Gorean Philosophy

Question::  Of all the tenets of the Gorean Philosophy, which to You, is the hardest for most to conceive?

Ice::  I think understanding all the different facets of the Gorean Philosophy is truly the hardest to conceive. When people speak of living the lifestyle in the daily lives, they instantly imagine a man with a woman who is his slave. That in itself is hard, for those raised in today's society are taught that slavery is a deviant behavior, twisted and sick, and all the things that go along with it. What many new to this lifestyle fail to realize is that Gor is more than just owning a woman. Living a life of honor in today's world is probably the hardest thing a person can do. A person is assaulted by falsehoods and easy way outs everyday, situations where a little deceit could get them out of trouble. It is here where a man is truly tested, and it is here where many fail.

Question::  With regards to "Honor, Integrity, and Brotherhood" which to You, holds the most regard? Why?

Ice::  All three are important to me, but indeed I think honor is the foundation that the other two are built upon. Adhering to those codes within yourself. Upholding your ideals. This is something I hold dear, and would not change nor compromise for any. Without this, brotherhood would not be an option, for who would wish to be a brother to one with no honor, no integrity. I would not.

Question::  For many, to bring the Gorean Philosophy into their Earthly lives: the cost and sacrifices are great: What has been Your greatest sacrifice to date?

Ice::  I have been lucky in the fact that I have not had to sacrifice a good deal to live the life I choose. I know that many have sacrificed friends, family and such to uphold their ideals. My upbringing and personal experiences have combined to make me the man I am today. I have not sacrificed anything to live this. I would be sacrificing something if I lived otherwise. As I have read, Gor is just a name we put to what is in ourselves. Were it not Gor, it would be something else. I hope Bear doesn't mind me quoting him. <g>

Question::  What does it mean to be a Gorean Master, what are the qualifications?

Ice:: I don't know if there is any set way to be a Gorean Master. I am just myself, basically what you see is what you get. If you want to call it Gorean, fine. If not, I will still be the same person. I think you just need to be strong in your beliefs, confident in yourself and what you are, and if they fit Gor, well, you thrive, if not, there are many other places in this world where you may reside. The books set the basic standard, but each Man has their own interpretation of those books. If mine is a little different, does that make me less of a Master than another?

Question::  Under what conditions would a Gorean Male move from His home stone?

Ice:: I would think if the homestone compromised his beliefs, his honor, that would be the time to depart. How could one stay within a homestone when his own codes are at odds with the tenets of the Homestone he rests his furs within?

Question::  Up till what time should a Gorean Male stand by His Brothers?

Ice:: For those who I call Brother, there is no limit to what I would go through to stand by him, be it to my last breath. No matter the odds, for I know they would do the same for me. Yet at the same time, if he proven himself to be craven and honorless, then I would have no wish to stand by such a man's side.

Question::  How do you feel the concept of one's "Home Stone" should relate to our online channels?

Ice:: Well, my Homestone is the Scarlet Caste Tower, as most that know me know. I would not consider laying my furs anywhere else unless I left the Tower, for it is there that my allegiance is. I believe if a Man accepts responsibility to a channel, as in Ops, he pledges his sword there. For having Ops in several different channels, I will ask this: How can a man have more than one homestone?

Real life issues

Question::  In real life Gorean relationships, where do you think the Master/slave relationship should begin? Where do you think it should be set aside due to the requirements of our society?

Ice:: Well, of course the relationship begins when the girl submits to the Master, in essence giving her whole self and well being into his hands with the knowledge and consent of what is required to be a Gorean slave. In the privacy of the home, it can be explored in full, yet in the community, out in society, obviously some strictures need to be set aside. I am not going to whip a girl while walking down the street because of some misbehavior. That would probably earn me some jail time <g> But even in society, the girl can show her submission to her Master in many small subtle ways, known only to her Master. And other types of punishment, just as subtle, can be used to put a girl in her place.

Question::  Do you ever feel limited in your Master/slave relationship by the dictates set forth in the books?

Ice:: Not at all. The book sets the basic standards, but how we incorporate that into our lives is up to us, and to what extent it influences our day to day existence. I own the slave, to do with as I please. Not so limiting, in my opinion.

