What makes people follow made-up morality, obey silly, foolish or simply unenforceable laws.

[BritManToo]

Was reading the Kindle thread and thought, why are people paying for books.

Then extended that thought into why are they paying for movies and music.

What about those who won't pay for sex, or have to confess to DWP they are living overseas (and losing pension increases)?

How about driving without a seat belt, helmet, insurance, tax, driving license, after a few drinks, or too old, driving at 35mph in a 30mph zone, etc?

We seem to be surrounded by people with fixed sets or morality, do you obey them all, or pick and choose a few to follow.

For those who feel the need to pay, is using a legit library also immoral, how about listening to the radio or Spotify?

 

My only morality is to try to directly avoid harming anyone else.  

Can someone more moral than me explain how my worldview is wrong, and their worldview is right?

If you pick and choose then why?

[pomchop]

15 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Was reading the Kindle thread and thought, why are people paying for books.

Then extended that thought into why are they paying for movies and music.

What about those who won't pay for sex, or have to confess to DWP they are living overseas (and losing pension increases)?

How about driving without a seat belt, helmet, insurance, tax, driving license, after a few drinks, or too old, driving at 35mph in a 30mph zone, etc?

We seem to be surrounded by people with fixed sets or morality, do you obey them all, or pick and choose a few to follow.

For those who feel the need to pay, is using a legit library also immoral, how about listening to the radio or Spotify?

 

My only morality is to try to directly avoid harming anyone else.  

Can someone more moral than me explain how my worldview is wrong, and their worldview is right?

If you pick and choose then why?

How about driving without a seat belt, helmet, insurance, tax, driving license, after a few drinks,

 

Pick and choose?  Nothing to do with morality....some people have brains and would prefer to live a bit longer so they try to use their brain and make some decisions to protect them from at least a few of the more obvious threats.

[retarius]

I think it is idiocy. I tend to follow rules that I agree with. I tend to rebel against petty and stupid rules and laws and break them when I can. 

[spidermike007]

A follower mentality. Like adhering to a 90kph speed limit, on a 4 lane divided highway. I do not care how many of those inane mailbox tickets they send. I will continue throwing them away for the rest of my life. Silly laws are meant to be ignored, ridiculed and dismissed. As long as I do not harm myself or others, I have no issues with ignoring stupidity.

[BritManToo]

8 minutes ago, pomchop said:

How about driving without a seat belt, helmet, insurance, tax, driving license, after a few drinks,

 

Pick and choose?  Nothing to do with morality....some people have brains and would prefer to live a bit longer so they try to use their brain and make some decisions to protect them from at least a few of the more obvious threats.

So you're OK with driving when too old, or driving at 35mph in a 30mph zone?

Sounds like pick and choose to me!

[JonnyF]

They are weak minded people. Incapable of forming their own moral code, they need someone else to tell them what is right and wrong.

 

They are the type of people that allow atrocities to happen because they have been told to do something by their "superiors". The "I was only following orders" mentality. Pathetic little scrotes.

 

I'm the same as the OP in that if it doesn't harm anyone else, I'm OK with it. Couldn't give a toss what some lawmaker deems legal or illegal (other than ensuring I don't end up behind bars) especially when some laws are so blatantly stupid e.g. vaping illegal but cigarettes legal.

[Woof999]

Some laws aren't just there to protect yourself from self harm .They also exist to protect social infrastructure.

 

For example, driving without a seat belt. If you're in an accident and not wearing a seat belt, the chances or serious injury (ignoring death) are far greater. That puts an unnecessary load on the health service.

 

Other laws are in place because people often don't have any manners or fail to give a monkey's about what affect their actions have on others. Noise making during the hours of darkness, for example.

 

Many of us don't need to be told what to do, but without a legal framework in place, there would be no mechanism to stop those that just don't give a shi'ite.

[Trippy]

Life is full of choices, you can choose to obey or you can choose to rebel, up to you.

It's the living with our choices that is sometimes difficult.

[Dmaxdan]

I'm happy to pay for kindle books because authors that write them have a right to earn a living the same as anyone else. 

The OP states that he doesn't want to harm anybody but by stealing kindle books that they have written and own the copyright to he is indirectly doing exactly that.

 

To download them illegally, the same as with TV shows, music and movies is stealing and is therefore morally indefensible.

 

And yet the same people who do this are normally first in line to criticize a penniless shoplifter who's stealing food for his children. In the big scheme of things they are infinitely worse.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[BritManToo]

9 minutes ago, Dmaxdan said:

he OP states that he doesn't want to harm anybody but by stealing kindle books that they have written and own the copyright to he is indirectly doing exactly that.

 

Nope, I never bought books, always used a library or second hand.

[n00dle]

1 hour ago, BritManToo said:

Was reading the Kindle thread and thought, why are people paying for books.

Then extended that thought into why are they paying for movies and music.

