10 Commandments

Drawing from Old-Fashioned Illus. of Books, Reading and Writing
Image courtesy ClipArt.com

Ten Commandments for Forming Friendships with People Met In a Gorean Chat Room

"The Gorean is suspicious of the stranger, particularly in the vicinity of his native walls. Indeed, in Gorean the same word is used for both stranger and enemy."
John Norman, Outlaws of Gor, page 49

"Be courteous to all, but intimate with few, and let those few be well tried before you give them your confidence. True friendship is a plant of slow growth, and must undergo and withstand the shocks of adversity before it is entitled to the appellation."
George Washington

arani's Master ordered her to write these Commandments one day, when she came crying to Him because someone she had thought was a dear friend had hurt her.

1. Thou shalt not disclose personal real world information to either a slave or a Master met in a Gorean chat room. This includes city, exact nature of job, religious affiliation, or phone number. Any of those disclosures could provide enough information for an out-of-control "Gorean" to track one down and create real trouble in the the real world.

2. Thou shalt remember that the other person may very well not be what he or she claims to be. These "deceptions" can range from physical appearance and marital status, to a fundamental belief structure. They can be either intentional or due to a confusion of these issues on the part of the person involved.

3. Thou shalt be careful of the person who is unable or unwilling to separate on-line from off-line issues. This includes those who expect that because a person can or should behave in a certain way in an on-line simulated environment, that they would or should behave in the same way off line as well. While there are some absolutes that should apply whether the computer is off or on, there are other matters that simply don't hold true in the real world. (For instance, just because it is common in the simulated world of on-line Gor for a Master to share His slave with others, this does not necessarily mean that He will do so off line where there are other factors to consider that were never heard of on Gor, such as STD's.)

4. Thou shalt use participation in the on-line world to enhance one's "real" life, not replace it. Be wary of those who are hiding from their real lives, for one reason or another.

5. Thou shalt never delude one's self into thinking that sitting in front of a computer screen and typing can ever completely replace face-to-face communication. There are many things, such as tone of voice, facial expression, and body language that simply cannot be expressed adequately through the written medium. Too, often misunderstandings can easily take place due to the lack of these cues.

6. Thou shalt remember that some things which might be common-place or expected in an on-line simulation of the planet Gor cannot and should not be practiced in the "real" world. Legal and societal issues, as well as safety, must always be considered.

7. Thou shalt remember that there ARE very decent and sane people who participate in the realm of on-line Gor. However the very nature of these interactions makes it often difficult to tell who is and isn't "real," and who should and should not be trusted.

8. Thou shalt remember that these people are not truly Goreans, they are humans born and raised on Earth, with conditioning and expectations that come about as a result of this up-bringing. While these people may be very conversant regarding the philosophies of Gor, their interactions will of course be influenced by their prior knowledge and experiences.

9. Thou shalt remember that each person interprets Gor in light of their own experiences and prior knowledge. A particular passage or concept might be viewed in an entirely different context by two different people. This is not necessarily a bad thing, and should not be judged as such.

10. In light of #9, thou shalt be very cautious around people who consider there to be only one possible interpretation of Gor. While there are a number of absolutes that are not open to interpretation, there are many gray areas that can be viewed differently by different people.

Essays menu
Main menu