For most of us, the word “ethics” means “stop doing that!” Too much ethics and nothing gets done – too much talk, not enough action — analysis paralysis. And as kids, adults came out of the blue to tell us to stop, questioning our character and threatening consequences. Survival strategy: “OK Dad,” internal censorship installed.
Of course, parents must tell kids to stop, set limits. We all learn to conform to our communities, ostracized if we get too weird, called “unethical.”
So ethics becomes a loaded, emotionally charged word. From childhood classrooms to government regulation, “ethics” is often used as a cudgel to keep us in line. These are oppressive, frightening, and suffocating ethics, like punitive “Ethics investigations.”
This site is about positive alternatives to these triggers: ethics as a way of life and work, strengthening community and building value.