The Paradox of the Collar

"I have all these darned collars cuz I thought they were really kewl jewelry..."
Gudrun in "Fashion Denuded"

Like so many people, I was unaware that a Gorean lifestyle existed until I joined a community which included an on-line expression of that existence, in this case Second Life.

Gor is the imaginary world described in John Norman's "Chronicles of Gor," a twenty-seven novel science fantasy series filled with exotic images, philosophy, and erotica. The early books of the series are viewed as being plot-driven. Later books, though maintaining numerous threads of plots and sub-plots from the others, became more philosophical, sexual, and action-oriented. (I confess to having read none of them. I am not Gorean nor do I aspire to be Gorean. I am mainly interested in the Goreans of Second Life - whose behavior may or may not bear any resemblance to that of characters in the books - and how they role-play within Second Life. All information contained herein was gathered as an "observer," from secondary materials, or from reports by individuals within Second Life Gor.)

In the novels, the human inhabitants of Gor are transplants from earth, brought there by the extraterrestrial insectoid rulers of Gor, the Priest-Kings. These humans roughly reflect various groups from earth's Mediterranean Classical period and include Romans, Greeks, Native Americans, and Vikings. Remember that the Goreans are technologically advanced space travelers. Though Gor is technologically advanced and humans are permitted to engage in advanced applications of architecture and medicine, human transportation and weaponry is frozen in the periods the humans represent. This restriction on technology is to protect the Priest-Kings themselves and the other various indigenous and transplanted Goreans from the violence for which humans are known. Hence, the "space-opera" cum swords and spears.

Gor is highly detailed in terms of flora and fauna, and has a wide array of fantastical creatures, making Second Life an ideal venue for its visual realization.

Gor has a complex array of customs, and the lifestyle that results is very controversial. Many disapprove of it, but this is probably because of an undue emphasis on the master/slave relationship. The books are not strictly sexual. They focus on detailing Gorean society at large. This contrasts with the focus that you see in some of the follower communities that concentrates on the master/slave relationship. In many cases it seems it is the key element and perhaps its only purpose. (This may be especially understandable in Second Life, though, given the predilection for hanky panky, the penchant for going beyond the constraints of real life, and the easy means of implementation :-). Anyway, it's Norman's own fault:

"Strong men simply need women. This will never be understood by weak men. A strong man needs a woman at his feet, who is truly his. Anything else is less than his fulfillment. When a man has once eaten the meat of the gods he will never again chew on the straw of fools." ---Explorers of Gor - 12

Hmmm, that's a mouthful (er... sorry).

"Freedom permits a woman to live without a man. Slavery makes a woman need a man’s touch... Slavery, of course, is the surest path by means of which a woman can discover her femininity. The paradox of the collar is the freedom which a woman experiences in at last finding herself, and becoming herself." --- Magicians of Gor, page 160

We can view the quotes above as the main aspect of the Gorean belief system: Men dominate women to satisfy their own needs - be it a piece of poon or a piece of Bosk (not a pear, btw) - and women like it and find it a revelation. If a woman does not, she is weak and foolish. All women are inferior to men and can only be happy being owned by men. (This is, of course, an idea we've only recently gotten away from in modern western civilization.)

The three fundaments of Gorean culture are:

1. The home stone,
2. the caste system, and
3. the natural order.

Gor

"Gor" is, in fact, Gorean for "home stone," and this underscores the importance of the proprietary concept. So what is this home stone? According to the books, back in the day, "each hut was originally built around a flat stone which was placed in the center of the circular dwelling. It was carved with the family sign and was called the Home Stone. It was, so to speak, a symbol of sovereignty, or territory, and each peasant, in his own hut, was a sovereign... Later... Home Stones were used for villages, and later still for cities. The Home Stone of a village was always placed in the market; in a city, on the top of the highest tower. The Home Stone came naturally, in time, to acquire a mystique, and something of the same hot, sweet emotions as our native peoples of Earth feel toward their flags became invested in it." ---Tarnsman of Gor, 2:26-27

Caste

Gorean society is divided into castes, each profession or occupation belonging to one. All Goreans belong to castes except for three groups: slaves, outlaws, and the Priest-Kings. However, this caste system is not inflexible. There are opportunities for altering caste, though men seldom avail themselves of these because one's caste becomes internalized and a source of great pride.

