Week 8: Are Meanings Virtually The Same

After Reading week we were set the task to read chapter 6: Are meanings virtually the same in ethics in the virtual world and answer the following question for class:

What is Power's argument for moral policing in computer games?

What is meant by the term 'morally corrupt'?

Is it fun to 'break taboos'? Use arguments from the chapter to support your position.

So lets start with the first question: What is Power's argument for moral policing in computer games?

Power declares that to engage in these STA's is morally wrong and its not because they are an equivalent to POTA's but a representation of them in other words when engaging in taboo subjects as symbolic they represent taboo subject matter on the outside world. With that you look at GTA where in its game play you can shoot, murder and run over people does that mean it is promoting that it's ok to do that in reality no it is not as even in GTA they have put consequences for those actions like police arresting/ killing you if you get caught 

Or in Skyrim if you attack and kill someone you are then attacked by the guards of the city if you killed someone innocent in the game or if you steal things from an inn or an shop and get caught you are arrested and either pay a fine or get thrown in jail all though games have violence and even taboo subjects they are consequences to those actions and it gives you choices as well.

What is meant by the term morally corrupt?

To understand what is meant by this first i wanted to breakdown the definitions of Morally and Corrupt

Morally is to have a sense of what is right, good and truthful based on an implied common standard or from within yourself

Corrupt is dishonest, erroneous and untrustworthy conduct, usually by way of bribery or alteration of original intentions that ultimately leads to a bastardized view of original goals.

When these two words combine, several definitions of moral corruption arise. First is that one's view of what is right and good is simply upside-down or not in-line with the agreed standard. Second, one can be moral but achieve the goals of those morals in dishonest ways (Plato described this concept as the "honest lie"). The third scenario is one that needs a follow-up:  can a person who does not have any morals be morally corrupt?

Is it fun to 'break taboos'? 

The answer of that question would be yes it's human nature to try and break rules or taboo's that they live by or the majority stand by and finding a medium that they can do that is even better in the book Thomas Nys states "Knowing that it is wrong is part of the fun and games. The thrill of such actions is precisely that they transgress ethical boundaries. That in some cases there is allure that some STA's have and being able to do it in a virtual space where characters and worlds don't really exist gives the player a feeling of immersion that once they are done they have not really harmed anyone, and being able to live out a fantasy that they would not normally do in the outside world its the same when someone is immersed in a book or a film and the can imagine that world and doing those activities without harming or disrespecting anyone in the real world.

with that there is an attraction especially now of people role playing in bad characters or anti hero's being able to do morally questionable things but still look like you are the good guy in it all its that immersion that they can engage with different emotions and identities in relative safety in the virtual world. this is backed up by Jeroen Jansz 2005. 

but in games now they are recognize this fact and giving people the option to play the bad guy in skyrim you can join two factions that could be seen as questionable the thieves guild where you have to steal and rob from people some are justified but others might not be but they have morals and do  not rob from their own and also the Dark Brotherhood where they are assassins and purposely take jobs that involve killing people no matter if they are innocent or not if they have been paid then the job is done

But you have the option of not joining these factions just don't complete any of the quests or refuse to join them.

Also Fable gives you the option of your character being good or being evil and also infamous gives you the choice of good karma or bad karma and have the choice to save the city in the end or watch fall into ruin

So i believe that games have begun to recognize that players like challenging there morals and breaking taboos in virtual worlds and are developing its game play to enhance that.