[Poll] I call for a motion for the Imperial Government to formally re-brand Imperial Slavery as Imperial Servitude.

[Raumfahrer Spiff]

[Poll] I call for a motion for the Imperial Government to formally re-brand Imperial Slavery as Imperial Servitude.

Whether Imperial, Federal, or Alliance, no matter what your own stance on slavery, it should be obvious that there is a big difference between the highly regulated and more ethically balanced practice of Imperial Slavery, and the kind of tragic, illegal slavery that runs rampant throughout sectors of space that supposedly condemn any form of slavery.


The two practices deserve to have a more face valid distinction in common parlance.


When talking to the average greenhorn pilot, new to intergalactic politics, there is often a massive misunderstanding of what Imperial slavery actually is. I believe that with a different label, it would be more immediately clear that there is an actual distinction between a real slave and the contracted servants of the Empire.


Just for clarification, Imperial slavery is the practice of allowing private Imperial citizens to make the choice to enter into a contracted period of servitude to repay a personally accrued debt. It's important to note that for an Imperial citizen, being in debt to another person is tantamount to a defacto kind of economic slavery and is highly dishonorable. So this option is a moral necessity that allows a person a route back to economic freedom and a restoration of lost honor. This differs from the illegal slavery, present elsewhere in the galaxy, where people are taken by force, or while defenseless in hyper-sleep (but always against their will) and sold to the highest bidder, where they will go and be forced to work in unknown conditions for the remainder of their life.


They are very different practices, and should be recognized as such. I'm sure also that Imperial citizens would would prefer a label that more accurately reflects their station. To enter in the contract is a service of Honor, by which they are an Imperial servant, and not just a lowly slave. As well, those who employ such persons should see the improvement in clarity by referring to servants instead of slaves.


I'm not necessarily asking anyone to agree with the practice of Imperial slavery, just to recognize that there is a difference in the practice that ought to be noted. Thank you for your time and consideration.

www.         .me/11204693

 

[Lemanrouste]

At least with the current name they are given, the Empire is at least being honest. And it may be voluntary from when someone falls into debt but what about when the Empire takes a system from another faction? People who would normally just be on food stamps, government support, etc. Are now being herded into mining camps and pressed into slavery.

 

[Raumfahrer Spiff]

Well, like I said, I'm not calling on people to support the practice, just to recognize that there is a difference, and one that should be obvious to CMDRs encountering it for the first time. To call both practices Slavery immediately casts an equally negative light on Imperial Slavery where there are some pretty notable differences that should at least make Imperial slavery a less "bad" thing than the obviously tragic practice of illegal slavery.

 

[Brian of Ardagh]

This is typical government double speak, the term slavery makes it sound bad so let's make it sound better. Doesn't change that fact that it's a form of slavery. Even today humans are trying to abolish debt bondage, which, regardless of how its labeled is still a form of human bondage, or slavery.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Debt_bondage

 

[Jypson]

 

[Lemanrouste]

Well, like I said, I'm not calling on people to support the practice, just to recognize that there is a difference, and one that should be obvious to CMDRs encountering it for the first time. To call both practices Slavery immediately casts an equally negative light on Imperial Slavery where there are some pretty notable differences that should at least make Imperial slavery a less "bad" thing than the obviously tragic practice of illegal slavery.

This doesn't seem to stop a lot of people from becoming slavers honestly, and the only real difference is the Empire treats its slaves slightly better. They are still slaves, and viewed as such by the rest of the galaxy and the majority within the Empire itself.

 

[Mohrgan]

Filthy slavers should have to live with the shame. If the Empire wants things to be politically correct, end the slavery. Then we won;t need a word for it.

 

[Flimley]

In any case, lets hope they exclusively use Imperial leather..,

Flimley

 

[Raumfahrer Spiff]

You mean like the way the Federation or the Alliance ended slavery? Prohibition doesn't work. The only way to curb it is to provide a regulated alternative. We know this from old Earth history.

- - - - - Additional Content Posted / Auto Merge - - - - -

This doesn't seem to stop a lot of people from becoming slavers honestly, and the only real difference is the Empire treats its slaves slightly better. They are still slaves, and viewed as such by the rest of the galaxy and the majority within the Empire itself.

Also the fact that it's not a life sentence against your will.

 

[Bomba Luigi]

Now the imperials at least have one thing going on for them: While they are slavers, they are at least honest about it, being honest is good. You wanna make them slavers and liars?

 

[Riverside]

Voted yes to the change. Not that I don't appreciate the ironic honesty of calling it Slavery, but because it would help to morally distinguish between the two available commodities. Servant trading can still be seen as something you can base a moral choice on but it's pretty clearly less bad than outright slave trading.

