 Previous |
 Main |
Next  |
March 15 1998
Time again to dig into the old mailbag and take the pulse (such as it is) of online Gor. Mail comes to me (the link is at the bottom of the page, feel free to use it) to my slave and other slaves to be sent to me, and to my friends to also be passed along. From this column, I get angry mail, flattering mail, threatening mail, and pleading mail. I get interesting mail and dull mail, important mail and junk mail. All in all, it is worth a look.
"Dear Bear-" (Actually, this one went to a friend, who sent it to me (perhaps I am too scary or smelly to email directly?) I present it here as I received it, not cleaned up in the least).
Has been informed of one called Bear visiting, is wellcome (sic), smiles. In the spirit of to each his/her own, this one has been informed of one of your clan visiting, one called Bear, if I am correctly informed (Obviously not, for I have never been to a channel owned by this one, that I can recall. I rarely go visiting to other IRC channels, for reasons obvious to those of you who do. Further, I am of no "Clan" except that of the one I was born into and with whom I share my last name. The people on IRC are my *friends*. Of course, it is also true that I am not a character in a novel and do not live my Gorean life as an imaginary IRC roleplaying game.) Of course in my domain, unlike that of others a man is judged on his actions only. (A fine idea, and we will judge this XENOSUL fellow by his actions in this medium, ie. his words, I suppose. I put my words out here every other week for the whole of the community to read and enjoy or disregard. Seems I have achieved a measure of success at it. ) I think it most rude; arrogant if one might say, for another to impose his/her opinion. (Am not sure how one "imposes" an opinion on another. One can speak his opinion, others are free to listen or disregard as they wish. But if I am being accused here of being arrogant.... <chuckle> I will cop to that. ;0) ) It concerns girls as Ops this one tells you my girls are loyal to me and follow my instructions. (Sounds fine to me, I have never spoken to this man, nor his "slaves" (whom, it seems, hold power over free men at his behest in his home. Another reason I rarely visit other "Gorean" channels). But as he said earlier, "to each his own") He Bear (Me, Bear?) should remember how easy it is on Gor to become a slave oneself or lose his life (Uhm, no, explain that to me. Since Gor does not exist, since it is a fantasy creation in a series of novels (as opposed to the philosophy, which can and does exist in this society) then how can one "lose his life" in it? I am not sure what ol' Xenosul means here, but I point out that online, I have never been assassinated. (Just as well, I would simply then be a pain-in-the-ass ghost <grin>) Most likely, Xenosul has a problem distinguishing between reality and fantasy, which is a common problem I find with most of those who call themselves "Gorean" online, but do not possess the courage to follow the philosophy in their lives. "To each his own", indeed) . In that spirit Be Well. Would be most pleased to have this message forwarded to Bear. (He did. And I still do not know what you are talking about. There is another on online Gor who uses a nick with the name Bear in it prominently, and since he spent much time with us in the past, he would likely object to the same gamer/poser issues as we would. Perhaps he meant him, and not me? (Hey, I love my mail, did I mention that? <grin>))
Including my opinion of Gor and how this ones eyes look upon it. (We wait anxiously) For this one has the love for gor in his heart. In that we are brothers. (Uh-huh. I myself have one brother online, and thanks, but I will decide who I will call brother, because for Goreans, that is a serious business.)Introduction to Gor:
Based on the Chronicles of Counter Earth (urht), by John Norman. (Gor 101? I am reminded of a very funny topic line: "Please, we will just have to retrain them all if you do".)Prerequisite; (virtues are) YOU must have HONOR and INDEGRITY! (Fact: YOU must learn to spell INTEGRITY! before you can spout off about it.<grin>)
Those Qualities have to be innate (ones nature, inborn):
"If you do not meet this requirement stay off of Gor." (Sounds fair, I have been saying something similar for 2 years or so. But hell, if that were the case, there would be by my reckoning, about less than 15 of us on online Gor, and the rest of you would go back to playing Dungeons and Dragons and spanking subbies when they commanded you to on the weekends <shrug>) I, GRINS, knowing darn well you wont, because BECAUSE WITHOUT HONOR and INDEGRITY, you, are slime, sleen Dung (A WORTHLEES pile of MANURE), GRINS. (Am not sure if it is important to note that he can spell sleen dung (although he has a problem with his caps key) but stumbles over spelling integrity. I will check with my buddy Freud, next time I see him.) You will shroud, and try to disguise