Refer to one of my previous posts about how I came to my conclusion on the situation and how I was (and still am) somewhat shaky in my position. And being responsible, I readily acknowledge that my position is not, as some say, "bullet-proof." Indeed, I find it hilarious that anyone claims to have 100% confidence in any opinion that they hold. Since, they are opinions, which cannot be held to the same scrutiny of being right or wrong, simply because of what they are. They are not facts, which can be checked and determined if they are true or false. Opinions may be true or false, but most often they fall into the gray area and can never really be proven one way or the other.
For example, I believe that Bud Lite is the worst beer ever made. It is an opinion I can back up with a few facts, but the truth remains that it is a mere opinion. I know in the back of my mind that I could be wrong, so (again, being responsible) I should not hold this opinion too ferociously. I could be wrong.
As a different example, I (could) believe that Elvis never died. That his death was just staged and it is just one big conspiracy. This opinion could be right or wrong because we can go find Elvis' body and prove (as much as anyone can prove anything) that the King is indeed dead. Or I could believe that Americans never made it to the moon. But again, I could (conceivably) send a camera to the moon and see evidence of people having been up there.
Morals tend to fall into the former category of pure opinions. So morals should not be professed with absolute certainty, because you should know, in the back of you mind, that you could be wrong. You can be confident that you have acted correctly, but it is hard (if not impossible) to be 100% sure. And as such, you may profess your opinion as loudly as you wish. What I have a problem with is simple arrogance that refuses to listen to anyone else, because you are so sure that your opinion is correct (and anyone who disagrees with you is wrong).
If it isn't clear by now, I am a fan of ambiguities. to me nothing in life is EVER clear cut. No decision is ever 100% "just" or "right" from every angle. It is all a matter of degrees of what I personally view to be just or unjust, moral or immoral. I may be disappointed in how others see situations and the choices they make, and I can even vehemently disagree with them. However, I must always listen to their arguments and be ready and willing to defend my opinions. Because the doubt is always there, "You may be wrong." All I wish is that others would be equally as willing to listen, and based on the strength of the arguments presented, be willing to change their minds if the situation calls for it.
My opinions do not define me. They are not so important that I cannot change them. In fact, if my opinions are mistaken, or if there are better options than the one I currently hold, I look forward to the time when I can correct myself. That is how I believe people grow.
On another subject, I wonder how many people in P99 actively see their characters as an extension of themselves in a real social community vs. just a bunch of pixels with "people" who you will never, ever meet or talk to in RL. I personally view my toon as an virtual representation of myself, so I care deeply about making moral decisions. However, those who see this as "just a game" and their toon as "just pixels" will not make the same emotional connections. Therefore, it is much easier for them to make decisions that would (for me) tend to be more on the "selfish" or "immoral" side of the scale.
Anyway, that's enough from me for now. Let's see what other people think.
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