There are five high castes. In order of importance they are:

The Initiates (white) are the spiritual guardians. They represent the Priest-Kings, and their skills relate to ritual, mythology and superstition. (The religious conditioning of the men of Gor, based on superstition though it might be, is, however, as powerful as a set of chains.)

The Scribes (blue) are the scholars, writers, and historians.

Third is the caste of the builders (yellow). Architecture and building are very advanced on Gor, and for centuries the builders have been producing magical amenities for Gorean life (such as eternal light bulbs).

Physicians (green) also practice what is on Gor a very technologically advanced discipline, older people being rare because of youth serums invented centuries earlier. (No need for Viagra among THIS male population, and it's a good thing since DOING THAT seems a main preoccupation.)

Finally we have the Warriors (scarlet red, so as to render the blood less shocking, lol).

Aside from the high castes there are many different lower castes, all with their own colors. Though it's not required for caste members to wear their colors in everyday life, most do it because they are proud of them, either wearing clothes consisting only of the caste colors or clothes where those colors are dominant. The colors of the lower castes can actually be more interesting:

Merchant...Color Gold & White
Slaver...Color Blue & Yellow
Pot Makers...Color Brown/Green
Saddle Makers...Color Tan (leather)
Metal Workers...Color Steel Gray
Players...Color Red and Yellow Checks
Lighter of Lanterns...Color Striped Green White & Red
Tarn Keepers...Color Gray & Green
Wood Carriers...Color Brown & Black
Charcoal Makers...Color Black & Gray
Singers...Color Aqua & Red
Assassin...Color Black
Thieves...Black, three-pronged tattoo on right cheek (dunno why they get a caste - guess they're not outlaws)
Peasant...Color Brown

The Natural Order

This brings us to the last pillar, the natural order, in which males have the predisposition to be dominant while women have the predisposition to be submissive.

A few words on slavery:

Slavery is quite common in Gor. Most slaves are female, a single female slave being a kajira, the plural being kajirae. There are also male slaves on Gor, but they are less common, mainly for economic reasons - normally they are not really worth anything at all.

One male slave is called a kajirus, kajiri plural. "Any woman, properly mastered, makes an excellent slave." --- MAGICIANS OF GOR, Pg. 143 "...a captured female is almost invariably collared; a captured male is almost invariably put to the sword." --- Assassin of Gor, Pg. 51

So, Men are usually killed rather than enslaved. This is partly because most Gorean men would rather die than be made slaves, so the simple subjugation of a Gorean man is often quite difficult. Men simply do not hold the same value as women do on the slave market for the effort needed to subdue them usually outweighs their monetary worth.

From what I can determine, there is a much higher ratio of slaves in Second Life than exists in the books. I think that many young girls in Second Life think it will mean just being cherished, having sex a lot with someone you like, and getting lots of kewl outfits. In Second Life, this last on its own could account for a margin of popularity.

In reality though, a slave is a thing. It doesn't even have a name if the master decides against it. It's something that is there to be used as seen fit, that can be treated many ways, including violently, without any fear of consequences at all. However, this Gorean slavery is very much more service-oriented and basically supports the "natural order," not BDSM. This is not to say you won't find a variety of torture devices scattered about Gor.

Though it may be consensual behavior among adults, slavery will always carry a stigma. It degrades even as virtual role-play, and portrays the violation of basic human rights. That having been said, a lot of people seem to enjoy playing the role.