Question::  What was the hardest thing to overcome when You took Your beliefs into Real Life?

Ice:: I think the hardest thing to overcome when I took this into my life was finding it within myself to cast off the drilling and teaching of the relationship between men and women. Yes, I was taught to be strong and dominant, yet also had it pounded into me that owning another person was wrong, then a Master/slave relationship was taboo, When in fact, it is as natural as anything. Once I realized this, it was a lot easier to deal with, but up until that point, there was the internal conflict of my upbringing vs. my natural feelings. I think we all know which won out in the end.

Question::  Oftentimes a new person, Master or slave, will come to IRC Gor with the impression, actions upon the computer equate to those in real life complete with serving constantly from the knee's, etc. Your response?

Ice:: Well, you have to understand that what we do on the computer is a good amount of Role-play to better simulate the goings on in a paga tavern or whatever. The underlying feelings of submission and Mastery are what are real, as well as the adhering to the codes within one's self.

Question::  Disregarding the domination aspect - in Your opinion how does the Gorean Philosophy and Lifestyle differ from that of the standard Earthly way of life?

Ice:: One of the most major differences that I see is indeed the upholding of Honor, the sense of Brotherhood. There is so much lying, cheating and such in this world, that the word is pretty much nonexistent in Earthly way of life. That is why it is refreshing to find those who you can call brother, and who you know hold the same values. To know that these men will stand by you in your trials, and knowing you would do the same for them.

Question::  In Your opinion, is there ever a time for a slave to be Your equal?

Ice:: No. If she was my equal, she wouldn't be a slave.

Question::  What is Your most favored form of discipline in real life issues?

Ice:: My favorite form of discipline, eh? Hmmm. I don't think I really have one. When I discipline, I tend to make the punishment fit the crime, so to speak.

Question::  How do feel that Gor relates to "real life" b/d/s/m?

Ice:: Gor, I believe, is something different from BDSM. This is not sexual play. This is a way of life. When she submits, she gives up all control to the Master. No safe words, no contract, nothing for her to fall back on. Gor doesn't end in the bedroom It is not for everyone, which is probably why there are more BDSMers than Goreans. It also places on the Master more responsibility, to guide the girl in her submission and help her explore the depths of it, knowing her complete and total well being is in his hands.

Question::  Where, for you, does online end and real life begin?

Ice:: When I collar a slave, it is not just online. She may not live with me, but she is still owned by me, regardless of what her situation is. I accept responsibility of her even when the computer turns off, guiding and teaching. I am in RL the way I act online, so there is no difference to me in that sense.

Mastery

Question::  In correction, when is the whip most effective? Least effective?

Ice:: I think it depends on the situation. The fear of being whipped is a lot of times enough to end any sort of misbehavior. It is most effective, I think, in ending a situation quickly. The crack of a whip can effectively shatter any head the slave might have had in her behavior. Sometimes, a word or a look is enough, and using the whip may be detrimental to anything I was trying to teach her.

Question::  In your opinion, when is it appropriate to punish a slave?

Ice:: Well, any Master can whip a slave when he wishes to. But if the girl has been pleasing, I see no need to punish her in any way. I tend to reward her with attentions and such. When she has done wrong, that is when I punish the girl, hoping she learns a lesson.

Question::  Do you think it is acceptable to punish the slave of another Master?

Ice:: To an extent, I do. Punishment can take many forms. A negative remark of her service, a curt dismissal, a wide variety of things, to kicking her out of channel and banning her until her owner speaks to the tavern Ops. I liken it to if your dog shits in my yard, I am not going to beat the shit out of it, but I will send it out and speak to you about it, so that it doesn't happen in the future.

Question::  When does the gossip of slaves become a concern for Masters? If and when it becomes such, how should it be dealt with?

Ice:: When it interferes with her service to Men, that is when it becomes my concern. Obviously it should be dealt with expeditiously, whether it be a talking to or a good whipping. Otherwise, I do not have the time nor interest in it.

Question::  When a slave fails, should he or she be given a second chance? If not, why not? If so, then under what circumstances?

