Is it OK to make an 'is it OK' thread?

[senordesol]

Alright so I've noticed a few people making these inane 'is it OK if...' threads and I'm forced to wonder if they're really asking if it's 'ok' more than they're asking if anyone cares.

Normally, these will be borderline if not criminal, then unethical activities justified couched in a way that makes the action appear justified for arbitrary reasons. Interestingly, though, I have also found that some of the criteria for responses are less to do with whether the action is 'ethical' but rather if they'd do it (or care if someone else did it).

I'm not sure if anyone has ever written one of these threads looking to be swayed from their course of action, rather are looking for some degree of collective consent so they don't feel like a *complete* douche.

So, Escapists, what do you think of the 'is it ok' threads? Am I missing something and they truly are bastions of higher order moral debates?

 

[Kae]

Nope, MR. those threads are really just people looking for validation for they're actions that may diminish the feeling of guilt they had.

 

[RJ 17]

Actually I'd imagine the vast majority of those types of threads aren't even actions that the person is really considering doing. In many cases it seems like the person is just trying to poke a bee hive with a stick...get people buzzing. More than likely they've already performed the action and don't really want the input of others, but they do want to get others talking about it. To me the reason why they're all borderline criminal/unethical things is to the specific purpose of establishing a fence...you're either for or against it. Then some jackass quotes you and tells you the six ways you're wrong. Then you quote the jackass and explain how everything he just said is a load of horse shit. And the "fun" ensues from there.

 

[Nyaoku]

I think it's ok to make "is it ok?" threads.

 

[LittleJoeRambler]

As for me, I would avoid them. I'm not terribly interested in the possible actions of someone I'll probably never meet in real life.

 

[lacktheknack]

They're pretty much always hoping to engage in something known as "forum circlejerking", where everyone simultaneously pats each other on the back because we all agree that the "maybe OK" course of action was a good one.

They're horribly annoying, and the answer is usually "No".

 

[Zen Toombs]

Meta-Thread is Meta.

OT: Some of the "is it OK" threads are looking for others opinions, and others are looking for validation/apathy. But it's not really all that much of a bigger problem if someone is looking for the latter instead of the former.

 

[isometry]

One of the cool things about having a jury system is that the jury can always ignore the law and vote "not guilty" if they want to. This is called jury nullification, they nullify the law by ignoring it. Jurors are never required to defend or explain their verdict, so you can just choose to ignore the law and vote "not guilty" if you want to. This is an important protection of people's rights against unjust laws that the founders of the US emphasized.

For example, if you are a juror for a case where a college student is facing +$100k penalty for downloading music, just ignore the evidence and the law and vote "not guilty", unless you really think the student deserves that penalty.

The point of bringing that up, maybe we can read "is it OK" threads as "would you convict me if..." threads.

 

[PrototypeC]

The alternative being what? I like them because they often spark discussion (and/or threats of physical violence), but beyond that I don't actually see that many of them.

 

[Kevlar Eater]

There should seriously be a rule against people making the following threads:

- Is it okay
- Am I the only one
- So I've [insert stupid decision]...
- Loss of faith in humanity

In cases like this, screw free speech.

 

[Logiclul]

All threads are inherently okay to make, unless it is not self-sustaining in purpose.

 

[FalloutJack]

If you have to ask, you really don't need to know.

 

[Redlin5_v1legacy]

Oh Escapist, always having certain forum trends. At least we aren't in the middle of Skyrim fever anymore. Or certain site upheavals like EC or whenever the rules change.

So yeah, I just ignore those threads. Cause by looking and commenting you're just encouraging something you don't enjoy.

 

[Applejack]

I say let them if they want to. We don't have to read them and people that respond to their threads should know what they're getting into. Besides it can be interestin to see the degradation of society in forum form.

 

[larryparker]

this is not a good sign for a member to say ok in an thread, you should have to make a complete reason in a post.