Alternate Alternate Lifestyles: Furry Goreans in Luv - 1/22/09

[0:43] Zealot Benmergui: Welcome A/all to the House of V’s College of Kink. My name is Zealot Benmergui, Baron BardHaven and I will be your host today. Some of you may know me from lecturing here at House of V and other locations around the grid. Others of you may know me from appearances as the presenter in such infomercials as “Multiracialism for Fun and Profit” and “Underwear…WHY?”.
[0:43] Zealot Benmergui: The topic for today is "Alternate Alternate Lifestyles: Furry Goreans in Luv”. Please note that for the purpose of clarity, I will tend to use “she” to refer to a submissive and “he” to refer to a Dominant, but either can be of any gender. Your humble lecturer WILL accept tips, but they must be paid to me directly, if you are so inclined, thank you.
[0:45] Zealot Benmergui: As I have noted in several lectures thus far, BDSM is at something of a crossroads at this point. BDSM and D/s used to be considered a deviant sort of thing, well beyond the mainstream....something that people only read about in naughty books imported from barbaric european places.
[0:45] Zealot Benmergui: That has been slowly changing until we find ourselves now at the point where in real life, elements of BDSM are found in almost all sexual relationships. We are no longer a hated and feared minority.
[0:46] Zealot Benmergui: OK, SOME of us are still a hated and feared minority...but that usually is due to the mullet and big stupid boots
[0:46] ***SM***: mmm mullet
[0:47] Zealot Benmergui: As for the rest of us, we are not exactly the majority, but we are certainly not a deviant minority any more....that place has been taken by other even more misunderstood sexual persuasions, which we will talk about a bit today
[0:48] Zealot Benmergui: During my lectures, I tend to make fun of Gor a great deal, but most of it affectionate ribbing. However Gor tends to stand for everything that people don;t like about BDSM role play
[0:48] Zealot Benmergui: Burtal, mysoginistic, crude, a little bit strange and awfully awfully geeky
[0:49] Zealot Benmergui: D & D gone horribly wrong
[0:49] Zealot Benmergui: First of all, let's try and define what Gorean role play actually is, or should be ideally
[0:50] Zealot Benmergui: On the most basic level, this is how Wikipedia defines Gor...
[0:50] Zealot Benmergui: Gor, the Counter-Earth, is the alternate-world setting for John Norman's Chronicles of Gor, a series of twenty seven novels that combine philosophy, erotica and science fiction.

The customs, terminology and imagery depicted in these books has inspired a related subculture. On- and off-line followers of this lifestyle are called Goreans.
[0:52] Zealot Benmergui: Gorean role play tends to revole around the BDSM elements found in the books, many of which were plotted by Noirman but written by others, or actually created by ghostwriters completely
[0:53] Zealot Benmergui: These are extremely controversial, as they focus on a fantasy world where the mainstream practices extreme BDSM< with most women being enslaved to men with shaved chests and large shoulders
[0:53] Zealot Benmergui: or so it would seem from the book covers
[0:54] Zealot Benmergui: This has translated into a fantasy based online BDSM community mainly made up of a core of very very dedicated adherants, some part times who like to visit Gor or keep Gorean alts, and lots and lots of tourists
[0:55] Zealot Benmergui: Gor in SL has actually become so high profile as to cause LL to briefly considering banning it
[0:56] ***AR***: nadu
[0:56] Zealot Benmergui: Some people will attempt to state that they are involved in Gorean rl in rl...even to the point of living it 24/7
[0:56] ***SS***: They would not. Gorean sims pay a LOT of money into LL coffers
[0:56] Zealot Benmergui: While I know that Gorean parties and role play events exist in rl, I have never met anyone doing it rl 24/7....and they would scare me
[0:57] ***MM*** laughs
[0:57] Zealot Benmergui: much like people who change their legal name to Frodo, or Jaidu Skywalker
[0:57] ***SM***: thats cool
[0:57] Zealot Benmergui: the worry Sri was not so much money, but threats from some eurpean countries over lawsuits or criminal charges
[0:58] Zealot Benmergui: a year and a half ago it looked very likely courts in Holland may actually seek to label Sl pornography based on age players and Gorean Sims
[0:59] Zealot Benmergui: they have moved onto new tv friendly "scandals", but it made things very very tense for a time, with reporters wandering Sl trying to get screen captures of "criminal sexual activity"
[1:00] Zealot Benmergui: this led to the effective banning of ageplay amd nearly caused the doll, Gorean and Furry communities to be banned.