What about those who won't pay for sex, or have to confess to DWP they are living overseas (and losing pension increases)?

How about driving without a seat belt, helmet, insurance, tax, driving license, after a few drinks, or too old, driving at 35mph in a 30mph zone, etc?

We seem to be surrounded by people with fixed sets or morality, do you obey them all, or pick and choose a few to follow.

For those who feel the need to pay, is using a legit library also immoral, how about listening to the radio or Spotify?

 

My only morality is to try to directly avoid harming anyone else.  

Can someone more moral than me explain how my worldview is wrong, and their worldview is right?

If you pick and choose then why?

im always amused when people humble brag about the tax they pay. When it comes to taxes im more proud of the ones i have avoided.  

[n00dle]

1 hour ago, spidermike007 said:

As long as I do not harm myself or others,

Im all for taking liberites, but the "i dont harm others" argument is <deleted> --  its all good that you dont want to hurt others or harm yourself until you do.

 

the argument is great as long as your crystal ball keeps working.  

 

Be honest. in some instances you just dont care. 

[n00dle]

40 minutes ago, Woof999 said:

just don't give a shi'ite.

leave religion out of it.

[n00dle]

in many cases its a generational thing.  I reckon gen x has a far more adaptable morality than boomers, who certainly had a more lax sense of mores than the gerenations that preceeded them. 

I also think its cyclical. unfortunately the pendulum seems to swinging back to  a community (vocal majority) enforced rather than individual  morality.  

[Doctor Tom]

1 hour ago, BritManToo said:

Was reading the Kindle thread and thought, why are people paying for books.

Then extended that thought into why are they paying for movies and music.

What about those who won't pay for sex, or have to confess to DWP they are living overseas (and losing pension increases)?

How about driving without a seat belt, helmet, insurance, tax, driving license, after a few drinks, or too old, driving at 35mph in a 30mph zone, etc?

We seem to be surrounded by people with fixed sets or morality, do you obey them all, or pick and choose a few to follow.

For those who feel the need to pay, is using a legit library also immoral, how about listening to the radio or Spotify?

 

My only morality is to try to directly avoid harming anyone else.  

Can someone more moral than me explain how my worldview is wrong, and their worldview is right?

If you pick and choose then why?

How do you think the makers of books and movies get paid? 

Safety features are there to save idiot people from themselves, obviously. 

Yours is a rather silly set of questions, more akin to the musings of an immature  teenager.  I hope its made in jest  

[BritManToo]

26 minutes ago, Doctor Tom said:

How do you think the makers of books and movies get paid?

You missed out music!

Shakira made $70M from her last love tour.

As for movies, none of the actors appear to be hurting.

And I don't really care if big greedy corporations fail.

 

Copyright is an odd sort of thing, charge the same for a paperback as an ebook, yet one costs nothing to make and the author still only gets 25c/sale and I have to endure ads if I buy the ebook.

[BritManToo]

1 hour ago, Dmaxdan said:

To download them illegally, the same as with TV shows, music and movies is stealing and is therefore morally indefensible.

I pay 35bht/month for HBOgo, that's movies and TV shows taken care of.

Music from YouTube and Spotify, paid for by advertising.

[BritManToo]

1 hour ago, Woof999 said:

That puts an unnecessary load on the health service.

2 points,

1.Heath service is not free, it's something people pay for, no customers = no profits.

2. Are you suggesting fat people are better than people not wearing seat belts?

 

I choose not to wear a seat belt, but I also choose not to overeat, and to exercise.

[1FinickyOne]

Most people are herd animals - that is how they are most comfortable. Safety in numbers and all that. 

 

My car screams if even the passenger won't put on a seat belt... 

 

I pay for Spotify so I can use in my car... 

 

[spidermike007]

52 minutes ago, n00dle said:

Im all for taking liberites, but the "i dont harm others" argument is <deleted> --  its all good that you dont want to hurt others or harm yourself until you do.

 

the argument is great as long as your crystal ball keeps working.  

 

Be honest. in some instances you just dont care. 

Absolutely correct. In some instances I am light years beyond caring. Just depends on the circumstance.

[Gottfrid]

2 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

A follower mentality. Like adhering to a 90kph speed limit, on a 4 lane divided highway. I do not care how many of those inane mailbox tickets they send. I will continue throwing them away for the rest of my life. Silly laws are meant to be ignored, ridiculed and dismissed. As long as I do not harm myself or others, I have no issues with ignoring stupidity.

Ok, so the result based on that, makes you drive 120 kph or more on that highway, which will be harder to control and the risk for accidents increase. Apparently, you are one of those guys, that need something to happen before understanding. You just need to harm someone before the baht falls down. Also means that the stupidity you are ignoring, is owned by yourself. 

[Woof999]

6 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Heath service is not free, it's something people pay for, no customers = no profits.

I used it as an example, so consider that example only for territories that cover most medical issues out of a shared pot. The UK for example. If not, ignore that example and think of another.

