Giving credit and thanks where deserved - a very good friend recently found some of her personal info posted maliciously on a profile here, and the CollarMe acted promptly upon notification. Her thanks and mine for exemplary service and concern for safety!

NOTE: My phone line is in need of repair, so my time online may be minimal or not-at-all for several days.

On the Boards, someone had compared Gorean philosophy to Scientology, on the grounds that both are connected (though in different ways) to science-fiction authors. The fact is that the Gorean "lifestyle" is not a religion, while Scientology most definitely is. The Gorean "lifestyle" could perhaps really be best described as a culture.

It's worth considering what is Gorean religion, though, since there is a religion mentioned in the Gor books. To the best of my knowledge, however, it is not part of the Gorean lifestyle here on Earth. This is not hard to understand: the Gorean religion in the books deifies the alien species (called "Priest-Kings") that has many times brought specimens of humans (and many other species) from Earth to Gor. Most people on Gor don't know what the Priest-Kings actually are, and never have any contact with them.

This religion is administered by a caste called "Initiates", which seem to be based on a mixture of philosophical schools and priesthoods of the classical world. A very few even of them are said to be aware of what the Priest-Kings are, and they keep it a secret, on the grounds that the people at large are entirely unready to deal it. It's important to note that Initiates only rarely figure in any important way in any of the books; by and large, that religion is just part of the background context.

The thread in which I saw the comparison with Scientology was mainly asking about Gorean philosophy, what it is, and if and how it could be validated. Not too surprisingly, most non-Goreans see the male-dominance and slavery as the predominant elements in Gorean thought/philosophy. That's not what Goreans would place in the forefront of their thought.

As judged from the books, the really important things to Goreans are their values, including among others such things as honor, caste duty, and a range of loyalties, such as to caste, family, friends, comrades and city.

The last mentioned object of loyalty brings us to what is probably the cornerstone of Gorean thought: the Home Stone. The Home Stone is the object and symbol of a free Gorean's political identity and loyalty. Each city has a Home Stone, usually a simple rock taken from the soil upon which a city or a home is founded. People who live outside the cities of Gor, such as the peasants, very often have a home stone of their own, one to each home, each free household.

But let us go a little deeper... what is the word in the Gorean language for a Home Stone? It is: "Gor"! In other words, it may be said that their planet is itself a Home Stone for all of them. Or perhaps it may be seen in the opposite way: the Home-Stone is their own piece of their world.

Ah, but back to Gorean thought or philosophy. In reality... errr, that is to say, in the literary creation of the Gor series... Gor is an entire planet, with many cultures... in addition to its mainstream culture. The mainstream culture is itself comprised of many different independent city-states, with their own cultural variations. So, the fact is that it makes no more sense to speak of one single "Gorean philosophy" than it would to speak of one single "Earthling philosophy". In either case, there is no such thing! Neither our real planet, nor the fictional Gor, nor the real sub-culture here that is based upon the culture(s) depicted in the books, is one-dimensional, nor one-philosophical.

Happy Canada Day to all our Canadian friends!

I would like any friends who have dropped out of touch for one reason or another to know that they are always welcome to contact me again. :)

Hey, even if for some reason they can expect to be in trouble, how bad could it be? ;-)

I see a current thread entitled "Why are Big women called 'curvy' ", which has a number of good comments posted.

Maybe the best one... from a language point of view... is one that points out that the OP was mistaken in thinking that the fact that 'curvy' is used by and for some big women does NOT mean that it cannot also apply to slimmer women.

On the other hand... some people have used it, as well as the mostly-synonymous "voluptuous" to refer to bigger women specifically as opposed to slimmer women.

The problem in these cases is an unnecessarily dualism. As the good poster said, "curvy" can apply to both slim and large women. This is the same as with "beautiful".

For a bit of fairness, I will point out an analogy among us men: it is possible for a man to be muscular (usually considered attractive in itself) but still have an unattractive face, at least to some people (tastes in faces being very subjective).

