031. [Text]

[explosivecombat]

You know, I've realized that whenever I address the network nowadays, I always include some sort of apology for the morbidity of the subject matter; the subject matter is never any better the next time around, which I think just draws the validity of the apology into question by now. Ah, but that's neither here nor there - the subject today is still, however, not any better, so consider the apology this afternoon as genuine as it always is.

[In other words, sorry-not-sorry. Kimblee...]

I would like to discuss morality today, actually - perhaps befittingly, since there are so many morally dubious individuals around as of late.

Assume for a moment that you come across someone in peril; you're in a secluded area, and no one else is around to help this individual but you. The specific sort of peril they're in doesn't matter, but for the sake of argument, assume that it's something that you can handle easily - assume that assisting them won't kill you, and even if the situation you envision is dangerous you can call the authorities for help and that would be considered "assisting" for the sake of this experiment. For whatever reason, the person in peril cannot save themselves; if you don't do anything, the situation will prove fatal for the person you've come across.

No one will know if you help the person or not. You won't be punished or penalized in any way for not helping them - in other words, you have no legal obligation to do so - but if you don't, the person in peril is going to die. You've never met the person before this moment; there's nothing about their appearance or situation that implies that you should consider them an enemy, but they aren't explicitly a friend or an ally either. Just a random stranger that you are given the option of rescuing.

Most would probably agree that rescuing a person in peril like that is the "right" thing to do; I'm sure some would disagree, either because their beliefs are a bit unorthodox or because they want to feel edgy. So my question isn't necessarily what you believe - my question is why. Can you justify it, or are you just operating under "what feels right"?

Answer me anonymously if you'd like; as usual, your identity doesn't necessarily interest me, but your answer does.

Comments

[beholdmydemons]

[THIS IS UNCOMFORTABLE]

I don't think I could justify why something like that is right. Of course it's what people will tell you is right, but there's plenty of times when it's plain madness to follow along with another man's rules. And why put rules to what you feel? Who does that serve?

It feels strange to say but it does seem to me that right is more about what's felt than anything. Unless you choose to follow another's right.

[explosivecombat]

Perhaps. But if you're going to say something like that, then you also likewise admit that, with the exception of one's personal feelings on the matter, no one action is any more inherently right or wrong than any other action. Is that it?

[pipers_son]

if they aint an enemy a mine and they wont pull any funny business then i dont see a reason i shouldnt help out. like ya said it wont kill me.

besides that bit of helping might come back around in the future

[explosivecombat]

So you believe in karma, then. It's never really been a thought I subscribe to; there's equivalent exchange, but that's not nearly the same thing.

Have you experienced proof of it, or is it just a personal belief?

[dead philosophers]

[doitrockapella]

You never do get tired of seeing how people tick, do you?

[dead philosophers indeed]

[explosivecombat]

It would worry you if I ever did get tired of it, I think.

[text]

[konpeitoqueen]

Maybe I'll do it so they owe me (ﾉ≧∀≦)ﾉ But it depends

If I feel like it I'll do it but if I'm rushing for time or have clothes I don't want to get dirty then probably not (•̀⌄•́)

[explosivecombat]

[Oh, goodness. Tryhard detected.]

And what would make you "feel like it"? Just the sense that they'll owe you later, or are there other possible reasons?

[text]

[exeggutorhead]

You really are a fan of morbid questions.

As for my answer, it probably is the "right" thing to do to help them. But I don't see why I should, if I don't know them. Doing the right thing hasn't ever exactly been my style, but you know that already.

[text]

[explosivecombat]

Really, at this point I think it would surprise people more if I wasn't asking things like this.

And I'm not surprised that your answer is along the lines of "not my problem", no - although I'm curious about what your course of action would be, assuming that you weren't going to help them.

{ Text }

[freckledoll]

{ That was a lot of reading, but she'll try to answer. It's a good question! }

Mm lessee…

I would rescue them. Someone did that for me when I was nothin but a nipper, so I'd like to "return the favor". I know they're not the same person, but so what? Everyone needs a helpin hand now an then. It's not so easy as black an white sometimes. It's bout givin what you kin when someone needs ya.

[explosivecombat]

I've heard of a concept like that here, one we don't exactly have in so many words back home - the idea of "paying it forward"? Someone does a positive thing for you, so you do a positive thing for someone else. The idea is apparently that we'll all be far better to each other as a result.

Something like that, or am I misunderstanding?

the return of "oh honey"?

