do your morals translate into the game?

[Topgunben]

This is kind of a deep topic but I was curious what the community thinks about this. This thread will have more affect on those that have some morals to begin with.

Do you feel it morally wrong to lie in the game? Given you feel it's morally wrong to lie in real life?

Are you ok with zero tip for someone from DAP? but not ok with the same to your uber/waiter(ess)?

If someone left a fungi on the ground to pick it up with another char, are you ok with taking it as your own? Likewise if someone leaves his wallet full of cash in the park, do you feel morally obligated to return it?

Of course, I think most of us can all agree that while killing thousands upon thousand of sentient beings is ok in game, it is likely morally wrong in real life!

Thoughts?

[bigjeff100]

For me? Absolutely!

[Danth]

I act towards other players in-game about the same as I act in the normal world, because for me they're one and the same. I don't regard the internet as some alternate reality like some folks do.

Of course, my character murders whatever NPC's he feels like, but that's what they're for so no problem there. That's no different than shooting clay pigeons.

Danth

[Chortles Snort|eS]

SometiMe chAotIc NeuTrL interPreTD RoNg In Me XP

[loramin]

I feel bad about "murdering" good faction NPCs.

[Deathrydar]

My angle on this is:

I am nicer in game than I am in real life because the people in real life suck! And their pixels are broked!

[BlackBellamy]

I'm much nicer to people in game than in real life. That's because in real life I can size them up real quick, so I can tell how aggressive I need to get. In game I don't know who is behind the toon, so I'm going to get all mean and make some young kid cry, that's not nice.

[Khikik]

Nope iksar in-game and irl

[Axlrose]

Each of my characters have their own personality and style. So while my warrior might ask a person who appears in trouble if they need help, my shadow knight would just watch the slaughter. Yet from a real life angle, playing this game, if someone dropped something highly prized and I picked it up only to have them search for it, then once they tell me what was dropped, I have no problems returning it. Thinking about this, during my stint on Live, I went with the "need before greed" route too. Better to have good karma backed with being known as honest and reliable instead of being chastised as an asshole stealing petty pixels for shits and giggles...

[Jibartik]

I think people are literally the cute little gnome girl they are playing and in my mind I am truely hanging out with a gnome.

Then the gnome is like, Cutieytoes tells the group: Sup sluts. Want me to pull or you bitches got it?

[pink grapefruit]

Actions taken irl seem to have more harm potential, as it's more than just time and personal feelings at stake. And when you play a game it's widely understood that there is some suspension of realism that (one would think) lessens the impact of immoral acts taken against a player. Obviously it's silly to think of acts taken against an NPC as being immoral so we can probably just ignore that part of this.

Guess it kinda depends on what the playerbase in any given community deems as being immoral. On VZ it was "immoral" to attack people who were still engaged in fights with NPCs, so I always politely waited for them to finish before murdering them in cold blood. The other 3 servers were not like that. If it was widely acceptable behavior to train, ninjaloot, delevel enemies, corpse camp, etc. then I wouldn't have any qualms with doing so.

We can't ignore the large sociological piece of this puzzle or the weird relative nature of morality.

[Deathrydar]

And when you play a game it's widely understood that there is some suspension of realism that (one would think) lessens the impact of immoral acts taken against a player.

What madness are you talking about?

This guy doesn't think this is real, guys!
Pfft!

[Barantor]

I think people are literally the cute little gnome girl they are playing and in my mind I am truely hanging out with a gnome.

Then the gnome is like, Cutieytoes tells the group: Sup sluts. Want me to pull or you bitches got it?

I think this is why nobody took me seriously when I would tank with my gnome paladin, they didn't think I could do it even if my stats/gear were better than something like a troll or ogre lol.


As for the OP question, I'm a generally nice person so I tend to act that way all the time. If I played a pvp game I'd support my friends.

I also don't feel right killing friendly npcs like guards.

[Nagoya]

i can roleplay a bit sometimes, and have my characters act in-game slightly different than real me, but in the end it is just me anyway, and my RL morals take the lead. i can understand how for many, inhibition means they are "nicer" in-game than in real life, maybe because in real life they are shy to be nice. but i don't really have this issue and i'm pretty much the same IRL and in-game.

i am pretty sure that players doing asshole things in-game are also assholes in real life.

[sacman08]

I think everyone's does in some way, shape or form.

