I’ve been doing some freelance work that relates to ethics. As an outsider, a provider of service, the ethical aspect of this job is an intellectual exercise. I am not put in a position that requires of me an ethical action.
I am inclined, however, to ponder the issue as I process the material. Smugly I patted myself on the back because I would not be tempted to choose the unethical path.
Like most things that are right but challenging to execute, my smug presumption was easy due to the circumstance. Fast forward to this evening. I installed Words with Friends on my tablet. My first opponent was myself. It seemed a simple way to become familiar with the game before inviting real people to play. What I least expected was to confront myself with a moral dilemma.
My self-inflicted moral dilemma may be the hind end of an equine subspecies. It certainly could be described as petty. Nonetheless the situation in which I found myself required a moral choice. I was tempted to cheat while playing against myself.
I did not want fictional player 2 – me – to beat…well…me. For one moment I was tempted to throw the game so I could win. I could manipulate the letter tiles to ensure that player 2 lost her lead.
What did it matter who won? Because the winner would have been me…regardless. Yet, inexplicably, I considered being my own Trojan horse. I didn’t. But I wanted to!
Not my shining hour.