So, what actually is "curvy" and "voluptuous"? As I understand it, these words mean that the women had a defined traditionally feminine figure, with wide breasts and hips, and a visible waist. It's often easier to see a woman's shape more clearly from the back, because belly fat can hide a waist from the front.

Or, in a slightly less rigorous definition, curvy can simply mean that the woman has a noticeably "feminine" shape (no matter how big or small overall; this is as opposed to a woman whose figure is not so pronounced. This can happen either when a woman is too slim, or too large.

It's well worth noting that it is body fat that makes the curves for the most part. The hips do also depend on the width of the pelvic bone, but a bit of fat is usually part of it. So, a woman is usually more shapely... and more healthy and fertile, with a nicely balanced amount of fat on her body... not too much, and not too little.

For those in NYC who might be looking for Gor books early in the series, the used book store (is it East Village Books?, I'm drawing a blank, and can't find the business card right now...)on St. Marks Place, half a block west of Tompkins Square Park had somewhere near 10 as of Saturday.

Sudden thought: I'm very curious what people have in mind when they list "mathematics" as a hard limit on their profiles. We all use math every day in life, after all. And let's not forget that everything a computer does is really math, and a computer program is really a very complex formula for binary mathematics. What we see on the screen? No matter what it is... it's a big, tricky GRAPH!

But, OK, I'm still wondering what is it that people, especially subs, are afraid of, that makes math a "hard limit". Are they afraid that a dom is going to make them kneel while he or she lectures you about integral calculus? Or that they might be punished by being made to solve problems? Or maybe be forced to recite pi, and get a thwack for every mistake?

I am genuinely curious what people have in mind, and would be happy from anyone who cares to share their thoughts on why they make math a hard limit?

Oh, and for the record, while I don't hate math, I also am not a mathematician, and couldn't, for example, lecture you on integral calculus if I wanted to. :)

The Gor novels are science-fiction, NOT fantasy, and I would further classify them (with the possible exception of the earliest several in the series) as similar in principle to the novels of Friedrich Nietzsche or Ayn Rand in that they are meant to express and propagate a philosophy and worldview.

I think that some people confuse them with fantasy because the characters fight with swords or other non-firearms. The reason that there are no firearms among Gor's humans is that there are aliens on Gor who destroy any such weapons with lasers from a satellite... and THAT shows that it is sci-fi. :) Furthermore, there is no sorcery, so the series is not "swords-and-sorcery", the usual definition of fantasy novels. And on the other hand, though many may not realize it, swords or other blade weapons are still in common use in combat in the modern world. Even here in NYC, there have been cases where on one hand, people have been murdered with swords, and on the other, an occasional burglar or other criminal has been fought off with a sword.

In a thread in the Gorean Lifestyles message board, I recently saw a remarkable assertion that people get to Gor (in the books) through some sort of "transdimensional gateway".
Sorry, NOPE! The books leave no doubt that the usual mode of transportation is space ships. (Again, Scifi.) This isn't always clear to the imported goods, though, because they are usually fully sedated before and during transit; this fact is explicit in many of the books. 

For those who don't know, Gor is described as a planet in the same orbit as Earth, but on the opposite side of the Sun. It is said to have been moved there from the dominant species of the planet, who are insect-like, and so long-lived (due to their scientific abilities) that they are practically immortal from the human perspective. Make that the Earthling perspective, because the Gorean humans have a technology, "stabilization serum", which prevents aging in most individuals. The humans, along with some other species are on Gor because those aliens (the Sardar or "Priest-kings") have brought them there at various times throughout the ages as biological specimens, and let some of them free and wild, only interfering to prevent the development of firearms or other technologies that would pose a threat to the Priest-Kings. 

There is another sentient alien species, "Kurii", huge carnivores who may be seen as vaguely bear-like, who are trying to conquer the solar system. The background to the Gor series includes the war between the Priest-Kings and the Kurii. Both Kurii and Priest-Kings usually see humans as a much lower species than themselves, but whereas the Priest-Kings are either benevolent or at least non-interfering for the most part, the Kurii think humans are a nice snack, when they're not otherwise useful.

