An Offer You Cannot Refuse

As I alluded to in the original Sketch, these Testing Trials often seem to time their offers quite carefully - Stage One of the trial seems to finish just as the subject has gained enough weight to make their exit somewhat... difficult. The offer to partake in Stage Two of the trial then becomes, well, an offer they can't realistically refuse!

Of course, that timing isn't accidental - in fact, the trial doesn't really need to be split into different stages at all. It is just a way of making a serial gainer's spiral into ever-increasing obesity seem like they have some control over that journey, but in reality, those descisions have already been made by the higher-ups - those in charge. Those in charge of the trials, and those in charge of the departments, already know who will be selected to keep gaining, and gaining, and gaining. The subjects that are not suitable are usually discharged long before they get to this size and weight - those resources could be put to better use. Our subject here, however, has met much of the criteria that the test program calls for, with an attitude to match.

So how does a person end up in one of these trials anyway? Surely they know what is going to happen to them at the start? Well, not as such. You see, as I explain a little more in BrasByDesign - Lore, The Universe and (Almost) Everything, these trials are often Government led, or at least Government funded, and the volunteers aren't always there because they just like helping out. 'Volunteers' are usually rounded-up from people who have commited minor offences - perhaps 'miscalculating' their tax return, or clocking up a pile of parking tickets - that sort of thing. They are then presented with a choice; pay a hefty fine or face a short spell in prison, or they can volunteer for one of the many Research Schemes. Essentially 'Community Service', these Research Schemes are often seen as the easy way out, as they usually include accomodation, food, entertainment, even cover for your existing job. For many, it is a no-brainer - an easy way to pay off a minor misdemeanour. As you can imagine, they aren't always fully breifed on their 'role', sometimes knowing nothing about the actual trial they will be 'volunteering' for until the moment they physically turn up and enrol.

You have a question though, I know; how do the Government or these Research Schemes know what type of person to send for what trial? After all, they are after subjects that will offer them the best chance of testing whatever it is they want to test. It could be unwise to send someone with a history of Eczema or Acne to trial out products for the skin, although it could be useful if you specifically wanted to test people's sensitivity to a product or treatment that affects those with Eczema or Acne. So how do they do it? Well, luckily, the modern age means that everything is linked to everything else, and so the major Governments of the world have an almost bottomless database of well, data, about almost each and every citizen. Adding to that is the mandatory D.N.A. test required when being processed for a crime, no matter how minor, and the fact that many users on Social Media will willingly give up their perosonal information so that Government Services can scrape away merrily and add it to that already bulging repository - and it turns out that those in charge probably know more about you, than you do!

Our subject here, we'll call her Lorna, because that's her name, was chosen for a wide range of reasons; genetically, she seems to have an aptitude to storing high levels of body fat and a good robustness to illnesses that stem from obesity. Furthermore, data shows that she regularly orders food or attends eateries that produce fatty, calorific fare. Location services show that she often drives, and rarely walks, so the prospect of dwindling mobility is statistically less likely to panic her. Social media shows that Lorna is often easily influenced by other people, she is a comfort eater, and enjoys a wide range of different cuisines; that last one simply means that she is less likely to become bored, but it makes a big difference. And that is just the easily digestable stuff, no pun intended - there are millions of correlating datum points used to tell what sort of Research Project a subject should be sent to. For Lorna, it soon became obvious what Scheme she was well suited for...

Wait, wait! What if Lorna said no? It is an option, after all. Well, there is a procedure for that. Let's not forget the old saying, "Ask a stupid question, get a stupid answer!" As we've mentioned, the 'Stage Two Question' is often popped at a critical time, usually when a subject is already teetering on a precipice - in the case of this department, Lorna is at a point where her actual independence has been eroded to almost nothing. She can't walk, and even with plenty of assistance from staff and a hoist, standing is close to impossible due to her size, weight and the sheer bulk of her inner thighs. She is at a point where she cannot fully clean herself, or even reach all of her own extremeties, and careful weening and routine management mean that eating and mealtimes make up a significant portion of her daily entertainment. So, what is the procedure if she says she wants to quit? Simple; it is time. 'Processing' Lorna's case file, her data, information, security clearance and so on, can take weeks. Or, it can be made to take weeks, anyway. In the meantime, the Research Trial continues as normal, and as the pounds continue to pile on, it becomes abundantly clear that the subject really isn't going to go anywhere, even if they wanted to. Even if they could 'just go home', how would they cope? What would their families or friends say?

For almost all subjects, including Lorna, it is better to lie back, keep guzzling, and try and adapt to their new life...