I see, so iron man was not responsible for the deaths created by the weapons he sold, even to bad guys like the ppl that blew up his heart. And ppl selling weapons and supplies to russia during wartimes has no responsibility for what's it used for.
Creating is fine and all, but selling your stuff means you hold responsibility with whom you sell to. If you supply a country, you are condoning any wars or 'lawkeeping' they perform. If you sell to gangsters you are encouraging systemic oppression. If you sell to criminals, you are encouraging public unrest turning lethal.
If you sell to a middleman you are absolved from any responsibility whatsoever, unless said middleman has known allegiances~
"Weapons are made to hurt people [...] whether it's a knife or a sword"
Me looking at my butter knives...
Idk, I don't think I would be able to emotionally absolve myself at that point. It isn't just a matter of judging the character of the person you hand the weapon too. If the weapon is stolen or sold to someone with bad intentions afterwards, then you would have misjudged the competence of the person you gave it too. Looking at the line of events, a poor decision you made lead to tragedy. In that situation, I would feel personally responsible, if only in part. If there isn't a powerful third party that can enforce the proper use of the weapon, I would feel the need to go put an end to it personally.He should at least first make sure the elf isn't working for an elven supremacy faction, like Thalmor.
You don't need to take it that far. He can make and sell weapons for those he deems trustworthy, but he shouldn't lose his sleep over worrying endlessly what those weapons later could possibly be used for. His responsibility ends with the first sale, more or less. He's mostly selling his wares through that one merchant, who seems like a decent enough person. He does special projects for others, and those he can select personally. If such a weapon is later stolen from the original owner, for example, it can't be said to be his responsibility anymore. It would be his responsibility if he made a terrifying weapon for an obvious scumbag. That's something he might want to avoid.
That was my point. So long as he sells to a middleman who he doesn't expect to do anything for profit without regard to the smiths morals, then his hands are clean.His responsibility ends with the first sale, more or less.
This is what I were saying. His conclusion was that it doesn't matter, and he can go ham in saturating all the markets (white, black or whatever) with OP town-annihilating weapons whenever anyone asks, without needing to worry about morals (we even saw a scene in first chapter where he had sold to the demon lord that wants to annihilate humanity so such an extend a literal storybook hero was made (and yes, I know it's supposed to be a "demon lord is a good guy too" development - but then why is there a hero?)). While I argue that no, he should at least avoid taking obvious scumbags as his clients.It would be his responsibility if he made a terrifying weapon for an obvious scumbag. That's something he might want to avoid.
The problem is that he enjoys making superb weapons, specifically swords. Yes, he enjoys making just pretty good ones as well, which is what he mostly makes, but if you think about it, normally anyone would want to develop and make masterpieces, given a chance and resources. He has the right to do it. In fact a bloody god gave him the skill to do it, so doesn't he have a divine right to do it? The question is, then, if he can live with the possible results. As long as he doesn't overdo it, he should stick to what he loves to do. This second chance was bought with his own life, after all. He doesn't need to live a miserable life of worrying about what-ifs.That was my point. So long as he sells to a middleman who he doesn't expect to do anything for profit without regard to the smiths morals, then his hands are clean.
This is what I were saying. His conclusion was that it doesn't matter, and he can go ham in saturating all the markets (white, black or whatever) with OP town-annihilating weapons whenever anyone asks, without needing to worry about morals (we even saw a scene in first chapter where he had sold to the demon lord that wants to annihilate humanity so such an extend a literal storybook hero was made (and yes, I know it's supposed to be a "demon lord is a good guy too" development - but then why is there a hero?)). While I argue that no, he should at least avoid taking obvious scumbags as his clients.
