Gorean Mentor Centre

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May 2012

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May 28 - Memorial Day

[Anarch]

So I've just created a group focussed on mentoring people new to Gor and hope to put some effort and focus into making this group work.

The group description basically says it all:
"Join the group if you:

- Are NEW to Gor and want to get advice from experienced RPers
- Want to ask for advice in groupchat
- Wish to help new people feel welcome to Gor and assist them in finding their place
- Want to receive or send notices on gorean RP classes"

***

The group will be organized in the following manner:

- Council
- Mentoring Assistants
- Red Caste Mentors
- Green Caste Mentors
- General Mentors
- Slave Mentors
- Gorean Poster (Notice rights for those who wish it)
- Member

Any and all advice given by this group is OOC and it in no way will try to enforce having any IC power or influence in daily gorean RP.

The "Mentoring Assistants" are the ones that people can contact if  they need help finding a mentor for them. They also try to keep an eye on wether or not a person is satisfied with the mentoring he gets or if they might benefit from being assisted by another or additional mentor for more questions.

The "Council" will discuss the correctness of the information given to people. They'll also discuss the validity of RP classes given by people and groups and hand out according notice rights to those groups (or retract them).

The "Red Caste Mentors" will mainly focus on assisting people new to Gor in things they want or need to know to RP a Warrior.

The "Green Caste Mentors" will mainly focus on assisting people new to Gor in things they want or need to know to RP a physician.

The "General Mentors" will assist in the other things that do not directly fall under Red Caste, Green Caste or slave topics. They might assist in mentoring low-caste Free Women or men, outlaws, torvaldslanders, panthers, etc.

The "Slave Mentors" will try to assist other slave RPers in hardships and questions they may encounter as a slave RPer.

The "Gorean Posters" are members who post notices about RP classes on their sim. The only type of notices allowed in the group are notices regarding RP classes or helping people find others to mentor them.

The "Member"-rank is for anyone else who would like to join said group. Either already experienced players or new people. The groupchat will be open to anyone to discuss topics regarding gorean RP.

***

Basically I'm still looking for ... everything.
I'm the only guy in the group so far. But I know there are more than enough knowledgable people on these boards, so if people are interested in joining the group as a mentor or if you have questions about gorean RP then feel free to join.

This thread was created as either advertisement and as a way for people to discuss the organisation of the group.

Cheers.  :thumbup:

[Randall Reich]

I don't mean for this to come off the wrong way, but...too much free time?

[Anarch]

I've been a "go-to" guy for quite a few people in the past and figured I could expand on this a bit more and create a group where more new people could easily find "mentors" to try and help them with questions and advice.

Part of me realizes that many probably might be too proud or not really interested in asking outside help and I'm gonna roughly predict that the group will find more interest from women than from men. But I get satisfaction out of giving people advice in the gorean RP genre and I'm quite sure others too.

One of the key problems of BtB Gor is that it's rather unwelcoming to new people... this group might help solve this. Helping people with questions is hardly a problem in between RP or the other silent hours at which we are online.

So far we got 5 mentors in total, still looking for more... and then I'll advertise the existance of the group so it'll probably grow rapidly.
We have a Red Caste, Slave, two General and Torvaldsland mentor so far. Probably will have a handful more by tomorrow.


But really Randall, I don't think your comment was necessary or constructive in any way either.

[bunni Maven]

I was actually very happy to join.  I love having the chance to help others when I can.  Perhaps I do have a bit too much free time, of which, I am happy to spend helping others when needed.

[Revenge Sempati]

As said before a few times, always willing to help and give advice to those that want help.  I'll search the group out later and join it.

[JF Kanto]

This is a group that is needed.  I will look it up and join as well.  Always ready to help somebody however I can.

[Carter Ebbage]

nice idea.. however just something to think about...

the term mentor means "a person who imparts wisdom to and shares knowledge with a less experienced person", so these mentors need to appreciate this role is not to lecture, dictate, teach or off-load their personal prejudices and perceptions.

A little bit of wisdom and a little bit of knowledge is a dangerous thing, just because I can drive a car,  doesnt mean I can teach or actually be allowed too instruct another....

[Husam Darkfire]

...so these mentors need to appreciate this role is not to lecture, dictate, teach or off-load their personal prejudices and perceptions.

A little bit of wisdom and a little bit of knowledge is a dangerous thing, just because I can drive a car,  doesnt mean I can teach or actually be allowed too instruct another....

Mentoring by consensus is a powerful tool. It allows indisputable information to be shared with the those eager to learn as well as exposure to multiple interpretations of many of the more ambiguous areas. It permits the recipient to gain insight into a variety of individual styles so that they can pick and choose what feels right to them while they cultivate their own in-world persona.

So helping those new to gor understand the hard limits while helping them to refine their RP style and technique is never a bad thing as long as its done as part of a group so we don't start seeing a bunch of clones out there.

And every now and then, even mentors learn something. So kudos to someone showing the initiative to help the gorean maturation process by doing something other than taking the elitist attitude and telling the "ignorant noob"  to go read the books and come back when your done.

[Linnet Foggarty]

I might be interested in joining this group, but I'm not sure I'm the type of mentor you are looking to recruit Anarch.

I do a lot of "mentoring" in an unofficial one on one capacity and really enjoy it, I've made some amazing friends that way.  I've picked up three just in the past few weeks.  To me, it's just about listening, and answering any questions they do have, or encouraging them in their journey.  Perhaps I mentor wrong, I rarely give quotes or even discuss Gor as a genre unless they ask specifically, I'm just a friend really.

