Would you have owned a slave if you lived in the past?

Question

I think this is a very tough question given the modern morals we have, but I have often pondered it. I am an avid student of history and particularly like the Roman era. There was a picture from a book I read that showed a noble woman having her hair styled by a female maid servant, while another hand maid put on her sandals.

If I had grown up in an era where such was the norm, I am pretty sure I would have a slave. To be served to such a degree is tempting even now. I would love to have a maid wait on my every need. I know this seems outrageous, but I am sure many of us would have given into such temptation in the past.

Answer 1

i can say for sure i would not have...my grandmother was a servant albeit not slave i saw how she was treated and i would not participate

Answer 2

That's hard to know. If I had lived sometime in the past I would probably have had similar morals like others at that time.

I'm sure I wouldn't have wanted personal servants. I don't like being around people much, so I would have preferred to put my shoes on and do my hair myself. Whether I would have had slaves doing some other work for me without being around me is hard to say. I certainly hope I would have had better morals, but then again, what are the chances I would have had modern morals had I lived in the dark ages with much less access to information than we have now?

Answer 3

I think it's hard to discuss "slavery" in generic terms like this because there have historically been many slaves who were beaten and starved and there have been "slaves" who served a role much more like a modern housekeeper, who were comfortable and happy.

Let's also remember that even in cultures in which slavery was the norm, most people weren't wealthy enough to have slaves and/or didn't want or need them, so most people didn't have them (although some of the ones who did had more than enough to make up for them). So we can't say that most people would have.

I wouldn't ever say "I would want a slave" because that would be so wrong. But if I had the money to hire one, it would be great to have a live-in housekeeper to help with cooking, cleaning, and babysitting. I'd be sure to compensate this person with room and board, a decent wage, and respect, however.

Answer 4

The odds are you wouldn't have been in a position to own a slave, but would more likely have been either poor, or a slave yourself.

We tend to think only of those written about -- the rich and powerful -- when we think about being born in earlier times, not most people's lot.

But, assuming I had been rich enough, probably.

I mean, it wasn't questioned; I've no reason to think I'd be the only person thinking it's wrong.

And, yes, it DOES sound handy, doesn't it?

As Star Trek Next Generation fans, my sister and I keep planning to get a holodeck (which would include a replicator -- this aspect comes up most frequently when we're hungry).

Answer 5

No, I would not have owned a slave. I wouldn't have wanted one or even thought about wanting one if I had lived back in the past. To make someone do your work for you for no pay whatsoever is just plain wrong. A maid i can understand because they aren't with you 24/7 and you pay them. And a maid is someone that wanted to be, the didn't do it by force. But a slave was forced to work because of skin color, and they got no pay. So no, i wound not have owned a slave.

Answer 6

I think that if we grew up that way, it would be something we might not question, until (maybe) later. And in many cases, with the wise master, the slave was offered their freedom, and the chose to remain with their master.

I hope, though, that I would have been the kind of master, that would treat my slaves fairly. I think in the times you are mentioning, being a slave had its own kind of rewards. You were protected by your master, your were sheltered, fed, and clothes. Many of the poor desolate people who slept out in the open air, in all seasons, where kicked and beaten by passers by may have thought slaves had an easy life.


little fox
light paws, leave no tracks

Answer 7

People have held slaves practically since the beginning of time, and they didn't look at it as we do today--back then it was the norm and they saw nothing wrong with it. If I had had money, I'm sure I would have had a few, yes. However, knowing how I am, I would have been one of the poor ones, and probably would have been someone else's servent. :)

Answer 8

I Would Not Have A Slave It Is Mean And Cruel To Make Someone Do Your Bidding You Would Need The Exercice.

Answer 9

I probably wouldn't, I love to be in control and I'm kind of a perfectionist, I have a hard time letting someone else help out with stuff...just because I think no one else would do it as I would want to. So having a slave would've been like relaying on someone to do it for me and I am not very good asking for help.

Answer 10

If I were in the class of people that owned slaves, probably... if they were needed... it was a way of life at one time. Some slaves even had it pretty good... and remember even after slavery was virtually abolished people still had servants... while they weren't slaves the differences were slight.

Answer 11

No, I would not. I don't have them now. I don't allow maid service in my room while I'm staying in hotels. I only buy slave free choclate and coffee... I have participated in many campaigns to end slavery in the world. So NO, I would not.
AND SLAVERY IS INHERENTLY WRONG REGARDLESS OF HOW YOU TREAT THE SLAVES.

Go to a hairdresser and pay a fair price if you want someone to do your hair.