A rotating panel of experts from the worlds of ethics, psychology and religion offer their perspective on the dilemas that come with living in Southern California

Today’s question: Any harm done here? You board a plane before your row is called because you are pretty sure a few others are doing it and you are afraid there will be little space left for your carry-on luggage if you wait.

R. Patricia Walsh

Professor of psychology,

Loyola Marymount University

Boarding by rows is an arbitrary rule instituted by the airlines to organize the boarding process. Row assignments are done mostly by chance rather than by any rational system. Violating these boarding regulations may be rude, but seems neither immoral nor unethical. It is similar to rushing to the front of any crowd. Before boarding by rows was instituted, passengers simply rushed ahead to board early, and no obvious harm resulted. The worst thing done here might be that another person, rather than oneself, would be inconvenienced in finding storage for their luggage. This event does not seem to fit the definition of “harm.”

Michael Josephson

President-founder, Josephson Institute

of Ethics, Marina del Rey.

Harm is done whenever someone cheats. It sets a bad example for others (they will use us as their excuse for violating the rules) and it erodes our character. A person of character does the right thing even when it is inconvenient. A rule asking people to board by row number makes good sense and the airlines ought to do a better job of protecting the honest passengers--but that is true of most things. Even if others are doing it, this is never an excuse. We are all judged on our own integrity.

Leonard Peikoff

Chairman emeritus, Ayn Rand Institute,

and talk show host, KIEV-AM (870)

If airlines reserved a specific place for carry-ons with each seat, it would be wrong (and pointless) to board prematurely. Today, however, the paying customer faces a contradiction: You have a right to a carry-on and to stow it near you--except when you can’t. Under these circumstances, to get what one has contracted for, a person has every right to board early. The alternative is to watch resentfully and self-sacrificially while others march in to grab what is yours. Such a policy is wrong, as are all forms of self-sacrifice.