Intergalactic Summit

Hello!

So, I saw this thing the other day, it was a story about a woman and her slave, you know, the usual stuff, She's the fourth daughter of an important holder, he's her trusty slave, They Fight Crime, and so on.

And I thought, that really, she was far too young to be dealing with that sort of thing, because you know, the point of having a slave is that you are responsible for that person's physical, mental, and spiritual wellbeing.

It's not like they're those silly handbag slaver hounds, I mean, a slave person can live decades and stuff, so it is really a big responsibility.

So, I think that really, people under the age of I don't know, thirty or so, shouldn't really have slaves. Or if they do, they should only do it under supervision. Like parental supervision and stuff. Or in an academic situation, Like at university or finishing school, where people can be taught to look after their slaves properly and stuff.

Because like, I see stuff with children of Holders having a slave do silly things like holding umbrellas and so on, and I'm like, you are too young to be responsible for another person, you silly child.

And like, I'm 21 and can see this sort of thing, so how come older, wiser people haven't seen it too ?

Cos even though the Empress said stuff about things, you know, it's not like the sun goes down, the sun goes up, everything's different today. Stuff takes Time.

Or maybe 40. Maybe 30 is still too young. I don't know. Probably some dudes from Hedion University would know more.

But being below a given age often pretty much guarantees they aren't.

Personally I suggest the age limit be set to something like 10,000. (If someone manages to live that long, we can revisit the case.)

You and I have very different ideas about what a slave is. A slave is a tool of the empire, to be put to use when necessary.

Thats a brilliant idea, and I agree wholeheartedly.

I would certainly support legislation limiting ownership of sinewy young athletes to bitter old women.

But... who would kick the balls?

I received my first slave when I was 5, he was 15 at the time. My parents saw to it that he was well cared for and handled most of the administrative work, but still he helped shape me to the person I am today. Not to mention how many times over hes saved my life from doing rather stupid things. Its a miracle I lived to adulthood at all thinking back on it. He is still with me and is my chief of staff.

But I see what your aiming at. There are plenty of people who are entirely unfit to be a holder. Holdership is not about free labor (in my case its rather more expensive than conventional labor). To make a long story short I wouldn't be against the idea of proper licensing and inspection laws.

Most of the Holders I speak with are above the century mark. I don't think you have to worry about anything you do at age 30, because at that age you are nothing. A formless thing that may someday become virtuous, or fall from grace utterly.

The fundamental concept has merrit. Certain equipment requires a license or permit to operate/own; basic fundamentals of ownership and responsibility should be demonstrated. Slave ownership is at least as heady a responsibility as, say, operating a pod interface.

I think Mr Shogaatsu hit the nail on the head though; should be largely a non-issue given the age of most respected or well-known Holders.

It still strikes me as cute, though, when people skirt the issue of slavery as if it were...taboo or controversial. How backwards.

Wholeheartedly agreed.

Mistreatment of slaves is one topic guaranteed to make me spit venom. Is it really so easy to forget that a slave is a person, too? In the State, improper conduct towards employees has consequences; an employer in the Federation who does something wrong faces both the media and the legal system; but here, nothing. I think it's fair to say that the lack of oversight is responsible for a huge amount of slave abuse - and thus a pretty large slice of the bad rep of the Empire in the cluster.

As Mr Blake said, one would hope that even those Holders who treat their slaves merely as tools treat them reasonably well, out of common sense if nothing else. The problem comes when bored Holders and bored children of Holders start considering slaves to be toys or distractions, because their position in society has removed any need for a workforce.