"It's Legalized Slavery!"

[blas87]

I promise, this is the right section.....

I overheard this at work the other night, and it actually kind of upset me.

We've talked before about the misuse of the word "rape", and I think this also could qualify.

I don't agree with a lot of decisions that the retarded monkeys in suits where I work make. I don't agree with a lot of processes and procedures and ways we get screwed over.

But, the company we work for is NOT involved with legalized slavery.

For Christ Sake, keep comments like that to yourself and your buddies. You sound like an ignorant hick when you spout off stuff like that.

[McDreidel09]

This kind of stuff really grinds my gears. People say that crap here too and that is why I'm going to do my persuasive speech on this.

Yeah. Let's make light of stuff that is traumatizing!

[HYHYBT]

Depending on the exact context, why can it not be legitimate hyperbole?

[BroomJockey]

Because there's hyperbole, and idiocy. Simply working in poor conditions, or long hours is not equivalent to slavery. Hyperbole would be "It's the English Workhouses!" Slavery represents the revocation of choice and freedoms, and compelling behaviours, all for little to no benefit to self. Frankly, the comparison of any job to slavery is rather trivializing slavery and the effects it had on slaves. It'd be like comparing a bad cold to cancer. Sure, you might think they're comparable, but anyone who's been through cancer is going to be pretty offended.

[DrFaroohk]

Unless you're not being paid. Then it's slavery, right?

[BroomJockey]

Unless you're not being paid. Then it's slavery, right?

Not necessarily. You might be volunteering. Then it'd be voluntary. That's kinda the opposite of slavery.

You might be doing community service, in which case you're the one paying.

Frankly, the closest thing in the Western World to slavery is usually the way parents treat children. Free labour that must do as told for nothing but room and board. Even that is a tremendous stretch in 99% of cases.

[jackfaire]

Free labour that must do as told for nothing but room and board. Even that is a tremendous stretch in 99% of cases.

I agree I mean heck my siblings and I did everything around the house while my dad worked and my mom did next to nothing. I still wouldn't call that slavery.

[joe hx]

Frankly, the closest thing in the Western World to slavery is usually the way parents treat children. Free labour that must do as told for nothing but room and board. Even that is a tremendous stretch in 99% of cases.

You mean "the closest thing to legal slavery"? because there's still plenty of slavery in the western world - it's just not legal (mostly sex slaves).

[BroomJockey]

You mean "the closest thing to legal slavery"? because there's still plenty of slavery in the western world - it's just not legal (mostly sex slaves).

Yes. That is what I meant. Since the thread was titled "legalized slavery" and that's what people were talking about, I felt it redundant to say it again, but for clarification, I should have put it in.

[Flyndaran]

I don't know. I can see how it would be legitimate hyperbole.
If you have poor prospects making you unable to change jobs, and have to accept poor wages, then I can see it being almost slavery.
Most slavery throughout time was not as bad as american slavery of blacks in the 19th century.
Many slave were paid wages and could buy their way out.

[blas87]

Sorry Flyn, I just can't see how that can be considered hyperbole. It's not cute or catchy, either....it's just as bad as saying "The phone company rapes me every month!"

Some people have some really awful jobs, but getting paid, getting benefits....not slavery. Nowhere near it.

[Flyndaran]

Sorry Flyn, I just can't see how that can be considered hyperbole. It's not cute or catchy, either....it's just as bad as saying "The phone company rapes me every month!"

Some people have some really awful jobs, but getting paid, getting benefits....not slavery. Nowhere near it.

I and most others today just have a much broader definition of hyperbole, then.
My girlfriend HATES her job, but because of the really good insurance she can't leave. Calling it legalized slavery would be perfectly reasonable to me.

[blas87]

I just can't resort to that kind of name calling or disrespect to history.

Slaves didn't have a choice to quit or leave. Slaves didn't get breaks. Slaves didn't get paid. Slaves didn't get days off or paid vacation or health care.

[the_std]

Calling it legalized slavery just because she hates it is completely unreasonable. Where's the correlation there that makes it akin to slavery? Yes, the insurance thing sucks, but it's not that she cannot leave it, it's that she chooses not to leave it. Big difference. And yes, I'm sure she'll suffer some horrible hardship if she does leave it due to mental or physical ailments that require the insurance to get treated... Still not enough to make it slavery.

[Flyndaran]

I just can't resort to that kind of name calling or disrespect to history.

Slaves didn't have a choice to quit or leave. Slaves didn't get breaks. Slaves didn't get paid. Slaves didn't get days off or paid vacation or health care.

So you don't use any type of language that might offend someone. As long as you accept that your view is in the minority...
Some slaves did get days off. Some went on strike in ancient egypt.