Master _Marcus_ of AR of The Silk&Steel

Gorean Philosophy

Question::  Where do You feel the Gorean Philosophy is most misunderstood?

_Marcus_::  First allow me to reiterate, as I have done so often in the past, that I do not feel that there is one single universal "Gorean philosophy," although I do subscribe to the belief that all of the various behavioral examples and tenets, known to and practiced by Gorean characters in the source books, can be grouped together under the title of "Gorean philosophical beliefs."

That said, in answer to your question, I would say that the greatest misunderstanding of Gorean philosophy is the tendency among would-be Goreans to equate the practice of b/d/s/m with the Gorean way of life. I personally do not feel that Goreans are Goreans because they routinely practice dominance and submission in their sex lives, but rather that Gorean dominance and submission is the applied result of general societal conditions upon Gor and is the natural physical extension of the way Goreans think.

I add that Gorean dominance and submission is not just a part of the sexual lives of Goreans, but is practiced on a day to day basis in many other areas of Gorean society, notably in the caste system and the usage of warfare against other cities and states, which supports the practice of slavery on a planetary scale.

Question::  A few months back, You wrote about the Gorean Philosophy and the tenets thereof, for The Gorean Daily Times. Since that writing many have taken those tenets to heart, basing the Philosophy on Your interpretation. How do You feel about that?

_Marcus_::  First of all I am flattered that so many of my fellow Goreans have accepted my interpretations as being fundamentally correct ones. I derived those assumptions and tenets from extensive research, studying the source books and extrapolating from the words and actions of the actual characters within the source texts. In many cases I relied upon the actual words of the narrator, Tarl Cabot, whom John Norman uses most often as his "mouthpiece" for disseminating Gorean thought and custom; in other cases, I simply paid close attention to the manner in which the various Goreans depicted in the books reacted to certain behavior and activities and absorbed these actions into my own concept of how the typical Gorean would think.

I have recently been vicariously accused of founding a supposed "Cult of Honor" consisting of "boy scouts" who profess to be Gorean, while actually following a set of random values which I find personally attractive. If that is so, then it seems to me that Tarl Cabot, Kasrak of Port Kar, Kamchak of the Tuchuks, and any number of other major characters in the book series must be "boy scouts" also, even in the later books when Tarl has supposedly abandoned his honor but still extolls the benefits inherent in adhering to the Gorean precepts of honesty, simplicity and acceptance of one's place in the biological order of things. To refute the value of such things as honor and truth in one's dealings with others is certainly anyone's prerogative, although after reading the books I cannot see how anyone can say that the typical Gorean does not value these things, or attempt to practice them.

I personally feel that my interpretation of the Gorean belief system is a fairly accurate one, but I add that it is necessary for each of us to examine his or her own belief system and attempt to apply those beliefs in a Gorean setting, among other Goreans. In such a manner we can all reexamine our own attitudes toward such matters as our fundamental human sexuality and cultural social interaction, and fumble our way through the often confusing and contradictory values of Earth philosophy to find the simple truths of a more Gorean existence.

Question::  Do You feel sex is a factor in a Master/slave relationship?

_Marcus_::  Of course. Whenever one individual owns another and therefore possesses the ability to do with that person what they will, it is only a matter of time before sex enters the picture. I add that sex is not the only application of Mastery, and is not a required element of the relationship. A slave is owned, and if his/her Master wishes to use him or her sexually, it may certainly be done, although there are of course many other usages for a slave.

In the source books the sexual aspects of slavery are a primary focus, with good reason; no doubt Norman only instituted the state of slavery upon Gor in order to explore its effect upon the sexuality of his characters. Upon IRC, which is by its nature a consensual medium, the sexual elements are certainly what inspire many online slaves to submit in the first place.

However I myself have always sought to look past this fact and attempt to dig a bit deeper, trying to understand the implications and consequences of existing in a society where slavery is not only allowed, but where it is encouraged. Slavery is not a new element of the human condition, and its various ramifications continue to affect us and motivate us even in our present era. It is therefore relevant to our own Earth existence, and is an intriguing topic of study.

