donald_at_2rCiA6aAAPJafmB-zTv_URzYQiOE1UYsRnTR2Q6GbM_EQrCoRNQzufXVhTiJlepJrkuj6U9o-LdU6LzjzEE.yahoo.invalid writes:
>The issue is that we have a defined cult of Vinga which allows
>for considerable variation and is now being narrowed down by
>restrictions. Not just "Clan X Vingans are only allowed to have
>sexual relations with other women." but "Vingans in Sartar are
>only allowed to have sexual relations with other women".
But nobody's said that. Some people are suggesting that they can't or
shouldn't get *pregnant*, but that's a different matter.
Yes, it's been said that philosophically, Vingans are 'men in women's
bodies'. They're attracted to professions, activities and attitudes
that Heortlings believe are masculine, so - to the Heortling mindset -
of course they must really be men. That doesn't mean they can't still
have sex with men... there's nothing to say that men in women's bodies
can't be *gay* (or bisexual) men in women's bodies, after all. :)
(Even assuming that Heortlings have such a binary view of sexuality in
the first place, which isn't by any means a given.)
I think a lot of the problem is that this posited Heortling attitude
to gender roles clashes with modern 21st century Western ideas of
gender identity, and some people don't want to have to deal with the
difference in *their* Glorantha. Hence Jane's feminist Vinga - as
goddess of women who can do anything men can, but are proud of still
being women - is in conflict with Greg's transsexual Vinga as goddess
of women who are really men. Since YGWV is a cardinal principle, I
fail to see why people should be getting so upset about it... just use
the version you prefer in your games.
Besides, as I implied in my story about the weaver-men, I think that
such matters don't really arise for 85% of Gloranthans. Few people get
so deeply into the mysteries and magic of their god that philosophical
questions about identity really arise. They never rise above initiate
(in most cultures few even reach that level); they rarely concentrate
their magic; most of the cult's restrictions and taboos are at the
level of "we'd rather you behaved this way, if you want to appear
pious" rather than "spirits of reprisal will strike you down if you
don't behave this way".
It's only the tiny minority who become devotees or disciples (or Rune
level, if you're playing RQ) who identify so closely with their god
that it affects even the categories of people they're sexually
attracted to...
Stephen
Received on Sat 07 Apr 2007 - 05:36:58 EEST