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Cyberisms
Cyberisms, or mIRCisms, are practices and beliefs that have been spawned through wide misuse, added to websites as Gorean gospel, and have beome accepted as facts by many on online Gor. The books do not support most of these and, in fact, are quite the opposite in many cases. These are a few of the most common: An unowned slave was commonly nude on Gor… False... "For example, although one may see a girl in the streets, naked save for, say, her brand and collar, or a bit of chain, this is not common. This sort of thing is done, usually, only as a discipline." Guardsman of Gor, p. 105 In the books white, yellow and red silk denoted a slave's level of training… False... White- and red-silk do not describe the slave's level of training so much as the girl's virginal condition. There was no condition denoted by "yellow silk." Masters would dress their slaves in whatever color they wished. There are other views of the meaning of white- versus red-silk slaves and there is a case for some meaning to include stages of education/experience, but by no means were slaves grouped into the three categories as is commonly found on online Gor. "My Master took my virginity," she said. "You are now a red-silk girl," I said. "Yes, Master," she said, "I am now a red-silk girl." Explorers of Gor" Similarly, the expression "red-silk," in Gorean, tends to be used as a category in slaving, and also, outside of the slaving context, as an expression in vulgar discourse, indicating that the woman is no longer a virgin, or, as the Goreans say, at least vulgarly of slaves, that her body has been opened by men. Its contrasting term is `white-silk,' usually used of slaves who are still virgins, or, equivalently, slaves whose bodies have not yet been opened by men. Needless to say, slaves seldom spend a great deal of time in the 'white-silk' category. It is common not to dally in initiating a slave into the realities of her condition.' Blood Brothers of Gor, p. 472 'The buyers were also informed that I was 'glana' or a virgin. The correlated term is 'metaglana,' used to designate the state to which the glana state looks forward, or that which it is regarded as anticipating. Though the word was not used of me I was also 'profalarina', which term designates the state preceding, and anticipating, that of 'falarina,' the state Goreans seem to think of as that of being a full woman, or, at least, as those of Earth might think of it, one who certainly is no longer a virgin. In both terms, 'glana' and 'profalarina,' incidentally, it seems that the states they designate are regarded as immature or transitory, state to be succeeded by more fully developed, superior states, those of 'metaglana' or 'falarina.' Among slaves, not free women, these things are sometimes spoken of along the lines as to whether or not the girl as been 'opened' for the uses of men. Other common terms, used generally of slaves, are 'white silk' and 'red silk', for girls who have not yet been opened, or have been opened, for the uses of men, respectively.' Dancer of Gor, p. 128 'To be sure,' I said, ' white' in the context of 'white-silk girl' tends less to suggest purity and innocence to the Gorean than ignorance, naivete, and a lack of experience. One expects a red-silk girl, for example, to not only be able to find her way about the furs, but, subject to the whip, owned and dominated, perhaps chained, to prove herself a sensuous treasure within them.' Savages of Gor, p. 205
False... "ko-lar" was only used in one place in the books... it was John Norman's way of demonstrating, phonetically, the Gorean pronunciation of the word collar, not how it was to be spelled. “Ko-lar,” she said, indicating her collar. “It is the same word in English,” I cried. She did not understand my outburst. Gorean, as I would learn, is rich in words borrowed from Earth languages; how rich it is I am not a skilled enough philologist to conjecture. It may well be that almost all Gorean expressions may be traced to one or another Earth language. Yet, the language is fluid, rich and expressive. Borrowed expressions, as in linguistic borrowing generally, take on the coloration of the borrowing language; in time the borrowings become naturalized, so to speak, being fully incorporated into the borrowing language; at this point they are, for all practical purposes, words within the borrowing language. How many, in English, for example, think of expressions such as ‘automobile,’ ‘corral,’ and ‘lariat’ as being foreign words? “Collar!” I said. Eta frowned. “Ko-lar,” she repeated, again indicating the neck band of steel fashioned on her throat. “Ko-lar,” I said, carefully following her pronunciation. Eta accepted this. Slave Girl of Gor, p. 80 The word was spelled "collar" 363 times in the