[Sonark]

I think the only honest answers are

"No."

And

"Probably mostly."

[Vexenu]

I try to follow the golden rule in game and in real life. I always tip for a port. If I'm on my Wiz and someone needs a CR port and I'm available, I port them. If I see a struggling new player, I give them some plat and any items I have laying around. If I'm in a group and an item drops that is an upgrade for someone in the group, I either won't roll or will roll and then give it to them if I win. I regard these things as fairly simple courtesy.

Several years ago in the tunnel (pre-Velious) someone handed me a bag filled with high end twink gear, including a Fungi and a RBG. At the time I don't even think I had 10k plat to my name. I wasn't sure what to do, but a couple minutes later the guy frantically sent me a tell asking if I had the bag. I gave it back to him. Was I tempted to keep it? Of course. But I knew deep down I wouldn't get any satisfaction from using those items if I acquired them in such a dishonest manner.

I try to always keep in mind that ultimately all these pixels we collect really don't matter. The only thing that matters is if you feel good about playing the game. Because otherwise what's the point? And being generous, helping people and generally trying to be a positive influence feels much better than being a selfish, pixel-obsessed asshole.

Thankfully, I know I'm far from the only person who thinks this way. There are many selfless, generous players on the server. Shoutout to them.

[Cen]

In real life, I do magic tricks, and get naked constantly in front of massive amounts of people like every other day for the fun of it.

In game, my characters kill thousands of monsters while wearing armor, and I am overly sarcastic to an asshole level to people because they wont be able to punch me in the brain.

So the answer is I don't know man.

[tsuchang]

I clicked on this thread thinking I'm gona wax so sarcastic on this one, then I read comments and saw I was out of my league.
I tip my hat to the trolls much higher than I.

[Halfcell]

I would say my morality is pretty consistent. I am a colossal dick to people who deserve it, and kind to the point of self-detriment to those who need it. I don't steal, ever, but I do lie when necessary, though rarely solely for my own benefit. I gain far more joy from helping others than from helping myself, but I gain the most joy from harming those who would happily harm me or others.

Most of all I never ever give a damn what others think about my morality ��

[Uldarre]

This is kind of a deep topic but I was curious what the community thinks about this. This thread will have more affect on those that have some morals to begin with.

Do you feel it morally wrong to lie in the game? Given you feel it's morally wrong to lie in real life?

Are you ok with zero tip for someone from DAP? but not ok with the same to your uber/waiter(ess)?

If someone left a fungi on the ground to pick it up with another char, are you ok with taking it as your own? Likewise if someone leaves his wallet full of cash in the park, do you feel morally obligated to return it?

Of course, I think most of us can all agree that while killing thousands upon thousand of sentient beings is ok in game, it is likely morally wrong in real life!

Thoughts?

I tend to try to translate my moral into my behavior to my in game behavior. I try to not lie to anyone. I think everyone tells white lies from time to time but my behavior is generally up front and honest.

I don't regard tipping as a moral question at all. Tips are definitionally gratuities and are thus not mandatory. That said, I always tip for a port if I have the money. I would make efforts to return a fungi/wallet to its owner. However, if they cannot be located, that isn't the finder's fault. Provided the finder made a good-faith effort to return the items to their owner.

I actually have no qualms with killing things in game. As a cleric of Nife, I am sworn to fight the forces of evil and death. I don't think there is anything inherently immoral with opposing, with force if necessary, the forces of evil that exist both on Earth and in Norrath. I don't buy the notion that evil cannot be truly defined.

Most of all, my moral translate into game by my going out of my way whenever possible to help people. If people need a rez that's far off, I'll go. If people ask for buffs or whatever, I'm always happy to give them. I try to help and lift up folks as much as I can. Particularly those who are weaker than myself.

[GreldorEQ]

Tips are definitionally gratuities and are thus not mandatory.

This implies you have already paid for the service, and a tip is extra! Perhaps we should call them payments instead of tips.

[Pozzey]

Now I understand why there are so many 50s+ PLing noob/low teen zones. Emulating RL priesthood experiences. Nice.

[Gustoo]

Mine do.

[El-Hefe]

There is someone behind that keyboard.

Treat them nicely if you don’t know them or you know they’re cool.

Treat them like an asshole if you know they’re an asshole.

[honeybee12874]

Nice topic!

