Corrected entry: The whole business about putting people into stasus as a punishment makes no sense at all. What is punishing about being put in a status cubicle and then (in your perception) immediately stepping out when time is several months/years further on (but yourself no older)? Even if you weren't earning your salary during the statis period, you had no expenses either.
J I Cohen
16th Dec 2003
Red Dwarf (1988)
Correction: Plus they can't exactly fire Lister when they're off in deep space. They have to wait until they're back to earth.
Correction: It's a no-fuss way of keeping troublemakers out of the way. You don't have to feed them, you don't have to guard them, they can't injure themselves, they can't shout and make noise. It may be less of a punishment, but it's a lot less hassle for the crew.
J I Cohen