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

_Marcus_::  Simply this: Gorean beliefs are not accepted or condoned in our current modern societies. I hate to use the term "politically incorrect," although it is certainly applicable. I often find it difficult to openly admit my agreement with much of Norman's writing. The very fact that his books are science fiction/fantasy in subject matter, and are not particularly well-written in places, makes it hard to defend the belief that what he is saying is essentially true. Again and again I find other, non-Gorean persons agreeing with basic tenets of Norman's writing while openly scoffing at the books themselves. I have strived for years to abandon my pretenses and simply accept Gorean beliefs into my life on a daily basis, but the new influx of online Goreans, with their often muddy and incomplete view of what the books actually do and do not contain, has sometimes made it more difficult to embrace Gor in its entirety. Lately there has been a renewed backlash against Norman's writing among non-Goreans due to a growing misconception about what Gor is like and how the people from there would behave.

4. 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?

I have lost several female friends who simply cannot accept my own support of Norman's theories. In addition, in certain philosophical circles I have found myself losing some credibility for my insistence that Norman was correct in much of what he wrote. I am fortunate in that I have behaved in a pretty much Gorean manner for many years, and many of those whom I know and work with subscribe to similar beliefs.

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?

_Marcus_::  I feel that our current society tends to support a certain turning away from the more physical aspects of our mutual existence toward a more cerebral one, wherein our physical strengths and limitations are not acknowledged. In addition I notice our society seems to encourage an overall lack of responsibility on any level, be it individual or global.

Goreans seem to me to be rather fond of simplicity and are more direct in their dealings with others. The concepts of responsibility and retribution are well-documented in the source books and seem to be important in the workings of the day to day affairs of the inhabitants of Gor. In addition, Goreans seem, by necessity, to be much more in tune with their physical selves and environmental surroundings.

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

_Marcus_::  Firstly it means that you have accepted the basic moral tenets of Gorean life as set forth in the source books. Secondly it means that you are not afraid to defend your beliefs and your property, including your own person. Thirdly it means that you have dedicated yourself to the twin pursuits of sexual exploration and personal self-expression. And finally I feel it means that you are strong enough to say "no" and mean it, despite how others might react.

Using the source books as a guide and framework for acceptible behavior, a Gorean Master makes his own rules and enforces them to the best of his ability, and is willing to fight to maintain the rights of his Mastery.

Mastery

Question::  A year ago, You went through a very bad time, with an errant, lying slave. In retrospect, is there anything You do differently now, than You had at that time?

_Marcus_::  Ouch... had to bring that one up, I see. Very well, here is my answer:

In retrospect I made many mistakes in dealing with the person in question, most notably in not paying attention to my own gut instincts in regards to her. Quite early in our relationship I experienced some misgivings as to her honesty in her dealings with me, but disregarded them due to her seemingly perfect behavior in channel. After awhile it became apparent to me that she was simply using my name and ownership of her as a convenient means by which to confirm her "truthfulness," and to dupe others as to the reality of her supposed submission. By the time I decided to act on my suspicions she had already enacted a scheme to dupe myself and others while simultaneously leaving my service. I waited too long and offered her one too many opportunities to remedy her misbehavior, and for that minor kindness I wound up on the receiving end of a huge and sordid hoax which had serious repercussions as to the "reality" of the online Gorean experience we all share.

I suppose, if I have learned anything from that annoying bit of unpleasantness, it is that certain people cannot be trusted and cannot be anything other than what they are, no matter how hard you try to show them the error of their ways. I qualify that statement by saying that often what a person actually is, and what they purport themselves to be online, are not identical.

Oh, and I would also like to add that even the most vigilant and perceptive of us can be fooled if we are too lazy to guard ourselves or too weak to act swiftly in administering Gorean retribution against those who would injure or betray us.

Question::  Setting aside "pleasing", what would You say is the Greatest Joy found by a Master with His slave?

_Marcus_::  A Master takes joy in the achievements of his slave, be they a well prepared meal or a night of exquisite pleasure in the furs. He takes joy in the appreciation of his woman by other males, and the pride of owning a truly desirable female. But most of all, he takes his greatest joy from taking control of all aspects of his slave's life and seeing to her personal fulfillment upon his chain. That is part of the bargain: the slave relinquishes all rights and privileges and becomes subject to his whim; in return, he provides for her and encourages her to become his perfect woman, secure in the knowledge that she is owned by one who is strong enough to be worthy of her service.

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

_Marcus_::  Most effective: In a room full of other people, in which the slave has to bear the added weight of her shame at failure along with the physical pain inflicted.

Least effective: During sex, when the lines of punishment and pleasure become blurred.

Question::  Is there ever a time to "coddle" a slave? If so, when?

