Happy Gorean Holidays

Every year about this time we start to hear the familiar expressions.. Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays.. Merry GORMAS..

Gormas?

As humans from earth, roleplaying in a very fictional land we fight sometimes against introducing non-Gorean elements into our Roleplay, or our discussions.  Being By The Book is a standard most try to strive for, however we fail in these things when it comes to the holidays.

So what does it mean to celebrate Gormas in the strictest sense?  The Gorean holidays around December, or what December equates to on Gor, is rather simple.

The Fair of Se`Var 

(December 21st-December 30th)

New Years Soltice - Wagon People

(December 21st)

Our Christmas, takes place during the Gorean month of Se`Var, also known as 'The Second Resting'.  This is the TENTH month of the Gorean year, far from the end.  This gives at least two gorean events to celebrate.  This puts the 2nd and 3rd hand of Se`Var at the center of our holidays in December.


The Fairs.  We know of course that there are FOUR fairs held during the year, the fair of Se`Var is the last one of the Gorean year, this is the last opportunity for some individuals to travel 'before their 18th year' to be in accordance with priest kings rules for the general populace of the fictional world.


Why is this fair significant during Christmas?  Remember, in the Christmas story, Mary and Joseph had to travel for a mandatory census to Jeruselum, and to pay taxes.  While Goreans wouldnt need to travel far to pay their taxes to their town, or city, the mandatory census is the closest thing we could use to compare.


Celebrate the Fair of Se`Var, use it to make a pillgramage to your original home, or to your home, to your culture of origins in Gor.  Use it to create some roleplay, and to delve into a new reality within roleplay.  


Come Celebrate the fair of Se`Var in Second Life at The Sardar Passage.


The Wintering & Solstice.  This period of time extends from late November through to the second hand of Se`Kara.  

The Wintering was not unpleasant, although, even so far north, the days and nights were often quite chilly; the Wagon Peoples and their slaves as well, wore boskhide and furs during this time; both male and female, slave or free, wore furred boots and trousers, coats and the flopping, ear-flapped caps that tied under the chin; in this time there was often no way to mark the distinction between the free woman and the slave girl, save that the hair of the later must needs be unbound; in some cases, of course, the Turian collar was visible, if worn on the outside of the coat, usually under the furred collar; the men, too, free and slave, were dressed similarly, save that the Kajiri, or he-slaves, wore shackles, usually with a run of about a foot of chain.

Nomads of Gor, chapter eight, page 59

The Solstice, is effectively the new year for the wagon people, the start of something fresh, its a singular day to celebrate.  


This whole idea of Gormas.. seems needless.  Gor offers plenty of opportunties to stay 'in character' as you celebrate the holidays at Christmas time, and other seasons not-withstanding.  


I recall years ago, back when I was a youngun in Gor, in a place once called 'Worlds End'. The rules where simple. Be Gorean, or Go.  Expectations where no less simple.  Do not cross introduce real world, or real life practices into the roleplay escapist environment of Gor.  


Now... off to find out if Goreans celebrated birthdays...


Godric
Oralu of the Tuchuk

Men, women, and .. Gorean roles.

If you have read one of the books, pretty much any of the books, you would think it would be pretty straight forward on the whole premise of the story, of the world itself, of the culture, and of what is expected of each person within their defendable circle of their sword, their spear, and yes their bow.

It first started years ago, I was a young Gorean, only a few days over 300 on Gor.. which is quite young when you think about it.

I was still young myself in Gor, in fact, it was within the first year or two of my experiencing this entire construct John Norman has set out for us... I was still getting used to some of the ideas, and adjusting on a couple levels to the atmosphere that should be.

We had a 'girl' come in, and eventually she came to us and explained, that she was a .. gee, I dont know how to say it. and I might have it wrong, so just 'flip' it if it is..

tiffany was actually a girl, who was in a boys body, waiting for gender reassessment surgery.

First of all, you have to know I have mixed feelings about this, and wouldnt get 'mixed up' in real life with someone like this, tho, I would let them live their lives like they have that right.

Now, that said..

 Gor, is a MANS WORLD.