[1:00] Zealot Benmergui: case in point, the recent 6 year Sl anniversary celebrations, in which Sl stated directly that child avatars, furrys and Goreans were not welcome to particiapte, just to come watch
[1:01] Zealot Benmergui: which brings us to the other minority I wanted to discuss today..the Furry community
[1:01] Zealot Benmergui: Furries are very very well known in SL, and it is the virtual world where the community is most accepted and has really taken off
[1:02] Zealot Benmergui: Furries in rl are usually roundly mocked and hated by the mainstream...who can;t get past the idea of two people in pluto costumes fucking.
[1:03] Zealot Benmergui: in Sl, there are infinate varieties of furry avatars, and several different communities.
[1:03] Zealot Benmergui: As recently as two years ago, many BDSM clubs had active anti-furry policies and would ban them from their Sims.
[1:03] Zealot Benmergui: manyclubs still have polocies against "non-human avatars" dancing or escorting
[1:04] Zealot Benmergui: remember that the Neko community is no longer considered really furry
[1:04] Zealot Benmergui: and are MUCH more generally accepted
[1:05] Zealot Benmergui: How doe the Gorean and Furry communities fit into online BDSM?
[1:06] Zealot Benmergui: First and foremost I have seen a great deal more tolerence shown to such groups over the last year....
[1:06] Zealot Benmergui: There is more and more mixing..you will see Goreans in non-Gorean clubs, as well as Furry...but both still tend to keep their own communities close, with specialized sims and areas
[1:07] Zealot Benmergui: likewise, more people involved in standard BDSM will venture into Gor, or wear a furry avatar now and again
[1:07] Zealot Benmergui: I think this kind of thing is a very positive movement, but some rules for interation need to be kept in mind.
[1:08] Zealot Benmergui: First, when visiting a Gorean or Furry area remember it is THEIR space and you should be respectuful as much as possible.
[1:08] Zealot Benmergui: Both tend to provide extensive lists of rules and customes for you to look over and agree to when you visit the sims
[1:09] Zealot Benmergui: Gorean Sims also often offer OOC or Observer titles for visitors, to avoid most of the more extreme customs, such as forced collarings or captures
[1:10] Zealot Benmergui: that is not really a measure for safety, since if you really don;t like the idea, you can port out, but it protects the role play going on and helps to avoid misunderstandings and flame wars
[1:10] Zealot Benmergui: More and more Gorean sims however no longer allow observer status, to cut down on griefing and tourists
[1:10] Zealot Benmergui: make sure you understand the rules and customs of any sim you visit.
[1:10] ***SS***: Please note there are a few that ignore these tags. If they do, or state they do not allow observers in their rules, don't go or TP out right away. If they allow Observers and someone tries forcing you, contact the SIM administrators right away
[1:11] ***MM***: actually forced sexual contact in SL is a violation of the eula
[1:11] Zealot Benmergui: Nods..exactly...or go into one of those Sims prepared for whatever happens, or taking precautions
[1:11] ***MM***: while they may say that....they are usually pretty careful about it
[1:12] ***SA***: hello Ahole
[1:12] ***AK***: Hey Ling
[1:12] Zealot Benmergui: nods...but most Sims have a noecard saying just being there is consent..and I don;t think anyone has tried to use the EULA against Gorean capture sims yet
[1:12] ***AK***: Hey All Sorry im late
[1:12] Zealot Benmergui: Hiya A
[1:12] ***SS***: I speak from going into Gorean sims as an observer, and someone trying to force me in. I simply TPed out and talked to the admins about it
[1:12] ***AK***: Hey Z long time.
