Question

[eviltigerlily.livejournal.com]

Well, sort of. I see there's been some discussion lately regarding VIII and Rimmer in particular, which I er... missed. And well... There is this thing in BITR that always bothered me. In the trial scene the posse have to sign a consent form to be tried by mind probe using psychotropic drugs, but Rimmer never does. Can that be legal? Without Rimmer's trial they would have nothing on the rest either. Personally I believe they have been wrongfully imprisoned. They should be released immedately!

*glances up*
I will go quietly away now.

Comments

[typhonblue.livejournal.com]

I've had a problem with that as well. If the posse has to sign the consent form then Rimmer should have to as well.

Besides the JMC isn't military, technically everyone aboard is a civilian therefore they should have rights.

I think Hollister's throwing them in jail, illegally, to shut them up (since they have access to the confidential files) and keep them out of his way (since they also have access to information that could throw RD into turmoil.)

[roadstergal.livejournal.com]

I think Hollister's throwing them in jail, illegally, to shut them up

Oh, of course he is. ;) It also gives him confirmation of the nanobot story. He knows that something is wrong and that they are far (far!) from Earth, and so he can act in an "Emergency situation, human rights suspended, the terrorists have already won" mode. The consent forms were just a prop, like the invitation given to Rimmer - just a way to get them to lick something.

[typhonblue.livejournal.com]

I'm thinking he wants to keep acting in the same bureaucratic rubber stamping way, but with them out of the picture so as not to interfer with him.

I'm just curious why cone-head Holly is going along with it.

[roadstergal.livejournal.com]

Why wouldn't he go along with it? Hollister's the captain.

Most employees give up some rights when they sign a contract. Hollister has gotten to his position by weaseling the system (as his self-confession in BITR), and is probably really good at it by now. So he'll find the way to administer the tests without explicit consent. As long as he's the captain, Holly will obey him.

[typhonblue.livejournal.com]

But, you'd think if Hollister was finagelling the system Holly would have something to say about it. But maybe egghead Holly has less of a personality then our Holly.

[roadstergal.livejournal.com]

Hollister implies that he's been fudging the system throughout his entire career, from donut boy to captain.

[typhonblue.livejournal.com]

What I mean is, perhaps that wasn't as blatantly obvious as Hollister throwing regulations (or what have you) out the window when he questions Rimmer.

You'd think Holly would be aware of that, but, maybe not?

[roadstergal.livejournal.com]

That's exactly it - we don't know if he threw regulations out of the window. We don't know that the contract with JMC doesn't allow for questioning without consent forms. It might very well. Certainly, since Holly goes along with it, it implies that it does - or that something can be finagled by a good finagler to make such questioning nominally legal.

[typhonblue.livejournal.com]

These are things that must be known! XD

[eviltigerlily.livejournal.com]

Indeed!

Mr Naylor must provide us with the JMC terms of employment contract for review.

[typhonblue.livejournal.com]

Perhaps we can write to him and request it?

[eviltigerlily.livejournal.com]

It's probably ok as long as no one complains (no that there is anyone to complain to).