I try to play my character as close to how I believe she would act as possible. Since she is a "good" character, this includes not killing NPCs that I believe are also "good" or NPCs that I am allied with. For example, even though I know I could kill wyverns without any faction hit, I just can't do it because I am allied with COV after all, and why would I kill my allies?

In terms of interactions with other players, I try to be helpful and kind and friendly and treat other players the way I would want to be treated. If I see a bag lying on the ground I might pick it up just to see what it is. If it's a fishing grub or a piece of fruit or something I might keep it but if it's anything else I will promptly drop it back on the ground where I found it.

I try to always keep in mind that ultimately all these pixels we collect really don't matter. The only thing that matters is if you feel good about playing the game. Because otherwise what's the point? And being generous, helping people and generally trying to be a positive influence feels much better than being a selfish, pixel-obsessed asshole.

I really like this sentiment! :D

[Jibartik]

As I have said before I played on Rallos Zek

PKers to me were like, real murderers.

Then randomly, I met one once when I was in college. Someone who was a proud player killer from Rallos Zek.

At first I almost belted him in the lip... but Instead I listened to his regaling of his player killing and the laughter in his heart as he explained his motives, really opened my mind.

Instead of thinking Everquest was real life, he looked at the game as a game, and so it was all fun for him.

I learned a lot that day.

That people that don't think Everquest is IRL are sociopaths. :cool:

[GnomeCaptain]

I'm taller than a Gnome irl but otherwise quite similar in game.

I'm such a hippy I don't attack animals in game or rl.

I like exploring and don't take things too seriously.

I have no time for people that make things unpleasant in game or rl.

As an Enchanter I enjoy taking on certain illusions and wearing certain clothing and letting people think what they will.

In WoW world-pvp I never initiated combat but I'd whoop an ass if me or my friends were attacked (Gnome Warlock!).

[pink grapefruit]

As I have said before I played on Rallos Zek

PKers to me were like, real murderers.

Then randomly, I met one once when I was in college. Someone who was a proud player killer from Rallos Zek.

At first I almost belted him in the lip... but Instead I listened to his regaling of his player killing and the laughter in his heart as he explained his motives, really opened my mind.

Instead of thinking Everquest was real life, he looked at the game as a game, and so it was all fun for him.

I learned a lot that day.

That people that don't think Everquest is IRL are sociopaths. :cool:

*PKs u*

[Cen]

As I have said before I played on Rallos Zek

PKers to me were like, real murderers.

Then randomly, I met one once when I was in college. Someone who was a proud player killer from Rallos Zek.

At first I almost belted him in the lip... but Instead I listened to his regaling of his player killing and the laughter in his heart as he explained his motives, really opened my mind.

Instead of thinking Everquest was real life, he looked at the game as a game, and so it was all fun for him.

I learned a lot that day.

That people that don't think Everquest is IRL are sociopaths. :cool:

I only ever played on Rallos Zek, theb sullon from its release until mid luclin. I was Darkenbane in RZ and Flowers of Happiness on SZ :p

[Cyph]

I would say that my morals do translate in game; I don't lie, I try to help whenever I can, I also tell people what I think, I think of my actions and how they may impact other people, etc. I was even good to NPCs with my necro :confused:

[Baler]

my first live character was a paladin
my first p99 character was a mage

I think I regressed.

[Jauna]

No, because I developed this habit years ago about every alt having a different personality/what i can and cannot say depending on time invested/care about its future

Take my WElf druid in DaP, always nice, moving people around and more often than naught I give in to free rides for folks trapped in Qhills
But on my HElf Wizard in DaP I am not as nice for some reason. Maybe because im bitter that everyone wants SoW and no one really wanted me until I got TL:Bind and groups didnt want me

Then another factor is the alt I am playing. If I tank a pug as a warrior I am highly irritable and prone to /qing over rogues not knowing about evade. But sk/pal alts are pretty damn smooth, even if I also have to pull
the list can go on but my own personal morals irl vary from alt to alt.

[Madbad]

Madbad in game and irl

[YendorLootmonkey]

20 years from now, no one will remember your server first or what loot you had, but they will remember how you made them feel.

[Chortles Snort|eS]

*PKs u*

[Tobius]

When I play Minecraft I'm vegan but not on P99.
I try to help people on all my characters but my only high level is a non twinked warrior so don't get a lot of opportunity.