So Much Nonsense

All this is so much nonsense, it is not worth giving it any thought or attention. But undoubtedly people are getting hurt. The men who eventually get kicked out must be lacking in some areas of their life to allow themselves to get sucked into it all anyway. They have to suffer being publicly ripped apart by people who they sought to emulate, and maybe in the case of some, had actually considered themselves part of. This happens when they have not had a newcomer to torment for a few weeks. There have been cases of some poor chaps sticking up and arguing on behalf of one of the leaders and then finding the tables turned, and the heat on him. This has left quite a few men scarred. With women the dangers are even greater. If it is pointed out that the situations and notions cited in the books are undesirable, then one will be accused of not understanding what “Being Gorean” is about. Let us ignore the killing and maiming of upleasing slaves and say it is not what being Gorean is about.

Lifestylers for the most part it seems take what they perceive to be the *good* parts of the fantasy, and discount what they feel is *bad* Stating that this is not what Goreaness is about. One might counter that this makes no sense. If you wish to say that you follow a philosophy based on a series of novels, then all what is written in those novels must be held as valid. The dangers here are that each group of Goreans will state that they live the true Gor. They do not water it down. They do not embrace a kinder, gentler Gor. They are really living the philosophy. Gorean Lifestylers consider themselves to be men of exceptional integrity and honour. If they were really living by the philosophy as it is written in the books, they would all be in prison for rape, if not murder, for the violent subjugation of women is without any doubt part of the philosophy of the books. However, despite their insistence that they are living the real Gor, and do not water it down to a kinder, gentler Gor, what they actually mean is that they have taken the philosophy that men and women are different, and women should be submissive to men. This is only part of what is written in the books. They ignore all the violence and firmly state that this is not what being Gorean is about. This is a strange corruption of what is actually written.