Gor - a Subset of BDSM? No! … but …
Oct 28, 2003
Seemingly, a favorite topic on discussion boards dedicated to
matters "Gorean" is the argument "Gor - vs. - BDSM." This is often
variously phrased as "Gor is like - or comes from - Old Guard"
or "Gor is just a flavor of Total Power Exchange (TPE)" or "The
practices of Goreans are extremely akin to those of other BDSM
practitioners" and the list could go on. There are Goreans who
struggle and loudly proclaim that Gor is not in any way shape or form
related to BDSM - often in the very terms that defeat their argument -
i.e., slavery, mastery, discipline, submission and surrender. There
are also (though seldom heard from) BDSMers who denounce Gor as
roleplay and being "just another Trekkie fad with a BDSM twist."
Finally, there exists a middling group consisting of Goreans who
enjoy and acknowledge BDSM and BDSMers with an understanding of Gor.
What is the answer - does Gor belong as a subset of the umbrella
Bondage/discipline, Dominance/submission, Sado-Masochism? Absolutely
not! Don't be misled - I do enjoy some BDSM activities and I do
consider myself to be Gorean. The two are not mutually exclusive,
but neither are they the same. One may be completely Gorean, fully
subscribe to the tenets of the Gorean philosophy and yet never own or
desire to own (or be owned the case depending) a slave. One may
fully adhere to "natural order" and being a man not discipline a
woman for failure to adequately "submit" (some would
prefer "surrender") or being a woman not worry about being found
pleasing whether as a slave or Free Woman. Gor(ean) is, in brief, a
philosophical approach to life - one with very high standards -
standards that, if truly adhered to, provide the fodder for a
continual struggle to be the best one can be. It is exacting and
when one claims to be Gorean - it sets up an expectation - at least
among Goreans.
What creates confusion is the BDSM externals that are embedded in
Gorean communities both on and off-line. Neither the depth of nor the
reason behind/purpose of voluntary slavery/submission/surrender nor
the manner in which it is enforced/rewarded separate the Gorean
practices from counterparts in BDSM. Use of hands or "tools" to
discipline does not differ whether one is Gorean or a BDSM
lifestyler. What matters, however, is that one can be Gorean and
never engage in these practices - but one cannot be a BDSM lifestyler
and not partake of one or another of them.
It has been argued (by some of the Goreans opposed to BDSM) that BDSM
is all about sexual gratification - but that is a misinformed
opinion. While true for many - it does not describe the motivations
of all BDSM lifestylers. Many Goreans will point to "John Norman's"
writings as though that provides a truly distinct point of
separation. However, there are a host of writers providing material
for subsets of the BDSM community among which are: Anne
Rice's "Sleeping Beauty" series and "Interview with a Vampire"
series; as well as a plethora of how-to books. Some say "well Gor is
a philosophy and BDSM does not have a philosophy." Another
misinformation. That BDSM as a whole does not have a uniform
philosophy is valid, but again it is not true for all facets. (One
must remember that BDSM is an acronym covering a plethora of
activities and lifestyle subsets.)
Some would argue that Gorean protocols provide the point of
demarcation; however, yet again, that is not true across the board.
Certain styles (or forms if you will) of the BDSM lifestyle can be
even more stringent than the most strenuous of Gorean protocols. I
have seen it argued that Gorean slavery cannot be compared to BDSM
TPE because the kajira gets nothing in return for her submission.
This is a fallacious viewpoint. If we will allow that a kajira has
an intrinsic need to serve then she is getting that need met in
exchange.
By now the reader may be thinking - - "hey, I thought you were going
to argue that Gor is not a subset of BDSM but all you have done is
show that it is. What gives?" (Or something similar.)
Gor is not only about the male-female dynamic (nor same gender
dynamics either). It is not only about dominance/submission - - and
one can be truly Gorean without entering into that dynamic. If that
is all that Gor is to a specific individual - then that one is not
Gorean but a BDSM lifestyler adding a bit of Gorean flavoring.
I have been active in the BDSM community in Las Vegas for the past 3
years. I was introduced to BDSM back in the early 1990s in Los
Angeles and wanted nothing of it - BDSM in and of itself does not
interest me. I am not a sadist nor a masochist. I derive no
specific pleasure from employing discipline nor bondage. I find no
thrill in bending someone to my will. I have no intrinsic need to be
proven dominant nor having others submit to me. I particularly find
the use of humiliation for one's pleasure repugnant.
All of these things are found in the BDSM community, though not in
each and every lifestyler. I became involved in the community
because I found a number of Goreans and others that I could agree
with philosophically.