book, and only 4 times as "ko-lar." The ko-lar form of the word will not be used in the CoP. Goreans called the world on the other side of the sun Urth… False... There is no instance of the books ever having the word Urth in them. It is proper for a slave to address a high born Free Woman as Lady…. False... "The Gorean slave girl addresses all free men as 'Master' and all free women as 'Mistress.'" Assassins of Gor, page 215. The term Lady was reserved for the use of the Free only. There were red, yellow and white sugars on Gor… False... Only yellow and white sugars are mentioned in the books. It is said there were others but they were never described. There was red salt, and therein perhaps lies the confusion. A slave may address a Free Man by his name in public... False... A slave is seldom permitted, at least publicly, to address her master by his name, only his title. The privilege of using his name, of having it on her lips, is, according to the most approved custom, reserved for that of a free woman….Gorean thinking on this matter tends to be expressed by the saying that a slave girl grows bold if her lips are allowed to touch the name of her master. See: Priest Kings of Gor, p. 206 or... 'A girl asks permission to call her Master by his name,' she said. 'It is denied,' I said. 'Yes, Master,' she said. I would not permit the slave girl to speak my name. It is not fitting that the name of the master be soiled by being touched by the lips of a slave girl.' Tribesmen of Gor, p. 360 The correct way for a Gorean to say farewell is “Winds and Steel” or “Winds”… False... "Winds" or "Winds and Steel" were never used in any of the books as a farewell. Slaves are never to use "tal" as a greeting to the Free. This is a term reserved only for Free-to-Free... False... "Tal" is a customary Gorean greeting, usually given while holding the hand up, palm
“Tal, Master,” said he to me. “Tal,” said I to him. (Tribesmen of Gor)
“Tal, Master,” said many of them, as I rode slowly by. “Buy me in Tor, Master,” called another. (Tribesmen of Gor)
“Tal, Slave Girls,” I said to them. (Tribesmen of Gor)
“Tal,” they said to me. (Slave Girl of Gor)
False... There are many instances in the books of slaves speaking in the first person. To speak in the third person was required as a punishment at times. All owned slaves must wear a collar… False... "The condition of slavery does not require the collar, or the brand, or an anklet, bracelet or ring, or any such overt sign of bondage. Such things, as symbolic as they are, as profoundly meaningful as they are, and as useful as they are for marking properties, identifying masters, and such, are not necessary to slavery. They are, in effect, though their affixing can legally effect imbondment, ultimately, in themselves, tokens of bondage, and are not to be confused with the reality itself." Renegades of Gor, p. 237 All slaves must be branded on Gor… False... "I noted the thigh of the girl. It had not yet been branded. When an individual captures a girl for his own uses, he does not always mark her, though it is commonly done. On the other hand, the professional slaver, as a business practice, almost always brands his chattels, and it is seldom that an unbranded girl ascends the block." Outlaw of Gor, p. 186 Gor did not have kitchens, they were called serverys... False... The word servery is never used in the books. To be a "good Gorean" you must have a through knowledge of the Kassar language... False... Though there are a few instances of Kassar words in the books, there are not enough to build a whole language around it. A slave was never addressed as Mistress... False... The lower-level slaves will commonly address their first girl as 'Mistress.' Magicians of Gor A slave who touches any kind of weapon will be put to death... False... There are many instances in the books where slaves touched weapons or used knives. The difference is the intent when it is touched. "I recalled how a guard had once given me his spear, and it had been so heavy, I could throw it only a few feet. He had then taken it from me and hurled it into a block of wood, head deep, more then a hundred feet away. He then sent me to fetch it for him and I had scarcely been able to work it free of the wood." Captive of Gor A slave must perform a Karta before entering a room… False... The word "karta" is not used in the books. A slave would perform obeisance before entering her Master's chambers. Before entering a tavern a slave must beg permission and perform a karta. Slaves could travel from tavern to tavern alone... False... Once again, there was no such word as "karta" used in the books. Slaves were allowed to travel within their own city, but had to be accompanied by a Free outside the city gates. There were certain places slaves were forbidden from entering, such as theaters and temples. "'Slaves can enter taverns, can they not?' I asked. 