yourself. (Me? I have been on online Gor for a looooong time, and have used 2 nicks, BearofAr and Bear-. When I come visiting, you know who it is. Many can attest to this, some to their regret) You will declare to others that you have honor and integrity. But it will not work, because you yourself will know who and what you are. Living a live of fraud, to lie or to use a clever scheme to fool others, (IS YOUR NATURE). (Hmmm... not quite sure what this rant is about, but if I read him correctly, He is saying I have no honor and integrity? (Because he thinks I came and objected to his letting his subbies hold power over men in his channel, which again, I never recall doing. Seems honor and integrity are cheap indeed, in some channels) If what he claims is, however, it seems I have fooled literally thousands of people who, for good or ill, associate me with online Gor. I also, if this is true, have fooled my Free Companion of nearly 15 years, my slave who lives with us and has for the last 6 years, and my other slave of 2 years who visits me. If this is a scheme, all made up by me and is also a "fraud", then I am in the wrong business and I would appreciate your vote for me for President in the year 2000.(Slogan: "America: a slave in every kennel") (Taking applications for interns now). understand you disgrace only yourself. (I would like to, but I have trouble understanding your point. Anyone can cry "wolf", Xenosul, but I see little to back up what you have said (what I can make of it) so far. You will pardon me if I am "disgraced" in your eyes, and if that fact does not keep me up at night, eh?) To Enter Gor means to enter "One Self". (No, entering oneself sounds more like trying to fuck oneself. Not something I am inclined to do, but I am a literal bastard, at times.) To enter Gor one should know: Gor is a magnificent world, in it's nature without moralities of Earth, and it is a world of WORRIORS, MASTERS/MISTRESSES, FREE PEOPLE and KAJIRAS and OTHERS. (<Sigh> Come back to the right planet, Xenosul. Gor is not a "magnificent world", it is a fictional one. It does not exist. (The philosophy that is represented in the books, however, does) Even if we were to speak of the fiction, however, you are wrong, in that it does share some of the moralities of earth culture (our own and others) just not all of them. It is not a place, in my reading of the books, for "Worriors", (nor is being a "worrior" something I strive for). I have enough in my full life without having to "worry" about a fictional fantasy setting.) (Although I admit I would like to know what happens with that war with Cos.) It is you that decide on it when entering Gor, to each HIS/HER own. (Actually, that is a crock of shit, for one cannot selectively (for the matter of ones own comfort and/or weakness) apply the philosophy, the traditions and the codes to ones life and still be Gorean. But lets not get into that, that would be GOR 202, and we still discuss 101, eh?)You choose what suits your fancy or you might have no choice of what lies within your heart. (No, that is called weakness, although I admit that is what 95% of those who think they are Gorean online do, it is easy to see why one can think this is the way to go) Nevertheless one enters Gor of ones own free will. Sooner or later the worlds of URTH, (EARTH) and GOR will collide, (Gosh, I hope not, should I sell my stocks and bonds before then and have a party...? Wait! Didn't H.G.WELLS already write that book?) Only then you will know weather you're of Urth or Gor. (And how is the weather there? For my part, let me state this succinctly. I AM OF EARTH (not Urth), of the country of the United States of America. I do not claim to be from another planet, nor that I am a warrior (or a worrior), nor that I live my life in a twisted roleplaying game through a computer modem. I AM OF EARTH, but I live as well as a Gorean male can in this society). If of Gor you neither question nor ask how to live, but proceed to do so, if of Earth, FARE WELL. (I can surely understand why most of those online, like Xenosul, would not wish to be "questioned nor ask(ed)" how they live their lives as Gorean. But having lived this lifestyle for 17 years, I can honestly tell you it is only by introspection and feedback that one can truly live a Gorean existence and remain true. If Xenosul is implying in the above that he is *not* from earth, then... uhmm... well, take from that, what you will)
Xenosul
(I admit to being confused as to what he truly speaks of, so it is difficult for me to sum up a reply. Let us simply assume he is confused as to whom he addressed this to, and that it is my hope that a few of the issues I addressed above can help some who are struggling with living their lives as Goreans in this society. As for the rest, they would not listen anyway, it would just spoil their game.)
Remember, you can write Bear- at [email protected]. All letters will be read and few answered, but he might comment from time to time.