Post by David JohnstonPost by James NicollThe Warrior's Apprentice (Miles Vorkosigan, book 1) by Lois McMaster Bujold
https://jamesdavisnicoll.com/review/under-pressure
Beta isn't a crapsack setting just because they treat all crime as the
product of mental illness. It's just weird.
As I recall from Cordelia's little run-in with them, Beta *treats*
all mental illness. Consent does not enter into it, at all, and
"danger to self or others" is not a factor.
And as in the bad old Soviet Union, mental illness is defined
as having a perspective on reality that differs from "reality"
as the authorities choose to define it.
Disagreeing with Things The Authorities Know For certain
("Come on, Barrayarans aren't all monsters. Aral has some
good qualities, and he did not abuse me.") will get you ...
"treated"... Until you agree with whatever facts (real or
"alternate") the authorities believe. Or profess to believe.
Know what the authorities expect you to believe and be
willing to parrot it back to them, and Beta seems to be
a pretty nice place.
To me, that's sort of a "Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln,
how did you enjoy the play?" condition.
--
Mike Van Pelt | "I don't advise it unless you're nuts."
mvp at calweb.com | -- Ray Wilkinson, after riding out Hurricane
KE6BVH | Ike on Surfside Beach in Galveston