Keep in mind, dear Reader, that most of the scifi elements are probably not especially important for the lifestyle... unless of course, the books are true, and there IS a war for the solar system raging unseen around us. ;-)

Thoughts on Beauty

1) Something from one of Robert Heinlein's novels ("The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress") comes to mind, which goes something like,"There are no homely women, but some are more beautiful than others."

2) I've read some "minority" women complain about beauty standards being defined by the "majority" populace. Doubtless true to some extent, but then again, very often only some of the majority fall into the fashionable mode of beauty as it is at any particular time.

I say that people should not let others dictate to them, especially some fashion or beauty "industry", what is or is not beautiful. For myself, as I've written on other occasions, I know that some movie stars that are conventionally considered beautiful are funny looking to me. And many women who are considered by some to be "plain" are very cute or beautiful to me... very attractive in any case. :)

3) And my final thought for today: I had an interesting experience this afternoon that may shed some insight into standards of beauty and their adaptability. I was walking around Chinatown here in NYC, and after a couple of hours of seeing mostly Asian people, suddenly I saw a blonde white woman nearby. My first impression at that moment was that she looked very strange. A second later, my mind adjusted itself, and I realized that she was a beautiful woman by the standards of white people... but I had become used to the beauty of Chinese and other Asian women just while walking around this afternoon. Later on I walked uptown for about thirty blocks, and amused myself by looking for different kinds of beauty from different ethnic groups. Doing this kept in my mind one of my standard thoughts: that the beauty of members of any ethnic group has to be judged on its own qualities, and in fact, every individual woman should be seen on her own.  It is certainly unfair to judge someone by standards of beauty derived from a group that does not look like that person. In the end, we go back to Mr. Heinlein's observation... the basic idea is: women are beautiful! :)

LATIN LESSON - Yippee!


I decided to look up all the "dom-" words in my Latin dictionary today, and here are what I found. They'll be interesting and maybe useful.

domabilis - tameable;
domina - mistress of a house, lady, sweetheart (ie, vanilla "mistress"), queen, ruler, controller;
dominatio - irresponsible power, despotism, arbitrary government;
dominantes - absolute rulers;
dominator - ruler, governor;
dominatrix - despotic mistress;
dominatus - absolute power, rule;
dominium - rule, power;
dominor - to rule, to be lord or master, to    domineer;
dominus - lord, master, head of a house, owner, possessor;
domito - to tame, subdue;
domitor - tamer, conqueror, victor;
domitrix - [feminine of domitor];
domitus - taming;
domo (domare) - to tame

FANS OF THE GOR BOOKS TAKE NOTE -

The current issue (October 2006) of the Smithsonian magazine has a good article about Iraq's "Marsh Arabs". These people are the real world models for the Rencer people who inhabit the great delta marsh that surrounds Port Kar. Saddam Hussein tried to destroy them, their way of life and their ecology, which should be accounted among the greatest of his crimes. The article explains their history and gives an overview of their society and culture, and especially talks about the efforts being made to restore their great marsh, and their way of life, as well as the desire of many of them to modernize.

The author, John Norman, based most of the Gorean cultures and subcultures on real-world historical peoples, suitably adapted to the peculiar animal life of Gor and the various other peculiarities of that world. He does a very good job of describing the culture of his various peoples and their traditions. Some negative qualities in his work have been pointed out by critics, but this aspect of his work is a very glowing positive. Readers who are not familiar with traditional ways of life have little way to know that.

Anyway, Goreans on Earth should take note of the situation of these Marsh Arabs. Some people may even have means and opportunity to help, whether for sentimental or ecological reasons. Aside from the nebulous Gorean connection, consider that that Marsh at the delta of the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers has been continuously occupied since and maybe before the dawn of civilization. Except for the period when Hussein drained the Marshes. Almost immediately after his ouster, the people began to restore the Marshes, but still much work remains to be done, and damage to be repaired. Sadly, the Marsh also remains at risk from other sources, especially the increasing drawing off of water from the Rivers, including and especially in their northern reaches, in Turkey. This disrupts the Marsh ecosystem as well.

