All In the Mind?

[Harpuia]

I'm wondering... many of the statistics that show up involving morality tend to have differing results. For example, some people say two virgins when they marry will likely divorce because they can't handle each other sexually, or others say two non-virgins will likely divorce because they will more than likely cheat on each other.

Another one is the issue of marijuana. People think that marijuana has bad effects while others say it's not.

I'm beginning to wonder now if many of these morality issues are simply what we make of it. That both sides are right and wrong, depending on your mindset of the situation. I'm talking about the little things of course, because there are certain, ahem, lifestyles, that do wind up on the wrong end of that positive pole. (Example, the gamer group I was once in.)

 

[CSmrw]

I think polls reagrding morality are, if anything, counterproductive. There is no "morality" that everyone can agree on for a start. I think the test needs to be something more defineable, and I think in my country that test is liberty. The founders really nailed it right from go, even if they couldn't live up to it themselves. If everyone has guaranteed liberties, then morallity is important only in context, as it is in reality. If a person's morality directly prevents me from life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness then it must step aside.

 

[Niels]

I'm beginning to wonder now if many of these morality issues are simply what we make of it.

Each of us is limited by our own perspective. We have lived different lives, ascribe to various schools of thought, interpret things differently etc. Life must be interpreted subjectively, though most of us are at least vaguely aware that our subjective opinions don't change reality. As such, we do our best to determine what that reality truly is. The topic of morality is consistent with this.

 

[michabo]

For example, some people say two virgins when they marry will likely divorce because they can't handle each other sexually, or others say two non-virgins will likely divorce because they will more than likely cheat on each other.

If virgins are more likely to divorce, that might come from stats. The reasons you give are not.

Another one is the issue of marijuana. People think that marijuana has bad effects while others say it's not.

This depends on what you mean by "bad". If "bad" is related to health or societal impacts, they can examine the studies (or perform their own) and see if the data bear out their hypothesis.

If "bad" is a religious or moral thing, then no amount of statistics will help because data isn't important.


You may be confused by the fig leaf of science or health that many religiously motivated people put around the issue (e.g.: "Reefer Madness"). This has been an issue since prohibition days, and while many people may believe that marijuana has negative health impacts, these are incidental to their motivation for banning it.

I'm talking about the little things of course, because there are certain, ahem, lifestyles, that do wind up on the wrong end of that positive pole. (Example, the gamer group I was once in.)

And the puritanical side of America strikes again.