_Marcus_::  "Coddling" or fawning behavior is never acceptable; but a Master should be willing to comfort his slave when it is necessary, to reward her with a kind word or soft gesture when she performs well. A slave's life should be one of service and achievement, not a living hell of incessant abuse.

Question::  When verbally disciplining a slave, how much explaination is needed?

_Marcus_::  That is entirely situational. When discipline is required, the slave should be aware of the reason for her punishment. If her Master wishes to withhold that information until a later time, for purposes of instruction, that is of course his prerogative. Still, when the errant slave does not know how she has erred, punishment accomplishes nothing. I add that her punishment is never the topic for debate or argument. A slave submits.

Question::  How do You handle peer pressure?

_Marcus_::  There was a time when I would whip a slave at the drop of a hat, to display before other Masters that I was not "being soft" on the slaves. I no longer allow myself to be swayed by the opinions of others, however. Who knows my girls, and their needs, better than myself?

Question::  As a Master, what do You feel is Your greatest attribute?

_Marcus_::  My patience. And my imagination.

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

_Marcus_::  Upon IRC, perhaps occasionally, when simply transmitting data or chatting in a non-specific channel. Once I am in a Gorean channel, however, the Master/slave relationship is immediately in effect. Nor would I discuss Gorean matters or activiites with a slave on an equal basis... where Gor is concerned, I never forget my responsibilities to the Gorean culture or to my fellow Goreans. Once protocol starts to slip, we all become less Gorean for it.

In real life, there are many times when the needs and dictates of our society inspire me to interact with a "slave" in a more or less equal fashion. In the end though, behind closed doors, I never allow the slave to forget who and what I am.

Question::  There is no such thing, as a perfect slave "or a perfect Master" but how would you describe YOUR perfect slave?

_Marcus_::  MY perfect slave is intelligent, passionate, and knows her belly. She takes pure joy from the very actions and requirements of her service, expecting little or nothing in return. In that selflessness she finds her true fulfillment out of giving to, and out of serving, others. She does not lie, fearing the consequences of such dishonesty; and she serves every Gorean male with the same respect, love and apprehension with which she serves me.

Question::  Your slave, comes to you hurting, but you desire to be served would you dismiss her pain and have her serve regardless, or would you take this under consideration?

_Marcus_::  I would take note of her pain and if it would prevent her from serving effectively I would allow her the opportunity to recover herself. If she seemed capable of service I would order her to do so, and would tend to her discomfort when she had finished.

Question::  Your slave has been in a channel visiting, and has gotten herself in trouble, you dont know how or why yet, but when you enter the op says she was displeasing. how would you respond?

_Marcus_::  I would immediately attempt to ascertain how she had displeased any freeperson she had come into contact with. I would offer the displeased parties the opportunity to punish her to their satisfaction, and would punish her myself if they did not do so, provided that the incident seemed deserving of punishment.

A slave's first duty is to be pleasing to all freepersons at all times. While this is an impossibility, it is important that she make a suitable effort to do so. Upon the planet of Gor (if not on IRC) the continuance of her life would depend upon her ability to be found pleasing at all times.

Question::  How many slaves do You currently Own?

_Marcus_::  At this time, I own two girls.

Question::  In Your opinion what is the purpose of a "chain?"

_Marcus_::  A "chain" is simply a gathering or group of slaves who all belong to the same Master. By maintaining such a "coffle" or "slave chain" the Master may more easily manage his property. In addition, the slaves thereon can divide the labor, as it were, utilizing one another as a "support group" whereby each contributes in his or her own way to the overall task required of them, which is, naturally, to please and serve their mutual owner.

Question::  In Your opinion what are the benefits of a "chain?"

_Marcus_::  It is basically an extended family within the Master's household. It can provide the slaves with the benefits of friendship, camaradie and sisterhood, while allowing each member the advantages of mutual support, and the opportunity to weld themselves into an entity which uses all of their collective talents together to explore their submission while maintaining their place in Gorean society.

Question::  In Your opinon what are the negatives of a "chain?"

_Marcus_::  It tends to encourage a sense of competition among the members. While such competition is not a bad thing, in moderation, and even compels each member to improve her talents and abilities, in some cases it can result in some very vicious infighting among the members. In such a case, the Master had better deal with it swiftly and decisively, lest it grow beyond his control into a serious internecine feud. When such occurs, no one wins... not the slaves, not the Master, not the Gorean collective; no one.

