ethics and retcon

[beccaelizabeth]

so I just clicked on a link at random to get a new window with a particular background style to check something.
hadn't checked the content warnings.
now want to scrub my brain out.

So... braino - ethical use for retcon?

If there's things you really don't want to know... where's the bad?

You know, assuming you don't overdose and/or get reprogrammed.

Just: Use of retcon to get rid of unwanted memories. Ethics?

Comments

[louiex.livejournal.com]

I was actually just musing over that thought myself, considering that they used it on 2008 people by episode 1-08, then there don't seem to be very stringent guidelines/rules on it. One can also hope that the doses are pre-made so that there's no last minute confusion as it was easy enough for Jack to wipe away a day in episode one and for Suzie to wipe away conversations with that Max guy.

My musing was indeed what you were talking about, a bunny where the option of forgetting a huge trauma is presented thanks to that handy retcon. I think there'd have to be lines where if this is something just casually you wish to forget or something that would serious debilitate you from functioning normally. Like Gwen's retcon with Rhys was unethical because it was selfish and served no purpose other than her need to come clean sans consequences. As was with Suzie as it was a serious dosage over the course of a year and merely to talk to someone again without consequences. While when Jack used it, he did it on a professional basis to keep the Top Secret sticker sealed over Torchwood but at the same time he gets to interview a posisble employee.

Just my two bucks worth of two cents :D

[0-567395.livejournal.com]

Well, if you want to forget something, sure, whatever. People can do whatever they want to their own bodies and minds(provided it isn't something like putting a bomb inside yourself and standing in a public place or what-have-you) as far as I'm concerned.

I never considered that it might be anything but unethical for Torchwood to use it, especially as frequently as they apparently do. But at the same time, they obviously can't have people going around knowing all about ALIENSESES, so the alternatives to retcon are killing, imprisonment, and becoming more competent at keeping secrets secret. Obviously all three are out of the question. :P I didn't get the feeling they'd had any problems with people misusing it until Suzie -- you know how people tend to have loose rules until someone breaks them. Though, you'd think they'd have tightened up after (lock it up and require permission at least?, but Gwen had no trouble getting some to use on Rhys.

[darthhellokitty.livejournal.com]

I could see that being offered as an alternative after severe trauma. I wonder if it could prevent post-traumatic stress disorder? Huh. Plot bunny. OMG. "No, because then I wouldn't remember that you rescued me."

Whereas, let's say I wish I hadn't read some bad fanfic - no, probably not.