I'm firmly with Steph. I don't think the exploitation/mindwiping aspect is something I'm going to just work around.

Probably a little of both, if I had to guess. It can't be that simple.

The prostitution comparison is obvious, and must be intended blatantly. Some prostitutes really do get into the gig entirely voluntarily, I'm sure. But there are also well-known rings that force people into them at young ages, psychologically damage them into believing its their choice, and generally take advantage of every way people can abuse one another to get them to do what's good for the bosses. Adding the ability to technologically remove memories and chemically induce desires almost seems unnecessary, but does greatly increase the power of those abusers.

Gathering from my inability to get at the video now that wasn't a legit posting back then? Damn it!

eta:

I don't think the exploitation/mindwiping aspect is something I'm going to just work around.

I always figured it was the point, so while I'm not on the defensive or pre-squicked, I'm certainly very curious. People signing up for something they were sure they could handle, and then...

ita, there's a link to a Quicktime version at the bottom. Try that.

At least in the beginning, anyway.

I'd prefer it that way, too, but it still wouldn't be a dealbreaker for me. I guess I've spent too much time in male-dominated environments that I don't think twice if that's the first place a guys mind goes to. It's true to life. What matters isn't that it goes there, but how it comes out of it.

I got nothing, Gris. Just the shiny Q.

None of the preview links are working anymore, dammit!

ita, it was a 2 1/2 minute bit, I think, from the upfronts. It had Papyrus font, and not in a good way.

I am Tep, I am Kat; I think I'm in pretty good company there. It's absolutely not a male or female thing, either -- the mindwipe business is about as close as I get to something I really, truly just can't watch. (Well, that and miscarriages of convenience.)

And yeah, I get that the whole point is Echo pushing through the mindwipe and starting to put things together, which is what will make me at least try it.

I read the "they volunteered" sequence much the way Tep did. It's strongly implied that they didn't, or at least they they did under duress and/or bad information.

(The falling in love plot? Really doesn't even register as an issue. It's like the embarrassment-comedy throwaway-ep-for-laffs version of the basic mindwipey plot.)

I'm reminded of that movie The Condemned which seemed to be saying, "violence as a form of entertainment is morally wrong". While at the same time being one of the most violently entertaining movies ever made. Is it possible to take a stand against exploitation within such a seemingly exploitave premise?