No

Umm, is there actually more than one answer to this question? Of course I wouldn't own a slave. Edit- Hmm, somebody gave me an incorrect rating on this answer. Hah, I guess my annonymous critic knows me better than I do myself. So apparently, I would in fact own a slave. My mistake.

The only way that I would support any form of slavery is in a very limitted form used as a punishment for crime. If a person commits a crime that is serious enough to get them thrown into prison, then they should also have to work to help pay for their support while they are in prison. However, since I would only support slavery as a punishment for a crime, I would not trust such people to work as a personal servant. So, I personally would not own a slave.

No, because we don't have to own slaves anymore. The big corporations outsource slavery for us to factories in Asia with very low minimum wages. Besides the widely published stories that workers in shoe factories aren't paid enough to buy shoes (http://www.pitt.edu/~elfst6/working%20conditions.htm), here's a typical recent story about how our favorite gadgets are made: http://portableaudio.engadget.com/2006/08/31/foxconn-folds-under-pressure-drastically-declaws-lawsuit/

Yes, but I would not treat them as a slave, and I would refuse to 'own them' as it were. They could live with me as an equal human being, they would do their equal amount of work like the rest of us. Should they want to leave, they may. I would do this because if I didn't, that person would been in slavery with someone else probably, and I doubt they would treat them as I would.

Its very easy to say "No" without hesitation in hindsight, but we adapt to the norms of our times. If society hadn't raised the question of the dubious morality of slavery, if it were legal and widely accepted as being a respectable and normal thing to do- would we even question whether it was wrong? Its a bit like saying if you'd lived in Nazi Germany would you have participated in the Final Solution. I mean really- are you 100% sure you wouldn't have? So I guess my answer is that I like to think not- but its really impossible to know.

No. It is just wrong. By the way, most people in the South did NOT own slaves. Mostly just very rich planation owners. The vast majority of southerners were very plain (often poor) farmers, shopowners, craftsmen, etc. Most white southerners didn't really support slavery and did not want so many slaves to be brought in - however by the time of the civil war there were so many slaves, that common white people feared what social unrest would be caused when the slaves were freed. Like most white southerners I recognize that slavery was one of the saddest episodes in US history.

No, absolutely not. If slavery were legal, I'd probably go around buying as many slaves as I can afford and freeing them. I'm a tree-hugging hippy...cannot help it...

I would hope that we have learned from the past, to never allow this again. No.

Only if she were my love slave!

No, I'd run a railroad.

No really.

No. Although it could be considered a traditional institution, I believe it was founded out of ignorance. (Besides, my family was a part of the Underground Railroad... What would they thinik???)

I am fearful I would be on the other end of the whip.

I don't really know. I mean, if they were to suddenly make it legal, I wouldn't, but I'm not sure how my answer would differ if I was raised in a society that saw it as right and beneficial, you know? don't get me wrong, I don't endorse it at ALL, I am 100% against slavery, but I think a lot of well-meaning people owned slaves because it was not just accepted at the time, but expected. I like to THINK I'd be the one helping them escape, but I'd really have to be in the situation to know for sure how I'd respond.

Yes, but a willing one. =]

NO!

I already have one its called a husband...only kiddin,no i woulnt

Definitely not. With my credit score I would probably end up being a slave. (Actually I kind of am.)

I attempt to avoid slave ownership. Since for humans power corrupts and ultimater power corrupts ultimately. However , I do not believe the Creator God is corruptable. Various types of Slavery still exists in many parts of the world today.Also, Anyone human who lives on this planet is subject to Economical Slavery to either a greater extent as in the case of the working poor. Those who are financially independent i.e. have risen beyond merely a LandOwner to the level of income property owner or LandLord or any financial levels above this. These financially independent people are subject to Econonical Slavery to a lesser extent.It appears to me that only someone who lived with or without a family in a remote location.If that person or family is able to grow their own food source either the hard way by large scale gardening of vegtables or other edible plants without needing supplies from the outsid e world.Or, if that person or family is able to produce their own food the easier way by growing their own fruit and or nuts from trees (i.e. a Garden of Eden type of environment)without needing manufacture supplies from the outside world. Then this would be an example of a person who is not subject to Economic Slavery if that person or family also raises their own livestock for meat or dairy food requirements of the human body. Please also be aware the area where the person or family described above lives would have to have a plentiful fresh water supply. If they had to drill their own water will that would require money(and some economical slavery means to produce) to get a well dug. Unless the water level was near the surface

shut up and keep rowing the ship

Yea.