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT FOR  GIRLS, FROM THE NORTH POLE CORRECTIONS DEPARTMENT

As usual, Santa will continue rewarding good behavior with presents. However, due to the rising fuel costs this winter, Santa has issued an Executive Order mandating that naughty subs, slaves, switches and maybe even dommes, shall be given spankings instead of the traditional lumps of coal.

Because his belt, though wide and supple, is not magical, he hereby deputizes Doms and Masters as his Helpers to deliver these Holiday Spankings to naughty girls, according to the procedures to be set out below.

These rules apply to all regardless of creed. Girls may collect their Holiday Discipline at any time throughout the Holiday season. After that time, there shall be a fine of an automatic 10-percent addition to the number of spanks.

Girls who have their own Doms or Masters shall go to them for their Holiday Discipline. Girls who do not shall approach a trustworthy local Dom or Master as a Helper to fulfill Santa's Executive Order.

The standard procedure shall be as follows:

-The girl shall remove her clothing as a symbol of her penitence, openness and honesty.

-She shall sit on the Helper's lap and confess her naughtiness, in summary or in detail as the situation may warrant.

-She shall then politely ask, or else beg, for suitable punishment, so that Santa will forgive her.

-The Helper will ask her what punishment she feels that she deserves. She must request at least the minimum standard discipline, as detailed below, and may request a more severe level of spanking, as well as optional additional disciplines. She must docilely and gracefully submit to the punishment. (Becoming uncooperative shall result in additional punishment, up to a complete repeat of the original.)

-She shall thank the Helper, and he shall in turn give her Santa's forgiveness and assure her that she is now a Good Girl again, and admonish her to try very hard to stay that way.

- The standard minimum spanking shall comprise at least 12 spanks, to symbolize the traditional 12-day festival. In the case of Jewish girls, the minimum 12 spanks shall instead symbolize the 8-days of Chanukah, plus the four Books of Maccabees. In the case of only minor naughtiness, the spanks may be delivered with the hand, but the standard for any significant naughtiness shall be the use of a belt, to symbolize Santa's belt. If there is no belt available, other implements may substitute, including straps, paddles, canes, crops (quirts), rulers, etc. If no implement is available for a spanking that warrants an implement, a hand-spanking with a doubled number of strokes shall be given. The maximum number of spanks for the Holiday Spanking shall not exceed 144 for the naughtiest, except by special request of the naughty girl. Within these limits, and the necessity to be just fair as the official representative of Santa, the number of strokes and the implement (if any) used is at the discretion of Santa's Helper. Spankings shall be received in Over-the-Knee position, and applied to the buttocks, and optionally a few strokes to the upper thighs.
 
-Additional optional disciplines may be requested by the girl, but shall not be imposed by Santa's Helper without such a request. If in his judgement, such would be beneficial for her, he may try to hint and gently persuade her to make such a request, but if she does not give her willing request and consent, he must not impose anything beyond the spanking. Here is a partial selection of possible additional disciplines: cornertime, speech restriction, clothing restriction, plugging (or other anal discipline), atonement-through-"service", bondage, enema, tickling, use of clamps, being sent to bed without dessert, etc.

-Santa wishes the girls to be freely penitent, so even slave-girls must not be forced or pressured to request additional disciplines that they do not genuinely feel are needed for themselves.

Girls and Helpers may write here with questions or for advice and guidance. Of course, this Helper may be available for appointments for nearby girls. Write with enquiries. 

Happy Holidays from Santa and Mrs. Claus, the North Pole Corrections Department, and the Deputy Helper Team! 

PS - As an old-fashioned man, Santa suggests that it would be beneficial for dommes to take part just like the other girls; and he thinks it would be silly for men to do so. However, Mrs. Claus says that is unfair, and has deputized Dommes and Female Switches to act as her Helpers to punish submissive males appropriately.

PPS- Of course, the writer's legitimacy as one of Santa's Helpers is proven by his small stature and long beard. ;-D