[1:13] Zealot Benmergui: Nods..that was the right thing to do, certainly, if you didn;t want to go that route..and most Sims that allow observers urge you to report any violations...these are usually the ones who depend on outsiders to support their vendors
[1:14] Zealot Benmergui: Furry Sims are a bit different in that if you are an observer, it is pretty obvious..and many of them discourage outsiders or non furries coming into their areas
[1:14] Zealot Benmergui: bad experiences with Zoos and things I imagine
[1:14] ***MM*** laughs
[1:15] ***SS***: I've not had much probs out of furry sims. Most i have visited are welcoming and friendly.
[1:15] Zealot Benmergui: In those situations, be polite, repsect their areas, and if you want to look around, ask a Furry friend to show you around
[1:15] Zealot Benmergui: nods..they are growing more open...but they have gotten badly badly griefed in the past
[1:15] ***MM***: I think it's more they are griefed so much they assume trouble is about to happen then it is them being unfriendly
[1:15] Zealot Benmergui: the destruction of Luskwood is still remembered by a number of people
[1:16] Zealot Benmergui: both Gorean and Furry roleplay have a place in online BDSM, and we need to remember that we must extend respect and tolerence to everyone in the lifestyle, not just the ones who do things we understand or agree with
[1:17] Zealot Benmergui: BDSM communities have fought long andf hard for tolerence and mainstream acceptence, it is ironic that often we are the first to deny it to other groups
[1:18] ***MM***: well tolerance is something that is often stated, but we aren't even all that tolerant within our own community on some things
[1:18] ***SS***: Aye. Though it should be noted that acceptance and tolerance are different things. You don't have to like it. You can hate it with a passion. Tolerate means put up with it
[1:18] Zealot Benmergui: Now, as always, I open the floor to discussions, whining and jello wresting
[1:19] ***SS***: It can still piss you off
[1:19] ***MM*** whines
[1:19] ***SM***: cake?
[1:19] Zealot Benmergui: Sure,..but then I accept a lot of things that piss me off...
[1:19] Zealot Benmergui: smiles at Mali
[1:20] Zealot Benmergui: no Cake today Wolverine
[1:20] ***SA***: buttseks?
[1:20] ***MM*** whines louder for "cake"
[1:20] Zealot Benmergui: have any of you run into intolerence towards Furries or Goreans
[1:20] ***SA*** throws a muffine at mali
[1:20] ***SA***: -e
[1:20] ***SM***: yeh Mali.....we all want cake!!!
[1:20] ***AK***: If these ppl dont want griefers should they not maybe think about keeping there roleplay to there sims and not bringing it here to "Earth"
[1:20] ***SA***: muffine is french for muffin .. in case you didnt know
[1:21] ***SM***: Snikt!
[1:21] ***SS***: Heh. I've run into it for both, and also intolerance to my breed as well
[1:21] Zealot Benmergui: Most Goreans don;t try to rp Gorean style outside of their Sims...
[1:21] ***MM*** laughs at the voice of intolerance
[1:21] Zealot Benmergui: they just wear funny hats
[1:21] ***MM***: there is no "them" and "us"
[1:22] Zealot Benmergui: SL is odd sometimes in that people are encouraged to be whatever they can dream of...and then people who have white male avatars in jeans and tshirts can make fun of them
[1:22] ***AK***: Well
[1:22] ***AK***: we arent aloud to go there and be us
[1:22] ***AK***: why should they come here and be them
[1:22] ***AK***: Double standard because they RP?
[1:22] ***SS***: White male avatars in cheap looking freebies
[1:23] ***SM***: yeah...they suck
[1:23] ***MM***: mmm suck
[1:23] ***MM***: cake?
