Everything you have described is the basis of any typical DS relationship. The only difference being the "Gor" moniker placed on it.

DS, not to be confused with SM, is simply domination and submission. Yes, a dominant may collar and leash his submissive, but the effect is likely to be one that makes her feel even more submissive to him. A dominant may correct a submissive using nothing more than a look or a word, but to the submissive that single look or just one word might be more hurtful than a hundred strokes of a whip will ever be to her. Creative dominants use their brains more than their hands. I know, for instance, that making a submissive write lines like she was being punished in grade school is probably more humiliating and effective as a disciplinary measure than any spanking I can administer. Personally speaking, I'd never spank a masochist for punishment anyway; she's just going to enjoy it and miss the whole point, right?

The primary difference between any DS relationship and a Gorean one is the fantasy. People in most DS relationships like first-person pronouns, the submissive know they might be required to be naked, or collared, or leashed, or disciplined if they are disobedient. Many expect it. Many dominants can teach a wide variety of positions without referring to them in a different language. However, most people don't feel the need to role-play their relationship like a long-lasting, live-action D&D session. The actual experience is enough.

I play D&D and I am a dominant in a BDSM relationship. To me, those are two separate and mutually exclusive thing. I do not feel the need to refer to my flogger as a slave whip, nor do I request my "wench" to bring me a cup of black wine when I want coffee. I can do without the fantasy, but still have the same experience.

And yes, I did say I was in a BDSM relationship, not just a DS one. There are several aspect of fetish and SM in our play that heighten our experiences and add to our fun, and we don't feel we have to leave them out because some book tells us we do. We have the freedom of will to do what we please without worrying that we're being "true" to the fantasy. So, why would someone choose to shackle themselves in such a way?

As I stated in my original post, I respect the desire for fantasy. I won't call it a need, because I truly fell people can live without many of them. Fantasies are great, though. I have a few that are my favorites. However, I do know where the fantasy ends and the reality begins. In my experience, that's where a lot of Goreans seem to fall short. As I mentioned before, I have known many Goreans online and off (the online ones are the worst, BTW) and many of them seem to share the same attitude, ego and experience. Most Goreans I have seen will enter a normal BDSM chat or forum and immediately insist their wishes be respected, people refer to them in Gorean terms, and they will actually try to assimilate that chat or forum into the Gorean "way." I think we even had a Gorean guy here on these forums previously that insisted we open a Gorean-only section of the forums and chat.

It's that ego and lack of respect that turn me off the most from the fantasy. When I go to another country, to another state, or even to another forum, I am expected to respect the rules or laws specific to that area. I don't try to change them to suit my needs. I don't try to force the BDSM lifestyle down peoples' throats and expect everyone to call me "Sir." I try to respect the indigenous population and their wishes. That separates the fantasy from the reality.

Again, this is all just my opinion. I'm not trying to change anyone's mind about their choice of lifestyle or cult or religion or whatever. Mostly, what I'm saying here is that "Gor" is essentially BDSM, but some of the words are changed. The only real difference is the fantasy. And it's one I can live without.