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naraburns  nihil supernum  1yr ago (text post)   34512 thread views

Culture War Roundup for the week of March 6, 2023

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I mean, yeah I would. I value my honor above having a job, even if it means I am going hungry.

But part of my point here is that @SaruchBinoza is most likely wrong in his assessment that he has paid such a heavy price for not cheating. Most people who don't cheat do just fine. Therefore, if you're struggling odds are that it's something else that caused your struggle. Saying "if I had cheated I wouldn't be suffering now" is comforting I'm sure, but I don't for a moment think it's true.

I mean, yeah I would. I value my honor above having a job, even if it means I am going hungry.

Have you done that before?

And yes in the case of SaruchBinoza, it's not over unless he is literally on the edge, but I do understand where he is coming from because that line is a lot thinner than places outside the US.

I am fortunate enough to have never been forced to choose between cheating on something or having a job. However, I remain committed to my principles and I resent when people say "well you'll change your tune when X happens" (because it's both patronizing and has always proved wrong before). So I hope that isn't what you were getting at.

I am quite literally hinting at that because it's rare in my experience that people actually stick to their words when things actually get tough and uncertain. If you can do it, then you have my respect.

But if you allow me some wiggle room, It's not that I exactly think you would change your tune, it's that I think you are incapable of comprehending what you would do if things get bad enough. The circuitry in your brain that might activate then might have never been activated in the past.

So yes, your present self wouldn't do anything you are saying you won't, but what guarantee exists that the current you will remain preserved? Especially as your lower faculties desperately tries to do what it has evolved millions of years to do (Not give a shit about ethics and just get the bread).

It's certainly possible that, when faced with the situation, I would choose differently. I'm not perfect after all. However, I would certainly attempt to live up to my ideals. And even if I didn't, that doesn't mean my ideals were even wrong, it means that I did wrong and failed to live up to them.

But honestly I just really wish you wouldn't take such a tack to begin with. Like I said, it's very condescending. And I can tell you that on every previous occasion where someone told me "you'll change your tune someday" (generally adults talking down to me as a child), they turned out to be wrong. So I don't put much stock in the correctness of such statements even if they were more polite.

I apologize for taking such a tack and gossiping to that effect elsewhere.

I am in agreement with the utility of integrity, I have written in response to Fruck that I am losing faith in its practicality. And I'm not a total deontologist, Maybe 30%.

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