Mad Men -- Season Five

[Surtur]

how do you think she got her original position? she doesn't dress up for her health.

There's a difference between dressing sexy and becoming a full blown prostitute. That's the territory Joan just entered into.

For a second when they got the phone call I thought they were going to find out they didn't get Jaguar in the first place.

[rob fleming]

Wow! lots of Joan hate going on here. As I see it we all prostitute ourselves out to some degree, Joan at least doesn't come cheap.

Does Peggy leaving the company mean she's exiting the show? If so that really sucks! I always saw Mad Men as being her story just as much as it is Dons. Good to see Freddy Rumson back. Still have my fingers crossed Lane'll be biting the big one by seasons end.

[Omega Alpha]

Joan's decision was perfectly understandable, although it doesn't make me any less sick.

[jediracer]

fifty grand back then is probably about the equivalent to half a million by today's standards. you guys saying you wouldn't have sex with someone for half a million dollars and a once in a lifetime business opportunity? just because she's a woman it's wrong? what if the head of Jaguar was a woman and landing the account meant Don would have to sleep with her? would you still be so quick to judge?

[Monty_Cristo]

fifty grand back then is probably about the equivalent to half a million by today's standards. you guys saying you wouldn't have sex with someone for half a million dollars and a once in a lifetime business opportunity? just because she's a woman it's wrong? what if the head of Jaguar was a woman and landing the account meant Don would have to sleep with her? would you still be so quick to judge?

yes. it'd be a giant heel turn for him; given the nature of his new relationship.

[pariah-1972]

Well yeah. I'm not saying she made the perfect decision, but she did make the one where she's not beholden to anyone. She's been refusing Roger's help left and right this season, for her to suddenly give in wouldn't be like her. Joan does use sex/sexuality to her advantage (or used to) however, so while what she did was extreme and horrible, it is a part of her arsenal. Her attempt at a perfect life hasn't worked out, so she's becoming desperate. To her, a partnership in the agency is worth it in the long run. She becomes financially secure and dependent on no one. That's how I see it, anyway.

Of course noone seems to acknowledge the agency she just prostituted herself for is on extremely thin legs and could possibly go under by the end of the season if Jaguar leaves and Lane's double dealing comes home to roost.


So in essence she prostituted herself for nothing in my opinion and if anyone thinks she will hold the same amount of respect in the office and among the senior partners then you really have to be kidding yourself.

[pariah-1972]

fifty grand back then is probably about the equivalent to half a million by today's standards. you guys saying you wouldn't have sex with someone for half a million dollars and a once in a lifetime business opportunity? just because she's a woman it's wrong? what if the head of Jaguar was a woman and landing the account meant Don would have to sleep with her? would you still be so quick to judge?

Yes cause Don is happily married and he has never whored himself out for anyone at least for financial reasons.

[pariah-1972]

fifty grand back then is probably about the equivalent to half a million by today's standards. you guys saying you wouldn't have sex with someone for half a million dollars and a once in a lifetime business opportunity? just because she's a woman it's wrong? what if the head of Jaguar was a woman and landing the account meant Don would have to sleep with her? would you still be so quick to judge?

I would do it if i thought it was necessary for my survival that's about it.

[pariah-1972]

how do you think she got her original position? she doesn't dress up for her health.

Monty are we really insinuating she got to where she is because she already slept her to there?

[Conn Seanery]

Of course noone seems to acknowledge the agency she just prostituted herself for is on extremely thin legs and could possibly go under by the end of the season if Jaguar leaves and Lane's double dealing comes home to roost.


So in essence she prostituted herself for nothing in my opinion and if anyone thinks she will hold the same amount of respect in the office and among the senior partners then you really have to be kidding yourself.

Yeah, but that's the point. She doesn't know that the company is in financial trouble and that she might have prostituted herself for a sinking ship. To her, the act was an investment.

And nowhere did I suggest that what Joan did would bolster the partners' respect for her.

[Monty_Cristo]

Monty are we really insinuating she got to where she is because she already slept her to there?

i'm insinuating that they hired her because of her giant chest. she was clearly good at her job (whatever that is). but, given what we know about the male partners, i have no doubt that her looks are what got her the position.

[Surtur]

Wow! lots of Joan hate going on here. As I see it we all prostitute ourselves out to some degree, Joan at least doesn't come cheap.

Well I don't hate her, it's more disappointment then hate.

fifty grand back then is probably about the equivalent to half a million by today's standards. you guys saying you wouldn't have sex with someone for half a million dollars and a once in a lifetime business opportunity? just because she's a woman it's wrong? what if the head of Jaguar was a woman and landing the account meant Don would have to sleep with her? would you still be so quick to judge?

Well, I never said it was because she was a woman it's wrong. It's just wrong in general. See, the problem with bringing Don into this is that Don has shown he will literally fuck anything that moves and has a vagina. Joan on the other hand..really isn't like that. Sure she got with Roger, but Joan was nowhere near the level of whore-ness that Don Draper is(well, manwhoreness). Also consider Don's financial future really isn't on the line. Guy took home half a million bucks when the company was sold, on top of all the other money he's made since then.

If Joan was banging anything that breathes, then sure. She wasn't really like that though. Hell I think Peggy banged more people on the show then Joan has.

Also, I don't think she took the 50 grand..I think instead she asked to be made a partner or something. Which is only the smarter decision if the company is guaranteed to be successful. I'm sure Joan isn't aware how bad their situation might be, but I always pegged her for someone who would sort of understand what was going on without even having to be directly told.

Though to be perfectly honest? I'd be disappointed if Don did the same thing. I'm hoping he can stick it out with Megan. I honestly don't think he can, but I'm hoping.

[Jake V]

Didn't Don use his sexual relationship with Bobbie Barrett for his own professional gain?

Is what Joan did all that different?

[Surtur]

Didn't Don use his sexual relationship with Bobbie Barrett for his own professional gain?

Is what Joan did all that different?

Actually yeah, it kinda is different. Don didn't get with Bobbi only to move up in the business. I don't remember him using her for much gain, but if he did it was more like he took advantage of a good situation. It's sort of like if you begin sleeping with a chick only to find out she can get you free concert tickets, or maybe her father can get you a job. You benefited from your relationship with her, but you didn't specifically start it for that reason. As opposed to "I am going to bang you for money".

Though I'm wondering how Don actually used Bobbie. If anything didn't she sort of use him? Him talking to the Utz people allowed Jimmy to go get his tv show or some non-sense. What did Bobbi bring Don that he wouldn't of gotten with her not there? They were working with Jimmy prior to their relationship. They had Utz with Jimmy, with or without Don banging Bobbie. They didn't take on advertising for his new tv show or anything, so he didn't profit from that. The only thing his relationship with Bobbie got Don is Jimmy bringing it up to Betty and indirectly leading to their divorce.

[pariah-1972]

Yeah, but that's the point. She doesn't know that the company is in financial trouble and that she might have prostituted herself for a sinking ship. To her, the act was an investment.

And nowhere did I suggest that what Joan did would bolster the partners' respect for her.

Well ok then i guess we are thinking on the same lines? or did i miss something cause i thought we were disagreeing about those things.

i'm insinuating that they hired her because of her giant chest. she was clearly good at her job (whatever that is). but, given what we know about the male partners, i have no doubt that her looks are what got her the position.

Well it might have helped her get the job if there was any competition for that job, but honestly we really don't know and all we can do is speculate.


Hell we don't even know who was in charge of hiring her at that time.