House elves and some spoilers for Swordspoint WAS: realistic solutions

[cubfanbudwoman]

No: HPFGUIDX 180843

Magpie:
> House elves being slaves is not an opinion, that's canon. They're 
> owned. I don't think it's slavery because it "looks like" human 
> slavery, I think it's slavery because slavery means being owned by 
> another person and being subject to their will. 

SSSusan:
And what of those who WERE offered their freedom and declined?  How 
can they then still be considered *owned* by another and classified 
as slaves?  What about all the house elves who appeared in the 
Gryffindor common room to clean and were confronted with clothing 
they could have taken in order to be instantly freed, but did NOT?  
They, then, have made a *choice* to serve and are no longer slaves.  
IMHO, of course.


Magpie:
> House Elf nature just makes people have different reactions to the 
> idea of them being enslaved. Slaves being happy or wanting to be 
> slaves has never had any bearing on their being slaves.

SSSusan:
Again, I see a significant difference.  The human slaves were not 
given a choice for freedom that they freely elected to disregard.  
The house elves at Hogwarts each ELECTED to reject the offer of 
freedom even with Dobby there as an example of a free elf.  I don't 
see how, at least in the case of all those Hogwarts elves, that is 
not a clear difference from human slavery.

Siriusly Snapey Susan