<rant>

I've come to the conclusion that we are too obsessed with the notion of right and wrong. I don't know if this is a matter that is universal to our entire species, or if it's nationally, culturally, socially, societally, religiously, or economically induced trait, or if it's just peculiar to individuals, but it's true. I heard a long spiel today about why a particular person was going to make a decision, which ended with the statement, "I think I'm completely justified." To which I responded, "It isn't a matter of jusitifcation." I think, whether it be the entire society or just individuals, that we have become incapable in many instances of distinguishing the moral and immoral from the amoral. Sometimes a decision is just a decision, and a choice is just a choice. Barring extreme circumstances (cannibalism, perhaps) or esoteric concerns (e.g., the particular marital indiscretions of the CEO of a fast food chain), the choice of what I want to eat is not a matter of right and wrong; it's just a choice. But when other people get involved, we automatically assume that there's a "right" and a "wrong," even though it may be no different than choosing that next meal, or what TV show you're going to watch. Even in a choice as personal as friendship, there is rarely a "right" or "wrong." It's just a choice, and it's yours to make. Make it. Even though you're just trading off (worrying about implications beforehand, worrying about consequences afterward), at least it adds variety.

</rant>

Now I have a deeper question, a matter of genuine curiosity... Let's say that the inability to distinguish choices with moral implications from regular old choices is an idiosyncrasy peculiar only to certain individuals. What does that say about those individuals? Do they suffer from a guilty consience? Do they have issues with inferiority? Are they paranoid about being wrong? Are they genuinely altruistic people who just want to avoid making choices that might hurt people? Are they perfectionists who must always be right in order to maintain a positive self image? Is it a conscious choice not to distinguish between the two? Do some people honestly believe that every action has deep moral implications? Are they self-important stuffed shirts who simply must believe that all their actions and decisions have to have some sort of cosmic significance? Or are they simply myopic? Or, am I totally wrong, and every choice does, in fact, necessitate the consideration of the concepts of "right" and "wrong," the attribute of being "justified" or "unjustified"? I don't think so, but... Is the negative light with which I've painted these people "right" or "wrong"? Do I care? Does it matter whether or not I care, and if so, is it "right" or "wrong" or somewhere in between?

At least I can answer one question with surety: Am I going to bed now? Yes.