Episode 55

Double Standard

Speaking of social conscience, the subject of morality gets shuttled around a lot in law and government. Social, media, and legal standards for protecting women, children, minorities and civil rights are pretty touchy. The scope of 'acceptable behavior' is pretty damn broad outside the system in everyday life.

What isn't governed by law is mandated by taboo down to gossip up through the media.

Most of that shame doesn't exist in my sphere, be it my city or the internet. I guess it shows in my writing and comic. I believe society should have a conscience, but I think we always need to remember to back the fuck off when it comes to lifestyles that have nothing to do with our own. More often than not, corruption comes from control rather than letting people live their lives.

Yeah, I know this is terribly vague, but I don't support the protection of society's oh-so-fragile-self-perception as a whole. Individuals have a right to live free and safe, but I find it impossible to believe that unconventional lifestyles and choices endanger those rights. Be it adult content in movies, television, video games, pornography, marijuana, homosexuals teaching our children, or adulterous presidents, I really don't care. It's up to the parents and each person to decide their own virtue. The laws are pretty lax on all that, but the social conscience can be rather hot against any individual singled out for the stake.

It really doesn't protect anything but an illusion of virtue that doesn't exist and has never existed. We do pretty well without pointing fingers. We should keep it that way.

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