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It was still slavery
(thelemmy.club)
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this post was submitted on 21 May 2026
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I don't think you understand what the word, "effectively" means.
Working at Walmart and buying things from Walmart is neither literal nor effective slavery at present.
Notice how I didn't say either of those things. It's BOTH working at Walmart AND buying most all things from Walmart that qualify.
Though you go ahead and pretend there is no such thing as effective slavery in modern times compared to what quality of life we SHOULD have on average.
I didn't say "Working at Walmart or buying things from Walmart"; I said "Working at Walmart AND buying things from Walmart".
I didn't change the framing you argued. It's still not effectively slavery. Not even fucking close.
what.
What the fuck is this argument? "Slavery is when quality of life is bad"?
"Effective" slavery is when your income completely disappears back into your employers' pockets.
Why is this such a fucking difficult concept!? I ALREADY gave you the example of company towns. Does your understanding of history stop at American shores?!
You're genuinely pathetic sometimes, Pug.
In that case, I can cite many examples of literal slavery that are not effective slavery. Including examples of race-based chattel slavery in the USA.
I'm sure the revelation that they're not effectively enslaved would have heartened many of those folk.
Not to mention that consumer purchases are far from the majority or even the plurality of expenses of most working-class folk in the modern USA. But I suppose that would require a greater understanding of modern economic conditions than the one you currently hold.
In company towns, there was no effective choice at where to spend one's money. Furthermore, company towns had deeply restrictive and abusive contracts that amounted to debt slavery; and on top of that, often paid in company script that could not be used anywhere else. When we describe historical company towns as effective slavery, it's not because of fucking regional horizontal integration.
Funny enough, American history in particular is far from my fields of interest, but I suppose that would require having some actual familiarity with me instead of a weak attempt at an insult, lmao.
Okay. Fine. Can’t we all just admit that we all work at Walmart and that it is more than a little bit fucked up. There, I said it.
Sure, it's fucked up. But slavery isn't "when your income disappears into your employers' pockets."
Again, you fail to underatand what "effectively" means.
Why are you so hellbent on defending modern "slavery"!?
Ohhhh noooo, someone had it worse in the past, so that means the present cannot be bad or on a backwards slide!
Again, you are truly pathetic sometimes, Pug.
I'm sure those people desperate for a better life will be totally relieved by your news that they're not literally slaves.
Your empathy is broken.
... fucking what.
That's not nearly what I said, but I guess literacy isn't your strong point, considering this conversation.
Nor are they effectively slaves.
Conditions can be shitty without being slavery, which is a term with an actual definition.
Because I... think slavery has a meaning?
Sorry that you don't think words have meanings. I hope you get better.
What.
What.
... supporting Israel is, apparently, having supported the complete abolition of aid to Israel for more than a decade-and-a-half at this point.
Way to completely and utterly demonstrate how you are absolute trash at learning from history...
You know a lot about it, but your knowledge is merely academic. You are an absolute failure at understanding history.
Much like how you are repeatedly offended at people being completely unwilling to support Israel. You do not understand the human cost of what you talk about.
Again; Pathetic.