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August 28 1997A random issue column this week. If my mailbox fills up as much as it has lately (wonderful mail, by the way, please keep it coming whether you agree or disagree with what I say - and please be patient, I *do* try to reply to everyone, but I am waaaaaay behind), we will certainly examine some of these notions again in depth.
It is heartening to see some new people exploring online what it is we do - I have noticed an influx on DALnet of AOL'ers for example. On the whole these are polite, interested people (which was not the early reputation they once had on the net). We, as a community, welcome them and understand their curiosity. We were once in that position ourselves. Come and learn. On aust.net, I have a discussion channel, open at various times, named #Silk&Steel where almost everyone is welcomed and questions and issues are encouraged for discussion. Also, I can be messaged with questions in the hope I can direct someone new to the proper place to learn. Perhaps I should change caste to that of the helpful librarians? Nah... ;-)
I had noticed this in the last few weeks without commenting, but now others are pointing it out to me as well. It seems that we have more and more Gorean channels opening up on DALnet and those already there are becoming busier, while there seems to be less of the same on aust.net and many seem to be less used as once they were. Now waitaminnit. When aust opened up, there was a concerted effort to get some of the - how shall I say it? - the ones who were not quite as serious about the Gorean lifestyle as others, to emigrate there. This effort, casual as it was, was also wildly successful, and soon aust filled up with war camps and slave ships and kajira waterfalls, secret "safe" channels for "kajira" and assassin halls, and assassin guilds and assassin clubs and assassin convenience stores and ... well, you get the idea. In fact, I coined the term "Disney-Gor" after my first real visit there, in honor of a happy place where everyone has a channel, everyone is on everyone else's channel and everyone is an op on everyone else's channel. It was pretty bad for a while, folks. Now, to be fair, I tell you honestly that over time, while the posers and losers have not gotten smarter, there are a small number of men and women who seem to understand that what we do is more than a sex game and who have taken up refuge there. To them I give respect, for they swim daily in a sea of post-pubescent IRC sharks and struggle against a twisted out-of-control IRCop (I have to also say that the other IRCops I have met are remarkably fine and patient people who take much grief over the antics of one of their own. It is all rather amusing and is a bit of the reason why I remain there part time) and an apathetic, unknowing, or uninterested, administration. The point is this: Hey! Aust.net! They went over to you there freely! It's not fair driving them back to us now!! ;-)
Have heard much in the last few days about honor, specifically about the actions of a "slave" costing a "man" his honor. Hogwash. No slave can cost a man his honor, that is something only he, thorough his choice of action willingly surrenders. Some, granted, do so easily and if they could reclaim it, would do so often. But this does not change the fact that Gorean honor is not tied to the whims of a slave girl. Whatever your definition of Gorean honor, one thing runs true through it all. Another cannot steal it from you, cannot sully it, cannot destroy it. To believe otherwise is to put oneself at the mercy of those around you (which is obviously the exact problem many on IRC have: "You have dared to speak harshly to my girlfrien...uhm... I mean, my slave. I am dishonored! I shall now take my magic Elven Sword of Soul-Sucking and suck your soul!") and to stop being a man who is responsible for himself. Another can bring you regret, can betray you, can harm your reputation, can cause you grief and sadness. But they cannot strip you of honor. Only by your own words and, more importantly, you own actions can you lose it.
- So, how can a man choose to lose his honor? How about this: My mail last week was heavy on the subject and unanimous. People are not pleased at the way some, without a second thought, brazenly steal money from John Norman by offering .zip(ped) versions of the first three books on IRC. These books, as I pointed out last week, are all back in print and can be ordered at nearly any major bookstore chain. Also, as I said last week, this practice is illegal, selfish and without a shred of honor. It is interesting to note that the thieves on aust.net still continue to advertise this practice, despite the realization that we as a community would not be well served by the publicity generated by any action the publisher might take. Like I said, a man chooses whether to live with honor, or he chooses not to. So perhaps it is time for the "community" to step forward and explain to these obviously thick-headed folk why this practice is not good for the rest of us (Ah! But will they care?) My suggestion is to stop into or message #Gorean_Matchmaker on aust.net and tell |Psyche| and Catullus and those thieves assembled there that their action could very well cause great harm to those who *do* know and care something about the Gorean lifestyle and who hold the idea of honor and integrity dear to them. We as a community have it hard enough being taken seriously at times, we do not need to appear to harbor obvious thieves and criminals in our online midst. Shame on them for doing it, but more importantly, shame on the rest of you if you allow them to continue without speaking out.