The Sims

Many Gorean sims are observer friendly. The status of an observer is somewhat that of a ghost, meaning you are wearing a tag depicting you as an "OOC entity" (OOC means out of character) or "observer," and are ignored. You are free to wander around, but an observer is not part of the role play. I have visited the City of Tharna, Port Kar, Port Kos, Herlit, Hellenos, Briarhaven, and the Gorean Woodlands. Each city sports markedly different architecture, and a feature of each is the hospital or infirmary prominently located at or near the center of town. This reinforces the importance of architecture and medicine as important fields of Gorean endeavor.

I also visited the villages of Midgaard and Iskander Pass. While standing around on the Midgaard dock wondering where to go, I witnessed one of the raids which are so common in Gor. A band of outlaws suddenly rezzed one by one in the foggy moonlight and then headed for town. An alarm was sounded. A pitched battle ensued in which the local militia, under Captain Hamlet Hellershanks, was able to keep the raiders from breaching the village gates. The battle was interesting… not a mass melee, but numerous one-on-one actions in the forest. And, of course, some unfortunates were taken prisoner.

Some piccies of places visited are here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/slgurl/

Interviews

I was fortunate to be able to interview some residents of Second Life Gor. Alyndaw Yootz is a Mamba, a member of the Mamba People, a group representing a Gorean jungle tribe that is reputedly cannibalistic. Anjel Goodnight was forced by circumstance to become a Panther to survive as a child and is now Combat Commander of a mercenary group. Araya Tebaldi is a slave, happily submitting to and being dominated by her male Master. Finally, Gertjan Koenkamp is Ubar of Briarhaven Gardens and Tavernmaster of Tarnburg. Here are some of their views on aspects of the Gorean lifestyle.

How did you discover Gor? How did you discover Gor in Second Life?

Alyndaw: Well, Gor is something I read about a while ago. I once read one of the books and I have to say I wasn't all that impressed. In SL though I came across it while searching for something else and as I'm always ready to explore new things thought I'd at least take a look. As it happens I decided to make it my main activity in SL at least for the time being.

Anjel: From a book at a friend’s house, "Warriors of Gor"... from a woman I met while in SL working a club on the main land.

Araya: I was on IRC and knew of Gor there but never got into it. When I came to Second Life it was the first place I came to.

Gertjan: I was in SL for maybe a month or three. I had seen people dress a bit Middle Age, but had no idea what it really was, until I met a girl in a club... She was wearing silks and I was wondering what it was… Gor… So I start asking questions. She turned out to have no master, so she made me her master. Me… I didn’t know a thing about it, but I learned even though my English was very, very poor.

What led you to the role you play?

Alyndaw: I've been to a few different Gorean lands and the ones I like most so far are Shaba and Woodlands - they are pleasant places to live and not too much of the Slaving. I'm a woman who likes her freedom and the company of others who do too. Sex plays a part for me but not the whole story so to find a role which has adventure, commitment, and other fantasy play ;-) is great. Let's say it's the company of like-minded women and the opportunity to interact in a pretty intensive way.

Anjel: Timbra, the woman I met in SL was into Gorean role play. She had a library on Gor so I did some more reading and she provided me with some much needed insight on female based characters in Gor.

Araya: It is an extension of who I am.

Gertjan: Well that’s easy to answer... it helps my English very well. Before I was on SL, I couldn’t write any, so I can say, yes, an excellent way to learn English.

Recognizing that Gor in SL is generally an RP within an RP, what is your Gorean back-story (i.e., what shaped your Gorean character and resulted in her being what she is)? - Not asked of all respondents.

Anjel: My back story is quite intriguing as I wanted to keep my human heritage: my mother was human my father an Initiate or guardian of the temples of the Priest Kings. I have a twin sister and we started our lives in Gor as Panthers when we became separated from our parents in a raid. We were later re united with our mother who was an established female mercenary, and at that time we became mercenaries and now we are well established: my twin sister the High Commander of a Merc group and I Combat Commander of the same group. Our mother is also a High Commander of a different Merc group. My Gor mother and my twin sister were invited to the Hall of Warriors, and they did sit at the table with the highest of the Red caste in Gor which is a huge step for Gorean females. We never saw our father again it is said he turned back to face the raiders so we could escape and was killed.