Question::  How far into real life does Your Mastery of Your online slaves go? What parts of their real life do You guide?

_Marcus_::  That is entirely dependent upon the female in question. One of my slaves leads a fairly independent real life from me, although we maintain close ties with one another and regularly consult each other upon various topics and real life situations which might effect our online Master/slave relationship. In addition I reserve the right to command her in real life if I feel such is necessary, although I have yet to do so. My other slave is on a much shorter leash and must abide by my ruling in every aspect of her real life, from whether or not she visits certain people to how best to arrange and schedule her daily routine of chores and duties. I do this because that is what that particular slave requires to grow and bloom in her submission. In general I will do whatever is necessary to maintain my girls and see to their continued self-exploration and growth in Gorean knowledge.

Question::  Do You currently own any slaves in real life?

_Marcus_::  An interesting question. Do I have actual real life submissives who are under my direct control? Yes. Do they live in the same house as me? No. Would the slaves on my chain submit to my discipline and Mastery while visiting my home? Yes, certainly, if I wished it. Do I have physical sex with or personally administer corporeal punishment to my current slaves? Nope.

If your question were to be rephrased to say "Do you currently own any slaves who are under your direct control 24 hrs a day, 7 days a week, and who live with you?" then the answer is: No, I don't.

Question::  When it comes to Earthly influences, what in Your opinion is the most difficult thing for a slave to give up?

_Marcus_::  The right to argue on her own behalf when she feels that she is correct and her Master is mistaken. After a lifetime of exercising that particular freedom, the loss of that right must be a bitter pill for the slave to swallow.

Question::  If You notice a slave fighting herself, fighting what is within her, what can You do, to aid the slave in understanding her belly and what is inside?

_Marcus_::  Simply speak to her as a teacher to a student, make her aware that her feelings of submission are not wrong or even that rare a condition, and set her on the path of self-discovery. In every such situation, however, there will come a "moment of truth" at which time the budding submissive will either take the final step toward acceptance of her desire to be Mastered, or will recoil from the whole business and turn away from her "slave-belly." At such a time, the correct application of a little Mastery will go a long way toward driving home the tenets of the Gorean doctrine, and might show the would-be slave that deep in her heart she wishes to respond to such Mastery, and will even do so against her own logical and rational arguments against such.

I compare this "moment of truth" to the moment when a Zen instructor performs the precisely necessary action which will thrust his student beyond that student's self-doubts and fears into enlightenment. Such an action, by either Zen instructor or Gorean Master, might be anything... a single word spoken in a particularly forceful way, a riddle, a shout or a physical blow. It will be whatever is required to break down that last wall of resistance, to open the door for the student or slave so that they may finally cross into enlightenment or acceptance of their own truth.

Question::  What are Your feelings on the "Public" use of slaves?

_Marcus_::  I feel that it is the choice of the particular Master whether he wishes to allow his slaves to be used by others sexually. However, as demonstrated in the source books themselves, most Gorean males have little or no problem with allowing such use. According to Gorean morality there is nothing wrong with it: the slave gets to serve more freepersons in more ways, and maybe learn a new trick or two to please her Master. This is, I think, an attitude derived from the general Gorean belief that all slaves exist to serve all freepersons. In any case, Gorean law seems a bit ambiguous on the subject. Theft or damaging someone else's property is one thing, whereas borrowing another's property seems acceptible, providing little or no damage is done and the owner receives adequate compensation, or at least a word of thanks.

In addition I add that THIS taboo, the reluctance to share one's slave with another, seems to be the most difficult one for the Earth male to abandon.

Question::  What is Your opinion on the use (sexual) of slaves in an open channel?

_Marcus_::  I have mixed feelings about this. While I agree that such activity is perfectly acceptable according to Gorean custom and law, and is even expected of Goreans in certain establishments such as paga taverns and such, I feel that to openly allow such activity could result in the majority of Gorean channels becoming simply "sex channels" which exist only as a forum for the display of sexual "scening." I also feel that such behavior might contribute to an influx of silent "observers," actually HNGs who would join a Gorean channel just to drool over the "action" which occurs therein.

Although much sexual activity is described in the Gor books, the author of those books is himself quite clever in relating such occurances without becoming explicitly pornographic. I feel that we all might be better off by following his example and keeping our channels free of blatant sexual descriptions, while still maintaining the Gorean flavor of those channels.