Not a chance.

No, what would be the point.

No,because I personally wouldn't like to be a slave

Considering all of the social norms against it nowadays, no. But if my family had the same economic standing in the Deep South before the Civil War, then yes, probably one or two. It really depends on the situation. This is a very open-ended question.

Me being black, it would not look good for the rest of us.

No absolutely not, whether we believe in god or not eventually we all have a higher authority to answer to. Owning ones flesh is a attempt to owning ones soul, this is reserved for that higher authority we all will face one day. "If men, through fear, fraud, or mistake, should in terms renounce or give up any natural right, the eternal law of reason and the grand end of society would absolutely vacate such renunciation. The right to freedom being the gift of Almighty God, it is not in the power of man to alienate this gift and voluntarily become a slave." Samuel Adams

No, I can't imagine ever considering it.

slavery is allowed today (corporate slavery) but they call it minimum wage and act as if people working 60 hours a week for pocket change is freedom. I would never own a slave, but I don't mind pretending to be one for my gf!

What do you mean slavery isnt allowed? shhh, dont tell my boyfriend, LOL.

No way, it is the most cruel thing one can do to another human being. Regards.

Knowing all the past we have had with that, i dont think anyone would want to own a slave, yet we do have slaves working just to scrape a living, but becuase we as a country pay then, no one sees it as slavery

Yes, I would. I don't see anything wrong with it. We have people who live in deplorable conditions that wait on us daily, and we don't shed a tear for their condition. How many times have you stiffed a waitress in a really dumpy restaurant -- when you did that you said "I'm better than you, you failed to live up to my needs, so I'm not paying you."

Only to free them to travel as a free human being.

Whether something is legal or not is no measure of whether it's ethical, so no. Nor can one 'own' another being. And, in many ways, in the US at least slavery is closer to reality than one might think. In many ways, so called illegal immigrants are effectively a slave class, being paid subsistence wages at best, with no real rights, often appallingly treated and made to work like animals. Whilst many Americans simply don't even see what's going on in front of them or, worse still, blame the immigrants themselves for their condition.

Not a chance.

you know that mostly the rich had slaves 90% of us are not rich in any stretch of the imagination, in my opinion most of us are in a way are slaves, to society or at least to our government. although we have the feeling fo freedom we truly are all slaves

...I already have been a slave...in my youth doing the will of my Mother & Step-dad...the original "cinderella"...that's why the second I turned 18 I put the Pacific ocean between me & them & moved to Hilo, Hawaii...and my life has never been the same, since. but, no, I wouldn't own a slave...like so many wise answers written already...slavery is alive & well in the world...just disguised... excellent question Vertical!

Do you expect anyone to actually say "yes"?

If it was legal to shoot people for thinking of owning slaves, do you think you life just might be in jeopardy. YES!

No I would not.

I would like to say no unequivocally, but if it was the only way I could get someone out of a really bad situation, then I would. There were laws in the old South against freeing slaves, and if I couldn't buy someone and free them, then at least I would buy someone and hold them if it would keep them from being killed. I most certainly wouldn't treat them as a slave if I did however, they'd be a member of the family just like anyone else who lived in the household. I certainly couldn't stand by and watch someone beaten or tortured to death if I could save them by buying them.

not in this economy

Slavery is allowed today, in many places, and ocurring in places it is not allowed. I do not own one, nor would I. I will also not allow myself to become one, either to an individual or an oppressive government. Liberty or death.

No. All moral consideration aside, it wouldn't be economical. Slaves have to be cared for when they get old and sick. It is much better to just have employees. That way, if they get sick or old or hurt, you can just fire them.

No way

Yes and I would free them. I would free as many as I could. Of course I would hope I was not one myself, then I would have to become a Spartacus and start an uprising.

