Meh, I see a significant difference between thinking someones a dumbass and not caring, and talking !@#$ about someone behind their back.
I think EVERYONE is a flaming dumbass for some reason or another - including me. We must all live with the knowledge that not a single one of us have an inkling of a bloody clue what the hell we're talking about. To that effect, I don't judge people based on their supposed idiocy - I expect it and don't even consciously acknowledge it. I prefer to let someone's attitudes and actions do the talking. If you believe exactly as I do but are a douche, you're a flaming !@#$. If you believe the exact opposite as me yet are a good person, then you're a good person and worthy of respect. Personal belief should never dictate how someone is treated - action and attitude should be the indicator of choice because you can believe a magical tree boned Santa and gave birth to the universe carried on the backs of unicorns across Space-Time for all I care as long as you're a good person.
On the other hand,
If you're a rapist, a violent murderer, or a manipulative, abusive monster hellbent on ruining everything you touch, it is my belief that you should not be allowed to live. Yes, its "extreme", but !@#$ it - I'm old-fashioned on the subject of capital punishment. If you live to make others' lives a living hell then you're an utter waste of space, air, time, and resources, are obviously contributing nothing to the Human species, and should be relinquished of your right to waste the time, air, and resources of those who actually try to, I don't know, not behave like monsters.
That guy who raped his own daughter and had 3 children with her while she was locked in the basement for 3 decades? Execution. Serial killers? Execution. Rapists? Execution. Child molesters? Execution. Corrupt politicians who swindle the public out of billions, thereby causing more death and suffering than we can begin to calculate? Execution.
Because I think allowing utter monsters to waste further time and resources by 'rotting in jail' is !@#$ing stupid when that same money we blow giving prisoners a better life than many Americans/whatever could instead go to, hmm, actually helping the honest, hard-working citizens?
That is the cynical side to balance my super nice, flowery, compassionate everyone-is-equal-and-wonderful-and-full-of-potential-and-special mentality I tote around. Maybe its a cultural thing but I was taught, and logic dictates, that if someone has killed a bunch of people, raped someone, or is so far gone off the deep end that they can't be rehabilitated, then there's nothing we can do to help or change them and the only thing we can do is purge them to prevent further harm - like a disease.
Like in Terran-Dwilight at the moment. I think Erasmus should be executed. Why? He will never change. He will never magically become a better person. He will never stop being the conniving, manipulative, violent, hateful bastard that he is and allowing him to live will only bite us in the ass sooner or later. The only way to ensure he does not cause any more chaos and death is to end his pathetic and traitorous existence.
Or, in the player's case, suicide him against the Zuma in an epic display of awesomeness because he also knows Erasmus can't live without causing all sorts of further bs.
Yeah, I have unconventional opinions. That's not going to change. I'm of the belief that the unfortunately-weak should be protected as it is not their fault they are that way, the gifted should be encouraged to excel and given incentive to improve our world with their unique abilities, and all emotional/physical/economic parasitism should be purged from the system - by violence if need be. And a bunch of other random crap that is purposely conflicted so as to establish a balanced system, but that's all that's pertinent to the discussion.
To me, every single opinion is on a case-by-case basis. Nothing is set in stone, nothing is absolute, nothing is unchangeable. Actions, however, can't be revoked once they've been done. Saying you've found god after killing 30 men and eating the corpses of children won't change my wanting to put a bullet in your brain to ensure whatever diseased carcass of amorality you portray is wiped clean from civilization forevermore.
If you have negative opinions of something or someone yet manage to be a respectful person, that isn't being two-faced - its being a mature human being who knows how to differentiate between what you think, what you feel, and what you want - and what must be done, what is right, and what is Just.
That is the difference between morality/respect and convenience/doctrine.
