4 ms·

I think traditionally it worked like this... The students did a bunch of work for the mentor, for very little or no wages and they were taught a trade. The stu

by jqm 12y ago

I think traditionally it worked like this... The students did a bunch of work for the mentor, for very little or no wages and they were taught a trade. The students were much like your property, you could beat them, treat them basically how you liked, even sodomize them if the mood took I'm guessing.... (sorry to be graphic, but I think that's how it likely went down). You did however, have to provide for their basic needs and you couldn't kill or severely maim them, or it was bad for business. After X number of years, the student could go out on their own, and the process repeated. So this system has some obvious flaws and has slowly been done away with. It might be good if it were to make a comeback in a modern form (without the beating and sodomy of course). Then again, maybe it's not so good. Still, we get lots of people wanting "mentors". What do they have to give back, particularly at first? My opinion? Want a good mentor? Look in the mirror.

deleted 12y ago
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adrianm 12y ago
I think you're thinking of a master and apprentice (albeit through the lens of a world which resembles that of Westeros...) In any event, not the mentor relationship the OP was inquiring about.
- jqm 12y ago
  "Westeros".... You know, I don't think so. Trades have been around for a lot longer than universal justice. Slavery is only recently going away. Important people in the community have traditionally done what they wanted and as long as it wasn't too egregious, they usually got away with it. A little light googling turns up no shortage of cases of apprentice abuse, (including sexual) from the relatively recent past (1600's on... a time that is comparatively modern in the "objective" dispersal of justice). One can only imagine what earlier times were like. No doubt there have been plenty of beneficent individuals, but the beneficent treatment of fellow humans is sadly often the exception historically speaking. For most of human history there has been a very different standard of what was acceptable than we hold today. A third party flogging for failing to follow orders (or simply because the flogger was having a bad day) likely scarcely raised eyebrows as long as it didn't get out of hand for most of human history. Even today we still see remnants of this relationship. Abuse of underlings who put up with it because they think it will get them somewhere. Taking on an "apprentice" out of sexual interest rather than simple interest in their development. Human nature has not changed terribly much... just the rules. I don't know what kind of relationship OP is after or what he is willing to do to get it. I do wish him the best of luck on his quest.
  - JungleGymSam 12y ago
    > Slavery is only recently going away. Define "going away."

by jqm 12y ago

deleted 12y ago

[deleted]

adrianm 12y ago

I think you're thinking of a master and apprentice (albeit through the lens of a world which resembles that of Westeros...) In any event, not the mentor relationship the OP was inquiring about.

jqm 12y ago
"Westeros".... You know, I don't think so. Trades have been around for a lot longer than universal justice. Slavery is only recently going away. Important people in the community have traditionally done what they wanted and as long as it wasn't too egregious, they usually got away with it. A little light googling turns up no shortage of cases of apprentice abuse, (including sexual) from the relatively recent past (1600's on... a time that is comparatively modern in the "objective" dispersal of justice). One can only imagine what earlier times were like. No doubt there have been plenty of beneficent individuals, but the beneficent treatment of fellow humans is sadly often the exception historically speaking. For most of human history there has been a very different standard of what was acceptable than we hold today. A third party flogging for failing to follow orders (or simply because the flogger was having a bad day) likely scarcely raised eyebrows as long as it didn't get out of hand for most of human history. Even today we still see remnants of this relationship. Abuse of underlings who put up with it because they think it will get them somewhere. Taking on an "apprentice" out of sexual interest rather than simple interest in their development. Human nature has not changed terribly much... just the rules. I don't know what kind of relationship OP is after or what he is willing to do to get it. I do wish him the best of luck on his quest.
- JungleGymSam 12y ago
  > Slavery is only recently going away. Define "going away."