House elves and some spoilers for Swordspoint WAS: realistic solutions

[a_svirn]

No: HPFGUIDX 180764

> Alla:
> 
> Well, actually I challenge the idea that wizards have the same 
> understanding of the human construct of slavery that we do. Oh, it 
> looks like slavery all right, but the very same actions and events 
> in the different society can be something totally different by the 
> way.
> 

a_svirn:
They certainly can. But when you as an outsider describe these 
actions and events you use the language and understanding of your own 
culture. If you wandered off to the land of anthropophagi like poor 
Othello, you'd describe them as cannibals. And it doesn't really 
matter whether they would *accept* this appellation, or use it, or 
judge your very understandable revulsion as insulting. If you lived 
to tell the tale you'd still call them cannibals. The same goes for 
wizards. From our human point of view they are slave-owners. Now, if 
they are quite as human as we are, then from their point of view they 
must be slave-owners too. If they aren't quite as human after all, 
well – their loss. 

a_svirn