Slavery on Arelith

[Kalyco]

I have been conserned with the use of slavery in game for some time. In the present day I think that the use of slavery in a public game could become extremely problematic. Perhaps this aspect of the game should receive some major modifications.

[MoreThanThree]

Agreed, it empowers evil.

[Hazard]

Problematic in what way? If you believe someone is abusing the slavery system or breaching PG-13 rules you should report it to the DMs.

[MoreThanThree]

Problematic in what way?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_slavery
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slavery_i ... ted_States
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slavery_in_Africa
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slavery_i ... man_Empire

OP means in this way.

[Hazard]

Problematic in what way?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_slavery
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slavery_i ... ted_States
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slavery_in_Africa
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slavery_i ... man_Empire

OP means in this way.

I don't understand.

[MoreThanThree]

I don't understand.

With what little information provided, I'm just guessing OP thinks that including slavery would be offencive to real-life ethnicities that have been enslaved.

[Hazard]

I don't understand.

With what little information provided, I'm just guessing OP thinks that including slavery would be offencive to real-life ethnicities that have been enslaved.

I'm one of those. I don't find it offensive. Can only speak for myself.

Bringing modern day ideas of political correctness and sensitivity into a Forgotten Realms setting is never going to end well. I'd argue it's impossible. This is a fantasy world in which many prevalent cultures, belief systems, entire races, even classes all have divisive or controversial aspects to them when compared to real-life 2019 humans living in the first world. Pick any modern hot topic from sexuality, to racism to even slavery and you will soon find that the entire setting is 'offensive'. The whole thing.

Some of the most powerful nations, cultures and races in Faerun are slave nations. It's not possible to play in this setting without mention of slavery, and because it's so common characters will bring those ideas of slavery to Arelith.

We already make great concessions because of the PG-13 rule and I think that's more than enough.

If your guess is right, then I don't see this thread going anywhere except towards being locked.
Most instances of people trying to bring RL politics/social issues IC should be reported to the DMs because it isn't setting appropriate.

[MoreThanThree]

Most instances of people trying to bring RL politics/social issues IC should be reported to the DMs because it isn't setting appropriate.

Never forget Zarus and The Cozis.

[Richørd]

Problematic in what way?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_slavery
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slavery_i ... ted_States
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slavery_in_Africa
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slavery_i ... man_Empire

OP means in this way.

I don't get how crimes that occur in a videogame become more problematic just because they have been comitted in our world aswell. *thinking face*

[Durvayas]

Keep the social justice and political correctness off of arelith and quarantined to tumblr where it belongs.

[Berried]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slavery_i ... ted_States

If you've been roleplaying slavery as manifested in the United States you've been playing it dead wrong my friend.

As George R. R. Martin has said before, slavery in fantasy settings tend to more closely resemble that of Greek/Roman societies, which wasn't even racially based. They just enslaved whoever they happened to defeat or capture, including Gauls, Germans, educated members of society, roman soldiers and so on. Not only was it perfectly legal for slaves to be literate, it was a status symbol to have slaves that could serve as educators or accountants, perform secretarial services, or work as skilled artisans. Slaves in public service could earn money, sometimes even enough to buy their own freedom. Slaves living as 'private property' could earn their manumission just by being liked by their former owners.

I don't know any Italians that consider roman slavery a sensitive subject. The practice, as morally repulsive as it was, was so long ago that its impact has largely been eroded over the centuries (unlike, say, US slavery which is comparatively modern history). If anything, our exploration of these concepts through collaborative storytelling can only heighten our empathy for figures like Spartacus by allowing us to experience the world from a similar perspective.

In the present day I think that the use of slavery in a public game could become extremely problematic.

Yes, it could, but only by breaking the rules that are already enforced on the server. If you see anyone roleplaying these dynamics in a way that's tastelessly gratuitous and explicit, or in a way that seems designed to grief other players, report it to the DMs.

[Sartain]

Pretending bad stuff didn't happen in the past doesn't make it any less true.
Also, have you seen the slaves in Andunor? They're perfectly content.

Worrying about the depiction of fantasy-slavery in a fantasy game because it, apparently "could become extremely problematic" is silly.

Seriously, what is "could become extremely problematic" even supposed to mean?
Are you afraid that we'll all suddenly decide slavery is great IRL too?
Are you worried that even though there's both the PG-13 rule and like a dozen consent rules for it, people will be forced to do stuff they don't want to?
Or are you just trying to stir something up?

[The GrumpyCat]

Yes, it could, but only by breaking the rules that are already enforced on the server. If you see anyone roleplaying these dynamics in a way that's tastelessly gratuitous and explicit, or in a way that seems designed to grief other players, report it to the DMs.

This is what must be kept in mind. The concept of slavery itself however is no more none PG13 than many other concepts regularly rped out on this server. I do not see this changing any time soon. I am sorry that the opening poster feels uncomfortable that such things exist, but their opinion is sadly in the minority, and not backed up by the Developers. If it was, then the system wouldn't be in.

Locking this thread because I don't see it going anywhere good.