Social Correction

**Social Correction** is the name of a medical procedure and criminal justice punishment performed on Sargus 4 in the early 25th century to individuals with over ten million downvotes on their Vote Badge.

## Description

To be eligible for Social Correction, Sargun society must have deemed a person guilty of a "crime," which is as simple as accruing over one million (and perhaps as few as 500,000) downvotes in the Master Feed. The Department of Corrections detained the criminal and forced them on a week-long apology tour where, at the end of the tour, the detainee was forced to undergo Social Correction if his or her total number of downvotes ran in excess of 10 million.

Social Correction was performed in the Department's *Z Chamber*, a special operating room. The detainee was strapped to a chair and a helmet attached. The procedure damaged portions of the brain, leaving the individual docile and meek, simple and emotionless. Correction was a traumatic procedure, and the victim incurred permanent, irreversible brain damage similar to a frontal lobotomy.

## History

Social Correction emerged in Sargun civilization from the society's desire to punish those who run afoul of their social norms. Sargun civilization's rule by majority vote assumed the place of a judiciary, and the Department of Corrections assumed the the role of police force and bailiff. Society decides whether the punishment of correction is deserved not on the basis of fact but on sentiment. Helmsman Gordon Malloy likened their system of crime and punishment to "government by *American Idol*."

In mid-2419, Planetary Union anthropologists Tom and Lewis are detained for failing to offer their seat to a pregnant woman, which their former colleague Doctor Claire Finn regards as extreme as both men were known to simply become caught up in their work and may have simply not registered the woman's presence. Tom is later killed attempting to flee his apology tour, but Lewis completes and fails his. The Department "corrects" him and returns him to his apartment in the city. Lewis, once corrected, says he is "better now... healthier and happier." Back on board the USS *Orville*, Doctor Finn reports that Lewis's damage is indeed irreversible.

Several months later, Navigator John LaMarr is detained for performing a "lewd act on a public statue" of Sargun folk hero Mella Giffendon. His downvote tally exceeds 500,000 and he is forced to go on an apology tour. However, thanks to advice provided by Lysella, Isaac cleverly hacks their Master Feed and pollutes their chat with 30 million fabricated messages in support of John. Isaac's efforts are enough to turn the tide of public opinion and John is spared Social Correction.

Around three years later, the Orville was running a supply mission to Sargus 4 when they were contacted by Lysella, who had stolen a communicator during their previous visit. She requested political asylum aboard the Orville, explaining that she had two friends who had been socially corrected just within the past year because they had said or done things the Master Feed didn't like. She described the entire society as having become scared and paranoid because nobody trusted each other.

## Appearances

* *Episode 1x07: Majority Rule*
* *Episode 3x10: Future Unknown* (mentioned only)

## Notes

1. ↑ Willks states that John LaMarr's downvotes had exceeded one million, which makes what he did a crime. On the other hand, Lysella had stated that John LaMarr's downvotes have passed 500,000 when he ran outside and was arrested. Therefore, it is certain that accruing one million downvotes is a crime sufficient for an apology tour, but it is possible that only getting 500,000 can be as well.
2. ↑ The name "Z Chamber" is provided in *The World of the Orville*. Bond, Jeff, Titan Books at 149 (2018).