There are many interesting things about the protocol of Gor that often causes troubles and arguments. One of them surrounding when and where a slave may open their mouths to speak with their owner of feelings, troubles, and/or other difficulties. One must always remember that we are human beings, not born and raised on the fantasy world that is depicted in the John Norman novels. Though many strive to take the philosophies, and lessons from those novels and adapt them to their lives, one must never forget the foundation of each person and the fact again that we are still human beings with feelings and emotions that can interfere in our performance of daily tasks.

In some, the release of feelings is done through a journal, or other creative means, and yet the fact remains that one on one conversation between the owner and slave, when permitted by that owner, is the number one problem solving method available. A time to open up and discuss without threat of punishment. This is something that all owners should understand and remember. Knowledge equals understanding. A person can't learn if they don't speak or don't wish to listen. This goes for both Owner and slave for both are on a learning path to fully understand the others needs and how the other person "ticks" If a slave can understand what their Owner likes, they are able to be more pleasing, and in return if the Owner can understand and help the troubles of their slave, then they will have property that is consistently able to please them.

"He looked on her intently. He studied her. He gave her great attention. She turned her head to one side, her wrists secured in many turns of the binding fiber, her fists clenched.... on earth many men did not even know their wives... Never, truly had they seen them. But a Gorean Master will know every inch, and care for every inch, of one of his slave girls. He will know every hair, every sweet blemish of her. In a way she is nothing to him, for she is only a slave. But in another way she is very important to him. She is one of his women. He will know her. He will want to know her completely, every inch of her body, every inch of her mind. Nothing less will satisfy him. She is his property. He will choose to know his property thoroughly." Pg. 145 Hunters of Gor

If an Owner is to truly understand their slave, they must be willing to understand their property from the inside as well. If a slave is unable to speak at times and release concerns or troubles within, then the girl will bottle things, and possibly become depressed and less pleasing. If the owner truly cares for their property and it's value, would they want this to happen?

"It is one thing to own a woman, and it is another to have her within the bonds of an excellent mastery." Pg. 465 Magicians of Gor

A slave of earth cannot be truly mastered if their feelings aren't controlled; therefore they need to find stability within a balance with their owner. The best way for a slave to do this, in a respectful sense, is always opening up and speaking to their owner. Sometimes swiftly in regards to problems that can quickly overwhelm them. A word, or sentence that may seem out of place, or a strange question, is sometimes a clue that a girl needs attention regarding trouble of some sort. Those slaves that are able and have some experience will understand and catch themselves quick enough that they can beg a moment with their owner in order to state the problem. Even if it's not dealt with at that time, the problem is then in their owners hands and eventually, helping in the Mastery over them as the owner will be able to pick up on signs that their property is distressed.

"In the eyes of Gorean law you are an animal. You have no name in your own right. You may be collared and leashed. You may be bought and sold, whipped, treated as the master pleases, disposed of as he sees fit. You have no rights whatsoever. Legally you have no more status than a tarsk or vulo. Legally, literally, you are an animal." pg. 316 Explorers of Gor

If a dog doesn't bark at the door, does it's owner know it needs to outside?

Slaves must remember that if the master wishes to discuss things at a later time, it is up to him when and where the time is provided for speaking, however it is up to the slave to always advise the owner that there are troubles, problems, or anything that could eventually lead to less pleasing situations. Again, by doing this, the Owner is aware and able to deal with it when they wish to do so.

We all know what happens to people that bottle up problems. It leads to more problems, depression, aggravation, frustration, and in that one is unable to please and try their best. In continuing to hold, neglect, or refusing to offer the information needed to the owner, one is refusing their slavery, and place in the Gor lifestyle. A slave owns nothing that their Owner did not grant them. In essence, those feelings are not yours to deal with, they are your owners, your mind, body, everything about you, belongs in total and in part, to the owner of your being. Anything less than total openness and honesty is neglecting yourself, and therefore your relations with your owner. A slave is an extension of their owner. A piece of living flesh like and arm or a leg, or hands, that are detached from the body of their owner, but controlled fully by them.

The owner is the brain, and slaves the tools that move when the brain says to. Does a hand move without the brain sending the signals, direction and position the hand is to move, no and if it did, we would all be twitching and going no where as one legs goes to the north, the other to the sound and the hands take a flight to the artic. Can you see the tangled mess that would leave?

Now we can see the reason the signals and control are needed, but lets step one further and get back to the topic a little more. Let us say, that one of the hands stated above, gets a paper cut and is bleeding and in pain. If the brain doesn't get the information from the hand that it's hurting and bleeding, then the brain can't stop the bleeding, heal the wound, and stop the pain. A better idea would be, a broken finger. The brain (owner) can use eyes to see the hand (slave), but yet, can't see that there is a broken finger. If the brain doesn't know there is a problem, according to what it can see, everything is fine, and the wound is never looked after or healed because the finger that broke, never told the brain it had a problem.

So what does this all mean?
In all the mastering a person can do over another person, the fact of the matter is that if the two people in question do not communication troubles, there will be a whole lot of broken fingers walking around unhappy and in that, not pleasing their owners.
Yes, it is up to the Owner to give the slave the tools and time to speak. A slave always remembers their place and they are under total control by their owner. Any owner that wished to truly understand and know their property, as they should, would permit a time for discussions so that views may be stated.

Journals are a good window into the slave's world for the owners. Why? Because it allows the owner the opportunity to see what is going on in their beast's mind and thusly lead to discussions about such. In some cases, providing the journal to an owner continuously every morning and having that chat before the day begins can lead to a girl always being pleasing and looked after.

A slave that is health not only in body, but also in mind, heart and soul, is one that will be able to serve to their full potential on a daily basis. We are only humans, fragile creatures with limited time upon this planet. There are no super medicines to keep our bodies young.

Be aware, be safe, know yourself, know your slave / tell your owner.

By: dina ~ January 11, 2003