Just this weekend I met someone at the Gor Hub (I know, I'm almost never there, it was a special occasion) and after commenting on his great avie I found out he's an experienced roleplayer in other genres but has never played Gor and is curious what we're all about.  So I invited him to come hang out in Tarnwald for a couple hours during our OOC slave catch event and meet people, get comfortable and ask questions.  I think he enjoyed himself, and got to see the goofy side of us in an OOC way, and he says he'll be back to try his hand at some RP.

Recently we had an observer in Tarnwald so I pounced her IMs and began chatting.  Turns out she's read most of the books, but never roleplayed before. I friended her and am just being encouraging and listening as she tours various sims and tries to get her confidence up to jump in.  I'm also being a sounding board as she tosses out backstory ideas.

Another way I sometimes "mentor" is with the slaves who are struggling to walk the IC/OOC line, who sometimes find it stirs things in them, or who find themselves attached to someone, or getting hurt.  I've been there, oh lord have I been there, and it's the worst feeling in the world when you are around all these roleplayers who sound so cool with their "I don't mix IC and OOC" and "It's just roleplay" type comments.  It's the loneliest feeling in the world and you can really question whether or not you're cut out for this hobby.  When I believe someone is struggling with that, I just send an IM usually about silly nonsense, or ask them to come shop with me or see something cool.  I don't broach the subject itself right away, of IC/OOC, because often times they are embarassed or not ready to talk about it, but I just want them to know someone noticed and is there if they need.

I also have a habit of being a bit mamabear.  If I see a new player cornered by a jerk, being god modded or harassed, there is a good chance Linx is going to walk up and deflect some of the heat onto herself.  For example, I once saw a girl say (I have to log for RL) to a guy and he wouldn't excuse her from RP. Well... the claws came out, and I sent her an IM telling her to go, that I'd handle him.  Linx proceeded to waltz right up to Mr. Dom and gave him an RP he probably wasn't quite ready for 

Sometimes it's as simple as meeting someone brand new to Second Life and taking them shopping, showing them how to update their profile, or how to set up their AO and use search.

Could I mentor on how to RP as a slave?  Or about Gor as a genre?  Or about the mechancis of roleplay?  Probably, but I think I'm better suited to a different kind of support.  Does that fit in this group?

[Anarch]

Aye pancake that is fine...

The mentors are not supposed to be lecturers but just people that others can ask advice from if they have questions, exactly the kind of questions you mentioned. The group is supposed to be out there so new people might know where or who to go to if they need help.

It might obviously depend from person to person how much "help" and advice they want. Some might be interested in more thorough "education" of the role they want to play, and others might just need a listening ear once in a while. For those who want a more thorough education I hope that the right people sending out notices of RP classes (of the right groups) will suffice. I'm gonna try to have people gather the RP classes given in world as well so the contents might be discussed and (new) people can review them.

[ramond lax]

I really like the idea.  I won't be offering to help, as in general, I tend to be Vocal in my opposition to Much of what Anach Promotes, and as I think this is an ACTUAL positive Idea of his, Any vocalization will be counter productive.

I would like to know what EXACTLY you well be mentoring new people towards.  For Example, 99% of the membership of this group considers themselves By The Book Gorean... Something which you Anarch, have not exactly been coming off as happy with in any means, specifically where it comes to Combat and Role play balance.   Will those who mentor be allowed to do so as THEY feel best?  or will they be expected to tow the company line and if they do not, face whatever sanction you deem fit, as the creator of that group?

I know this may seem Like an attack, and while I expect it to be treated as such, It is not.  Believe it or Not, I think Anarch often has good Ideas, it's his implementation I often find at fault.  This is an idea that holds much potential, provided it is carried out successfully.

[bunni Maven]

I don't think I heard him say anywhere that this was the "Anarch's way of gor" Group.

I joined the group to help guide, not influence, slaves who are new to gor.  And I will do just that, guide.  I do not plan on persuading anyone to "my" way of things..or any other way.   I play BTB, I am going to guide any slaves who may need it in instruction on how BTB is played.  I would encourage them to find "their" way, and never discourage anyone from seeking out all aspects of playing Gor that SL has to offer.  Just because I play my way, doesn't mean everyone elses way is wrong.  My entire impression is that we are to offer a guiding hand to those who seek it, no matter what their views are or may become.

[Isabella Bergiere]

I don't mean for this to come off the wrong way, but...too much free time?

I don't mean for this to come off the wrong way, but...     time of the month?

[Anarch]

I personally will only try to give advice in the basics such as RP-etiquette and the knowledge I have of Red Caste RP, wether people want to RP on a GE sim or BtB sim is none of my concern, both have their flaws and positives for anyone who likes to RP in the gorean genre.

I also have extensive information available for those who want to go really deeply into getting to understand the Warrior Caste better, but it's nothing I'll throw at people's heads unless they express a clear desire to educate themselves on all the details mentioned and envisioned in the books.

Though as a mentor it's important to not only give people information on the "genre" but also on how this can be practically implemented. I might for example warn for the consequences of conflict RP on BtB sims. No point sending out a mean gritty fresh Warrior into an environment where he'd only get in trouble with it. If people show an interest in RPing in a more action-driven dangerous environment I might refer mostly to GE first, and along with that comes the warning to avoid the "unbreakable" pirate commander-wench types too I guess.

I'm sure that people will find their own place though and will look around themselves where they'd fit in best.

[Isabella Bergiere]

I know this may seem Like an attack, and while I expect it to be treated as such, It is not.  Believe it or Not, I think Anarch often has good Ideas, it's his implementation I often find at fault.  This is an idea that holds much potential, provided it is carried out successfully.

Don't see it as an attack.    I'm looking forward to seeing some of your ideas and initiatives put into practice