25 differences between humans & goreans
I know, it’s not obvious, but the Gorean isn’t a human from Earth; he’s never seen anything of this world, with a few exceptions, and wouldn’t understand anything about it. He’s so far removed from our world that he can’t imagine it… just as we’d have trouble imagining his world, for that matter.
And so, you’ll be playing a Gorean in the world of Gor, who acts, lives, thinks and dies as a Gorean, not as an Earthling. So, let’s decipher these differences, to help you embody your character!
Ha, yes, why 25? Well, because it happened by chance!
1- Goreans and earthlings are not so different
Goreans tend to be physically fitter; they’re also mentally stronger, especially the men. They’re not necessarily superior to earthlings, just stronger on average. Note that an earthling on Gor (man or woman) has great strength because of the difference in gravity, which is weaker on Gor, like Tarl Cabot. This can make all the difference. A detail Norman forgets for all the earthling women who are, in his novels, weak as children, which is totally absurd.
The big difference between a Gorean and an Earthling lies in their morality: a Gorean is often bold, extroverted, proud, hot-tempered, violent, lecherous, wilful, even bloodthirsty and capricious, whereas an Earthling, especially a Westerner with a Judeo-Christian culture, prefers to repress or control these traits, even if it means putting up with his frustrations, which a Gorean then sees as weakness. This is part of the reason why Earthlings are seen as slave peoples.
2- Gor’s morality is based on inequality
We might as well say it, and it’s obvious, Gor’s world is based on the law of the strongest (which is not only physically strong: goreans greatly respect intellectual superiority) and on the fact that inequality is in nature, and is therefore totally logical and acceptable. The weak become slaves, the poor starve, the dishonest die alone – too bad for them.
This is also why word and honor are so valuable, because the law of the strongest implies that anything can be taken by force, and so much the worse for one’s promises and honor. Honor, then, is the only limit to Gorean savagery, along with the law, which depends on state force.
That said, for a Gorean, there’s nothing unjust or savage about the idea that the law of the strongest dominates all, but a natural logic: the strongest and the biggest dominate, the others submit or die.
3- Goreans think of their world as a living being
Yes, Goreans are quite eco-friendly. They see their world and wildlife, from the forest to the prairie to the waters, as a living part of a living world, which is of great importance to them and must be respected. They care about their environment and take good care of it. They love nature and wild landscapes, and often know the names of various plants and animals.
Goreans view forest fires with great horror. Anyone who starts a forest fire is hunted down and burned alive.
4- Racism and race have no meaning for goreans
Basically, skin color and that sort of thing don’t matter to goreans, because of the melting pot that is their society in general. But language, city and caste are matters of great importance to goreans, so here’s a good enough basis for the discrimination that humans so relish.
The high castes look down on the low castes, who look up to them! Every city looks down on other cities, and every city looks down on village hicks. Those who speak Gorean look down on the barbarians who can’t speak it.
If Goreans don’t understand racism, which makes no sense to them, they’re clearly xenophobic: any culture other than their own is viewed with great suspicion.
5- There are no words for “country” or “nation”.
Basically, the term for a nation is city-state, which determines belonging, home-stone and pride. The geographical boundary is the farmland and rural communities that are vassals of the city-state, and there’s a blur between two borders, sometimes even vast areas of wilderness or controlled by small village clans or outlaws.
6- Goreans in no hurry
Everyone lives by the rhythm of the sun and the seasons; even in towns with bell towers, time measurement is of little importance, and Goreans don’t mind taking breaks to go for walks or to the public baths in the middle of the afternoon.
Being pressed for time or making appointments at specific times is not at all Gorean.
7- The arts are important
Music, painting, sculpture, song, dance, poetry, lyricism – everything artistic is important and part of civil life. All the arts were encouraged and prized, absolutely everywhere. In fact, it’s common for artists not to sign their work, as it belongs to the public landscape, not to their own glory. In other words, artists never starve or freeze to death, even if they don’t live very well.
