Socially|Mundane

My real life niece is in Second Life. She passed on to me just how cruel things can get. Now, my diatribe isn't going to be about Gor or the SL Gorean community. So why bring it up? For your own perspective and edification. But mostly to help you understand the situation I am about to describe.

First, unless you've actually read even one of John Norman's books on the subject, whatever ideas, beliefs or understanding you have about Gor and the fictional Gorean society is 80 to 90% dead wrong and way off base. But, that's a discussion for some other time.

To lay the very basic groundwork for you, Gor is the "counter Earth" - a planet exactly on the opposite side of the sun, (hence, Earth doesn't really know it exists.) Gor is run by aliens who are a higher-power who control the local population's technological advances. Thus the society of Gor is 'stuck' in a medieval kind of state. Still solving their disputes with bows and arrows and sword, etc.

Gor also is a male-dominated society. Men are the rulers and suffrage is a very long-ass way off and unlikely in any Gorean's lifetime. A woman can be taken as property. What we know as and call a slave. In Gor it is 'her place' to serve and respect men. A woman who is not a slave is known as a "Free Woman". In the books, only about 10 or 15% of women were actually slaves. And that would be slave in the same sense as you understand a slave to be. In SL it appears the majority of Gorean women are slaves.

There also are male slaves in the books and in SL.

Then there are women who 'fight the collar' and run away from 'civilized' society and become outcasts. They are called Panther and if you were to envision and Native American Warrior - only female, then you'd have a relatively accurate picture. These panthers and 'regular' society are enemies of each other to the fullest definition of the word. And this mercenary group which is the basic subject of this discussion hate them ruthlessly.

Okay, so hopefully you have a basic picture of Gorean society for the purpose of my little story.

Now, remember, Men are the rulers of all classes. When a Man marries a Woman, they are known as "Free Companions" - 'spouse' by another name.

So, enter my niece - she plays a slave to a man in a mercenary group. Hey, it's all role-play, so why not? Well, it is most likely known to anyone who who role-plays Groean culture in SL that slaves see and hear and otherwise witless far more than anyone else. Amazingly so.

The C.I.A. would be proud, except these slave girls (or boys) never repeat what they see and hear. Now, I'm an exception because I'm not in Gor, so the the point of secrecy in this regard is moot. Besides, no names here, I have no intention of embarrassing anyone.

She witnesses on several occasions the leader of this group expressing his love and devotion to his spouse, (or Free Companion in Gorean circles.) She has noted they are married in SL, has heard they even went with a full ceremony and the works. They are even partnered in SL.

The evening before the scenario I am about to describe, this leader was discussing with the group that he will be away the next two weekends specifically to spend time with his spouse, also a member of this mercenary group. The next morning, they are alone and expressing their affection for each other within earshot of my niece.

Here's the wrinkle: the very evening in question, this leader and his lieutenants are standing around discussing battle tactics. Then... he goes quiet. He seems to have gone away from keyboard (afk as we seem to know it better)... then he suddenly poofs. My niece's 'master' gets a phone call and has to leave world for a time - he logs-out. So now she is left with two women, (Mistresses as it were,) one being this leader's spouse.

They chat a bit with each other wondering where he went to. Apparently, they each were previously given the ability to map him as they mention that he must have turned that off. They suddenly become concerned... and poof away. (I imagine they suspected for some reason where he might be and went on their own accord - as you'll see in a moment his voluntarily offering teleport is most unlikely.)

I feel for that woman - the real life one. And I've never even met her. So, I guess now, according to his own laws written by his own hand, he will be hunted down and "killed" - only to respawn in a day or two.

But in the end, that does nothing to ease this poor girl's pain - the one in real life who types for this woman in Second Life.

When will people realize and learn - even in a candy world like SL where we get to fly around with angel wings and devil horns at the same time - the avatar you see and communicate with is a real person on the other side?