Stealing...

Stealing is stealing whether you do it in the real world or in a cyber world created by those who developed Diablo, right? Or maybe not. Was playing online Diablo out of boredom just now. Somebody joined the game I created and dropped some really good items on the ground which my brother promptly asked me to pick up. I know this is a cyber world and all these items are not really worth anything in the real world. Nevertheless, that player must have taken the trouble to fight bosses after bosses to get those items and I felt bad picking them up without seeking the approval of the other party.

This prompted a mini argument with my brother. To me, taking without asking amounts to stealing, but my brother argued that no players drop items on the ground for others to see in hope that others would keep their hands off them; anything on the ground is up for grabs. I had received powerful weapons or armor from other players before but those players would specifically let me know those are for me, that player did not.

My brother then continued arguing that those weapons are definitely for me because the weapons dropped are specific for the Amazon class whilst that player is playing the Paladin class. I mean, fair enough, but at the very least send a "thank you" message to that player. My brother just shook his head while he took control of my character looking through the items "given" to me and proceed to transfer some of the armor to his characters. He saw no point in asking nor thanking.

I am disturbed. Will there be a day when we live by the cyber rules and forget the social and moral rules that we have now?