 

6 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Are you suggesting fat people are better than people not wearing seat belts?

I wasn't, but now that I come to think about it... putting on a seatbelt is typically a much faster, simpler, single task than curing an eating disorder or a lifetime of unhealthy living. I'd also say that using the excuse of "it's OK that I don't do this because other people don't do that" is a pretty poor argument.

 

6 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

I choose not to wear a seat belt, but I also choose not to overeat, and to exercise.

Out of interest, why do you choose not to wear a seatbelt? The benefits of it for the vast majority are unquestionable and we're living in a country with a far higher than norm accident rate.

[Lacessit]

I comply with laws that make sense, such as wearing a seat belt or motorcycle helmet. The accident statistics take care of those who choose not to. Don't come to me for sympathy if you become a paraplegic as a result of your choices.

There's no law which requires me to drive defensively, I do it for self-preservation.

I agree there are some laws that are stupid. Invariably people find ways to work around such laws.

I don't believe in cheating people, I pay for what I want.

OTOH, I take every cent I can get in government pension, having paid truckloads of taxes in my working life.

I come from the pre-Boomer generation, and have realised some of the morals/ethics my parents and teachers taught me were valuable, others were foolishly naive.

 

[Celsius]

Sure you obey the laws you hypocrite.

 

I can give you 50 examples that you obey laws in Thailand much more so than you would back in Britain. Yes, you seem to be proud to bang anything that you can pay or download illegally in this corrupt country, but you obey visa laws, you obey the monarchy and obey anything that can prolong your mongering in Thailand. You have to thus making you even more law obeying sheep that the people you describe 

[spidermike007]

5 minutes ago, Gottfrid said:

Ok, so the result based on that, makes you drive 120 kph or more on that highway, which will be harder to control and the risk for accidents increase. Apparently, you are one of those guys, that need something to happen before understanding. You just need to harm someone before the baht falls down. Also means that the stupidity you are ignoring, is owned by yourself. 

Are you claiming that 120kph, in a four land divided highway, in good weather, in a nearly new car is not safe? Really? And you drive slower than that, on the open highway? And I am now a stupid man for that? If that is the case, my guess is that you have labeled half or more of the folks on this forum as such.

[n00dle]

7 minutes ago, Celsius said:

Sure you obey the laws you hypocrite.

 

I can give you 50 examples that you obey laws in Thailand much more so than you would back in Britain. Yes, you seem to be proud to bang anything that you can pay or download illegally in this corrupt country, but you obey visa laws, you obey the monarchy and obey anything that can prolong your mongering in Thailand. You have to thus making you even more law obeying sheep that the people you describe 

Nothing personal tho.

[Woof999]

12 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

Don't come to me for sympathy if you become a paraplegic as a result of your choices.

Wouldn't be able to.... ????

 

Reminds me of the camouflage wheelchair for sale. You can hide but you can't run!

[fredwiggy]

12 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

2 points,

1.Heath service is not free, it's something people pay for, no customers = no profits.

2. Are you suggesting fat people are better than people not wearing seat belts?

 

I choose not to wear a seat belt, but I also choose not to overeat, and to exercise.

You are picking and choosing, as all of us do. I always wear a seat belt, although I didn't for a long time, until I moved to Texas and it was a law they enforced. Now I wear it because if I had an accident, especially here where the risks are high with all the incompetent drivers, I'd want to stay in the car, if by chance it flipped. Not wearing a seat belt in the US has risks not only for you, but for others. If you get into an accident, and aren't wearing a seat belt, and you die, that person can be charged with manslaughter. If your children aren't wearing one,, you can be charged also.                                                                                                                                                     Many rules are there to protect us from ourselves, and also to protect others from our irresponsibility. Drinking while driving, or just before, can hurt or kill not only us, but others. Not having insurance will ensure we will pay out of pocket for a long time, including a fine. Most everyone speeds, because they don't like the restrictions, but speed limits are there for a reason. Some roads are downright dangerous to drive, especially at night. Speed is the main reason people die on roads. Driving a tad over the speed limit isn't that bad, unless you are in a school zone.                                                                                                                                                                 Legislators make the rules, taking into account professionals who theorize what speeds are safe in all conditions. Many of us download things in torrents, which are illegal and take from the profits of artists. Rules are there to protect others, and picking and choosing is what most do, because we are all rebels and do things that we think are right for us, even though they can affect others.

[retarius]

I guess this is what the woke nonsense is all about. Fake morality, fake rules. I don't do pronouns. 

[Gottfrid]

54 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

Are you claiming that 120kph, in a four land divided highway, in good weather, in a nearly new car is not safe? Really? And you drive slower than that, on the open highway? And I am now a stupid man for that? If that is the case, my guess is that you have labeled half or more of the folks on this forum as such.

What I said was that increased speed also increase the risks. Nothing more. The stupid part, you where right about, though