This topic came up a few weeks ago, and
I decided to put my jumbled thoughts into some kind of legible-ish train!
With the geese retreating from our tent
with disinterested ‘honks’ after I was told not to feed them anymore... (“Those
rolls are for my BURGERS, not for you to encourage all these CHRISTMAS DINNERS
into the tent!”) it’s only now that I’ve really had the time to put pen to
paper (literally... this is just being typed up for my blog...!)
Training is an interesting topic – one that
doesn’t come up as often as I’d expect it to. I mean, it comes up, but only
when looking at the detail and rarely when it’s taken as a whole. Who DOES the
training?
The books are clear that pretty much
anyone can train... even barbarians (after they’ve been trained themselves!).
Youth can correct, men can correct, women can correct, peasants can correct, Ubars
can correct. Anyone. But in ‘reality’ it can be much harder. So many only know
onlinisms, or focus on the purely sexual aspects. Some will teach you ‘tricks’ and
‘cheats’ to looking great without actually doing anything and some will talk so
much you’ll end up more confused than when you asked the question! It’s all
about making an informed choice and judgement.
In fact, I guess it comes down to a few
things;
The
slave – if she is willing to learn
from the FW - and not just in the ‘I’ve been ordered to’ kind of way... things
are SLIGHTLY more complicated than that in the real world!
The
owner of said slave – if he/she is
willing to allow his slave to learn from such a source. He must, obviously have
respect for the FW in question both as a normal human being and as a source of
knowledge.
The
FW – for why would one teach if one
does not a) enjoy it, b) know about it and c) like the person she’s teaching!
And, of course, if she is willing to put her name on the line to impart
knowledge as well as having the time and energy to do it properly (and not in a
half-hearted “we’ll talk twice a year on Skype” kind of way!).
The
free companion – even though many women
wish to deny it, it is ALWAYS up to the male of the household (if there is one)
to have the final say.
So I looked at my own situation.
My FC, as I understand it, has no issue
with me imparting knowledge to anyone – he never has. His issue is more that he
knows me and my anti-social preferences and is happy to give both the pro’s and
con’s of any situation that I may not have thought through.
I don’t believe he would have an issue
with me teaching a female slave – this may be because he appears to be under
the delusion that I am knowledgeable of Gorean protocols and such. That, as he
is a man, is his own business – however wrong I may think he is.
It’s not something I would have wanted
in her position. I was, and I suppose in many ways still am, very anti-female. And
even more anti-gorean-woman... (But then, who could blame me given those ‘special’
individuals I have encountered under that title!) I don’t like women in most
cases (although, in all fairness, I have very little time for people in general
– regardless of gender) and my personal bias towards free women while in collar
would have provided a very fractious learning environment.
I’m willing to share my knowledge – but
I would struggle (as always) with the word ‘mentor’ or even ‘Gorean teacher/trainer.’
So yes, I suppose it is possible,
dependent on the slave and owner (if she has one) – but it’s less about the
gender of the teacher and more about whether the teacher shares the views and
values of their ‘class’ ;)
Thoughtfully
yours...
I wish you
well,
Kami.