First let me say this to clear this point of contention up. “Real” Goreans don’t exist. They are in the pages of the books. Yeah that’s right, you heard me; they don’t exist. Now that being said, Goreans do exist, call them “living” Goreans, “philosophical” Goreans or whatever term you fancy, those persons that identify and attempt to apply the Gorean philosophies and morality to their real lives might indeed be seen as or called Goreans. Real is a term we’ll leave out of this; it’s to limiting in it’s scope.
There are many here who tend to speak in a manner that I would not consider to be " honorable ". However " honor " is said to be one of the main ingredients that goes into the constitution of a " Gorean ". " Honor " as most often displayed in other Forums holds an unknown definition for myself as I read many people who have spoken there, so it seems.
"Honor has many voices, and many songs." Witness of Gor, p.548.
I know much has been spoken of there in forum on " Honor " as is " Honor " spoken of among many circles on Mother Earth. It seems that the core of " Honor " as I see " Honor " is not how many define " honor " who claim to be the " Goreans " here and in other Forums.
In all honesty I do not agree with the rude manners that are often displayed there in Forum and then excused as some form of acceptable " Honorable " conduct which is defended rigorously by words of ridicule and contention to enforce being a " Goreans ".
However I am a man that holds no judgment of others which would make one person better than another by nature. I cannot ever succumb to a value that would make myself or another appear to be " elite " or " higher " in status or " caste ". I do not care to ever learn how to divide the waters which could instead be used to build bridges to connect and find common ground with those of other ways of living.
I must admit though I do find it rather perplexing that the term " Honor " is not as I have grown to come to willingly understand over the many years here on Mother Earth among many of those who claim " Honor " here in other Forums which claim to be the " Goreans " of other Forums.
Further I regrettably find the refusal of a majority to disengage from the socially unacceptable behaviors that I cannot imagine I could ever be proud of or define as " Honorable " here to be somewhat disenchanting.
It clearly appears that more than often-times those who refuse to be harsh, rude and abrasive most often are scorned by those who claim to be the " Goreans " as " they " understand what defines a " Goreans ".
I share in and teach the following as ingredients which work toward the whole outcome of a working definition which I can live by when claiming to live as a man of " Honor ":
1) Honorable = The act, process or state of being justified by becoming willing to live in
accordance to truth and integrity.
2) Responsibility = An act or instance of purifying or being purified, to clear from material defilement
or imperfection, to grow or become pure or clean in thought, word and deed through becoming willing to practice honesty with all.
3) Accountability = The act, process or state of being freed from character defects, to give conscientious or social support to oneself and others who willingly choose to abstain from destructive behaviors.
A few questions continue to come forth as I have read the many postings here and else where I encounter the questionable conduct that is so readily excused as acceptable status quo among " Goreans " or “Gorean Role Players” in other Forums.
1} What is this unspoken defining factor in determining if a man is a " Goreans " or “Gorean Role Players” by which a man is measured here in this Forum ?
2} If a man does not place his devotion to live " Honorably " and put loving his " neighbor " as himself first in all he does above all else what then and how can a man claim to be a man of creditability and trustworthiness?
A few random aloud thoughts that hopefully do not stir the fires of a cauldron which does not warm the Winds with more than what is required to demonstrate balance among strangers of shores unknown of Honor, as I have come to embrace.
So let me begin by saying honor, honor, mother fuckin’ honor. That word gets thrown around on Gorean “talk radio” sites like this one and others with the same redundancy as the words “unjust war” do at a Democratic campaign rally. I myself have and or at least had a hang up over the word honor at one time; I still find it a very important, but I recently created a thread and responded to a thread from a while back. It had to do with honor or the misconception of this word.
Honor is a relative term, it is a shared concept, it is a term that is no different than the lock on your garage door; you know, that lock that helps to keep an honest man honest. A thief that really wants your shit could give a damn about that lock. And that honor that you so dearly cherish is of no importance to a man that stands in opposition to you, honor is no different.
Honor is a watch word among friends and neighbors; countrymen and caste. It has significance to a man that has need for it and none to a man that has not. Each man might in fact have an altogether separate view of the word honor, at least for its practical application and usage. Each caste or culture might indeed find various needs in defining the word, in conceiving its purpose. I think it’s a word with valuing, but seldom worth fussing over its employment.
I would rather think judging by our bitching that it is the word accountability that they are having the most difficulty with. Doesn’t it seem that folks think they can do just any ole thing on a site like this and get away with it, that their actions can be rude and shiftless that they can make fun of you and you are left with no real recourse? They want people to accept things the way they see them and they think common courtesy is a universal provision or at least should be.
The fact is there is a reason that the Gorean word for stranger and enemy are the same. It’s the philosophy within human nature. We aren’t all the same and never will be. We won’t all always like each other and that’s just the way it goes. Have you ever wondered why Norman never told us what this word was? As if he might have wanted us to look beyond the word itself and into its metaphorical representation, in other words the philosophical significance of this symbolic reference.
Honor, respect and acceptance are earned commodities; seldom if ever are they truly offered of free will, even you with your Mother Earth ways are having trouble accepting someone that doesn’t fit your idea of what is socially acceptable. You preach tolerance and acceptance, but your actions are not demonstrating as much. But fret not, it’s a societal corruption spawned buy our western puritanical culture.
Thanks for wading the waters which are calm yet deep. I will rest now and listen to the quietude.
