02-05-2004, 12:23 AM
I think I might be able to sum up adeyke's point about ethics with a metaphor.
It is ethical in the real world to set up experiments and do calculations to figure out the way the world works. This is the study of physics and is analogous to play testing in D2.
It is ethical to set up a simulation experiment and perhaps even repeat it thousands of times in order to help your study of physics. It is ok, as part of your laboratory setup, to use an MRI or fluoroscope or to see things that are going on in your experiment that the naked eye can not usually see. This is analogous to modding/using ATMA, etc.
It is unethical to usa a portable MRI/fluoroscope/other sensor to go around the parking lot at the mall to try and find the car that has a 357 Magnum and $25000 cash under the seat, then using your strontium laser to open up the car and take it. That is analogous to Maphack, cheats, dupes, etc.
We transfer money and goods all over the place in the real world. We trade stocks, sell used cars, etc., all ethical. Analogous to muling/trading.
It is unethical to manipulate the wire transfer system/stock market/etc. in the real world. This is analogous to duping or sniffing in D2, and is just as unethical.
It is ethical in the real world to set up experiments and do calculations to figure out the way the world works. This is the study of physics and is analogous to play testing in D2.
It is ethical to set up a simulation experiment and perhaps even repeat it thousands of times in order to help your study of physics. It is ok, as part of your laboratory setup, to use an MRI or fluoroscope or to see things that are going on in your experiment that the naked eye can not usually see. This is analogous to modding/using ATMA, etc.
It is unethical to usa a portable MRI/fluoroscope/other sensor to go around the parking lot at the mall to try and find the car that has a 357 Magnum and $25000 cash under the seat, then using your strontium laser to open up the car and take it. That is analogous to Maphack, cheats, dupes, etc.
We transfer money and goods all over the place in the real world. We trade stocks, sell used cars, etc., all ethical. Analogous to muling/trading.
It is unethical to manipulate the wire transfer system/stock market/etc. in the real world. This is analogous to duping or sniffing in D2, and is just as unethical.