My involvement and experiences with BDSM lifestylers causes me to
shake my head at many of the Goreans who proclaim so loudly that they
are not "BDSMers." The very loud cry - Gorean slavery is not like
other forms of D/s submission because the Gorean dominant (free man,
free woman) is truly in control - rather than the "subbie with a safe
word". In the words of Ebenezer Scrooge "Bah, humbug" - - that is
the cry of a D/s Dom who just has to be proven dominant. How often
has a Gorean written to the effect "I can humiliate a slave simply
because it gives me pleasure to do so?" Again a BDSM practice.
I have not found a philosophical basis in BDSM that can be separated
from the D/s dynamic. Gor can be so separated. The philosophical
approaches that appropriately fall under the umbrella of BDSM do not
singularly hold up a way of life to be striven for with the
understanding that one can be shunned for failure to live up to
the "code". I have seen it in Gor. Certainly one may claim to be
Gorean and not live up to a community standard, but it is also argued
that not living up to the standard will bet one shunned. That a
common standard is not fully developed (despite the claims of some to
have been living Gorean for more than 20 years and the existence of a
number of Gorean communities) does not belie the fact that this
concept of a standard to live up to is what separates Gor from BDSM.
Within the Gorean philosophy are concepts of "caste," "home stone,"
and "codes." Failure in these certainly should provide stronger
grounds for dismissal as an "honorable" Gorean than whether one is
actively involved in or concerned with male-female dynamics. Such,
however, is not part and parcel of BDSM. However the strongest
decriers of "Gor is not BDSM" while exhibiting and practicing BDSM
proclivities ignore these greater issues. Thereby providing fodder
for those they argue against.
Who determines who and what is Gorean? The "community" - who
determines who and what is BDSM? The "activity". I've heard it said
that BDSM is much concerned with the credo "Safe, Sane, Consensual"
(SSC) - - and for most that is true. I've also heard SSC disparaged
in one breath while with the next it is simply rephrased and
girls "warned" in Gor - by Goreans. Yet, the reality in BDSM - SSC
while preached - choosing not to follow it - will not necessarily
result in a "community" sanctioning - though play-partners may not be
as readily available and there may be individual outcry.
Community exists as a "club" (so to speak) among BDSM but it is
easily splintered. If it falls apart, all is not lost to the BDSM
lifestyler - not as readily so to the Gorean. Certainly there tends
to not be as many groups of Goreans off-line - - for reasons that
others need to examine - - but as to the philosophy - - without the
community - there can be no "home stone."
The "home stone" goes beyond one's intimate community in ever
widening circles of influence up to and including loyalty to one's
nation. Something that BDSM does not concern itself with.
Honor is always good and welcomed in any endeavor to include BDSM but
in Gor one stands or falls on one's honor - without personal honor
(however that may be defined - - so far attempts to define honor for
Goreans has not been fully satisfying for all involved in the
discussion) one is clearly denigrated as not being Gorean - or at
best a very poor example of a Gorean. Along the line of discussion
of honor comes the concept of "slave failure" - something that is
absent in D/s discussions.
"Caste" as portrayed in JN's writings does not find a ready
acceptance in our general culture - but it is something that every
Gorean seems to find a way back to discussing. Unfortunately - some
will roleplay with "caste" claiming to be one or another ("warrior"
predominantly). How does or should "caste" be expressed in the
Gorean ethos? Good question and one that some are starting to
examine.
I am reminded of a scene in the movie Armageddon. There is a
discussion between the "hero" and some cronies about the man's
daughter and pending engagement to another young man - who is of the
same trade and skills as the father. While those skills were now in
great demand to save the world - the father says (in effect) "my
daughter will not marry one of us - she is better than that, she is
better than we are." From a Gorean perspective - that is clearly
anti-caste sentiment. True - one always wishes one's offspring a
better life than one has had - but if "caste" is taken where it may
be taken - one needs to have a great deal of pride in what one does
for a living and the specific subculture created around it.
Once again - a mark of distinction between Gor and BDSM - - - a lack
of loyalty to one's profession and a lack of trying to establish a
code to live by based on that profession.
Is Gor a subset of BDSM? Clearly the answer is no …. but. It is
the "but" that causes the arguments. It is the very clear practices
and protocols that mirror closely if not in some cases identically
practices and protocols found in the various BDSM sub-communities.
It is the over loud decriers of BDSM by those that clearly demand
that BDSM practices and protocols be fully observed in Gorean
realms "just don't call them BDSM" that create the confusion. Gor is
clearly demarcated from BDSM - but not because of the practices
shared by some - but rather because one can be clearly Gorean without
the trappings Dominance/submission or Master/slave.
© Jon Watt aka Ariston 2003
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