Emotional crisis on Gor

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May 2012

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May 28 - Memorial Day

[Liara Edring]

I think that most who were Free, whether on earth or Gor and suddenly found themselves collared and branded would at first be deeply depressed.  Everything they knew and expected has suddenly changed.  The loss of family, friends, possessions would be highly traumatic.  I would think a few would even commit suicide to escape their servitude.  However, I think most would over time adjust to their new status.  Self preservation if nothing else  would be the stimulus for this.  A Free person who has a slave that is for want of a better term clinically depressed, would not put up with their behaviour for long.  Punishments, whippings would ensue and some might even kill the slave as untrainable.  The majority of people fear death more then they detest the collar, so would do what was necessary to survive.

See, but this right there is why it breaks for me (and why JN confuses the hell out of me so much).  Depressed people aren't thinking with their right minds, as it were.  When someone is truly depressed, actually, no, they don't fear death more than whatever is driving them towards that depression.  The only way Gor makes sense is if you take it as a fantasy world, and nothing more.  In reality, most slave girls wouldn't adjust, many would commit suicide, even if they DO value life, because a suicidally depressed person isn't sane and doesn't value life the same way.

[JF Kanto]

I think that most who were Free, whether on earth or Gor and suddenly found themselves collared and branded would at first be deeply depressed.  Everything they knew and expected has suddenly changed.  The loss of family, friends, possessions would be highly traumatic.  I would think a few would even commit suicide to escape their servitude.  However, I think most would over time adjust to their new status.  Self preservation if nothing else  would be the stimulus for this.  A Free person who has a slave that is for want of a better term clinically depressed, would not put up with their behaviour for long.  Punishments, whippings would ensue and some might even kill the slave as untrainable.  The majority of people fear death more then they detest the collar, so would do what was necessary to survive.

See, but this right there is why it breaks for me (and why JN confuses the hell out of me so much).  Depressed people aren't thinking with their right minds, as it were.  When someone is truly depressed, actually, no, they don't fear death more than whatever is driving them towards that depression.  The only way Gor makes sense is if you take it as a fantasy world, and nothing more.  In reality, most slave girls wouldn't adjust, many would commit suicide, even if they DO value life, because a suicidally depressed person isn't sane and doesn't value life the same way.

I don't know that I fully agree with that.  In earths history there have been slaves in many if not most cultures, many lived their entire lives in servitude with out a lot of suicides.  I am sure there were some, but for them slavery was a fact of life.  Whether born free or not, it was part of their culture.  So the trauma would not be so great for a Gorean born woman perhaps.  A modern earth girl would have a much more difficult time adjusting because her culture has not prepared her for a kind of life that on earth is illegal. 

[Liara Edring]

I don't know that I fully agree with that.  In earths history there have been slaves in many if not most cultures, many lived their entire lives in servitude with out a lot of suicides.  I am sure there were some, but for them slavery was a fact of life.  Whether born free or not, it was part of their culture.  So the trauma would not be so great for a Gorean born woman perhaps.  A modern earth girl would have a much more difficult time adjusting because her culture has not prepared her for a kind of life that on earth is illegal. 

I was referring more to Earth girls, but yes.  Also, statistically you would see it less in Gorean-born women, but there would still be those who could never adjust.  I don't think Sura was from Earth (though I may be misremembering), but she still committed suicide because she didn't want to live as a slave.

[thyri Carver]

I think part of what a lot of people who RP Gor miss when they yank quotes out of their bums is that JN only gave us snippets of gorean life. 

Would you want to read 400 pages of how mill girls were horribly depressed and overworked, not attractive, etc?  No, you want to read about the hot fiery chick who got her bum into a jam and wound up being blissfully happy at a man's foot.  You dont want to hear what happened 200 years later after she was raped for the 50,000th time. 

Because that doesnt make for good storytelling and it doesnt make people to hear about the more depressing aspects of life.  They can have bad moments in a story, but in good storytelling people overcome adversity.

So as for someone feeling down that they realize that they'll never have the joy of motherhood, I can see it as being plausible.  HOWEVER I also think a part of good storytelling is how to overcome the adversity of the bad situation.  Perhaps she was freed and got to become a mother.  Perhaps she realized her sexual and personal freedom in not caring for a child.  But dwelling on the negative will make more and more people fall into a Sura complex and get all emo on you.

[Jayde Harsley]

OK, a bunch of random thoughts to toss into the mix.  Forgive the points and unstructured paragraphs.  Pfft. 

I read an excellent post in-world from Thor at Vonda regarding a few simple things ... I wish EVERYONE could have a copy of what he said.  It came from our town meeting.  Oh, while I am thinking about it, every city should have one of those meetings every so often.  Anyway ...  He reminded everyone that this environment is like coming to the theater and putting on your acting hat.  "ACTING!"  He said something along the lines of "when you arrive, it is like hearing the director shout "Action!"  Stay in-role, in-character and have a good time.  If you cannot handle the truth, take your Jack to another place.  I don't want or need your drama. 

Remember:  Smile!  This is just a game!

@ Thyri Carver:  Loved the bit about people who ... "fall into a Sura complex and get all emo on you."  For sure.  What a sad thought!  Excuse me for stating the obvious, but stuff happens.  Move on, grow up, get a grip. 

Now, about being depressed ... some people are manic-depressive, some are passive-aggressive, some are lonely, some are freaking crazy and should be avoided at all costs.  If you happen across someone who is in OBVIOUS need of either a) mental help from a licensed providor or b) is nuts beyond help or c) is just seeking attention and needs to get a freaking life - STEP AWAY.  Leave 'em alone. 

Unless you are an MD ... stay back and save yourself the agony of defeat.