On video game morality

I recently saw an opinion put forward online that fishing in a video game is unethical. This opinion was being mocked quite forcefully on social media. I happen to think fishing is okay, but I think it raises an interesting question. If something is unethical in the real world, is it unethical to carry out (or even just endorse) virtual representations of it?

I don’t mean to lecture people in politics or philosophy, but this question is very relevant to me in my day-to-day life. There are things I have refused to do in video games on the basis that I think they’re wrong. Cannibalism and torture are my prime examples. For me, I don’t want to pretend to undertake those activities, even if I’m not really doing it. Some readers may be surprised that there is even the opportunity to engage in these things, others may say, “so what? It’s not hurting anyone.” The real question for me here is: if I draw the line there, why am I comfortable engaging in other virtual activities I think are wrong?

Video games involve a lot of killing and violence, generally in circumstances that are (at best) morally dubious in the real world. In many games you mow down waves of de-characterised human enemies, perhaps as your character yells out things such as “die, die, die”.  Other normal video games activities include performing robberies, and going on murderous rampages killing everyone in sight.

Is there a line that I should draw for what I do in video games? How would I even go about drawing it? Should I limit myself to G-rated, family friendly games about racing and golf?

Maybe this isn’t even a question limited to video games. Violence is common place in almost all forms of media. Of all the things that exist, we seem to be utterly fixated on (and even glorify) violent acts that we would be imprisoned for in the real world. There is, I think, a question about whether this is a good thing. For this reason, I am willing to back the person who said that fishing in a video game is unethical, for raising a better point than the internet gave them credit for.

It’s a confusing thing for me and my personal choices. I know that video games, television, and novels aren’t the real world. I think that is an important distinction. That being said, I also think there is a limit to what media I should be willing to engage in. For example, I wouldn’t be a fan of a film that pushed for increasing the rate of domestic abuse, to the point I’m not even sure I’d be willing to watch it.

I think it’s mainly down to the execution. I’m happy for media to explore dark themes; I just don’t want to be forced towards accepting these things, or to play a character who has to do certain things. I don’t want a game to to actively push for a dogma I think is wrong, like that murder is okay or something. I’d probably personally “boycott” a game like Slave Trade Simulator 2000.

I don’t really have an answer to these questions I have, so generally it’s just something I think about from time to time. I’d be interested to know if anyone else has thought about this, or has any insights into how to deal with these kind of questions. Maybe you think the questions aren’t really that hard at all, I’d welcome any thoughts down below.