GOR, is a world where WOMEN ARE NOT AFRAID TO BE WOMEN

Gor is a world where MEN REJOICE IN THEIR RIGHTS TO BE MEN

Gor is a world where even SLAVES rejoice in their sexuality and their slavehood.

Well.. presuming they are not working hard in the fields.. or working in the kitchen not getting their needs fulfilled.. but thats another story.

I have seen and heard of a number of things that bother me on ONLINE GOR.  Yes, I am including telnet/MOO chat, PRC, IMVU, Second Life, irc, and any other way we as GOREANS meet, roleplay.. communicate with each other.

This is one of the biggest issues I have.  We have manthers.  Men playing as panthers.  We have manjira's, men playing as kajira.  We have FemWarriors, we have Femasters, et al, et al.

Why do I have an issue with it?  After all, its roleplay, after all its a fictional constructed environment for our enjoyment, why not play what we want, as what we want.

I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH  YOUR TWISTING THE PHILOSOPHY OF GOR TO SUIT YOUR NEEDS OR WARPED DESIRES.

Gor, at its root, at the very source of John Norman's ideas for the world we play in, is a world where men are men, where men do not allow themselves to be weakened to be something other then they are.

Gor at its root, is a world where women, are women, they are not afraid to be women, even tho they might show disgust for slaves, as free women.  As slaves, they fear free woman, but they REJOICE in their gender, they REJOICE in what they are.  Women.

Gor at its root, is about getting around this stigma we on earth have had to suffer through.  I can't speak to whatever 'disease' or 'issue' that some claim puts them in the body of the wrong sex.  Thats not what this is about.

IF YOU ARE A MAN IN REAL LIFE, you should be playing a man in GOR.

IF YOU ARE A WOMAN IN REAL LIFE, you should be playing a woman in GOR.

If you want to gender bend, if you want to mix something up, go play vampland, go play some other fictional world where you might be much better received, where they expect 'wierd-ness'.

To make this matter worse.  While most of us are here to roleplay and not get involved on a Real life level, we have that barrier for a reason.  But keeping your true gender 'secret' becomes a serious issue.

You are a man playing a woman, didnt tell me, and you EXPECT me to trust you?

You are a woman, playing a man, didnt tell me, and you EXPECT me to trust you?

Not bloody likely, if you where a man playing a woman in real life, and I brought you home, I would be seriously pissed.  I would be seriously angry to the point  that  you risked any possible friendship or aquaintency we might have had possible.

Please, gender bending is something you should keep to your real life, or hell, bring it into SL, but keep it out of, and away from  your GOR character.  I expect you to, and I have a reasonable expectation of, the person behind the screen to be the gender your portraying on screen.

• I can get over the fact your 90 years old, pock marks, and liver spots.  
• I can get over the fact you might be 500 lbs, and in a wheelchair.
• I can get over the fact you might be a 60 year old woman without breasts, and with a beard
• I can even get over the fact you have man-boobs, are 76 years old and are a limp noodle Master.

BUT DAMNIT BE YOUR GENDER!

• I can get over the fact you have a bald head, or have blond hair, or have red hair
• I can get over the fact that you have challenges being a proper master
• I can get over the fact that you have challenges understanding the mindset of a freewoman or kajira.
• I can get over, the fact, that you are making up 90% of your character and  your not as othewise advertised.

I CAN NOT GET OVER YOU PLAYING THE OPPOSITE GENDER REGARDLESS WHAT YOU THINK YOU MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE BEEN BORN AS.

Over a year ago, in second life, I came across a woman avatar in second life.  She admitted to me that she was gender bending.  She was born RL a man, but was really a woman inside.  We had a LONG 6 hour conversation with 'him'.  While in my mind, I can't understand  how you can not be as you where born.  I can, and will, give the benefit of my years of knowledge when asked.  I can, and will, feel for your plight.  I can, and will even, sympathise with the fact you believe you think your a completely different gender.

I can not, and refuse to feel for you, if you are actively hiding such a thing from your role play partners.

Masters Round Table with Black Ort - July 3rd, 2011

Black Orts weekly edition of 'Masters Round Table for your enjoyment.