'If on an errand, or in the company of a free person,' he said ." Kajira of Gor 'This was not much different, incidentally, than what was the case in even the most prestigious Paga taverns. In such places, free women were generally not permitted. In them, usually, the only women to be found would be collared slaves, generally belonging either to the tavern keeper or the guests, who may have brought them in, to avail themselves of the facilities of the alcoves. Dancer of Gor, p. 245 Slaves never ask for forgiveness but must beg mercy instead… False... There are many instances in the books where a slave begged to be forgiven. "Do you bargain?" I asked. "No, Master," she cried. "No, Master! Forgive me, Master! Please forgive me, Master!" Fighting Slave of Gor, p. 97 The word rask refers to a slave's buttocks… False... The word rask is never used in the books to refer to any part of anatomy. Rask of Treve was a person in the books, and would probably have been offended. Before offering a drink, a slave must ask the Free if they want it proofed… False... "'Why do you not drink?' I asked her. 'A girl does not drink before her master,' she said. 'I see that you are not totally stupid,' I said. 'Thank you, Master,' she said.'" Guardsmen of Gor To entice a Master it is correct for a slave to “sweeten the rim”… False... There is no example of a slave “sweetening the rim of a drink” in the books. Why put your mouth somewhere, if you are not sure the person has washed recently? A slave must test the rim of a vessel on a sensitive body part before serving the Master… False... There are no instances of a slave testing a vessel on her body. Why put your mouth somewhere if you are not sure a person has washed recently? Vessels were not cleaned using the girl's hair or her clothes, either. The correct position for the hands in nadu is with palms up… False... Girls were taught to nadu both ways with palms up or down. Wearing a talender flower in her hair was a slaves silent plea to be raped… False... 'The talender, fixed in her hair, is a slave girl's wordless confession, which, commonly, she dares not speak, that she cares for her Master.' Hunters of Gor, p. 65 A slave may never directly ask her Master to use her. She must make a silent request such as a bondage knot or offering him larma fruit… False... 'There are many ways in which a female slave can beg for sex, for example, the bondage knot, offering the master wine, holding up to him fruit, next to her body, kneeling, licking, kissing, and so on. Many times too she must beg explicitly.' Vagabonds of Gor, p. 286 When leaving a Master a slave took three steps back… False... There are no instances of slaves commonly taking three steps back to leave a Master. Before offering a drink to a Master a slave held the vessel to her heart for three beats… False... Slaves did not hold a vessel to their heart or pray over it. Slaves did place a kiss on the side of the vessel. Bazi tea was served as a long formal ceremony on Gor much like the Japanese tea ceremony… False... "'Make me tea', I said. 'Is it ready?' I asked. I looked at the tiny copper kettle on the small stand. A tiny kaiila-dung fire burned under it. A small, heavy, curved glass was nearby, on a flat box, which would hold some two ounces of the tea. Bazi tea is drunk in tiny glasses, usually three at a time, carefully measured. She did not make herself tea, of course. She lifted the kettle from the fire and, carefully, poured me a tiny glass of tea. I took the glass." Tribesmen of Gor Home Stone was written as one word in the books, i.e.: HomeStone… False... In every instance the word Home Stone was mentioned in the books it was shown as two words. '"Gor,' he said, 'is the name of this world. In all the languages of this planet, the word means Home Stone.' He paused, noting my lack of comprehension. 'Home Stone,' he repeated. 'Simply that.'" Tarnsman of Gor Once a slave, a female can never be made a Free Woman... False... Contrary to the beliefs of some with not-so-humble opinions, there were many, many instances in the books where a slave was made a Free Woman, and not necessarily just so they could become the semi-subservient Free Companion of a Free Man. This particular cyberism is used as a self-serving ploy... to attempt to maintain the slim hold on pathetic channels run by those with over-inflated egos... keeping the number of Free Women who are members of a channel to a low level, thereby avoiding a potential confrontation about their status. Domination by exclusion? Beware this type of channel! They do not respect the place of Free Women on Gor, and they especially do not tolerate strong Free Women in any type of power position! |
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