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<blockquote data-quote="Leif" data-source="post: 4707757" data-attributes="member: 48762">Most people who have posted to this thread say that alignment is how people ACT.&nbsp; But that misses an important point:&nbsp; I think that alignment is, primarily, intended to describe a person's system of BELIEFS, not actions.&nbsp; Oh, certainly, most 'sane' people&nbsp; act in some rough degree of accordance with their beliefs, but when push comes to shove, when people find themselves against a wall with limited choices, none of which may seem viable, when people are under extreme stress from within and without, it is at those times that people may, and sometimes do, act in ways that are not in accordance with the 'beliefs' that they hold most dear at times when they are relaxing in front of a warm fire with a glass of merlot.So consider the 'stressed-out' actions of a desperate L/G person in responding to a threat with excessive force that results in the death of someone who merely slapped his face.&nbsp; Does this action mandate an alignment change???&nbsp; I would argue that it does not, because the person's BELIEFS have not changed at all.&nbsp; Of course, those beliefs would almost certainly prompt some very strong feelings of guilt, and perhaps responsibility for the dead person's widow and family.&nbsp; If suitable follow-up actions did not occur indicate the depth of belief on the part of the 'murderer' then an alignment change might just be in order.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Leif, post: 4707757, member: 48762"] Most people who have posted to this thread say that alignment is how people ACT. But that misses an important point: I think that alignment is, primarily, intended to describe a person's system of [b][u]BELIEFS[/u][/b], [b]not actions[/b]. Oh, certainly, most 'sane' people act in some rough degree of accordance with their beliefs, but when push comes to shove, when people find themselves against a wall with limited choices, none of which may seem viable, when people are under extreme stress from within and without, it is at those times that people may, and sometimes do, act in ways that are not in accordance with the 'beliefs' that they hold most dear at times when they are relaxing in front of a warm fire with a glass of merlot. So consider the 'stressed-out' actions of a desperate L/G person in responding to a threat with excessive force that results in the death of someone who merely slapped his face. Does this action mandate an alignment change??? I would argue that it does not, because the person's BELIEFS have not changed at all. Of course, those beliefs would almost certainly prompt some very strong feelings of guilt, and perhaps responsibility for the dead person's widow and family. If suitable follow-up actions did not occur indicate the depth of belief on the part of the 'murderer' then an alignment change might just be in order. [/QUOTE]

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