Gorean Philosophies

[Ragoczy]

Ragoczy speaks of there not being literal slaves today from the view point of a Dominant who is true. i understand this and if everyone in the lifestyle were true there would be no need for warnings.

In my own service as kajira, i submitted to total power exchange. i did not work outside of His home; i did not meet anyone He didn't approve of first; i was not permitted outside the residence without Him in attendance. The reference that slaves today may call 911 or leave of their own volition is a valid point, if one can manage to get to a phone. (a little difficult if under extreme discipline when the phone is disengaged and one is tied extended periods of time and under watch the rest of the time). There are always lapses occassionally and that is how i left of my own free will. To say that slaves today are not literal shows a bit of naivete. Some situations, yes it is true. Other situations, other lifestyle choices do create literal slaves in every sense of the word. Can a slave choose to leave? Absolutely, just as in history slaves ran away when they got the chance, just as in the books, some slaves escaped. Is it always a matter of saying "Thanks, this was fun but i'm leaving now" and walk out the door... in a perfect world, yes it would be. Todays "slave" does make a choice at the beginning to accept a position as slave. So in that sense, yes it is consentual and that makes it a fantasy to begin with and after a time in service the slavery can become quite real and literal. So this is where todays slavery is different. A first choice and then sometimes, no choice.

What I meant to convey is that "slaves" in a normal, healthy BDSM-context are not literal slaves -- not that literal slaves don't exist today or that the BDSM concept of slavery could not be abused. In a normal, healthy BDSM-context, there's an element of fantasy in the Master/slave relationship because there's ongoing consent.

In my opinion, what you describe crosses the line from normal-healthy into abuse, and I in no way wish to dismiss or diminish what you and others have gone through.

[Thorne]

In my opinion, what you describe crosses the line from normal-healthy into abuse, and I in no way wish to dismiss or diminish what you and others have gone through.

Well said. The people in this community, especially, have to know where the line between healthy and abusive is drawn. Too many from outside the BDSM community consider anything to do with it as abuse, regardless of consent. There can be no justification for abuse.