What is Gor?

I've been asked this so many times, and have always simply replied with, "look it up."

Its strange when I think about it. Were someone to truly look up gor, they would come with one of two explanations: It is a sexual fetish lifestyle entrenched in the BDSM lifestyle involving a Dom/sub relationship on a more extreme level then what BDSM itself encompasses. Or they would simply see, A fictional series written by a male chauvinist (sp?) in the mid-sixties and early seventies, which has grown in popularity and have begun a reprint segment.

Perhaps that is all there is to it, and perhaps I'm merely following my own deranged divurgent path.

To me, gor is a lifestyle, it is not merely Men on a power trip to subjugate women. Hell, that is barely even the tip of the iceberg, and its not even the truth to begin with. As many slaves, submissive women, as there are in Gor, there are also Free Women, whom have as much pride, strength, and openness as a Man. Women who are dominant over men, who are as strong as men in mind and spirit.

So a Master/slave thing isn't what Gor is, and I suppose those whom read that, and call me barbaric, ignorant, or chauvinistic...Well...They are entitled to their opinion, though at no time in my life have I disrespected a woman. Treating one as they desire to be treated is probably the highest form of respect. *shrugs*

So what is Gor than? It is a lifestyle which is accomodated through the world it was created in, and brought forth into the world we live in. Its not the fictional points, tarns, swords, kaiila, tharlarion, homestones, etc. It is the points that can be brought forward, the Codes and Beliefs of the various Castes, the Honor that every person on the entire planet is subject to, the Integrity that everyone is accountable for.

Ever since my inception into Gor, as a roleplayer, I have followed the Caste of the Warrior, and it is a path which I follow in life. Its hardly something simplified in, "so you start a lot of fights?" because honestly, I rarely, if ever, come to blows.

A Member of the Scarlet Caste lives by Honor and Pride. Integrity and Truth. They exert an aura of dominance and strong leadership and confidence in all they do. A Warrior stands for his beliefs, and will go down for them, not bow under the weight and pressure of those opposing him. That is what a warrior is, what he does, and who he is. He has Honor and Pride in his life, in his strengths, and even his weaknesses. He has Integrity to his word, Honorbound to follow through upon that sacred oath if he speaks it. He will not lie, for the truth is his only true path. Any other road would lead to dishonor and destroy his Pride.

Every man is King within the line of his own sword arm. Perhaps not the most telling of quotes, as even with that said, I hardly walk around with a sword. However, I am King within my own existence. As far as my mind reaches, and my arms encompass, is my own domain, and no one enters it without first knowing I am the one in charge in that portion of my world. What happens outside of that is hardly within my control, merely the niche I carved for myself.

The Scarlet Caste is hardly the only one in Gor. Every Caste holds their own codes, conduct, and beliefs. The Caste of Physicians (Green), would hardly have the same view points as a Scarlet. Instead believing that one should not harm life, but save it. Dedicating to help others, they also entrench themselves in Honor, Pride, Integrity, and Truth. Merely in a different respect than others of the same lifestyle.

To me, Gor is as unique as anything in the world. It is not limited to some form of sexual fantasy, some kind of "behind closed doors" ownership or power trip. Perhaps, as aforementioned, I am delusional, and stuck in my own depraved state with these thoughts.

Even with this post, I know, well and clearly, that I won't truly uncover the whole of what Gor is in actuality for me, nor what it means to others. To each their own. I merely have had this on my mind for a long time, and it was nagging at my thoughts last night, after a conversation with a friend, and I wanted to get it out there, even if she likely won't read it for lack of the link being available.

For those few who do read this, and think that it is about them, it isn't. It isn't about anyone but myself, no one prompted my to write it (exception of TK who gave me the idea to finally get some of it out there), and it is not critisizing anyone's belief structure of what Gor is for them, as I said already, it changes by the person, by the Caste, by the standpoint, and by dedication to the views.

With this said, I of course I realize I'm opening myself to a fair bit of critisism. Which, as my Caste would dictate, is anyone's right, their choice, and I'll hardly dispute it. My thoughts are my own, and anything anyone says about it, are their own. I don't care what people think of me in the end, but not caring, and wanting to simply educate others better, are two very different things.

So those are my views. I live by Honor, not doing anything that might bring shame to myself, or those who know me. I live by Pride, showing strength in all I do, and doing it to the best of my ability. I live by Integrity, following through on all I do, and never betraying that which I speak, or believe in. I live by Truth, never lying, and answering honestly.

Yes, I am a Dominant Male, and in many relationships tend to take the lead. This hardly means my partner is always submissive, or a slave. This means, that if that is their heart, then they are free to explore it under an experienced hand and know they are not seen negatively for this. Submission is not a weakness, it is a strength that no one could possibly understand without being there.

This is the truth of what Gor is to me. When it branches further to what the BDSM lifestyle entails of Gor, as a sexual fetish of Master/slave, I say, "Lies." and know that there is so much more beneath that as well. A level of trust that no BDSM Dom/sub couple could ever hope to achieve. A level of acceptance, and utter harmony that people in this day and age would be envious of, were they to see how it enacts within this reality of the world.

So take it how you will. I'll hardly delve into the practices behind closed doors, and the way a Man and W/woman are together, or how it details in Gor, because without experiencing it, words are hollow...Right, bobbi? *smiles*


So, I bid you adieu, and pray you good health.

Zodiak.