You As A Slave Taskmaster
When placed in certain situations humans will always let loose inhibitions. Consider the culture that allowed for slavery. If you were living during the time period where slavery was normal and you were a Slave Taskmaster over a group of about 10 men and women then in all honesty how would you be with them: brutal, indifferent, soft? No, you can choose to let them go in this what if situation.
I'm not lazy and don't like having other people do my work for me. I would, if I kept slaves, be likely very soft on them. People who like you work harder for you. The people under me at my job are very hard workers and consistently turn out great numbers every quarter. This is because, I believe, I give them leeway to be adults and perform on their own. Occasionally I have to get onto them, but most of the time I don't. In that manner, I would not be hard on my slaves and would even give them extra benefits for a job well done. But ultimately, I have a conscience that is rather tough on me and would end up releasing them. But I would offer them the choice to stay for pay if they so choose.
If I grow up in that culture AND mentality that dictated that Blacks were not even human, then I would probably have treating them very harshly and make them work very hard. I know it sounds bad but if you grew up with that mentality then that's what I think most people would do. I think I would feel sorry for the kids though. Nevertheless, I cannot even comprehend the thought of slavery and being somehow in charge of a group of slaves, who knows, I consider myself a rebel by nature so maybe I would free them all.
When we buy cheap goods from china'a sweat shops or buy vegatables that were picked by workers getting 50 cents an hour are we not condoning slavery in some small sense. Will our posterity ask "If I lived in 2007" would I have exploited those small children working in the factories.
I actually buy the stuff all the time because I can afford it. Unfortunately I haven't thought twice about it, but I wonder if my great grandkids will think I am a barbarian because of this attitude.
We have to be careful on how we judge those of the past who had different values. We may be judged just as harshly by our posterity.
The main focus of this Thread is this:
QUOTE (Neo) |
If you were living during the time period where slavery was normal and you were a Slave Taskmaster... |
If I were a slave master at the time I would probably rationalize that I was helping these people out in some way. I would think "I am giving them food, Raiment, Shelter,and they provide me with work." I would probably be as indifferent to their struggles as a labor boss is today with Extremely low income workers.
It is unfortunate that I would have thought this, but every generation rationalizes such actions. Maybe I would have thought it was wrong to have slaves, but economics was (and is) such a strong force that it unfortunately colored any ethical standards that I would have had.