How do you yourself fit into the overall organization of Gorean society? - Not asked of all respondents.

Anjel: My character is a bit of a rebel: our enemies love to hate me whereas our allies for the most part welcome my bow. As Mercenaries we do not go out on traditional Gorean raids or even much hunting save for our own serveries. We instead wait for calls to aid those we have contracts with. This includes Gorean cities and several Gorean outlaw groups. Gor is a harsh place for a female warrior.

Is it safe to say there is a range of Gorean RP communities in SL, some that strictly adhere to the books while others are only loosely based?

Alyndaw: Very true but that's what makes it fun - there is room for everyone to find their niche - and societies evolve and become something different over time. I'm pretty new so I can't say with any certainty, but what I've seen tells me that there is something for everyone who is looking for an adventurous and alternative 'lifestyle.'

Anjel: There are no Gorean communities that adhere to the books. There are Gorean communities that call themselves By the Book (BTB), but they are only sticking to certain phrases in the books. Sad thing is a lot of John Norman’s writings were presumptions, and I dare say he uses "it is presumed" far too much. But as for your question, yes there is a very wide range of communities in SL.

Araya: Absolutely. Not only that but they do not interact well together, one believing they are better than the other. Personally I have my preferences, but feel there is room for everyone here in SL.

Gertjan: Well BTB ( by the books) or whatever... it’s just like how you want it to be... It’s like the Bible... Everybody has his own version. Some call it Disney… Some call it the real Gor… But is there really a Gor in SL? ...Don’t think so… We play with real people with real feelings. That makes it different.

What percentage of Gor RP in SL closely follows the books? Any guess?

Alyndaw: Not a clue, sorry as it's so long and I only read the one book.

Anjel: I have not been on a Gor sim where the RP follows the books. I think this question is a bit vague. I mean one phrase in a book would be deciphered 10,000 different ways by 10,001 different humans. I have been in Gor communities in SL that closely follow several phrases in the books and in fact base their rules and laws on those phrases, but I'm thinking in an RP environment one would think it would evolve, not rotate around one phrase in a book. My guess would be .00001%.

Araya: It is difficult to really know but no city is completely by the books. That would be impossible as the books do not detail every single aspect. The books leave lots of room for interpretation.

Gertjan: Not much I guess...maybe 5 %. For most it’s just a shooting game… or to have free sex.

There are a lot of very serious role-players in SL. Can you comment on what makes women slaves? Freewomen? Panther girls? – Asked of women.

Alyndaw: I would say it's the need to experience a different world - one which you can't (or don't) in RL. A lot of SL is pretty similar to RL and why would someone want that? It would be an interesting question as to why people want to be in SL - a lot of reasons I suspect but maybe with one underlying one - a safe way to try out a different role. I found a place with the Mambas in Shaba but I could probably have ended up in similar tribes elsewhere.

Anjel: Female slaves (kajirae) are either born into slavery or are submitted... A freewoman (FW) is a very precarious character - she must know her place and must keep herself fully covered including face veil in some communities, and must never act submissive in front of a male or she would be collared...Panther (Huntress) - all panthers according to the writings are either runaway slaves or runaway freewomen who ran to keep from being collared. They turned to the forests for hiding and are said to be amongst the best bows in the books which holds true in the SL community.

Araya: I suppose it is all about the person behind the avatar. Some stick with what they know and some stretch themselves. I have seen women play men and do very well at it. Perhaps even better than a man would!

There are a lot of very serious role-players in SL. Can you comment on what makes people choose specific roles? – Asked of men.

Gertjan: If you like fighting you will choose to be a warrior. In my case I don’t like to fight so I choose a more peaceful role as a Tavern master in Tarnburg or as the Ubar of a school. But some are really good actors… they can play any role. But for me as a non-English it’s hard.

