Poll: Survey on Ethics & Gaming

[ZehMadScientist]

Aaaand done. Whenever I wanted to choose the "Morally gray" option, I kind of felt like I was avoiding the question and taking the easy way out, making me reconsider my decision.

It was great food for thought, thanks!

 

[Flames66]

Could you define:

Undergraduate Studies
Graduate Studies
Postgraduate Studies

for those of us not in what I assume is the American education system. I mean, I'm in a college, yet not really sure what to pick from the options as they don't really apply.

Yes, I had thought about that, but I just couldn't think of a proper name for it all. I shouldn't have been lazy, though - I've just added another option saying "Other Postsecondary Education" meaning everything that comes after high school but isn't part of a university degree system. Not very specific, but it should do the trick. Sorry about that! I should have added that to begin with.

I used that option as I have no idea what the others mean. I have a Foundation degree which doesn't seem to fit in any box.

Interesting survey, I ended up picking morally grey area for a lot of it because I think that in some instances things are okay while in others they are not. It really depends on what the events are and how they are handled.

 

[michiehoward]

Complete! Good job!
I am glad that other people beside web show hosts are talking about this.

 

[Something Amyss]

"In general, do you think the activities of players towards NPCs can be judged against ethical standards?"
This I'm really hesitant to answer because it depends on the NPC. A generic, racist Morrowind guard who will spawn back in a little while? I don't really care about killing them.

See, I thought this was more about how our game actions reflect our real world ethics.

And I don't think it's the case that they do. I mean, sure, gaming (especially online gaming) seems to enable every freaking sociopath on the planet, but seriously. If I were anything close to my behaviour in video games, I could make Ghadaffi and Saddam blush.

 

[BloatedGuppy]

Poll tends to be a little black and white. I would have liked some more context and nuance in the answers. Is sadistically torturing a villager "morally reprehensible" if you're roleplaying an evil character? On the part of the character, yes...deliberately. On the part of the player, no...it's role playing. But what if the player is getting some kind of vicarious thrill over causing virtual anguish? Is that morally reprehensible?

Topic is way too complex for a 3 answer multiple choice poll. Nevertheless, interesting and thought provoking subject.