Article Summary
In response to LegendMUD: Archives: Greebo’s Essay on Ethics: An Essay on Ethics and Virtual Reality (Don’t Get Mud In Your Eye) by Chuck Haeberle, Travelin’ Jack, Greebo
Greebo asks: “What morality exists in the context of a game? Do we treat a game as a subset of ethics or should virtual reflect our ethics in reality?”
He says in order to answer this question, one must understand that there are two types of games: finite games and infinite games. Finite games have a rigid set of rules and limited playing time. Infinite games have flexible rules. Infinite games can last forever, without limits.
“Life itself can be included in the realm of infinite games,” Greebo said. “Life is the ultimate game.”
He says there is a distinct difference between finite players and infinite players.
Finite players searches for a set of rules that best suits him or her. The timid player, or infinite player, will cling to guidelines and rules. The infinite player will not question the authority of the virtual creator.
Greebo says infinite players “seek their own cage” while the finite player “has adopted a set of rules for themselves.”
Greebo says he is an infinite player because he believes that he can best benefit others as an infinite player.
“I believe that most situations should be left to the mortal players to resolve,” he said. “Immortals should become involved only if a player shows extreme disruptive signs or has gained some unfair advantage.”
While Greebo agrees that players should be infinite, choose their own world, and make their own virtual decisions, he says it is important to respect the rules of the implementor. But, he says it is only human nature to try and manipulate one’s virtual environment.
“We are humans, and we seek to dominate our environment,” he said.
