Document Circulated at the Servi/Slave Conference
Unfortunately, I cannot attend the conference to discuss slavery in Romanum. The specific date and time would not work for me because I will be traveling for a few days. I have created this note card to share some of my perspectives.
Before I accepted the position of Slaver in Romanum, the Emperor and I had a discussion about slavery in the Empire and my concerns.
Because slavery in Romanum is a consensual roleplay and not actual indentured servitude, my opinion is that such relationships must be developed by and defined by individuals in them. I have heard comments from many people in both SL and RL debating who is genuine, real, authentic or how things should be. Such conversations create drama and can chip away at a community.
As such relationships are unique to those in them, trying to establish some type universal definition or Master/slave roleplay would create problems. In my opinion, it is not productive to try to create a system to shoehorn people into when it is more important that they define the parameters of their dynamic for themselves without the judgment and expectations of others.
Problems arise because some individuals would not subscribe to the tenants and stereotypes of a universal system of slave training and protocol while others feel alienated because their personal vision of this type of what they seek in a Master/slave relationship may be different from the system in place.
For example, my servus in Romanum, who happens to be a gladiator, does not fit the stereotype of the passive bottom who is boyish or effeminate. As a result, he has received comments from others telling him he is not really a slave because he does not fit their preconceived image. Others in Romanum, even a Senator, have remarked that Romanum does not even have slaves because they are thinking of the Gorean model of forced roleplay.
(I find it ironic that gladiators actually were owned slaves but a masculine powerful man who is owned as a slave is told that he doesn't act like one.)
In addition, in early 2018, the Emperor asked me to rewrite the Romanum servus policy to update the one from 2011. I provided the Emperor a draft that outlined the direction that I wanted to take slavery in Romanum with the understanding that he would introduce it into the Senate. For whatever reason, I am not sure this ever happened.
When crafting the revision, I wanted to move away from universal training and slave kennels, so I installed an automated servus and dominus matching system in the slaver office. This system – which is intended for people to post personal ads about they are seeking in a consensual Dominus/servus relationship – has not gained wide spread acceptance. If this system is to remain in place, I could definitely use help marketing it others.
If the leaders of Romanum decide that they desire more active slave training or a different approach to slavery in the Empire, I would welcome the opportunity to discuss it. However, if their vision is not something that I feel comfortable with, I can certainly step down from the Slaver position so someone more suitable can implement it.
Mardrakus Hekatos
Slaver of Romanum