Ice:: I do believe in second chances for a slave, for mistakes are going to be common when exploring this lifestyle. That is a given. But if the mistakes keep reoccurring, then obviously something is not clicking in the girl's head. Then it is time to re-evaluate the situation.

Question::  Should an online slave's real-life responsibilities take precedence over her online service to her Master?

Ice:: I think that of course there should be some understanding. Many slaves have families, and some allowance must be made for this. If it is merely IRC, she must tend to real life, then she can relax and allow herself to fully feel the depths of her submission, as much as you can on online. Otherwise she is going to be torn in two, and the stress caused may drive her away from this altogether.

Question::  In Your opinion, are slaves given too much attention?

Ice:: I think whatever attention a Master wishes to give a slave is fine. The problem is when a slave expects to have a certain amount of attention. Tending to a slave is a given, for she does need some attention. Whatever more I wish to give is because it pleases me, and can be taken away just as easily.

Question::  As a Master, what is Your best attribute? Your worst?

*Ice presses lassy's head between his thighs

Ice:: what do you think is my best, girl? My best..my best...hmm...That I bathe regularly. My worst is the fact that I need to bathe regularly, otherwise you don't want to be downwind of me.

*lassy squirms, nuzzles, moans and puurrrrrrssss

The Man

Question::  If you were a Gorean animal, what would you be? (Larl, sleen, tarn, etc.) Explain why.

Ice:: Larl. Just because <smile>

Question::  How do you personally measure your success as a Gorean?

Ice:: Well, I am still here. I guess that says something. Although I have had my head chopped off once. That was an interesting sensation. Kind of tingles.

Question::  What would You like most for the readers to know about You?

Ice:: I'm as dumb as I look. Wait! That came out wrong....ah hell <sigh>

*lassy chuckles softly behind a cupped hand

Question::  What did You find dissatisfying in BDSM?

Ice:: I found the lax attitude to be unsatisfying, where slaves hold ops and power over a Man, have the right to tell him when she has had enough, when she does not wish to do anything. I was dissatisfied with the lack of strictness, of structure.

Miscellaneous

Question::  According to the source books, Gorean FreeWomen are utilized to bear Free children, manage the books, etc. In Your opinion, what purpose do Free Women serve on IRC Gor?

Ice:: None. I don't plan on having an IRC children. If they act like freewoman, I leave them alone, if not, well I do not have a lot of patience with them.

Question::  What is Your favorite source book? Why?

Ice:: I truly enjoyed Nomads of Gor, just because it was a pleasing read, and I have always enjoyed the Wagon People.

Question::  What book would You recommended to any new girl? Why?

Ice:: I would recommend a # of books. Kajira of Gor, Slave girl of Gor, and Dancer of Gor to name the most prominent three, as they document a slave's journey through the training and rigors of what is required of them, and the feelings that blossom within herself.

Question::  What is the difference between a "slave" and a "kajira"?

Ice:: Hmmm. Slave I would define as a girl on her road to discovering her submission. She is learning, yet still very tentative on what goes on, wishing to hold a little of the power in her hand still. Such as contracts, safe words, setting limits on what can and can't be done to her. Kajira on the other hand, gives herself freely and totally to a Master. She understands her time under the Master may be harsh, unfair. She holds no power. There are no contracts, no safewords, she is under the strength of an unyielding Man.

Question::  In the books, slaves often change collars many times when they are sold or traded. Why is this such a taboo to so many online Goreans?

Ice:: There are girls out there, pretending to be slaves, who jump from collar to collar. On Gor, kajira are not allowed to beg out of a collar. Here, some girls act like a collar is the flavor of the month. This obviously puts a girl who has worn many collars in a bad light, regardless if it is fair or not.

Question::  Most agree that "killing," though it appears in the books, cannot be effectively simulated on IRC. What other activities from the books do you think cannot, or should not, be simulated online?

Ice:: I think slave auctions can not be effectively simulated on IRC. For one, the consent of the slaves to submit to a collar they know nothing of is always there. Now, if the girls do consent to submit to any that buy them, how do you simulate the actual buying? And Money? Another thing is, there are no guarantees she will be sold to a Master. He might be some guy who sits there typing one handed. HNG's, we call them. This person may think it's so cool to own a woman, and know nothing of guiding a slave to her submission.