We meet, we discuss, we share our viewpoints, and we go away changed for the better, with a firmer grasp on what we believe and why.

Is there a better way to do it than that?

I was then confronted with THIS little gem of a statement: "But then again, honor and adhering to codes don't involve slaves! It won't matter though, since being Gorean has nothing to do with owning women… or so it is said anyway!"

I say that.

If being Gorean was only about owning slaves, then all Goreans would therefore be required to own slaves. Which they are not.

If being Gorean was only about behaving honorably, then all Goreans would therefore always behave honorably. And they don't.

Therefore, being "Gorean" must be dependant upon something other than those two things.

I personally feel that the entire Gorean philosophy hinges upon a willingness to embrace responsibility for ourselves, and a dedication to be true to what our biology has made us. We serve nature first, then our personal natures, then the nature of the greater collective of society around us, and beyond that, the nature of our world.

Goreans do this for two reasons:

1) Efficiency. One does not fight against something which cannot effectively be fought against. Nature is such a thing.

2) Fulfillment. In fighting against what cannot be fought against, one tends to become frustrated. Those who are constantly frustrated find it difficult, if not impossible, to be fulfilled in their lives. They also tend to get ulcers.

Therefore, the informed "Gorean" simply resolves to accept those things which are engrained in his nature, both good and bad, and make the most of the situation.

I was then told:
"Just as with the men, if the women were behaving as women… meaning they understand that males are the dominant gender of the species… there is no need for a label such as Gorean slave."

I agree fully, and have often argued that very viewpoint.

And was also informed:

"However, it presupposes that the men live with honor and always do the right thing."

Not necessarily. Such a presupposition only enters the equation in the realm of "voluntary slavery" such as is practiced through on-line media, or in controlled Gorean interaction in our Earth-based society. In that case, the female possesses the option to walk away should her mate prove unfulfilling or without honor. On Gor, the fact of the social institution of slavery is an absolute. As unpalatable as that might be to would-be slavegirls, it is the ultimate application of the dominant male system.

Whether or not such a state of affairs is in itself beneficial, or necessary, is immaterial as far as Gor is concerned. It only becomes an issue when a simulation of Gorean slavery is enacted in a society which does not support it, namely, here on Earth.

As far as the practice of such simulations, either on-line, is concerned, it might be wise to consider the following truism:

Earth slavery was an institution.

GOREAN slavery, even as described in the books, is a PROCESS. Not a goal, and certainly not a grand award which one might "achieve."

If more people considered it in that light, it might do much to clear up the whole "am I a true slave yet?" syndrome which seems so prevalent amongst those who seek their submission through Gorean interaction.

As to the tone of those confrontational statements I have answered above, I suggest that the speaker does not know us very well. As long as there are people out there who profess a genuine interest in learning more about Gor, and the inherent philosophy therein, then we are achieving something: we are altering their perception of how they view their world. And even if they dismiss the entire concept of Gor as utter rubbish, we have perhaps altered their perception of what is possible beyond the official politically correct umbrella of our current society.