Moral relativism in Lord of the Rings Online
It's one thing to accept that in the average fantasy MMO, you're going to be killing a truly astonishing number of creatures. That's not the most commendable concept ever, but it at least falls under the header of expected. But every so often, you find yourself stopping to think about the real-world ramifications of what you're doing. The Angry Bear took a closer look at the activities that Lord of the Rings Online is currently moving through in the Mines of Moria, and come to some rather interesting conclusions about the game's stance of invading the homes of other sentient creatures, killing them, and claiming everything they'd owned for several thousand years as rightfully yours.
Of course, Lord of the Rings Online is hardly the first time you've been tasked with invading someone's home for little reason other than it being convenient, but the argument outlined here is rather compelling and interesting. It also comes to an interesting conclusion after all the moral sides of the argument are fully explored, one that puts you largely back in the same place you started -- but it's still an interesting argument to consider. Take a look at the full piece, and perhaps tread a bit more lightly the next time you venture into Khazad-dum.