In addition, as webmaster of the Silk & Steel Tavern website, I have strived to keep explicit pornographic images off the site and have never felt it necessary to add an "Adults Only" disclaimer to the information listed there. This is because I feel that Norman's world of Gor, while it has much to say about sex in general, is not only about sex. It is about Gorean people, who tend to have sex, simply because it is a healthy part of human nature, and who tend to engage in sex according to the fundamental principles prescribed by their society.

Question::  Do You allow others the use of Your slaves? (use being sexual)

_Marcus_::  Absolutely. They are sexually voracious creatures; I have strived to make them so, to keep them more docile and more responsive to their slavery. Since the unleashed female sex drive is such a powerful and demanding thing, it would be unfair for me to restrict them from such activities in my absence. In addition it would be a bit rude for me to own and display such beautiful animals in the presence of other males without allowing my comrades an occasional taste. I have no problem with their usage by others, as long as my girls are willing and provided they are not harmed or abused.

Miscellaneous

Question::  How long have You been on I.R.C. Gor?

_Marcus_::  I first logged into the #Silk&Steel during the first week of March, 1996. I missed the tavern's creation by two weeks.

Question::  To date, who/what has been the greatest influence on Your journey?

_Marcus_::  The greatest influence on my journey has been my rediscovery of the Gor books and my acquisition of the ones I had never read. The more I read about Gor, the more Gorean I tried to behave. It is an ongoing process. As of this writing I have read the entire series three times, and still discover new information I had previously missed.

Question::  Is there any part of Your journey You would change? If Yes, why?

_Marcus_::  When I first logged into IRC I was unfamiliar with the pitfalls of trusting people on a faceless, text-only medium. I am no longer as naive as I once was regarding such things.

Question::  What is Your opinion of "Protectors"?

_Marcus_::  I once thought them a good idea, and was one of the first progenitors of the IRC "protection collar." Experience taught me otherwise. Such relationships are too often used by unscrupulous individuals to take advantage of both freepersons and slaves. It becomes a gray area between ownership and freedom, where much deception can exist and where it is too easy to take part in Gorean activities while refusing to accept Gorean slavery as described in the source books.

Question::  What does the Gorean Collar mean to You?

_Marcus_::  It is merely a token, an outward display of a slave's condition of bonditude. True submission and slavery takes place within the hearts and mental processes of the owner and owned, and has little to do with what either wears. In addition the collar is a symbol which should represent the point of no return, and the donning of one is a culmination of a slave's acceptance of her slavery. Therefore when a slave accepts a "Gorean" collar she is announcing to all that she has agreed to be bound by the dictates of Gorean society, and has surrendered her rights to her Master. Also, a slave can only be owned by one person at one time, on any net or in any channel. To wear more than one is an insult to all of the Masters involved.

Question::  You have stated "The collar is the only protection a slave can hope for; to remain without one is, by definition, to be more vulnerable to abuse than an owned slave. That is one of the little perks of actually belonging to someone." Is that not in some way, perhaps sending the wrong signal to new girls, and some old ones who would rather "take" a collar, than own up to their actions?

_Marcus_::  First of all let's clear up one thing, and that is that a slave is still responsible for her own actions no matter whose collar she might be wearing. I often hear accusations that certain slaves are "hiding behind the collar of so-and-so" but to me, that entire concept is a bit silly. If a slave misbehaves, he or she should be punished. If the errant slave's owner is too weak to do so or actively encourages his slave to misbehave, then he is just as guilty as the slave.

I don't advise anyone to accept a collar simply for protection, primarily because on IRC I do not feel that much protection is necessary. All a collar does is pretty much guarantee that, if the slave is accused of misbehaving, he or she will have at least one person (that slave's owner) who will be willing to listen to the slave's side of the story, and who can intervene with other freepersons on the slave's behalf should such be required. Without a collar a slave pretty much has to accept the ruling of whoever happens to be standing by at the time.

When I say "not much protection is necessary on IRC" what I mean is this: any person on IRC can always just part from a channel, quit IRC and shut off his or her computer if they don't like what's going on. However, in our online Gorean society, circumstances compel a slave to follow certain procedures when dealing with freepersons, lest they be castigated for fleeing from the consequences of their actions. The ideal way for a slave to obey Gorean procedure in such an instance is to seek an experienced Master or channel operator and request aid in extricating themselves from the situation, so that the freeperson can act as the go-between in the slave's polite refusal to follow an unlawful order, or so the go-between can oversee and sign off on the administering of punishment. When a slave has a collar, that means there is already a freeperson who is required to take some responsibility for the slave's actions, and see to any required correction. This makes it much easier to sort out any misunderstandings while obeying Gorean protocol.

