Rockstar Games: Accountable or not?

Many issues surround the company that is notorious for it's "Gran Theft Auto" series. The game promotes activities such as killing a prostitute after having sex with her, attacking a cop to avoid detainment, and killing just about any bystander in the game. Considering Grand Theft Auto from a duties and rights perspective, there are certain rights that suggest that the production, sale, and use of the game is unethical and should be restricted, if not prohibited. From a Utilitarian perspective, the game is unethical because it is not socially beneficial to society, in fact, it is the very opposite. The game demoralizes the nature of the crimes and makes them easier to commit. More and more shootings, such as Columbine and VT are occuring, and what is to blame?? Is it TV, videogames, or some other phenomena causing our youth to act maliciously and atrociously.
Rockstar could argue that its games serve as a primitive form of stress release through fantasy storylines, and that any logical person could separate what happens in the game from real life, just like right from wrong. Your thoughts....

Ethics of Whistle-Blowing

This is another interesting article that explores the ethics of whistle-blowing. Very similar to what we've discussed in class, and may have been helpful for the test had I discovered it earlier. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3257/is_1_53/ai_53635408?tag=rbxcra.2.a.1

Whistle-blowing on the rise...

This is an interesting article on whistle-blowing in the corporate world, and how it is becoming more and more probable. Are people finally dissenting themselves from their prospective roles in business for the greater good of society? http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m4256/is_n3_v22/ai_18764058

8yr old charged with murder

An 8-year old was charged with murder of his father and another man recently. Is it justifiable to charge a kid that young with murder? Does the kid know any better or is it the parent's fault for leaving such things around? Your thoughts.... http://www.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/11/08/child.charged.ap/index.html?iref=mpstoryview

Mexican Police Helping Cartels

This is an article about how a former police sergeant aided the Sinaloa, the leading mexican drug cartel. A family of six was opened fire on, all of which were innocent. Corruption in government is a big issue today in all societies. What are your thoughts???

Spitzer off the hook?

Recently, Former Gov. Elliot Spitzer, who was charged with various account involving a prostitute, was not charged with anything!!! The court found no substantial evidence that he was using campaign funds to finance the VIP club or whatever, so he's off the hook?? This in my opinion does an injustice to us all. A government official gets caught buying hookers, and he gets off... That sounds all to familiar to me. This is with exception to Clinton....I liked Clinton, and thought he was a good president despite his personal life

Obama wants a playoffs in college football

If anyone watched Monday Night Football the other night, you would have seen Chris Berman's interview with presidential-elect Barack Obama, and runner up John McCain. In an interesting answer to the question "What would you change about sports?", Obama stated he wanted to make a 8-team playoff in college football and get rid of the bcs system. This has been an ongoing controversy for years in college football....I for one would like to see the playoff, just to get an extra three games, however some argue it takes away from the enormity of the games played during the regular season. My point however, relating to philosophy is "politics and sports should not be mixed either way in my opinion" regardless of whether I agree with Obama or not, I don't think we need government intervention in sports. How do you feel?

How moral can business be?

An article that questions the ability of a business to be moral, and to the extent which it can be or wants to be.... http://www.religion-online.org/showarticle.asp?title=1688

White Collar Crime

This is an interesting article that analyzes who is really taking the heat for all the corporate fraud and other white collar crime that has occured in the recent decade. http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/06_06/b3970083.htm

Complete Guide to Ethics Management

This article provides insight and perspectives towards being a better, more ethically sound manager, and making decisions based on moral judgement, rather than blind ambition. http://www.managementhelp.org/ethics/ethxgde.htm

Approaches to ethical decision making

This article provides approaches to ethical decision making for managers. It provides Utilitarian perspectives, and a couple others we have not learned in class. A quick, enjoyable read. http://www.poznaklaw.com/articles/bizethics.htm

5 Ways to Ethically Consider Situations

This site provides 5 ways to ethical decision making. The sight gives another approach then that learned in class which I thought was nice. http://ethics.georgesmay.com/ethical_ways.htm

Business Ethics Site

This site provides a little insight to how the little things make ethical business that much more achievable. http://ethics.georgesmay.com/little_things.htm

6 guidelines to ethical business

A nice little piece that breaks down the aftermath of all the scandals in previous years, and provides 6 guidelines to ethical business. http://ethics.georgesmay.com/knowing_ethics.htm

Palin is a joke!

This is an article about how Palin tried to get her brother-in-law fired from the state police and violated some ethics, but the article defends her. I for one think Palin is hilarious!! She's not the brightest star in the sky, and McCain is just plain evil. http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/11/03/palin.investigation/index.html?iref=24hourshttp://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/11/03/palin.investigation/index.html?iref=24hours

Boeing Union Strike

This article is about Boeing, Inc. and the union labor strike that recently ended. The union ratified a new contract that will ensure that the laborers share in the success Boeing has had over recent years. The union has said the contract protects more than 5,000 factory jobs, prevents the outsourcing of certain positions and preserves health care benefits. I think this is a huge victory for union workers, because it is a fading facet of our society, and an important one in my opinion. I had trouble posting the link the first time so if it doesnt work this time its.... http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,1855754,00.html