Ethics

Day 1,962, 02:05 • Published in Australia Australia • by schofeild

Hi all,
Just thought I might write on something that came up recently in my studies.
As we are all aware, we have a different moral compass in games, whether that is video, board or otherwise. I want to reflect on what makes us change our ethics, why our online persona can be so different to who we are as people.

The fact that we act differently in-game is a clear indication that we are not satisfied with some part of our real life existence. The timid often find themselves trying to assume power in games, the honest may be more inclined to steal or cheat, and the stingy may even find themselves giving out of charity. Not that we necessarily wish to have these qualities in our real lives, but that at the very least we wish to experience them for ourselves. We can often dismiss this through the excuse of "its just a game" but it is worth the time to consider whether there are parts of us that wish our lives were more like how we acted in game.

(some music if your getting board already)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=lTx3G6h2xyA#!



There are 2 great liberators in the world of gaming: Anonymity and Opportunity. If everyone from our real life could see how we acted in video games, I wonder how many of us would change the way we act. Those that cheat feel OK doing so because they know their employer won't find out and judge them for it. The timid can run a cyber-company because there is little rejection upon failure, they just melt back into the realm of anonymity. However one interesting case study is that of board games, where there is no anonymity. Our actions still differ from our normal set of morals with these games. There is a suspension of the normal rules of life when playing these games that excuses having no mercy and ganging up on someone, and cheating is often merely met with laughter (after fixing what was changed. I am not a big fan of cheating in game, but I cant exactly get mad). This idea that it doesn't matter what I do because there is nothing at stake enables people to assume new personas.

Opportunity is the other quality of all games which provides much of the attraction. A teenager can be the president of an e-country of 1000 people of more, based only on his skills and the persona he makes for himself. I myself do not get to experience warfare and tactics in day to day life, and im sure most of you can identify with that. We are more inclined to experience these opportunities to every extent that we can simply because they are novel and exciting. In a game like eve-online, where if a ship gets destroyed, it stays destroyed, I wouldn't think twice about blowing up a ship that took 4 months of time to acquire if i got the opportunity.

But the real question is: Do these factors excuse our behavior? Would we be OK with employers and family knowing how we act in-game? Most of us will still maintain that our conduct is above board, but the dangers of dual standards is a very real one.



What are your thoughts?
- Should we care about our language around younger users if we are anonymous?
- Do you see a difference in your behaviour online from reality?

TTFN,
The Scar