I used to think that consent is something clear. Either a person consent or another. Then certain things make me doubt it.
For example many sites offer “free” trial where users will be automatically subscribed to some non sense unless they cancel. Most users doesn’t know that. The term is deep inside the terms and condition most internet users doesn’t read.
The same way with free trial scam, most devastating marriage terms are hidden deep inside marital laws. Many are not even invented yet. Most males aren’t aware that getting married means his wife can just get free money for the whole of her life while humping someone else.
Then there are things like can human consensually sell themselves to slavery, which is what life time alimony really is. Is it consensual?
Another is feminist argument about oppressed women. Say the Nazi is killing jews and you talk to those jews, I’ll save you for $100k. Is that transaction consensual? You’re not the one creating the threat. Someone else does.
Feminist use this argument in favor of saying that women trafficking is not consensual. Their logic basically says that because women are oppressed in afghanistan, those women should stay there because giving those women offers are not consensual.
Government can also say, look, if not because of me, you would have to fight of all those socialist horde by hand. So pay your tax.
We too don’t think it’s consensual. Then again, mob rage is a real threat that’s not necessarily created by government.
Also how many legal alternatives must be blocked before we claim that an act is coerced. If government prohibit importing japanese car, can I argue that buying locally made car is non consensual? Maybe no.
What about if government prohibit me from buying food anywhere except government’s market. Can I say I am forced to buy government’s food? I think I could.
Is Consent a Vague Concept? is a post from: Ελεύθερη αγορά Forever