 

[Raumfahrer Spiff]

Now the imperials at least have one thing going on for them: While they are slavers, they are at least honest about it, being honest is good. You wanna make them slavers and liars?

It is officially recognized as a form of indentured servitude. The term slavery is a hold-over from an unfortunately dark period in time when it was closer to actual historical slavery (and the other illegal slavery of present), but thankfully the practice has evolved and refined to one that is no longer accurately reflected by the term.

 

[Raumfahrer Spiff]

Voted yes to the change. Not that I don't appreciate the ironic honesty of calling it Slavery, but because it would help to morally distinguish between the two available commodities. Servant trading can still be seen as something you can base a moral choice on but it's pretty clearly less bad than outright slave trading.

Which, honestly, from a meta-sense, is where I'm coming from (RP not withstanding).

 

[Lemanrouste]

You mean like the way the Federation or the Alliance ended slavery? Prohibition doesn't work. The only way to curb it is to provide a regulated alternative. We know this from old Earth history.

- - - - - Additional Content Posted / Auto Merge - - - - -



Also the fact that it's not a life sentence against your will.

This brings be me back to the point about imperial take overs. Yeah, they will get out eventually but now those that would end up in slavery are free, sure, but where do they go? They can either hope to escape the system (preferably into independent/Federal/Alliance space) or just go back right into your "voluntary servitude".

 

[Raumfahrer Spiff]

This brings be me back to the point about imperial take overs. Yeah, they will get out eventually but now those that would end up in slavery are free, sure, but where do they go? They can either hope to escape the system (preferably into independent/Federal/Alliance space) or just go back right into your "voluntary servitude".

Well, it gets tricky, becasue I call for this change both in character and out.

In character, I would say that there are political realities that justify the practice. Out of character, I would agree that there are moral implications, but that the change would add an interesting dynamic in the political discussion. Win win.

 

[Lemanrouste]

Well, it gets tricky, becasue I call for this change both in character and out.

In character, I would say that there are political realities that justify the practice. Out of character, I would agree that there are moral implications, but that the change would add an interesting dynamic in the political discussion. Win win.

I feel that it would be an unneeded addition to the discussion, because, sure, it is "better" than average slavery in anarchy space, and for the most part, it works as intended, a safety net for Imperial Citizens, but what happens to those in systems the Empire takes over is where the discussion and grey area comes from, the rename would do nothing for the discussion aside from be a flimsy name change that is easily seen through if you spend any time in Imperial Space.

It also takes away from literally half of Aisling Duval's whole Power Play thing on top of that, as well as Senator Torval's.

 

[FutronBob]

Imperial Slavery is supposedly heavily regulated, with slaves being given all the same rights and protections as any other imperial citizen.

Yet, anyone with a starship and a few credits can roll into an Imperial starport, buy up as many slaves as they'd like, fly out and eject their slaves and use them as railgun target practice.

You can do this anywhere outside the no-fire zone of a starport, right in plain view of Internal Security.

No bounties, no fines, no reprimands, no reputation loss, nothing. Absolutely no consequences for committing mass murder right in front of the police.

You aren't even barred from buying anymore slaves. You can just keep buying and killing more and more, as many as you'd like, and the Empire doesn't do a thing about it.

You call this "regulated servitude"?

 

[Poseidal]

Now the imperials at least have one thing going on for them: While they are slavers, they are at least honest about it, being honest is good. You wanna make them slavers and liars?

i.e. the Feds.

"First thing they teach you in Alliance space, never trust the Feds." — Commander Hassan

 

[JeffRyan]

I think that Imperial Slavery is a /massive/ grey area, yes, if it worked perfectly, there are worse systems out there (still not great) but the name captures that ambiguity. It means the reality of Imperial Slavery isn't brushed under the carpet as many Imperials would like it to be. It's an ugly system, an ugly reality and should remain so.

Full disclosure: Imperial, Founder of the Prismatic Imperium and my faction /thrives/ off the ambiguity.

 

[Ca$hback]

Imperial Slavery is supposedly heavily regulated, with slaves being given all the same rights and protections as any other imperial citizen.

Yet, anyone with a starship and a few credits can roll into an Imperial starport, buy up as many slaves as they'd like, fly out and eject their slaves and use them as railgun target practice.

You can do this anywhere outside the no-fire zone of a starport, right in plain view of Internal Security.

No bounties, no fines, no reprimands, no reputation loss, nothing. Absolutely no consequences for committing mass murder right in front of the police.

You aren't even barred from buying anymore slaves. You can just keep buying and killing more and more, as many as you'd like, and the Empire doesn't do a thing about it.

You call this "regulated servitude"?

Hehehehe +1