The very fact of this mutual responsibility between slave and Master makes the collar an important decision, not to be rushed into by a new slave. No one wants to be owned by someone who will not assume the responsibility of owning a slave and seeing to her continued adherence to Gorean custom. IRC is full of horror stories about slaves who rushed into a collar, and Masters who collared slaves too casually.

I stand by my assertion that, in a good channel run by sensible and responsible chanops, a slave has all the protection she needs, whether collared or no. The collar is simply a buffer, and attaches a freeperson's name to that slave. No one would randomly or foolishly abuse my own slaves, for instance, unless they wished to tangle with me; and my slaves would not dare to behave poorly for the same reason.

Question::  In Your opinion, setting aside symbolism, what should the Gorean Collar mean to a slave?

_Marcus_::  It means quite simply that the collared slave accepts all of the decisions of their Master, without fail, and will strive to behave just exactly in the manner which their owner prescribes. In addition it means that the slave in question fully accepts all of the requirements and provisions demanded by the institution of Gorean slavery as described in the source books. Taking a collar is, in effect, the final acceptance and declaration of a slave's submission to his or her Gorean slavery.

Question::  In Your opinion what is the purpose of White Silk?

_Marcus_::  There is only one Gorean definition of the term, and that is that the slave in question is a physical virgin. The books are quite specific about this. If someone wishes to apply a symbol to his slave that indicates she is not to be touched or approached by another freeperson, why not simply proclaim that she is a "private slave" and add a letter "p" to her nick (or something like that)? I fail to see where the color of her camisk has anything to do with anything other than her physical virginity.

To me the misuse of the term is basically equivalent to saying that you "fly into battle on your bosk. "Which is fine and dandy, except that bosks don't fly."

Question::  What did You find dissatisfying in BDSM?

_Marcus_::  I was initially put off by all of the kinky trappings associated with various fetishes, and which are often mistakenly considered to be requirements of b/d/s/m. In addition, I found the various safety systems used in Earth b/d/s/m to be sort of like rolling on a condom before sex. Wise and necessary, perhaps, but real mood-killers. Therefore I usually worked the Gorean domination elements into existing relationships which I was already involved in, where trust had already been established. I found the club scene to be a bit tedious and somewhat dehumanizing (but isn't that true of the nightclub scene as well?). All in all, I have nothing against D/s or bondage. The S/m thing never appealed to me at all. Pain for pain's sake seems to me to be a rather extreme way of enjoying one's partner, as well as downright dangerous.

Question::  In Your opinion, what is the most important thing a Master/slave should know about each other before entering into a collar commitment?

_Marcus_::  They should both understand the level of the other's commitment to the Gorean lifestyle (such as it is) and understand how far the other will go to inculcate Gorean precepts into his or her life.

Question::  How many copper tarsks does it take to equal a silver tarsk?

_Marcus_::  Depends upon the city. Typically, as in Ar, 100 copper tarsks make up a silver tarsk. In addition, forty copper tarn disks equal one silver tarn. A tarsk-bit is worth anywhere from one quarter to one tenth of a copper tarsk, depending upon the city it comes from.

Question::  What do You feel the current population of "virtual" slaves to be most lacking in?

_Marcus_::  Heart, and patience, and honesty. Too many online "slaves" seem to be indulging in fantasy without applying anything which they learn, or experience emotionally, to their own reality. In addition I wish the majority of online slaves would become a bit more creative in their online activities. There are a lot of things which slaves can do online apart from endlessly serving paga and kneeling on the "yearning furs." They can dance, they can play, they can do chores, etc. I notice also that many Masters are guilty of the same thing and try to maintain a channel atmosphere full of silent, serving robots who exist only to pour paga and engage in cybersex. How boring.

Question::  What is Your opinion of FreeWomen, who "switch" back and forth, slave to FreeWoman and back again, periodically?

_Marcus_::  I can certainly understand how a female fan of the Gor books might desire to experience the unique sensations and emotions which result from their publicly submitting to a Master and face stripping themselves for the first time. The books describe many instances of this, and to some it might seem to be the ultimate thrill, the greatest proof of acceptance of Gorean beliefs regarding the biological truths espoused by Gorean fiction.