How do these women playing vastly different roles relate to each other? - Asked of women.

Alyndaw: Sometimes surprisingly well. There can be a lot of affection there and trust is important even within the “safe” environment of SL. I've met a few people outside of Gor who seem to have been somewhat traumatized by experiences they've had in SL.

Anjel: In the books Panthers despised all freewomen and slaves I suppose because of their past or possibly just the direction John Norman took with the Panther, as for freewomen and kajirae same thing. What happens in the Gor SL community holds pretty true with the books a lot of freewomen and kajirae are at odds with each other basically over men, lol.

Araya: They are all women and Gor is a man's world. A freewoman can quickly be enslaved if she is not careful in her actions. Panther girls are typically run away slaves or freewomen escaping impending slavery or an unwanted companionship.

Why do freewomen have female slaves? – Asked of women.

Alyndaw: I don't, and I think the Panthers, Taluna, and Mamba like me have slaves much less often than those city or townsfolk - you will have to ask the owners why.

Anjel: Mostly for status I would think to show they own something. A freewoman with a kajirae would not have to do much including service her man; if she was in a mood she would get her slave to warm his bed.

Araya: Free women would have slaves to do the cooking, cleaning, sewing and such. They would also help her to dress and look after the children.

Why do men choose to have slaves? Would most rather have freewomen? - Asked of women.

Alyndaw: Whhoo - Again not a question for me really but if I were speculating I'd say it was something to do with needing to be in control and being satisfied by someone else wanting to please them. I don't mix with those people really.

Anjel: Again a lot is a status thing if a warrior has a long chain of slaves he is looked on highly...most men in Gor would rather submit a freewoman, use her and move on. In the ceremony when a freewoman goes into a free companionship with a man she has a certain amount of time to decide whether she wishes to be a freewoman or submit also all her belonging's become his. There is a contract that is signed in Gor.

Araya: Free women were valued on Gor. They were the ones allowed to have a man's baby and have it follow in its father's footsteps. A slave gives birth to a slave. Only a freewoman can give birth to a man's heir. A freewoman too was subject to her Companion's rule and he would discipline her if she got out of line.

If you could have only one, would you prefer a freewoman or a slave? - Asked of men.

Gertjan: Doesn’t really matter... both are fine… A freewoman is a bit easier to play with. To have a slave, you need to keep her busy with chores, etc., a lot more work than a freewoman. Compared to a slave a freewoman can be a bit dull play.

What is your attitude toward Gorean slavery? How do you feel toward the slaves? – Asked of men.

Gertjan: It touches my ego a bit when a woman wants to be my slave. I see it as their "game," but I am glad we don’t have it in RL, although if I look at some Middle Eastern cultures... hmmm. But I would never have one in RL. A woman is equal to me, and I will take care of her as she will take care of me. But if she like to be one, I have no problems with it, but I think it will make me feel a bit guilty... I don’t like it if it’s coming one way... So have to make her happy too.

Why would a woman become a slave? - Asked of men.

Gertjan: Well that was something I was wondering about too. Why does a woman want to be a slave? The freewoman movement has made the woman free...but here I see they want to have a master that controls them. They tell me they need that. They want someone to have control over them. They want to take care of a man in every way they can. I still don’t fully understand that. But I am a man… I doubt if there is a man that really understands woman. (~N.B. – Part of Gertjan’s job is headmaster of a school for slaves.)

Can you comment on relations between men and women in general and whether the Gorean lifestyle is fulfilling or mere fantasy?

Alyndaw: Hmm - there is so much variety - is it really meaningful to generalize? Some men want genuine equality and some hate the idea - fear it even. Gor is very unequal although there is a large contingent of strong women in SL Gor.

Anjel: I myself have managed to stay away from any Gorean relationship although at one time there was an arranged FC between me and a warrior but it did not go well.

