Reply #76: OK

[marions ghost]

I don't think we have a very ethical society by my understanding of what it means, so I wonder how one individual can hold his own ethics up as a standard. The only standard of conduct the average person seems to go by is "is it legal?" not is it moral or ethical. "Legal" goes along with proofs. If you can't prove it, it didn't happen (seems that's what you were saying about the allegation). A lot of people can't really get beyond that conservative way of thinking. Even if they follow Christian or other religions which suggest a higher morality they can't seem to connect the dots.

You are asking people to tell you why they perpetuate this story? Psychology of the oppressed. Payback time. If the shoe fits...

But maybe I'm not getting your point. Certainly I'd like to see a more ethical culture, but I wonder if we could ever agree on a definition. We're headed toward an ever more dysfunctional future, so maybe some stab at ethics would help to stave off a true implosion. But you seem to be talking about this ethical discipline of yours in personal terms rather than societal terms (comporting oneself, self discipline,etc). If it works for you fine, but is it necessary for others to do the same? Would we have a better society if others did? I don't know.