By: Arius of Treve

Response to an opinion expressed...

"The Gorean Lifestyle and BDSM -- one is a lifestyle with a philosophy behind it. The other is just a kink with little substance."

There is a definite difference between the two, and I feel that the Gorean lifestyle obviously has greater substance and foundation to it when compared to what BDSM is, in and of itself. But I think saying BDSM is "just a kink with little substance" is a bit strong.

One of the prime differences is that the Gorean lifestyle has a much more unified basis behind it -- a single source with a much greater reach. The books present what Gor is, and define Gorean philosophy through the stories they tell. The assertions made by these scenes are applicable to a full range of life experiences, touching on sexuality as a part of the human condition, but not stopping there as it moves through man into society and world, addressing issues of existence, morality, ethics and values in ways both suggesting and challenging thought. Those truly living a Gorean lifestyle are all connected together by this core set of ideas. Even if there are varied interpretations, they are all still interpretations of the single source (this is as it should be, because Gorean Philosophy does not seek to provide a single, all-applicable set of dogma that transcends all possible perspective, but rather sees application as being flexible dependent upon the particular person and perspective - perspectivism).

BDSM refers to a collective of kinks. Any lifestyle that is associated with BDSM is not really a "BDSM Lifestyle," for what falls solely under that term, and is defined/presented by it, does not provide the depth of what a life can be based upon. That does not mean these people are not living lifestyles, of course they are, its just that there appears to be a misapplication of the word "lifestyle" to their chosen fetish.

Those living what is referred to as a "BDSM Lifestyle" in actuality lead their own particular lifestyles, with whatever chosen fetishes they have existing as perhaps a prominent part. These things might provide certain motivations and rationalizations, but the acts themselves do not provide a life philosophy. Any such thing must be gotten from elsewhere, be it through the individual's own creation, or adherence to other existing systems, faiths, ways, etc. Where he searches for these answers might be influenced by his given fetish, for he will look for ideas that compliment rather than refute, but in doing so the point is only proven that BDSM taken by itself does not provide the necessary pieces to constitute the depth of a lifestyle, for while it can be a contributing factor, its focus is too limited.

So in referring to something as a "BDSM lifestyle" all we are really doing is declaring that the given person practices some of the related fetishes that fall under that generalization. Little else can be known for certain since each practitioner is leading his own lifestyle whose definitions may be quite different from his brethren, with the only constant being the shared affinity for those certain kinks.

In this way, BDSM lacks the substance that Gorean philosophy has, but those practicing BDSM may very well have plenty of substance of their own.

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BTW...

I think any comparison of the two is actually just the examination of a possible practice within a lifestyle. I say "a lifestyle" because BDSM could be practiced in a wide variety of lifestyles, with the rational behind the given style possibly effecting just how the practice occurs, as in the case of the Gorean lifestyle.

The comparison though is not of the Gorean lifestyle to BDSM, but a possible practice within it (albeit one that the majority focuses on heavily and sometimes ignorantly assumes to be the whole), that in reality should be somewhat insignificant when compared to the far greater themes.

- Arius of Treve
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