I already said that there's no issue with creating them. The issue is going "hmm, am I morally responsible for what my creations do if I sell them to ppl I know are scumbags? naaah, it's solely the scumbags fault if I enable them!". At least vet the person you sell to somewhat, if you have moral qualms about killing-tools being used to kill aplenty (while I did say you have responsibility, nothing stops said responsibility from being as vapid as akin to your responsibility for the death of a blade of grass or an ant being stepped on, when you invite your friend over - meaning if you don't mind strangers dying (a very normal and reasonable stance) then there's little issue! (that wasn't the case with mc tho)).The problem is that he enjoys making superb weapons, specifically swords. Yes, he enjoys making just pretty good ones as well, which is what he mostly makes, but if you think about it, normally anyone would want to develop and make masterpieces, given a chance and resources. He has the right to do it. In fact a bloody god gave him the skill to do it, so doesn't he have a divine right to do it? The question is, then, if he can live with the possible results. As long as he doesn't overdo it, he should stick to what he loves to do. This second chance was bought with his own life, after all. He doesn't need to live a miserable life of worrying about what-ifs.
Yeah, but that fundamental level in this case is kind of a moot point because we know he cares about it very much. Too much. He looked like he could even stop making weapons altogether and only equip farmers and cooks, due to his sense of foreboding guilt. I'm merely saying it's also wrong to deny him the right to do what he loves to do the most, just because something sad might eventually happen. The middle of the road approach is for him to reasonably make sure his weapons would be in the hands of decent people, but still keep making them because that's what he's living for. It seems like that might be his choice.I already said that there's no issue with creating them. The issue is going "hmm, am I morally responsible for what my creations do if I sell them to ppl I know are scumbags? naaah, it's solely the scumbags fault if I enable them!". At least vet the person you sell to somewhat, if you have moral qualms about killing-tools being used to kill aplenty (while I did say you have responsibility, nothing stops said responsibility from being as vapid as akin to your responsibility for the death of a blade of grass or an ant being stepped on, when you invite your friend over - meaning if you don't mind strangers dying (a very normal and reasonable stance) then there's little issue! (that wasn't the case with mc tho)).
The fair thing to do is sell them to everyone. If everyone has access to such a powerful weapon then they'll have no choice but peace.I see, so iron man was not responsible for the deaths created by the weapons he sold, even to bad guys like the ppl that blew up his heart. And ppl selling weapons and supplies to russia during wartimes has no responsibility for what's it used for.
Creating is fine and all, but selling your stuff means you hold responsibility with whom you sell to. If you supply a country, you are condoning any wars or 'lawkeeping' they perform. If you sell to gangsters you are encouraging systemic oppression. If you sell to criminals, you are encouraging public unrest turning lethal.
If you sell to a middleman you are absolved from any responsibility whatsoever, unless said middleman has known allegiances~
Well, he did say "weapons", so I'm going to assume he's talking about fighting knives, not tool knives. Because otherwise he's talking bullshit. But he still is, since he claims that swords and knives have the same purpose, which isn't the case, even counting only dedicated weapons. Well, unless you go as generic as "hurt people" regardless of whether you're talking attacking or defending."Weapons are made to hurt people [...] whether it's a knife or a sword"
Me looking at my butter knives...
You don't need to take it that far.
Honestly, the most wrong thing I see with it is that he questions whether even having the doubt makes him pathetic. It's absolutely something you can worry about, as made obvious by the discussion in this thread.I already said that there's no issue with creating them. The issue is going "hmm, am I morally responsible for what my creations do if I sell them to ppl I know are scumbags?
They are both the Hero of their side in the conflict, both of them are the good guy, so long as there aren't circumstances like the Human Hero being a puppet of a totalitarian regime, expansionist power, or fascist religious organization."demon lord is a good guy too" development - but then why is there a hero?))
That was never the question, it was whether he's responsible if his creations end up in the hands of scumbags. You're the only one taking it that far, seems that you take it farther with each comment you make.The issue is going "hmm, am I morally responsible for what my creations do if I sell them to ppl I know are scumbags?
I want him to make a poleaxe.Yeah, but that fundamental level in this case is kind of a moot point because we know he cares about it very much. Too much. He looked like he could even stop making weapons altogether and only equip farmers and cooks, due to his sense of foreboding guilt. I'm merely saying it's also wrong to deny him the right to do what he loves to do the most, just because something sad might eventually happen. The middle of the road approach is for him to reasonably make sure his weapons would be in the hands of decent people, but still keep making them because that's what he's living for. It seems like that might be his choice.
At the end of the day, only thinking about the catastrophes is also a failure: His weapons can also be used for good.