Writer's Block: Destined for greatness

[flyboy_fox]

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Neither. I absolutely don't believe in any sentient 'higher power' like a god, but I also believe that choice is, strictly scientifically speaking, a bit of an illusion. Consciousness and sentience are probably the universe's greatest slights of hand because in the end, all they are is the result of neurons firing in our brains. What we see ourselves do, what we think we've chosen, decided... really it was decided for us by our unconscious minds milliseconds before we consciously 'make' the decision. In that sense, we're really entirely autonomous.

But we can't live that way. We have to believe that we have control, choice, that we're not just slaves to the science of our neurological make-up. So it's an illusion that I happily accept and don't think too much about - que sera sera.

Comments

[flyboy-fox.livejournal.com]

Bah. I hate when people posit that 'vanilla' relationships are somehow to be looked down upon as 'lesser' against more supposedly complex relationship set-ups and/or practices.

Also, mutual understanding? Sure! If "I tell you what to think and decide what your feelings mean for you" is 'mutual understanding'.

[way-past-cool.livejournal.com]

It's sad really that just loving and being loved on an equal and compassionate level is somehow not enough.

XD it's so true though. One "Master" posted on the blog saying:

I treasure my kajira since she completely gives herself to me at all times. In return, I think about her all of the time, teach her new things (not sex-related), and listen to her deepest thoughts and desires (since she *must* tell me about them when I tell her to do that).

Riiiight. Exactly what you were saying. A slave can share their feelings and opinions under the control of the master. And that's LIBERATING.

The worst thing is how often these slaves say being a slave is the most liberating experience of their lives. You see it said SO many times that it sounds like just the sort of mantra a cult would have its vitims recite.

[flyboy-fox.livejournal.com]

I suppose some people (women in this specific case) DO find it liberating being told what to do, think and feel. Because it means they don't have to think for themselves or bear any responsibility. I guess it's a freedom from any effort of self, if that makes sense. Which is really quite sad and a horrible price to pay - sacrifice of identity.

[way-past-cool.livejournal.com]

I think you've hit the nail on the head. There are many women out there who are in an emotionally fragile state when they enter this whole thing. Either they have abandoment or abuse issues stemming from childhood or a past relationship, or they just have deep seeded confidence issues. The men of the Gor mindset prey on people like that. They tell them that it's a woman's most natural state to be submissive and totally dependent on a male. It's the natural order of things and she should be rewarded for it -- by having a collar slapped around her neck and her every move and thought dictated by a man. Because he'll take care of her. He'll keep her safe and guarded and make her decisions for her and if she does everything he says, he won't leave her. she'll be good enough. Finally. For once in her life. And wow! He must REALLY understand her. And look! They're sharing so much trust! He'll cane her within an inch of her life but by god he'll never leave her!! ...unless she disobeys. And then she gets the hose again.

[flyboy-fox.livejournal.com]

Oh, but he loves her! He's only doing what's necessary to protect her from herself - from making the wrong decisions (or ANY decisions) or from daring to think for herself. Because that's dangerous and she might hurt herself! He loves her. But he's stronger than her so he's not a victim to his love and therefore doesn't need to bleed it out of every pore. But it's there. Really, it is!

It's horrible.

[violettsukino.livejournal.com]

You're absolutely right! Women shouldn't be enslaved...men should! I'll just get out my portable roboticizer and, um...

Joking, joking.

In all seriousness, I'm of two minds about this "Gor" thing. On the one hand, it sounds like kind of novel that I'd read as a guilty pleasure. I once spent a long time hating men, and often have erotic submission fantasies to deal with the misandranist tendencies that are leftover from that period of life.

On the other hand, I've never heard of anyone in real genuinely enjoying slavery, so this kind of thing should stay a fantasy.

[way-past-cool.livejournal.com]

There are certainly people who claim to enjoy gorean slavery in real life. However, no matter how many times I hear women repteat the mantra "I'm more free now than I was before I became a slave!" I can't help thinking the whole thing is doing real damage to the minds of the participants -- both men and women. As always, to each their own, I guess...

Lots of people have slave fantasies like you describe, but I really really have trouble with the idea that people believe in the philosophies of Gor and wish they were applied in real life. If they were applied in real life as the books describe, not only would women be enslaved at the smallest infraction, but racial cleansing and genoside would be an encouraged part of society.

[violettsukino.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I can definitely see where you're coming from. I can see relationships like that realistic working, only encouraging sociopathic tendencies in males and self-loathing tendencies in females.

Also, even if the lifestyle were healthy, I certainly wouldn't want it if Nazi-esque killing came along with it. I'd be worried about the kind of people who would.

[violettsukino.livejournal.com]

Hmm, meant to say "can't see relationships like that realistically working," though I guess that was obvious from the context.XD

[defenestrate-me.livejournal.com]

But he teaches her new things! Women can't learn for themselves, you see. It's just not how their minds work!

Goreans live in a world of circular logic.

Prima: Why is Gorean philosophy the best way to live your life?
Secunda: Because men and women are made for certain roles.
Prima: How do you know this is true?
Secunda: Because Gorean philosophy says so.

[flyboy-fox.livejournal.com]

Sounds an awful lot like another rather famous book that's out there...