When this becomes a regular recurring event in the life of one female, however, not only does it tend to lose the unique "specialness" of the gesture, but it flies in the face of all Gorean protocol and practice. Firstly because a slave cannot free herself, but must be freed by her current Master in order for her manumission to be legal; secondly because, once a person has been publicly branded, it is theoretically very difficult for them to be accepted as free in the eyes of Gorean society; and finally because it seems to me to be simply another way for insincere individuals to skirt the rules, allowing them to have their cake and eat it, too.

In almost all such instances mentioned in the source books, the freed slave is compelled to seek a new life far away from those who know of her slave past, where her former state of bondage can be effectively concealed. To many free Goreans, it is insulting for them to deal on an equal basis with one who has formerly been branded slave. Many regard such a slave's manumission to be equivalent to that slave posing unlawfully as a freeperson, a crime which in some cities is punishable by either death or an immediate return to the state of slavery.

In regards to this practice upon Gorean IRC, I believe that not only is it unfair to all of the slaves who have accepted their bondage unconditionally and permanently, but that it is an indication that the freewoman/slave in question is unwilling to actually exist as an online Gorean, and refuses to do so by perverting the rules regarding her status.

Question::  If a FreeWoman is going to surrender herself to any Master, what do You feel is the most important thing she should consider before doing so? (setting aside "there is no going back" as it is obvious they can and do go back!)

_Marcus_::  I will not set aside "there is no going back" simply because, in most cases, there should be "no going back." If you try to do such a thing most people who actively strive to behave in a Gorean manner will probably dismiss you as a blatant fraud. I see a few such persons, former slaves or former freewomen (depending on what particular day of the week it is) wandering in and out of various Gorean channels, and without fail their apprearance gives rise to some snickering by those who fully embrace the principles of Gorean social interaction.

To such persons my best advice would be "make up your damn mind, already."

To a freewoman who is honestly ready to cast away her repressive robes and veils and accept slavery, my best advice is this: "Be certain, be brave, and accept the consequences of your decision, lest you sacrifice any chance you might have of experiencing true submission by failing in your attempt to work within the framework of basic Gorean social class structure."

Question::  Do You feel today's societal aspect of "Women being equal with Man" to be a major factor in the "virtual" FreeWoman's actions on I.R.C.?

_Marcus_::  Absolutely. When someone has spent the majority of their life being told a particular thing it is difficult to formally accept the inverse principle, and often problems will ensue. Gorean culture and philosophical beliefs are based at least partly upon the principle that the female of the species is not equal to the male in regards to physical dominance. Gorean society supports this belief, and upon Gor the males tend to make the rules.

(Not always, however. The city of Tharna is a good example of a situation arising upon Gor wherein the females called the shots. The problem is, and was in that case, that in order to subdue the male population and enforce the rulings of the female elite, the females were forced to rely upon aid from sympathetic males who would maintain the females in power by force of arms. In the end, these sympathetic males abandoned the cause of the females of Tharna and the male population of that city reasserted itself in a particularly brutal fashion.

It is interesting to note that these avenging males readily accepted Lara, a former female slave, as their Tatrix or female Ubar. This gives evidence not only that a slave might become a freewoman again if she is capable of inspiring the respect and support of the free population, but that Gorean males can accept the concept that a female can be just as wise and intelligent a ruler as a male. In addition it seems to denote that there are always exceptions to any rule, and that much depends upon the way in which a female behaves as to how she will be accepted in a particular role in Gorean society.)

In short, Gorean males use their physical strength and combative skills to maintain the status quo. Men make the rules, and Gorean females are not permitted to deviate from them without suffering the consequences. Such a concept is so "at odds" with the current fashionable belief system of much of modern Earth that it only stands to reason that Earth females would chafe under its precepts.

Question::  In Your opinion, under what circumstances should a slave be Free'd?

_Marcus_::  A slave can be freed at any time for any reason. That is the decision of the owner. To the typical Gorean, however, the only time it is appropriate to free a slave is when, through the actions of that slave, the slave has proven irrefutably that he or she is NOT a slave.

Upon Gor this might occur when a slave has displayed the strength and nobility of character generally associated with the actions of the free, when he or she has performed an invaluable service or saved the life of a freeperson, or when the owner decides he or she can no longer interact with the slave as anything other than an equal.