I am quite sure that slavery would be an important part of economic life if it were accepted. People did not change and all those who owned slaves were no monsters at all but very similatr as people today. Of course we would have slave.markets as ever before and a vast majority who would be profiting from slavery would defend thid institution. As less we have abolished torture as less slavery has gone for ever. If it brings an advantage to the slave-owner, they will catch and buy slaves as ever since before. There is no doubt for me at all. The only reasn why we do not have any more slaves in our western countries that is the reason that we have technical solutions which are much more easier and cheaper than any slave labour. In the fields we have engines which do a better job an so we do not need slaves nor horses. In the house we have a washing-machine and many other electric machines which do a better and cheaper job. But I agree completely with lady fuschia.

The answer to this question seems to me quite simple: If you would buy a slave today I think you would have to pay around 10.000,-- up to 20.000 USD. So from the economic side, a slave is always an investment too. If you now think about for which purpose you want to buy a slave for that much money you got the answer for yourself. In modern societies slaves are no longer an interesting investment because they would cost you more as they bring profit to you. So, I think that this is one of the most important reasons why we do not have any more slavery in western societies. Instead of slavery we have quite better forms of exploitation. People who get paid for hours or a few days and then have to look for themselves if they get sick or weak are much more profitable than slaves. Owning a slave always meant that the owner was responsible for his property. Slaves are only an interesting investment if you have a lot of simple manual work where you need a lot of man-power which can not be replaced by machines or other technical equipment. So I think we in our western econimoc societies have meanwhile better systems of exploitation as slavery ever was. To buy a slave and pay a lot money for him I think would not be an interesting deal at all.

Looking at the answers and comments I rather wonder who were those people who kept slaves in the old south and in the colonies. I think they were people like you and me and not different at all to us today. We should be more honest and accept that very few people would forget about slavery by ethic reasons if they could afford a splendid wealthy life by exploiting their slaves. I just had a look at the schedules of the Caribean Islands with their cruel plantations run by slaves and the most amazing fact to me was, that 60 percent of the slave-owners were women! It is quite easy to say that you neber would own slaves because there is no opportunity. And especially poor and young women from England and Ireland were making immense money by exploiting slaves and beacme this way powerful and wealthy ladies. And as far as I can see thee were very little scruples and it was the women who often were stopping that a slave was freed by his master.

No and would not associate with anybody who did.

Can 1 slave own another?Hold on,let me ask my s/o.Sorry she said no.

We all did not live at those times and so it is quite easy to say that we never would own slaves. At those times slavery was a guarantuee for a comfortable, easy and luxurious life and especially women were fond of that life. So, I would wonder if most women of today would be that much different. Being a slave-mistress they had no work, could enjoy their lives andhad money as much as they needed. Looking at the people today who are longing for profit the easy way with much money, I think even people today would forget about all their scruples very quickly. For most women slavery was the first step to real emancipation because tgey did not have only money but also unlimited power.

no

I was once reading a research where people were asked the same question anonymously. The answers were quite different to the answers I am reading here. As far as I remember about 40 % percent of women and girls could imagine very well to live in a slave-holding society and own slaves for their own and still 35 % males had the very same opinio. Looking at the answers here it is for sure that nobody is outing himself by answering honestly but after all researches of social science I would say the researches are right. Otherwise no immoral system of a state could have lasted for long. Just remember at your time at school how many were in solidarity with you even if you had to stand complete unjustice. And last not least look at a system like every army where they work with the same system. At my time most young men were draft into the army and I would say about 60 % thougt about the army that it was mere shit and anyway 99 % obeyed from a certain point although most of us were mentally completely against this system. Of course there were a few who started little rebellions but after 3 weeks prison almost of them hat a new point of view.

As far as I can see there would be very few possibilties today to make your slaves work for you. I think in western societies we would not even have jobs for slaves. So the advantage of owning slaves would be very litle.

I just want to point out that in almost all slaveholding-societies it was an extreme offence to the law if you were trying to free a slave. Usually and as far as I know the legal situation of slave-holding states, that one who was trying to free a slave beame automatically also a slave. Freeing a slave was seen quite similar or even worse as stealing a horse. So the solution to free slaves by buying them did not work. And it was absolutely not up to the slave-owners that they could free their slaves as it came up to their mood. Every slave who was freed was seen by the other slave-owners as an attack to their position as slave-holders.

No, just because something is legal doesn't make it desirable. I have no interests in owning another human. If someone needed a job or a fair trade could be worked out with a definite out clause, that is the only way I would ever have someone working for me.

