| By: Arius of Treve |
- MARAUDERS OF GOR, Pg. 8
The above is a pretty direct statement made by Norman comparing and contrasting the moralities of a culture based on the "master mindset" with one based on that of the "slave." As he simply stated, the mentality of a "slave society," such as what he considers Earth or the modern Earth culture of Western civilization, attempts to regulate everyone to a feeling of being "the same," encouraging all to feel equally good and equally special, rather than encouraging each to strive to be more than their current place. "I am weak, so let us all be weak." The mentality of Gor or the other hand, does not at all see everyone as equal or the same. This is not to say people are oppressed, only that society promotes the concept of those that are most capable reaching the highest levels of accomplishment. Those that are incapable or inferior are not given "special advantages" to enable them to compete with their betters, nor for that matter are those more capable and superior handicapped for being better or more able than those around them. The Gorean mentality encourages each man to raise himself out of his hole and climb to the sky, instead of placing everyone on an equal and happy plain of conformity and tedium.
Gorean culture has a very simple way of handling things. If you are capable of being free and able to retain that freedom, you are free. If you are incapable, or unable, you are not. Those that are worthy of being men, are men, and those that are nothing more than sheep, are sheep. Not all men are leaders and not all people succeed. One is not rewarded for failure, and Goreans do not make excuses, adjustments or compensations for personal deficency. And they do not feel guilt for being talented or successful while others may fail, nor does their society praise the "loser" or make excuses for him. Goreans do not expect to be given things. They are not beggers. And their society does not create an environment in which individuals are made to think rewards are something one is entitled to, rather than something earned. Each man finds his own place and his own worth in life, based upon his own abilities alone, not the good nature or good will of the society of which his is a part. And in reality, it is his nature that selects for him his lot in life. Gorean society accepts this idea, existing in compliment to the nature of the individual. Earth society seeks to replace this nature with what it deigns is "correct" and what it feels its constituants should accept as being "best" for them.
This difference between two moralities also holds true for one of Earth that seeks to follow the philosophies of Gor. If you want to be a "Gorean Man" you must do it for yourself. No one is going to lead you down the path to the finish line, and if you think someone is, you have already made a wrong turn. Fine if the strength and words of another opens your eyes, but one must be a man for himself, and find the truth of himself in his own way and by his own hand, not because he wants to impress someone or get a pat on the head. No one teaches you how to be Gorean, just as one cannot be taught how to be a man. You either search yourself and accept what you are, or let others tell you what you feel is wrong and define your existence for you. Yes, helping others is one thing, but spoon feeding and coddling is another. If you must be shown how to be a man, then you might as well kneel and take your collar while you are at it. Its been waiting for you since birth.
"To take truth for granted is not to know it. Truth not won is not possessed. We are not entitled to truths for which we have not fought."- MARAUDERS OF GOR, Pg. 7
It should be added also that the concept of "the morality of the slave vs the morality of the master" is an extension of ideas presented under the same name with similar objective by Frederick Neitzsche.
- Arius of Treve
© 1999 All Rights Reserved
© 1999 All Rights Reserved
