House elves (WAS: realistic solutions)

[dumbledore11214]

No: HPFGUIDX 180808

Mike:
I think in the context, wizards have
> two choices that must be weighed for their morality; they can
refuse
> to be slave owners (your position), or they can accept that elves
> need to serve wizard masters (my position).

Magpie:
Because it's imo disingenuously pretending the Wizards aren't reaping
all the benefits.

Alla:

It is IMO just as disingenuous to pretend that wizards ARE reaping 
all the benefits. They have benefits and they provide the benefits 
to elves and yes the benefit is to fulfil their need to serve the 
wizards.

I mean, what if I am going to say that whether wizards are reaping 
the benefits at all is the separate issue. I can't. Wizards 
benefitting and elves benefitting go together IMO.

Magpie:
 It makes them passive--they're just accepting that
elves need to serve Wizards rather than enjoying the benefits of
having slaves and imposing their will on House Elves whether that
particular slave wants to serve a particular Wizard or not. We don't
have much evidence that Wizards are much struggling with the latter
choice.

Alla:

Of course they are enjoying the benefits and showing that wizards 
must respect elf's needs is the goal, is it not?

Magpie:
 Elves' need to serve Wizards comes up most often as a reason
not to think about dismantling the slave trade that nobody's really
bothered by anyway. 

Alla:

But but that IS the major reason, how can it be discounted?