Personal ethics

I've talked before about my personal ethics before, in terms of why I don't shop at WalMart and kind of in stuff I hate. My ethics were not imposed on me by an outside source, but rather developed internally by what I, personally, think is right. I've never tried before to codify my personal ethics, but I thought I would give it a shot.

• Think - don't use imaginary worlds as a crutch. The world is strange and wonderful enough as it is without have to make stuff up to explain it.
• Stand up for what I believe in - speak up when people are rude, thoughtless, and intolerant. Don't shop at places that have policies I disagree with. Don't work for a company that stands counter to what I believe. Don't support those who wouldn't support me.
  
• Speak for those who can't speak for themselves - including animals, children, and those who, for some other reason, can't speak for themselves.
• Don't hurt people unnecessarily - not "if you can't say something nice, then don't say anything at all," but close. There's rarely anything to be gained by being unkind to people; it only demeans me, not them.
• Don't hold a grudge - it takes too much energy and only hurts me, not them.
• Don't care what other people think about what matters to me - harder than it sounds, but always worth the effort.
• Make the world a better place - in whatever way possible.
  
• Harm the planet as little as possible - limit my use of dangerous chemicals. Try not to over-consume.
• Get over myself - as much as I'd like to believe it, the world doesn't revolve around me. Deal with it.

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