I could write music for commercials, it pays very well. I choose not to on ethical grounds. If it were my only choice to feed my family, I would change my mind.

I could write music for commercials, it pays very well. I choose not to on ethical grounds. If it were my only choice to feed my family, I would change my mind. But it is hard to truly terrorize people with music, although I've been accused of it. ;) Should personal ethics factor in to what we do as work? Absolutely. More than most ethical decisions, what we do as work can profoundly affect the world around us. Are these distinctions easy and clear? No. Is that a reason to stop thinking about it and just do whatever is most fun and pays best? In my opinion, no. This is one of the greatest questions we all face, how our daily actions affect others, and I no longer expect quick and definitive answers. But it means a lot just to keep looking.