8- Goreans love leisure activities
All things considered, free women have fewer freedoms than free men in this respect, but Goreans like to chat at the baths, drink and chat on the terraces, have dinner at each other’s homes and go to parties.
Goreans also like to go to the market, discuss politics in the agoras or attend plays, concerts, fights in the arenas and much more. Of course, once again, free women, even if they can enjoy them, are more limited in their leisure activities.
9- Goreans take great pride in their appearance
We’re not going to talk about Gorean fashion, because it’s pointless and no one in Second Life follows it in their outfits, and that’s just as well. But Goreans do like to take care of their looks: they pay attention to their hair, their finery and take care – or have their clothes taken care of – at the earliest opportunity. They also love cleanliness, from the humblest peasant to the proudest rarius.
10- Honor is very serious for goreans
And you really, really shouldn’t tempt a Gorean’s honor unless you’re sure you can answer for it, even with weapons. The gorean will say that his honor is more precious than gold, and that he will more readily go to war for honor than for wealth.
Well, in reality, wars are fought over conquest, but honor issues can quickly complicate diplomatic relations… or be a good excuse to seize your neighbor’s property.
11- Goreans are quite conservatives
In many areas, they are reluctant to accept innovation or change, and even distrust it. More than traditionalists, they tend to idealize past situations and dislike change. For them, progress is only justified if it’s imperative and self-evident; in other words, not often.
12- Gorean men show their emotions
If the average Gorean looks a little dry-hearted, this is by no means a generalized reality: Gorean men can feel and express emotions without shame. It’s not beneath a man to cry openly, even a fearless warrior! On the other hand, Gorean women of course never have this right in public, except for slaves, for whom it’s even a duty.
13- Bargaining is the rule
You should always haggle: in markets and stores, there’s usually no fixed price. If you’re trying to buy something, haggle! Goreans love it!
14- The people of Gor don’t pull out their weapons at the drop of a hat
Mainly because it’s a good way of ending up dead or seriously wounded, and then being in danger… or useless. Goreans only draw their weapons when they’re ready to use them, not to threaten or show off.
Contrary to popular belief, the majority of Goreans simply don’t know how to fight. That’s why every city has rarii as a police force, to prevent the law of the strongest from jeopardizing the laws of the City.
15- There are no weddings on Gor
Gorean “marriage” is known as free companionship. It is a contract, signed between two parties, the families of the two companions, and its purpose is to ensure offspring for the men and create alliances between families. Legally, it lasts only one year, and must be renewed before the twentieth Ahn of the anniversary date, or it is dissolved. However, it can be signed for a longer period, or even by tacit renewal.
Free women do not change their names as part of a free companionship. A specific contract for companionship is therefore generally drawn up, detailing all the terms and conditions of this union, even if some contracts are simply made on the word.
16- Chairs are in short supply
Chairs and seats have a special symbolic meaning linked to power and status, and are not often found in private homes. They are generally reserved for important people such as administrators and judges. Most Goreans find chairs uncomfortable, preferring cushions instead. Gorean men generally sit cross-legged. Women kneel, resting on their heels.
Yes, I know, on SL, a lot of people prefer seats, and that’s no big deal either!
17- Graves are rare
Goreans don’t believe in a better world after death, but that a man’s deeds survive his death, and that’s all that matters.
So, the dead are buried or burned, but no grave marked with their name or mausoleum is left. Funerals are very quiet, and the color of mourning is usually white.
18- Illiteracy is common
In fact, the majority of goreans can’t read, including the warriors. And for goreans, this is nothing to be ashamed of, it’s just a fact. So, yes, someone who can read is a prized ability, and a slave who can read is even rarer and more valuable.
19- Knowledge is double and secret
Power is knowledge, and in this field, the high-castes have understood it well. Double Knowledge is what ordinary people believe and what intellectuals know.
The lower castes have the First Knowledge, knowledge that is in part a lie supplied to them by the higher castes. The lower castes believe, for example, that Gor is flat, and they know nothing about the Earth except that strange word for the place from which the slave-women we sometimes meet come.
