A Reader Request (Slave Thoughts)

Hello again everyone,

As I post on the bottom of the Grave News every article I am constantly taking reader submissions for articles you would like to see published. I do this not because I want a tattle-tale convention, but moreso so I can offer my opinions on the grey areas of our game both in the IC and OOC areas. Below is an paragraph from an email I recently received.

"If you don't mind, I would be curious to see your thoughts regarding the postings of slaves thoughts and their effect on the role play. I for one enjoy reading slaves thoughts as it gives me, as a muse, a better understanding of said character. Too, I enjoy that subtle battle of wits in the hypothetical mind of slaves. I also wouldn't mind seeing an article about accepted crossing. I'm not sure if we realize it, but there are many examples of crossings most player's do on a daily basis which are accepted. One example of this is planning a storyline. "I want my character owned by yours." This is an acceptable cross and is often a respectable cross of RP to ensure all parties involved in the RP are finding enjoyment. I think it would be an interesting topic."

And I agree. This is one of the grey-er areas of Gor. Is there such a thing as "accepted crossing"? It's a question that has plaqued us as an RP Group for a long time, but we really haven't come to a concensus about it. You have a small faction of people who believe ANY OOC placed into the game will harm and taint the game as a whole. I used to count myself among that number. There is a grouping of people who believe in the accepted crossing though to variable degrees. I personally believe that the slave "thoughts" are a form of RP play and style. It gives an extra degree to their play that most do enjoy. But as with all play there are lines that should not be crossed.

1. Hateful thoughts: Their is a large difference in hating what the free are doing, and being hateful. Let me elaborate.

::She growled as the sting of the freshly oiled whip fell across her back. She hated them, she loathed them. All she wanted was to go home, to go back her bed safe on Earth. But she knew she could not. That was clear to her. And she hated them more for it. She would make good on her escaped or die trying::

This posting in my mind is perfectly acceptable. The thing to keep in mind is our posts should read as though you were reading a book. It is how people relate to good rp. It is descriptive, yet concise to the point of the matter. Now read the next version.

::She growled as the whip hit her. She would escape, she wondered why they beat her. They were as un-Gorean as her little barbarian self. She would merely take her punishment, until they grew bored and moved on to the cliffs of the falls next to find some new slave to torture.::

This is where I see that line crossed. The post moved from talking about her hate for the free IC, and slung an insult to the mun using the "un-Gorean" reference.

2. Mun Impressions: Another line that doesn't need to be crossed, and that would keep down on OOC in rooms is expression of mun thoughts using the ::Action colons::. There is an accepted way of asking a question to the room, or objecting to something in the room. And it's with ((parenthesis)). And honestly most OOC can be handled in IMs.

3. Slave's Opinions: This is a grey area in a grey area. At what point is enough, enough. Ever had a slave deride you in thoughts to the point of you no longer wanting to play the scene. I've seen it happen before. Nothing OOC is mentioned, but to have your play picked apart in thoughts, with no way to IC defend yourself is wrong. Now it's okay to have a few snide remarks get left in thoughts. But theres a line between being acceptable and just being a bitch. 9 out of 10 slaves would not DREAM of being bitches to the free in thought or otherwise. And for those exceptions they were always, barbarians, agents of the Kur, agents of the Priest Kings, or any slave who was already under orders to do such a thing. It is pounded into a slave's head from moment one of their training, YOU MUST BE FOUND PLEASING.

4. "Please collar me": This is not an unfair OOC request to make. In fact it's an IC issue. It is always interesting in the books to see how certain slaves wrangled a master they want. Some are shy about it, feeling themselves not good enough. Others are bold and ensure the master that fits them knows their desires. I guess the point is, if you want a man to collar you, don't use thoughts. Use actions, flaunt yourself in front of him to the limits of what he shoudl deem appropriate in the current situation. If you don't know what he would think is appropriate, then you aren't ready to approach him. If you think you have done your best IC to attract his attention, then IM him and address the issue there.

So do we have to take the good with the bad? In order to get the insightful look into a slave's mind, do we have to put up with the often negative areas? Do we toss a slave's thoughts out altogether? No. I think that if we begin to police ourselves and enforce those lines that should not be crossed, the general roleplay experience would be altogether better.

Now, after having explored all that, we come to the question at hand. Is there such a thing "acceptable crossing"? Well yes. It is perfectly alright for you to set a storyline the way you want it. And to have events be planned to get the end result your require, such as the collaring of a slave to a certain man. But, that rp should not be hateful in nature. It should not sling insults to muns and their style's of play. Just because you can't be punished for your thoughts, doesn't give you the right the take them out at the knees between the colons. Then the arguement of "You can't control my RP" comes into play. To which I always respond, "Well yes, I cannot control your rp. You are free to do as you please. But I also don't have to pay you any mind at all. I don't have to let you stay within the room/group with your disruptive hateful rp that is doing nothing but hurting the groupand making yourself look childish."

It seems like this week is the week for the mantra "Police yourself."


I wish you well.

For tomorrow is another day.

Mun of Torrin

(Also, I am accepting articles to be published in the paper. I am taking any sort of editorials on Gorean roleplay, logs of improper Gorean play, crossing, or un-Gorean characters of play)

***Please, visit the TMOG Resource Site and the Gorean Times the links are on the right hand sidebar of the paper.***

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