It goes without saying, of course, that a slave's behaviour must be controlled by strict discipline, including harsh punishments for misdeeds and even sometimes mistakes. However, there is some disagreement as to just how harsh such discipline should be, if it should be balanced with some sort of reward besides the lack of punishment for slaves who serve well and loyally, and as I rediscovered recently, if it should be applied only in response to the slave "earning" it or if regular punishment without particular cause creates a more obedient slave. (I will admit up front I am against this notion, feeling that it only devalues hard work and good behaviour in the slave's eyes - though I suppose that can be "balanced" somewhat by making the punishments for misbehaviour extraordinarily more severe.)
(Note that I'm talking here about punishment as a tool to bend one's slaves to one's will. Hurting a slave or making them suffer simply because it pleases the owner is something else, even if similar sorts of desensitisation are possible.)
So what do you all think?
(Note that I'm talking here about punishment as a tool to bend one's slaves to one's will. Hurting a slave or making them suffer simply because it pleases the owner is something else, even if similar sorts of desensitisation are possible.)
So what do you all think?