The higher castes have the Second Knowledge, which is much richer and more accurate, and is always being updated, but is not yet complete and still introduces some scientific and historical untruths. Very few members of the upper castes know the true nature of the priest-kings and the Kurii.
So there is a Third Knowledge that even the Initiate caste doesn’t know at all, and reserved for the agents of the Priest-Kings, who themselves know a great deal about the most modern science, including that of the Priest-Kings, and the Earth of the 21st century, for example.
20- Many low-caste goreans hide their names.
They then have a common name and a real name. Often, only close relatives know their real name. Knowledge of a real name is said to give one power, the ability to use that name in insidious spells and magical practices.
The upper castes generally use their names freely, but the lower castes believe they also have customary names. Most people give their name followed by their city.
21- Goreans are superstitious
Many members of the lower castes and some of the upper castes are superstitious. They believe that certain people can read minds. They believe in magic, evil spells and curses, and tell stories of the great sorcerers of the distant land of Anango. These superstitions can sometimes make them rather gullible, and certain technical, medical or scientific knowledge – for example, the simple fact that an Earth slave is not afraid of certain natural phenomena – is mistaken for witchcraft.
22- Goreans love children
Gorean children are treated like royalty, in a very free and permissive way (especially the boys, what a surprise?) and their parents and relatives inflict no suffering on them.
Even child slaves are rarely mistreated, and enjoy a high degree of freedom until they reach adulthood, i.e. around the age of 14-15.
23- Goreans have eternal youth
I’m exaggerating, but only slightly. The treatment known as stabilizing serum is a life-prolonging remedy. It was developed some five hundred years ago by the physician caste. So, in the 21st century, no one on Gor, with the exception of the Priest-Kings, can be more than five hundred years old.
The effect of the serum is a gradual transformation of genetic structures, resulting in constant and stable cell regeneration. This enables Goreans to live exceptionally long and stay young for a very long time. But this ability affects everyone differently. Sometimes it doesn’t work, sometimes it fades after just a few hundred years, and sometimes it even accelerates aging!
We consider that all humans, free and slave, have a right to this serum. It’s quite expensive, but we give it to people whenever we can. As a result, many of Gor’s inhabitants look young and healthy.
24- Goreans aren’t sadists, but…
In fact, they are; but you have to place yourself in the context of the novels and in Norman’s head to put things into perspective. The Goreans described by Norman suffer few inborn or acquired psychological defects, and psychopaths of various kinds are very rare and obviously don’t make old bones. Goreans repress all gratuitous violence against men, women and children, but this stops at FREE.
Slaves, on the other hand, are made to be abused and beaten at will and without need for justification. Their suffering and death are of relatively little consequence, and taking it out on them is perfectly normal for Goreans; it’s also their role.
And then, the richer you are on Gor, the more you can afford to indulge in perverse and shocking whims, but which, since they only affect slaves, are therefore not serious. So Gor people can be sadistic in our eyes, and indeed they are. It’s just that they don’t see sadism as applying to slaves; moreover, they know how to channel it, and bloodthirsty murderous outbursts remain uncommon.
25- The goreans don’t care about slavery
For Goreans, this is the order of things; not only is it the rule that the strong dominate and the weak submit, but what’s more, in the Gorean mind, every woman is a potential slave who is left free as long as she holds her place in society with dignity and honor.
For a Gorean, slavery is a pleasure, a convenience, a source of prestige and wealth. All Gorean men learn from childhood how to command a slave, how to force her to submit, how to bind and gag her. As adolescents, they are encouraged to use them, to rape them, to take them, to beat them, to make them their objects of pleasure; after all, that’s what they’re there for.
For the Gorean spirit, it’s better for this character to be channeled in this way, rather than exploding into more dramatic violence. Besides, a whole part of society is based on slavery, its use, trade and exploitation; no one on Gor would dream of renouncing it, except a madman.
