Post by Dark Sun on Feb 3, 2024 17:50:19 GMT -5
It is often argued that consuming fictional content is harmless, so long as the individual is able to identify it as such (with some extreme exceptions to this rule, of which I do not feel comfortable listing any). Sometimes I do wonder how and why the brain is able to create this distinction? Why is it that in a fictional setting, an individual can forego all trace of morals and ethics and act in the world without fear of consequence?
I'll provide an example. I think most would agree that killing a cow in real life is objectively worse than slaughtering a bovine in Minecraft. The former animal can feel distress, pain, and those actions committed have real-life consequences. Killing a cow in Minecraft lacks all of the above, even if they can be simulated. Nonetheless, why and how does the brain dig this trench (a separation from reality from fantasy) so deep? Is that in of itself problematic?
If you go around killing chickens or pigs in Minecraft for their resources, without ever considering how immoral or unethical it might be, does that say something about the person behind the screen, either consciously or subconsciously (or both)? If you go around smashing other people's vehicles in Mario Kart, having a good old time (and they're willing participants who are doing the same thing), that's obviously infinitely less concerning than if they were to attempt to replicate that in real life. That's not the philosophical question I'm presenting, however.
If someone were to effortlessly kill a cow in Minecraft, or a zombie in a horror game, even if they wouldn't dare attempt or even think about the real-life equivalent (yes, zombies are not real, beyond the point), and might be disgusted and appalled by it, does that still make them a terrible human being? How can you advocate for animal rights if you, without second thought, kill a chicken in Minecraft, or not feel bad (following a few seconds) after accidentally killing a bunny in Terraria? What if you kill a cow in Minecraft, and it falls down a ravine into a pool of lava, and you found that humorous somehow. Is that wrong?
Should humanity reflect upon themselves from the outside in and strive to be better? Should violent content, or the ability to commit violent acts in a game (ex. the Mario Kart example above), be entirely prohibited? Should we teach future generations to be better, and that committing deplorable acts in a fictitious setting, no matter how severe or light, should never be tolerated?
I ask this question because very rarely, after spending months of playing games such as Project Zomboid, which involves the killing of the undead, or after killing a hornet in Terraria, I ask... is any of that okay? Of course, I can and do separate fiction from reality, and would never commit those actions IRL (or even think to, and feel appalled thinking about it), but is the fact that our brains can create these two very different environments problematic?
It can be argued that part of the creation of this divide is the lack of consequence. Okay, what if you were to give someone in real life the inability to experience consequences? Let's say they were immortal and impervious to damage or pain. Would that change them as a human being, morally and ethically?
TL;DR: The brain separates reality and fantasy, and often disregards or alters our morals and ethics in the latter setting. Why is this? Is this something to be addressed or a "quirk" that we must come to accept? Philosophical discussion.
Edit: I would like to reemphasize that this is just an attempt at brainpicking, and I'm interested in hearing the thoughts and perspectives of others! Even the last part of the post is a part of this process.