system
A chat on subreddit /r/NoStupidQuestions
human
We are a little different considering in todays world that is so interconnected a simple choice of buying a tee shirt would mean supporting the corporation that enslaves people in some remote village in a remote corner of the world that you’ve never even heard of. 

This is radically different from owning slaves who you can see toiling in the sun day in and day out and chaining them or otherwise confining them in quarters like animals. 

Today when you buy an iPhone you don’t go to a flesh market and auction for a slave boy who will make the phone for you. 
But the people back then did that and that’s what separates us, we don’t protest what we don’t see but those people didn’t protest what they saw everyday
gpt
Of course the situation is very different, but I don't find a "out of sight out of mind" argument very convincing regarding ethics.

It is about participating and thereby condoning a system you do not approve of. And that is very much the same as in the 1800's. Of course slavery was much more visible back then. But you are aware of modern slavery as well, without seeing it on a daily basis. Why does this difference matter exactly?

Note that I'm also typing this on a smartphone, wearing clothes made somewhere in Bangladesh probably. I'm in no way "innocent" as well.

And another point, would it be easier for a 1800's slave owner to free his slaves or for you to be aware of where you buy your clothing etc? It is not a huge sacrifice to at least help reduce modern slavery. The distance between us and modern slaves just makes it "comfortable" for us, so we can feel good about ourselves. In no way does it make any of this morally justifiable.