On IRC everyone has a choice when they enter our Gorean society whether they will be slave or free. While it is true that people change over time, learn new truths about themselves, and are subject to making incorrect self-evaluations or inappropriate choices, the fact remains that the states of slavery and freedom should be as mutually exclusive as we can make them. Otherwise, why maintain the practice of slavery at all, when it inspires no particular responsibility on the part of the slave to remain in bondage or upon the free to maintain slaves as slaves?

I would only support the freeing of a slave under a few specific conditions:

1) The requirements of offline life no longer allow the slave to fulfill his or her online duties to the owner.

2) The requirements of offline life no longer allow the owner to fulfill his or her online maintenance of the slave.

3) The slave is unwilling to obey the rules and instructions of his or her owner or of Gorean society.

4) The slave has demonstrated irrefutably that he or she cannot exist effectively within the strictures of slavery.

In all such cases, it is wise to acknowledge the limitations of IRC as a medium for Gorean interaction and to do what is necessary to maintain the overall Gorean environment. Gorean slavery is, by necessity, an entirely voluntary condition on IRC, and cannot be forced upon anyone. To attempt to maintain a slave in slavery against his or her will is, due to our online restrictions, virtually impossible. I add that, if a person cannot accept the rigors of IRC slavery, and will not embrace the moral imperatives and tenets of Gorean society as a freeperson, then that person has no place among the rest of us.

Possible Scenerios

Question::  If you enter a tavern, and find that there are slaves who are not serving others, yet do not offer you service how would you respond to this situation?

_Marcus_::  I would ask to be served. Even in the best restaurants often a patron has to flag a waitress down. If service was not forthcoming, I would then DEMAND to be served. If I remained ignored I would assume that there were no real slaves in that tavern and find one with better service.

Question::  Your in a tavern, and witness a (Master) trying to FORCE himself on a White Silk slave.. no ops are present.. your response?

_Marcus_::  I would attempt to talk the fellow out of it for the good of his well-being and for the benefit of the slave in question. I add that I would do the same no matter what color her silks were, as long as I was certain that the Master in question was attempting to force himself on the girl, and she had not behaved so as to encourage the activity. I would speak to the fellow in private message explaining that such behavior was unwise and was insulting to the girl's owner. If he persisted I would order the slave out of the channel or instruct her to place the offender on /ignore. In such a fashion she would then be operating under the instruction of another Master and would not have to just quit the channel or dump the guy on her own.

If the slave in question wore no collar I would be more reluctant to interfere. The collar is the only protection a slave can hope for; to remain without one is, by definition, to be more vulnerable to abuse than an owned slave. That is one of the little perks of actually belonging to someone.

Question::  There is an on going debate "should slaves have ops?" what is your veiwpoint on this matter?

_Marcus_::  A slave might hold ops, but who would she use her kick/ban prerogative against? Only upon other slaves I would hope. To do otherwise is to assault a freeperson, which is recognized upon Gor as a capital offense. In addition I add that a slave can be an IRCop also, provided she does not use her additional options (such as the kline and gline) against other Gorean freepersons.

Having the power to do something is not the same as doing it; though I suspect the temptation to use such power must be great indeed. But the consequences of using that power must be taken into account, and upon Gor such power over freepersons makes a person something other than a slave.

Why any slave would actually seek to wield such power, at risk to her submissive state, is beyond me.

Question::  Some one sends you a log, of "his channel" it accidently contains a post wherein he identifies with nickop/memoserv.. giving his password... your response?

_Marcus_::  I would promptly forget about it. Or inform him that he needs to change his password, if he doesn't trust me. Same goes with channel passwords. If I want a channel, I'll register one of my own.

Question::  You see your "Sister's" nick on notify, then its gone, yet you wanted to talk to her so you join the channel she was in only to see her nick with a collar.... a slave's collar.. and she is in an alcove with the slave... how would you respond? (Kajuralia day)

_Marcus_::  I would probably message her and ask her what the hell was going on. If she was in Ar I would remind her that by having sex with a slave she had legally made herself a slave also, owned by the Master of the slave she was having sex with. And I would remind her that, even on Kajuralia, freewomen were still expected to behave with at least a tiny shred of dignity, and wearing a slave's slave collar was about as low as a freewoman could go.

As a Gorean Master I would never treat that freewoman with the respect typically afforded to a freewoman again. Once you are a pickle you can't go back to being a cucumber.

On the other hand, the Gor books contain several references to former slaves becoming free (Tarl among them). However there are far more references to slutty freewomen being stripped and branded for their lascivious behavior.