[1:23] Zealot Benmergui: by and large A they don;t want to RP in non Gorean Sims..they just come here for lunch
[1:23] ***SM***: mmm choclate with frosting
[1:23] Zealot Benmergui: if a Gorean tried to force collar or capture someone in a Sim like House of V...well, the derision would be intense...
[1:23] ***MM***: you want cake Sean?
[1:23] Zealot Benmergui: I have never seen any of them try it
[1:24] ***SM***: always mali.....
[1:24] Zealot Benmergui: usually they will keep to Gorean customs between each other, but then pretend they don;t understand non Goreans when they speak...soprt of like the French
[1:24] ***AK***: I have Z, it was friking ww3
[1:25] Zealot Benmergui: Kamikaze Goreans
[1:25] ***SS***: There are some that claim to be Gorean, but are just Twatwaffles
[1:25] Zealot Benmergui: mmmm twatwaffles
[1:25] ***MM***: that statement is true of anything though
[1:26] Zealot Benmergui: Those are just griefers who pretend to be Gorean to start things...not unlike any griefers
[1:27] Zealot Benmergui: usually Goreans will rp between Master and slaves in non groean sims, but not try to involve outsiders
[1:28] ***MM***: the line is confusing though, there are many new "Dom/mes" that espouse theories that are very gorean without knowing they are gorean ideals
[1:28] Zealot Benmergui: well, Gor tends to be the style of BDSM that people are exposed to first..or at least fits their stereotype
[1:28] ***MM*** nods
[1:29] Zealot Benmergui: the whole, Women can be collared by maaster, must server any Dominant, have no rights, are submissive to anyone. yadda yadda
[1:29] ***AK***: THE WAY it should be "Cough"
[1:29] ***MM***: yes, but my point is that's not a Gorean acting badly, it's just someone that's undereducated
[1:29] ***SM*** ducks
[1:29] Zealot Benmergui: lots of newcomers will come into clubs like House of V and talk and act like Goreans until someone slaps them down or sets them straight...or migrate to a Gorean Sim
[1:30] Zealot Benmergui: Goreans Behaving Badly...can I get that on a tshirt?
[1:30] ***MM*** laughs
[1:30] ***AK***: So Z, are you saying gor is for the narrow minded?
[1:30] ***SS***: Aye, I've slapped the stupid out of a few "I'm a Master and you do whatever i say" idiots
[1:31] ***AK***: Or a starting place for wannabe Masters
[1:31] Zealot Benmergui: Nope...Gor is a specfic taste and style
[1:31] Zealot Benmergui: is a Chinese restaurant for the narrow minded?
[1:31] ***SM***: ooo......can i get extra prawn chips?
[1:32] Zealot Benmergui: most Goreans would likely say they don;t want wannabee's. but experience Doms and subs who understand the style and culture...
[1:32] Zealot Benmergui: Kneel and Suck the Prawn Chip, bitchboy
[1:32] ***SA***: no but you can eat my pussy like shrimp fried rice
[1:32] ***SS***: Goreans and mainline BDSMers have been at odds for some time, and there is still debate on if Gor is BDSM, or a seperate and similar culture
[1:32] ***SM*** gets the soy
[1:32] ***MM***: well in the rl community GOR says they are not bdsm and doesn't want to be
[1:32] Zealot Benmergui: nods...things have been quieter of late...but yes, is is still a discussion
[1:32] ***MM***: but that's a whole other subject
[1:33] Zealot Benmergui: personally I feel Gor is a role play environment with BDSM elements
[1:33] Zealot Benmergui: to Goreans BDSM in RL implies it is a bedroom activity...while they say Gor is a lifestyle
[1:34] Zealot Benmergui: Jewish, Hindu, Episcopalian, Gorean....
[1:34] ***SM***: LMAO
[1:34] Zealot Benmergui: as with most such things..to those on the inside, it is a lifestyle choice, to those on the outside it is fucking nuts but sort of hot