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Consent and Mind Control
Jun. 13th, 2011 09:18 amI’ve started listening to podcasts while I run, since I discovered the delicious number of free fantasy and scifi stories on iTunes. One of the first I stumbled upon was Metamor City, a scifi/ fantasy fusion, and it kept me entertained on the elliptical until episode seven. Then I flew into a teeth-gnashing rage and promptly lost all sympathy for the protagonists.
( Warning for discussion of rape )
Consent is one of my sticking points. Respecting others’ boundaries is another. You cannot have your character destroy another person’s bodily and mental autonomy without so much as a warning and still expect me to view them as an unadulterated good guy, not unless one hell of a lot of soul searching and genuine remorse follows.
* Which could be an interesting viewpoint to take, since the next story in the series makes it clear that most psychics don’t view non-telepaths as their equals. Except in this case, we’re explicitly meant to view Abby as a sympathetic protagonist putting together a brilliant and morally acceptable plan, not as a twisted anti-hero manipulating humans she sees as one step up from animals for what she considers their own good.
( Warning for discussion of rape )
Consent is one of my sticking points. Respecting others’ boundaries is another. You cannot have your character destroy another person’s bodily and mental autonomy without so much as a warning and still expect me to view them as an unadulterated good guy, not unless one hell of a lot of soul searching and genuine remorse follows.
* Which could be an interesting viewpoint to take, since the next story in the series makes it clear that most psychics don’t view non-telepaths as their equals. Except in this case, we’re explicitly meant to view Abby as a sympathetic protagonist putting together a brilliant and morally acceptable plan, not as a twisted anti-hero manipulating humans she sees as one step up from animals for what she considers their own good.