I was still contemplating a few days over this question. I for myself would not be absolutely sure if I would not like to own slaves. I was also discussing this topic with some people and as women and girls are more practical and less hypocritical about 3/4 were saying that they are basically against slavery but living in a society where slavery is regarded as a respectful institution, most of the people I asked, were saying that they would own slaves. The reason for this answer was just, that in certain cases you have no choice but owning slaves if other people have slaves. Owning slaves would give those people who have no scruples at all a real immense economic benefit and so you have no chance against them in competition if you have no slaves. On the big plantations people could only stay in competition to other big plantations if they were using slaves as well. So I am quite sure that most people would buy and use slaves if there would be an economic need for them. And some people would not hesitate without any scruples owning slaves andthey woud be those who would force many other people to own slaves. The question would be rather different if you can nly sell cheap products and if you can produce cheap products only by slave labour.

I just want to make an example: If you have a hotel which is run with well paid employees and the neighbour hotel is run with slaves and people ay onlythe half pricefor food and boarding as you need to pay your employees, you won't have for a long time the chance to stay in competition to your neighbor hotel which has the same comfort and even a better and humble service because they have slaves. Most clients first wuld look at the price and if gthey get for half of the price the same comfort and probably a better service, I think most clients would decide for the neighbour hotel and I think very few would mind that the hotel is run by slaves.

I am quite honest and say if slavery would be a usual institution and I would see a need for slaves, I probably would own slaves. If most people would own slaves, probably I would own slaves as well.

I was reading some anonymous polls and researches about this topic. They found out that about 60 % of all females in average could imagine to live in a slave-holding society and 20 % would accept it. Only about 20 % were strictly against any kind of slavery and there was a clear correlation between level of education and social class. Usually as higher the level of education, the higher the social class and there about 80 percent of the females could very well imagine and accept to live in slave-holding society. Drawing the conclusion of these facts you say as more as if these women were seeing themselves as the real winners of such a system the less had to fear to be a victim and so it was easy for them to accept a full pro-slavery position. If you yourself are not in danger and if you even will be a real benificiary you will accept it and tell the victims that it is nothing but right and just what happens to them and almost all wome were accepting severe corporal punishments of slaves if they are necessary as a matter of course. So it is qite amusing how people play the part of humanity as log they are expected to answer this like.

I was discussing on this topic with many people. I think there would be at least about half of the people today who never would own a slave. But on the other side I think there would be about 30 or 40 % who would swipe away all their scruples if slavery would mean for them a wealthy and convenient life. If it were possible to make a fortune by dealing and owning slaves, I am quite sure there would be enough people who would grab their great chance. If people see a big advantage by enslaving other people, I am sure,they still would have slaves and find the most sophisticated and most interesting justifications. And they would find thousands of very good reasons to justify slavery. I just want to point to the very famous Milgram Experiment which gives proof how people can change their mind. And I would underline that the slave-owners were absolutely no monsters but people like you and me and the ladies and gentlemen in the Old South were almost famous for their good and friendly manners, their decent education and their hospitality. They were no monsters but quite normal and often very religious people.

The very first slaves sent to the colonies were white people from Europe. Most of them came from prisons being there for al kinds of reasons and there were also lots of political opponents. In Europe they wanted to get rid of these disturbing people. But quite interesting it was that the settlers were enthusiastic to buy white slaves although they were mostly their fellow countrymen and it never happened that slaves were not sold. Just the contrary it was. European countries could not offer enough slaves to the slave-markets in the colonies and so slaves from Africa were imported because there were always much more clients who needed slaves as they could offer. So I have my extreme doubts if things would work today different. Most people who answer strictly today that they would never own slaves, seem to me absolutely not honest. And if we would have today a complete different attitude to all these things, we would have no waterboarding, no Abu Ghraib and no pirates or starving people all over Africa or child labour in many asian countries. In our westen cultures we have a guite different opinion in the public but we had the labour camps of Hitletr and the labour camps of Stalin and the people there were even treated worse than any slave in the colonies or in the South. The Nazis quite openly said that prisoners are nothing but slaves for their ends and Stalin kep about 15 Million of people permanently in his slave camps.