[healing_wish]

I would do anything to help them. Why? Because I just couldn't walk away without doing anything, I'm not that kind of a person. I'd also keep company to the person and make sure they're as okay as they can be in that situation, while waiting for something like an ambulance to arrive. So it's not like I'd just call somewhere and walk away without making sure, that the person gets into a safe place.

[...uh, she kind of has all that experience of trying to save everyone and failing at it, so this kind of situation sounds so much easier compared to that.]

...something like that, yes

[explosivecombat]

So it would be a matter of being unable to live with yourself if you did otherwise. Is that it?

[Text]

[tearsofademon]

Since you said it's something easily handled, I'll assume it's not something that'd be a huge pain to go out of my way to do.

In that case, leaving them to die would be almost like killing them myself, you know? And that's the worst.

[Text]

[explosivecombat]

How is it any less like killing them yourself if you refuse to do so on grounds of it being considered "going out of your way"? For the sake of argument.

text;

[lullabytes]

I'd help them out. If I can stop someone from dying...then, that in itself is reason enough to try to do something. Stranger or no.

Rather...for that question, I don't see why not doing it would be an option...

text;

[explosivecombat]

Some people take up the stance of it not being their problem; others are more cynical and will be inclined to think that if someone ended up in that situation, then they probably deserve to be there for whatever reason and should be ignored.

In other words, some aren't quite as noble as you're describing.

[text]

[awesmazings]

[Here's when it would behoove Jimmy to just ignore the Network for a while and actually get moving so he's not stuck on Route 30 for two weeks, but the exhaustion of both walking- but moreso not having anyone at all to talk to- has gotten him to keep a near constant eye on the Network.

...case in point.]

I'd help them. There's no way I could just walk away from someone who needs help, no matter what. I don't think it really matters if someone thinks if it's right or wrong.

[Though, it's interesting Jimmy would say that, considering the fact that if he honestly and truly thinks something is right, then he'll do it. It's more of a subconscious, knee-jerk reaction than anything.
...even if this "right" thing isn't so right in someone else's eyes.]

[text]

[explosivecombat]

And what makes you decide that there's no way that you can just walk away from a situation like that, if I may? Is it a matter of being unable to live with yourself otherwise, or is it something else?

he can just tl;dr back, then!

[motormouths]

good thing you said it wouldnt kill me cause i dont feel like dyin any time soon even in a hypothetical type deal! a guys gotta have a sense of self preservation yknow? so i'd help so long as i didnt get hurt.

Otherwise... no.

i mean unless there was actually some way i could help? and especially if somebody else was with me yeah id help! but just me all on my lonesome? no chance! not like i can do much to help unless somehow i can fix it with a wrench to the head and even thats risky without backup. what if it doesnt work? what if i make whatever things attackin angry and make it wanna kill me instead?

and i just bet you that person would run off and leave me there to fend for myself! whats there to stop them?

[explosivecombat]

[Clearly someone has a lot of feelings on this topic, goodness.]

I take it you haven't had many pleasant experiences with helping people in the past, then?

[text]

[solas_ion]

A given person should decide their own 'right' and 'wrong' and stick to it. So it's the right thing to do because I think it's the right thing to do--that's all the justification I need.

[~Lawful Neutral~]

[text]

[explosivecombat]

Oh, I won't argue with that much. However, most people have a certain reason for deciding why something is right or wrong - some sort of influence or thought that dictates why that particular thing is where it stands on their own personal morality baseline.

That's what I'm interested in, more or less.

[soundmind]

I'd help, I've been trained and raised to always help someone in distress. Not for glory or recognition, but for their sake.

Besides, it's good for your soul.

[Yep.

It's good for your soul.]

What I mean is, little by little evil deeds gunk up in your soul and turn into corruption where I'm from. That turns you into something not human. Nobody wants to become a monster and nobody wants other people to become monsters.

Though, frankly, I *would* rather die than become a monster.

[She's not annoyed, though she is suspicious, she's just trying to explain the position of her culture and her own morals on it so it makes sense.]

[explosivecombat]

Is that so? I've never heard of souls working in quite that way, myself, but then most people aren't familiar with how they work in my world, either. The soul is directly linked to one's morality, then...?

[text]

[usedfeatherdance]

If you have faith in people, you might say that it's more likely you're helping someone who will go on to do good than that you're helping someone who would go on to do evil. In that way, you're passing along a kindness to the rest of the world by helping out the one.

[text]

[explosivecombat]

As you've noted, however, that assumption hinges on the amount of faith one has in people. If we're going to be honest rather than optimistic, it's most likely that we've assisted a party that's neutral at best - one that won't affect the outcome of the world either way.