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BlackPhx -> RE: Gorean's??? (2/23/2008 5:42:15 PM)
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It does amaze me at the intolerance many groups in the sub culture have for one another, especially since the BDSM sub culture depends upon the tolerance of our society. Despite that it is still not unexpected, we are after all human.
Now given my exposure to both Gorean and the BDSM commuity in general I have sketched out a hypothesis about this friction. Note this is not the "truth", nor am I an expert to end all expert just an opinion reasoned out based on my education, observations, and conjecture.
Goreans believe in a "natural" philsophy, that means there is an order of the universe and it is based on a strict hierarchy where the strong rule and tested and proved through intense competition. You don't learn to be strong you just are and are honed to release the potential strength within. This is based on the observation of other primate social structures and thus it is reasoned that it is only "natural" that humans adopt the same social structure. After all how can hundreds of millions of years of evolutions be wrong. The gorean books are appealing to a male dominant mindset, after all it hammers the idea that men are strong therefore fit to rule over women. It also legititizes this outlook by wedding it to a philosophy that it is the natural order of things and thus the way it is destined to be. The gorean ideal also adheres to honor, responsibility, and oddly humane treatment of those that submit. Yes, gorean can be brutal but only for what they deem pragmatic reasons. Once the status quo is attained then the strong are bound by honor and pride to protect thier property (those that submit) otherwise they are not worthy to possess it. In thier view this places them in a morally superior position, and they expect people to respect this "fact" and acknowledge that the rest of the BDSM community is a pale imitation of thier utopian society.
Here is where the friction takes place, there are a lot of groups (Old Guard, Victorian, New Leather, SSC mainstreamist, etc) that have thier own idea of what a utopian society is and what protocols are needed to attain that perfect balance of domination and submission. They also believe for various reasons that thier adherance to thier codes puts them in a morally superior position and all the other groups are just pale imitations of thier utopian society and they also expect people to respect this "fact" and acknowledge it self evident perfection.
What ever group or cliche you join there is a sense of support and acceptance that makes you willing to accept the rules and protocols and if it makes you happy there is the natural assumption it will work for anyone once they give it a chance. When you encounter someone from another camp you want to share your enlightened position so they can share your revelations and make them happy. If they are already happy in their group and society they will not appreciate this attempt to undermine a perfect utopian situation with something that could not possibly work for yada yada yada reasons.
This tension and intolerance is a perspective schisim each group adament it's philosophy is the correct, more reasonable, and perfect course and any other course is flawed and if they would just open thier eyes and come to thier senses they would come to undertand why and join thier group.
Like I said this is just a hypothesis based on observation. Add to it, point out it's flaws, or just laugh yourself silly what ever entertains you.
BlackPhx
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