Araya: The relations between man and woman vary. A Master and his slave will relate very differently than a free man and his Companion or even a free man and a Panther. A freewoman could not compete easily with a slave for the attentions of a free man for fear of acting as a slave would and landing her in a collar. It is a fine line. Panthers kept to themselves and stayed out of the way of men unless trading, lest they be caught and enslaved by the free man. For me it is very fulfilling. With that said the books ARE fiction and the Gorean lifestyle is NOT possible in real life.

Gertjan: That’s difficult to answer… I am single in RL, so I can’t really answer that question. I am not fully Gor in SL - I do other thing besides that too, and have some normal relations outside Gor as well sometimes. And she doesn’t need to be a slave. I can be perfectly happy with a normal woman too.

Realizing that for some, Gorean life is a reality while for others it's just an RP, what are your own opinions of Gor's mores, ethics, beliefs?

Alyndaw: Not me in real life although I would like some of the more risqué aspects to bleed into my own life. I have a strict moral code which is as non-judgmental as I can be - I believe that we should do nothing which hurts another but otherwise there should be good sense. Gor is nothing like that and there is enough violence and coercion for me to not want it to become real.

Anjel: Though North America is a free country no government on this continent would sanction a Gorean lifestyle. It would be seen as a cult or like nudism - lots do it but it is a private personal thing. I myself would never be part of a "real" Gorean lifestyle.

Araya: Gor's morals, ethics and beliefs are not terribly different than those of our society with one exception. They have honor and value honesty and truth. They value life and nature. The DIFFERENCE, being that men RULE.... They are the natural leaders.

Gertjan: Like I said before, for me it’s a way to learn and improve my English. I enjoy the ways of Gor but not all of them. That’s more my personal character. I don’t like to hit women – that’s not me. I can’t in RL, nor can I do that in Gor. They have to ask for it, to be whipped… even then it’s hard for me to do. In Gor man has honor, but to be honest, not many have honor in SL Gor... too much of a game for most.

What's your typical Gorean day like?

Alyndaw: Wander around a bit, chat a bit; role-play more seriously when I have a good chunk of time online. I would probably do more if I had the time.

Anjel: Most days I look for RP in nearby communities (sims) and wait for calls to aid. When these calls come I am usually the first one on the boat and the first one engaged in battle and yes very often the first one down. I live Gor in SL and spend upwards of 50 plus hours a week in SL Gor on my computer, which isn’t an easy balance when I have a 40 hour a week job.

Araya: Here in SL the typical day would be chores, such as cleaning, and cooking, giving tours, and generally speaking serving the Free. This would include bathing, dancing, or entertaining as well as delivering messages, going to market. Chores might include milking the bosks, making cheese, tending the gardens or stocking the kitchens. Of course, there is also the dancing, paga serving, and serving in the furs (i.e., serving sexually in bed). (~N.B. – When I met Araya, she was in silks. She was quick to point out that this was because of a dance contest she had been in, and that normal slave work attire would be a plain kamisk.)

Gertjan: Well what’s typical in Gor for me... Well, I travel a bit between the city of Tarnburg and the Briarhaven School... As a tavern master I keep an eye on the tavern...making trade to get the best drinks or food...trading furs...a bit of a merchant to. Most of the time it’s a bit of talking and trying to keep the City slaves busy so they don’t get bored. But as Ubar, I just keep an eye on business...make sure that the girls (the teachers) do their work, and help with teaching myself, of course. (However, an Ubar, well normally he takes over the admin of a city when there is trouble like a war...He is capable of doing every job of a high class warrior, scribe, etc.) I rarely travel to other cities, not really interested in that. I am fine where I am and have enough to keep me busy most of the time. And if there is nothing, I will be outside Gor doing my business (I own Sims and a shop, am a builder to). So I am a bit of everything …grins. Well wishes from Gertjan Koenkamp, Ubar of Briarhaven Gardens and Tavernmaster of Tarnburg.