well, I've read a lot of stories were some 'sweet young thing' gets kidnapped and initiated into the bdsm world as a slave and loves it so much she stays. PUCK! Even if it does happen, she agreed to stay and act the part of slave. It's still free will.
I think there may be a lot of slaves who are so submissive that they need someone to take over every aspect of their lives. Some of them seem to feel that any attention is better than none. They may be the product of abuse, incest, any number of things. Much as I'd like to, I can't get help to everyone I think needs it, so they will continue to take what they get. However, it is also possible that they don't see any way out, and are not strong enough to walk away. There are lots of places to find help, if they want it.

Well, that's a confusing paragraph, even to me, and I wrote it! That's me, always seeing both sides of everything! I think that sometimes (mentally) strong people don't understand the weakwilled people; I don't understand how anyone can willingly become a slave. On the other hand, I suffer from depression, and some people can't understand that; they say 'oh, cheer up! don't be sad' as if I have a choice in the matter! I believe that sometimes the paralysing uncertainty of slaves makes it impossible for them to stand up and walk away.

Now, other people love pain. Again, I don't understand it, but I know that it is real, so I grant them the right to make their own decisions. I guess that's my bottom line here - people have the right to make their own decisions. If they know themselves well enough, any decision they make can be put into practice. If they want to be a slave, fine. If they don't, they can walk away, especially when there are so many agencies out there who can help them.

Sigh. I'm stepping off that soap box again, and going back to work. I'm trying to get Sylvie to make up a good business reason for going out to Banff