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Padriag -> RE: Gorean's??? (2/24/2008 8:43:51 AM)
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quote:
ORIGINAL: laurelgoat
My question is, why do people get their panties in a bunch over this trivial crap? I don't consider myself as a member of the BDSM community despite my interest in d/s relationships. I don't feel they're necessarily related. But I don't get offended when someone groups them together. Why? Because, as I once read on a very wise coffee mug, everyone is entitled to their own wrong opinion.
Because you're dealing with a belief system, a world view. For many of the Goreans I've talked with, their "philosophy" is more of a creed, a belief system that has taken on near religious proportions. Its forms a basis for how they view themselves, each other, and the world in general. It becomes the framework for many of their beliefs and opinions. Consider all that when you consider their reaction to any challenge to their philosophy. Its very much akin to someone telling a Christian that the bible is just a book of fiction and the reactions you get, the hostility and defensiveness, are both rooted in the same reasons.
For many who are involved in BDSM, its not a basis for a philosophy or world view, its merely one aspect of their lives. If that one aspect is challenged or ridiculed, its far less of a threat to their self image. But for many Goreans, being Gorean isn't a singular aspect of who they are, its a common belief that they incorporate into as many aspects of their life and their world view as possible. So when that gets challenged or ridiculed, a far larger portion of their life and self image is being attacked, hence the predictably stronger reaction.
I suppose that's the simplest answer to the OP's question... the difference between BDSM and Gor is simply this... BDSM tends to be only one aspect of a person's life... Gor tends to form a basis for the self image and world view, the style of life, of an individual. BDSM is a kink, Gor has become a belief system.
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