6 ms·

In this case, the difference in "inmate" and "slave" is the degree of charitableness given to the US. On articles concerning China's Uighur camps, we don't see

In this case, the difference in "inmate" and "slave" is the degree of charitableness given to the US. On articles concerning China's Uighur camps, we don't see the word "inmate" being used.

nverno 4y ago
I think 'slave' is overly negative usage in this case. A 'slave' implies people that were enslaved with no justification, imo. You don't normally hear POWs or inmates referred to as slaves. The fact that inmates are made to work is hardly the worst part of their punishment.
- markovbot 4y ago
  > A 'slave' implies people that were enslaved with no justification it absolutely does not, and to suggest so is absurd. In America, black people have been enslaved with all sorts of justifications about how they were of an "inferior race", how they were "naturally" more violent and "animalistic", etc and how their enslavement was actually good for them.
  - nverno 4y ago
    Those were rationalizations. Nobody thinks enslavement like that is justified.
    - markovbot 4y ago
      Well people certainly thought so at the time. Personally I don't believe the rationalization given for modern slavery either, but apparently you do so it's a "justified" slavery.
- clerk_occam 4y ago
  Implying that sometimes it’s justified to enslave people?
  - nverno 4y ago
    Well, yea, what else can you do with violent murderers and the like? Or POWs?
    - markovbot 4y ago
      You understand we're not just talking about putting people in jail, right? We're talking about FORCING them to work? From the article: > The ACLU also found that more than 76 percent of incarcerated workers surveyed by the Bureau of Justice Statistics say that “they are required to work or face additional punishments such as solitary confinement, denial of opportunities to reduce their sentence, and loss of family visitation.”
      - nverno 4y ago
        There are a lot of gray areas around imprisoning people. I (like all other apes and probably most intelligent animals in the world) believe 'eye for an eye' is basically the embodiment of true justice. Everything else is a mix of punishment and practicality. The fact that inmates are forced to work is so low on the level of what their punishment is, that it doesn't even register in my book. I think most inmates actually like having jobs to do. From what you cited, it sounds like if they don't like it, they can just sit in solitary instead. And as far as rehabilitation goes, it seems like an essential ingredient. It would definitely be nice to give them a decent wage, but I think this is an area where practicality matters as well- prisons cost money and man-hours. I don't know about the economics, but getting rid of for-profit prisons seems like a good idea.
    - Scalene2 4y ago
      You do realize that a huge percentage of violent criminals are never caught right?
- Scalene2 4y ago
  Prisoners of war generally have more legal protections against slavery than those incarcerated under the US justice system.

In this case, the difference in "inmate" and "slave" is the degree of charitableness given to the US. On articles concerning China's Uighur camps, we don't see the word "inmate" being used.

nverno 4y ago

I think 'slave' is overly negative usage in this case. A 'slave' implies people that were enslaved with no justification, imo. You don't normally hear POWs or inmates referred to as slaves. The fact that inmates are made to work is hardly the worst part of their punishment.

markovbot 4y ago
> A 'slave' implies people that were enslaved with no justification it absolutely does not, and to suggest so is absurd. In America, black people have been enslaved with all sorts of justifications about how they were of an "inferior race", how they were "naturally" more violent and "animalistic", etc and how their enslavement was actually good for them.
- nverno 4y ago
  Those were rationalizations. Nobody thinks enslavement like that is justified.
  - markovbot 4y ago
    Well people certainly thought so at the time. Personally I don't believe the rationalization given for modern slavery either, but apparently you do so it's a "justified" slavery.
clerk_occam 4y ago
Implying that sometimes it’s justified to enslave people?
- nverno 4y ago
  Well, yea, what else can you do with violent murderers and the like? Or POWs?
  - markovbot 4y ago
    You understand we're not just talking about putting people in jail, right? We're talking about FORCING them to work? From the article: > The ACLU also found that more than 76 percent of incarcerated workers surveyed by the Bureau of Justice Statistics say that “they are required to work or face additional punishments such as solitary confinement, denial of opportunities to reduce their sentence, and loss of family visitation.”
    - nverno 4y ago
      There are a lot of gray areas around imprisoning people. I (like all other apes and probably most intelligent animals in the world) believe 'eye for an eye' is basically the embodiment of true justice. Everything else is a mix of punishment and practicality. The fact that inmates are forced to work is so low on the level of what their punishment is, that it doesn't even register in my book. I think most inmates actually like having jobs to do. From what you cited, it sounds like if they don't like it, they can just sit in solitary instead. And as far as rehabilitation goes, it seems like an essential ingredient. It would definitely be nice to give them a decent wage, but I think this is an area where practicality matters as well- prisons cost money and man-hours. I don't know about the economics, but getting rid of for-profit prisons seems like a good idea.
  - Scalene2 4y ago
    You do realize that a huge percentage of violent criminals are never caught right?
Scalene2 4y ago
Prisoners of war generally have more legal protections against slavery than those incarcerated under the US justice system.