No, this is not a to do list. I am not lining up for some nefarious deeds in the near future. Maybe the not so near future… ? Nah, silly me. I see these three words as my guide for conduct. I will endeavour to not do anything illegal, immoral or unethical. The legal issue is pretty straightforward. Laws are written down and enforced. It is a way of making groups of people behave. Common sense should be a part of that but we all know how that works. The tricky bit comes when you’re dealing with issues of morality and ethics.
Ethics are something that is dictated by society or specific cultures. Morality is our internalization of that and how we respond to said society. Unfortunately, both seem to have the ability to waiver and re-create themselves depending on the time of day and the weather forecast. Do I sound a wee bit sarcastic?
If you could travel back in time, you would find some differences in the laws used to govern society. The basics were all the same: killing bad, theft frowned upon, fraud, assault and so on. But there were other laws in which, as we have evolved, we saw the inequalities in society and have endeavoured to correct them. We also made a point of putting these laws in writing which allows us to enforce them. We still have a ways to go.
Ethics have also changed over time and that is not a bad thing. They are not stagnant and should grow as we grow. But why does it seem as if every politician, every dictator, every person in authority seems to make it their goal to change ethics to accommodate their platform? The whole concept of morality and ethics should be there for the benefit of all. Globally, locally and individually. You know the whole idea of ‘doing unto others as you would have them do onto you’? Why do people forget that? You do not want to be cheated out of your life savings? So why do some people think it’s OK to do it to others? Yes, I am we bit naïve. I like to believe in the good of people. I like to . . .
So, I will give other people the benefit of the doubt until they prove me wrong. They so often do. And I’m going to try to live my life according to my principles: nothing illegal, immoral or unethical. Well, I said I would try!
Butterfly Sand 
The first line cracked me up, I’ve been rolling on the floor foe the last 5 minutes trying to get back up without starting to laugh again. Oh dear Pam, you truly know that ‘button’ don’t you 😂🤣
Ok, I’ve wiped the tears out of my eyes…and had to reread it all again 😀. So yes, it changes like our whims for chocolate. Sometimes getting stuck but I think if we were all forced to eat dark chocolate all the time we would get sick of it.
So, an eye for an eye lost its ability of fear simply because we had to clean up after it. And I think integrity wouldn’t work only on Mon, Wed and Fri. Immoral is anything against that love inside us…but if I steal your chocolate, it does feel good inside me…so that won’t work either. Oh well, we’ll just have to trust someone who has a twinkle in their eye…what are you doing at the moment? 😂🤣
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Reading your words and smiling! “Oh what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive.”
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Indeed we do dear lady 🤣
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Too many people who have been given the benefit of the doubt have proven me wrong. When you see people being harmed by your efforts to improve your situation, it’s a bad thing you’re doing. When you plan involves finding groups of people you can make people hate, it’s a bad thing. When you choose to violate the law because you don’t agree with it…well, you know.
Thanks for making us think about these things, Pam.
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You’ve summed up my feelings perfectly Dan. We are all in this together, why do some people not get that?
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Too many selfish people 😦
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For some people, this should be their ‘to do’ list. Illegal, immoral, unethical…good conducts to stay away from. It should be a natural way of life for us all, but it isn’t. All it takes is common sense, but there’s far too little of that going around any more. It doesn’t take any more effort to live within the boundaries of legal, moral and ethical.
Ginger
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I agree with you completely Ginger! Unfortunately it appears that there are a great many people who do not have the will.
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some people honestly and clearly do not consider these things
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They don’t consider anything other than themselves
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Hear, hear!
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Thanks!
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You’re welcome!
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Ditto, Pam.
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Thanks.
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Under the heading of unethical trail cairns have also fallen. Once a way to mark trails when no other means were available people also have used them to mark a celebration on having hiked a trail. Now the prevalent attitude is they cause environmental disruption and should only be used where needed. If only that attitude would catch on in terms of protecting our space ship I.E. the planet.
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Perhaps the saddest thing to say: if only…
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Brilliant.
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Thank you.
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Good one, Pamela. I think we all try hard to avoid doing those three.
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Well, most of us.
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Yes. Most of us. There are some clinkers.
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I think it’s interesting how we perceive these things compared to what the reality is in many instances. We want leaders who are morally upright and ethically sound? Doesn’t seems so by the way many of our elected officials carry on. And their constituency stands behind them even then!
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I don’t understand what some people are thinking of when they vote. Then again maybe they aren’t thinking. Maybe that’s the problem.
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In the states, I feel as if certain voters hide behind candidates. They would never say the things their candidates say, but they agree with it. It’s rather sick.
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“The whole concept of morality and ethics should be there for the benefit of all.” That pretty much sums it up… Should indeed.
Food for thought here, Pam.
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I hope you enjoyed your chef’s offerings. We are always open for a good dinner crowd.
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You know it!!
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