A Master commands you to bring him chilled sa paga. You roleplay going to the chilla in the servery to withdraw a bottle of the sa paga.
Congratulations. You’ve just used two online-isms.
Once upon a time, people who had read the Gor series by John Norman decided to create online chat rooms where they could roleplay the world of Gor. Since all roleplay there depended on words, with no visual cues, Free persons had to find things to keep slaves busy. One thing they developed was a seven point serve. Other aspects of the books became adapted for online use, until the line between what was in the books and what wasn’t became extremely blurred.
So who cares? Well, maybe you don’t care if you are using expressions, positions and more that are not in the books. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that, as long as your Master is pleased.
But, for me, I like knowing what is actually in the books. I am playing a role as a Gorean slave girl, and the books are a basic script. So I’m not about to toss my accurate script to the floor in favor of some cartoon flavored one. Also, I take pride in being a knowledgeable kajira.
One thing that I really dislike is seeing girls who teach online-isms as the WAY TO DO THINGS. I feel that, when you teach others, you have a responsibility to teach what is in the books and what many Free might prefer.
I will never forget how embarrassed I was when I visited another city’s tavern, and used kar-ta at the door as I asked permission, only to be laughed at by Free and slave alike within the tavern.
The first rule regarding your behavior is, of course, dictated by your Master. The second rule is dictated by the laws of whichever city you happen to be in at the time.
I will share some online-isms with you here:
– The word “sister” is not used as a form address from one kajira to another.
– The word “chilla” is never used in the books. Food and drinks that were to be kept chilled were kept in cold storage units, but these were more along the lines of what people used before there was electricity. An examples would be a cellar.
– The word “servery” does not appear in the books, only “kitchen.”
– Tal is used in the books by both Free and slaves
— Kassar Language such as “jasha va,” etc, was completely invented online and has no basis in the books.
– The word “Ko-lar” is used once in the books to illustrate how it is pronounced. It is not spelled that way.
– “Urth” never appears in the Gorean novels.
– Kissing the rim of a cup would result in punishment. Slaves must kiss the side of the vessel, but never the rim.
– There is no seven steps serve observed in the books. Serves varied according to the situation and the place. Inspecting or cleaning a vessel, to count heart beats were never mentioned in the books. Also, no slaves prayed for the Master’s health during a serve in the books.
– It’s rather silly to check for imperfections in a drinking vessel by rubbing it over your skin. You might damage your Master’s property.
– There is no SUCH thing as a formal Bazi Tea ceremony. It is served hot and highly sugared, and drunk in tiny glasses, usually three at a time, carefully measured. In taverns, it is often kept in a pitcher.
– Slaves wore any colored silks at the will of their Masters, and silk colors were not in any way connected with phases of training.
– Slaves are NOT “little ones.” The term likens slaves to children or pets, and they are neither.
– Yes, slaves were required to use the third person, on several occasions, to teach them their place as slaves. But such speech was the exception, not the rule.
– This is a big one, which I was taught. Slaves are not allowed to address Masters using their names or to use titles, such as Ubar.
– Slaves would not beg to enter taverns. Taverns are busy, busy places, and the Free would not be pleased to have their conversations interrupted to grant permission to a slave to enter.
– There is no such position as kar-ta.
– Slaves were or weren’t allowed to touch money. This depended on the status and position of each slave, and their Master’s will.
– Men could not just strip a Free Woman of her veils without a serious reason.
You can view more online-isms here.
It’s great to address the online-isms in SL. BUT, you gave no reference to any of your quotes so it kind of defeats the purpose of posting.
Some of your claims of online-isms are wrong. Kajirae did refer to each other as sisters in the books first of all. (Kajira of Gor, p.287)
Also, you are partly right about silk colors. BUT, red or white silks were a staple of referring to a kajira’s state of virginity.
(Savages of Gor, p. 205, Blood Brothers of Gor, p. 472, Dancer of Gor, p. 128 & 204)
It would be great if you edited your post with some references, thanks.
By: czanrei on October 4, 2009
at 11:38 am
First of all, there are a ton of links on my blog that will lead you to quotes, including the link I provided at the bottom of this post.
Secondly…. you need to read quotes in context, sweetie. The passage you refer to is this:
“And you are low girl here,” he said, “so you will address your chain sisters as ‘Mistress’ as well.”
“Yes, Master!” 1 cried.
“You are a mill girl now, Tiffany,” he said.
“Yes, Master! Thank you, Master!” I sobbed, and put down my head, covering his feet with kisses of gratitude.
He then withdrew, taking the lantern with him. Durbar accompanied him.
I then lay down with my chain sisters.
The phrase “chain sisters” applies to WHAT slaves are to each other. They are also called “sisters in bondage.”
However, the word “sister” is NEVER used as a form of address. There is never once a “Tal, sister” or “I wish you well, sister.”
Not once.
What I wrote pertaining to silk colors was “Slaves wore any colored silks at the will of their Masters, and silk colors were not in any way connected with phases of training.”
That is not partially true. That is absolutely true. Silks had nothing to with whether or not a girl was well trained. Slaves didn’t wear white while virgins. They didn’t wear yellow as kettle and mat girls.
The term “white silk” has absolutely nothing to do with wearing white. It would be like saying “Oh, you need to dress in virgin.”
By: Dear Darling on October 4, 2009
at 9:20 pm
And P.S. It’s not possible to provide quotes for things that simply did NOT appear in the books, such as the Kassar language.
By: Dear Darling on October 5, 2009
at 12:20 am
As far as the sisters bit goes, the books only go so far and one has to improvise in order to make a complete environment or it would be very boring. They were referred to as sisters so there isn’t a reason why they wouldn’t be informal to eachother when left alone.
Also, I never said the silk colors referred to what they wore or had to wear. It is an indication as to their status only, not what they wear.
By: czanrei on October 7, 2009
at 11:43 am
Complete environment? There are almost 30 books that provide a very detailed world. So why do you need to invent things?
Slaves never, not once, addressed each other as “sister” in ANY of the books. Invent what you like, and play how you like. But don’t try to tell me slaves called each other “sister” in the books. It’s just not true.
By: Dear Darling on October 7, 2009
at 4:39 pm
Well since you can and will say anything since it is your blog.
That being said, it is pointless to try to argue a point with you since you ignore your own quote. Not to mention ignoring anything someone other than you says since you “know all” and can’t be bothered with your imagining of how you think Gor is.
I originally was trying to make clear that I agreed with you about Online-isms but you got defensive and can’t even have a conversation about it with you. No wonder no one else posted.
By: czanrei on October 7, 2009
at 6:48 pm
No one else posted because there is nothing else to say about what’s written. If you want to go around hugging other slaves and and calling them “sister” or “sissy,” more power to ya.
But there is not a single occurrence of “Greetings, sister” or “Tal, sister” in the books.
By: Dear Darling on October 10, 2009
at 3:48 pm