Thread: Is it ethical to hurt your DCs?

^^ And in that case it is a game you're just playing, Wolfwood; you're right.

I think the general theme of this thread is not about killing in defense, or battling with evil attackers, or killing DC's by accident. No; it is about going out of your way to genuinely harm DC's just to harm them, especially if they pose no threat to your own DC self.

So yes, if you've found yourself in a battle-ravaged dreamscape crowded with marauders out to get you, or perhaps Freddy Kruger has you in his sights, I can't see much argument against following your instincts and defend away (aside from changing the dream to something less violent, which is what I would do).

But I don't think choosing a DC at random and intentionally harming it is quite the same thing as that, and doing so does seem an affront to the dreamer's natural ethics (ie, stone cold murder= bad for pretty much everyone).

Here's one last thought: if the WakingNomads, Sivasons, and Shadowofwinds of this forum are correct, you might not be harming just another DC, but the avatar for an actual person; something to consider, I think!

Originally Posted by Sageous

^^ And in that case it is a game you're just playing, Wolfwood; you're right.

I think the general theme of this thread is not about killing in defense, or battling with evil attackers, or killing DC's by accident. No; it is about going out of your way to genuinely harm DC's just to harm them, especially if they pose no threat to your own DC self.

So yes, if you've found yourself in a battle-ravaged dreamscape crowded with marauders out to get you, or perhaps Freddy Kruger has you in his sights, I can't see much argument against following your instincts and defend away (aside from changing the dream to something less violent, which is what I would do).

But I don't think choosing a DC at random and intentionally harming it is quite the same thing as that, and doing so does seem an affront to the dreamer's natural ethics (ie, stone cold murder= bad for pretty much everyone).

Here's one last thought: if the WakingNomads, Sivasons, and Shadowofwinds of this forum are correct, you might not be harming just another DC, but the avatar for an actual person; something to consider, I think!

Mmm, I think the issue is not destroying an innocent DC or erasing them from existence, which would be exceptionally bad in real life. In the dream, snapping your fingers and having an innocent DC drop to the floor dead is not the same as having that ability and doing it in real life...no; however, torturing and harming a DC over time in a realistic, visceral-like manner....all whilst the DC is responding in a very realistic way... that is quite disturbing.

What I'm getting at is that this question isn't of a yes/no kind.... killing a DC for no reason is highly contingent upon how it's done. Even in real life, it is said that sniping someone from a distance is devoid of all the mental torture and anguish found in blasting someone's body to shreds with a shotgun. That is to say, we feel worse when we see another suffer over time and up close -- I don't think reshaping your dreamscape by 'deleting' DCs is anything to worry about; however, someone choosing to harm an innocent DC over time, in a horrific, up-close, visceral-like manner...making them suffer and cry in pain.... and then to gain pleasure/satisfaction from it.... I think this says a lot about the person's mental state.

Though I'm not really answering the question from an ethical point, that is, whether it is right or wrong. I'm simply answering it from a personal/emotional standpoint (should we feel bad or good or nothing?)