What's morally acceptable to you?

[IMPress Polly]

I was scoping out a bunch of Gallup polls recently and ran across this survey data about Americans' views on a range of moral issues. Thought it was kinda interesting. It's the results of annual survey Gallup conducts about moral issues. They name an issue and ask people whether they think that behavior/action is morally acceptable in their minds or not and a number of related questions. The link shows the survey results from 2001 to the present, so you can see how public opinion has changed over the last couple decades.

Here's the percentage of Americans who view the issues inquired upon as morally acceptable as of May 2020:

-------------------------------------------------------------

Birth control: 90%
Drinking alcohol: 86%
Divorce: 77%
Sex between an unmarried man and woman: 72%
Gambling: 71%
Smoking marijuana: 70%
Gay or lesbian relations: 66%
Having a baby outside marriage: 66%
Stem cell research using human embryos: 66%
Medical testing on animals: 56%
Buying and wearing clothing made of animal fur: 54%
The death penalty: 54%
Doctor-assisted suicide: 51%
Abortion: 44%
Sex between teenagers: 38%
Pornography: 36% ...Sorry tPF.
Cloning animals: 34%
Polygamy: 20%
Suicide: 18%
Cloning humans: 12%
Married men and women having an affair: 9%

-------------------------------------------------------------

Exception 1: While I recognize teen pregnancy as a real social problem...I just think it's ridiculous to argue that sex itself between teenagers is intrinsically immoral.

Exception 2: I don't view suicide as generally a moral failing on the part of a person who kills themself, I view it as typically a failing of society that they chose to do so. I also can't help but notice the contradiction here between most people being okay with doctor-assisted suicide on the one hand but nonetheless condemning suicide itself on the other. That doesn't make sense to me.

Exceptions 3 and 4: Americans condemn the termination of fertilized eggs by poor women who can't afford more children, but are fine with the state executing actual, inarguable human beings who are also mostly from poor backgrounds. I was about to say that I don't understand that logic, but as I actually write this out, it's actually starting to make rather offensive sense to me.

Anyway, how about you? Is your opinion similar to the prevailing views of Americans shown here? If not, where do you differ?

[Calypso Jones]

Those figures are current showing acceptance of the behaviors listed? And they've gotten larger over the last decades.

Well...that is sad.

[Chris]

Your list is confusing as you do not also provide the percentage of those who find each action morally unacceptable, say it depends, or give no opinion. Abortion for example is view as 2020 May 1-13 44% acceptable, 47% unacceptable, 9% depends, and 1% no opinion. In total then 57% do not find it morally acceptable. Not to single that action out, just to show that giving all the percentages adds meaning.

Depends is an importantant category, I think, beause as I scan your list I find myself asking in what context would I find it acceptable/unacceptable, and in almost all case would say it depends. As most moral issues do depend on context.

"I view it as typically a failing of society" follows on the view of Rousseau and most left-leaning liberal views since. Blame society for a person's choises.

Abortion and execution are categorically different and that allone dispells you finding hypocrisy. The child is presumed innocent, the condemned guilty. I personally would allow for abortion of the child if the mother's life/health were seriouslly medically threatened. I personally have no qualms about taking the life of a heinous murderer. --Do you begin to see how context is important, and how in the abstract anything can be said without so much as invoking any morality.

[IMPress Polly]

Those figures are current showing acceptance of the behaviors listed? And they've gotten larger over the last decades.

Well...that is sad.

Not all of the behaviors are showing a positive trajectory in terms of acceptance. Overall, for example, issues relating to potential cruelty to animals are on a mixed trajectory anymore, the death penalty is becoming somewhat less accepted, and public acceptance of doctor-assisted suicide and pornography have both waned in the last couple years.

[Cotton1]

Not all of the behaviors are showing a positive trajectory in terms of acceptance. Overall, for example, issues relating to potential cruelty to animals are on a mixed trajectory anymore, the death penalty is becoming somewhat less accepted, and public acceptance of doctor-assisted suicide and pornography have both waned in the last couple years.

L
My acceptance of.others engaging in what they.accept is high..usually not my business. But, when it.concerns cruelty to animals all bets are off. "Potential " cruelty as in.med testing better be.directed.at saving many many.lives.
Even then it makes me want to puke

[Cotton1]

I was scoping out a bunch of Gallup polls recently and ran across this survey data about Americans' views on a range of moral issues. Thought it was kinda interesting. It's the results of annual survey Gallup conducts about moral issues. They name an issue and ask people whether they think that behavior/action is morally acceptable in their minds or not and a number of related questions. The link shows the survey results from 2001 to the present, so you can see how public opinion has changed over the last couple decades.

Here's the percentage of Americans who view the issues inquired upon as morally acceptable as of May 2020:

-------------------------------------------------------------

Birth control: 90%
Drinking alcohol: 86%
Divorce: 77%
Sex between an unmarried man and woman: 72%
Gambling: 71%
Smoking marijuana: 70%
Gay or lesbian relations: 66%
Having a baby outside marriage: 66%
Stem cell research using human embryos: 66%
Medical testing on animals: 56%
Buying and wearing clothing made of animal fur: 54%
The death penalty: 54%
Doctor-assisted suicide: 51%
Abortion: 44%
Sex between teenagers: 38%
Pornography: 36% ...Sorry tPF.
Cloning animals: 34%
Polygamy: 20%
Suicide: 18%
Cloning humans: 12%
Married men and women having an affair: 9%

-------------------------------------------------------------

Exception 1: While I recognize teen pregnancy as a real social problem...I just think it's ridiculous to argue that sex itself between teenagers is intrinsically immoral.

Exception 2: I don't view suicide as generally a moral failing on the part of a person who kills themself, I view it as typically a failing of society that they chose to do so. I also can't help but notice the contradiction here between most people being okay with doctor-assisted suicide on the one hand but nonetheless condemning suicide itself on the other. That doesn't make sense to me.

Exceptions 3 and 4: Americans condemn the termination of fertilized eggs by poor women who can't afford more children, but are fine with the state executing actual, inarguable human beings who are also mostly from poor backgrounds. I was about to say that I don't understand that logic, but as I actually write this out, it's actually starting to make rather offensive sense to me.

Anyway, how about you? Is your opinion similar to the prevailing views of Americans shown here? If not, where do you differ?

I differ on med testing use of animals and abortion

[HawkTheSlayer]

On the subject of Polygamy, i dont see how a man could possibly put up with more than one wife.

[The Xl]

Not a fan of animal or human cloning, testing on animals, or abortion. Basically stuff that effects another party. I don't have an issue with divorce in theory, but the fact that the state straight up robs people bothers me, as does the effect it can have on children if there are any involved. Any sort of sexual thing does not bother me in the slightest, what other people do is not my concern. Suicide I have mixed feelings about, as its something that does not just have an impact on the individual, but the loved ones of said individual.

[TheOneOnly2]

Doctor assisted suicide is still suicide right?

edit - Oh. You said that. Ha.

I agree.

Doctor assisted suicide is a very slippery slope. If the Dutch set up a hospital bed for a depressed teenager that wants to be euthanized and decide not to force feed her when she refuses fluids/food then that is state-assisted suicide in my book. I also have a feeling the state gave more help than that. Or the family.

[Red Lily]

On the subject of Polygamy, i dont see how a man could possibly put up with more than one wife.

I absolutely agree but you realize this works both ways right? I won't take it any further though LOL