Posted 2013-October-15, 08:37
The ethics of the game are defined in the Laws, and Regulations made under the aegis of those Laws. If you follow them, you are being Ethical.
You may choose to stick exactly to that level of Ethics, or you may choose to go forward from there. In either case, you are being Ethical, and others have no cause against you; if you are known as one who plays right down to the line, every time, expect to have others, even those who normally are beyond what is legally required, stick to the line against you. You have no cause for complaint against that, either.
Having said that, those who go beyond what is legally required, and are upset that other opponents do not give them the same leeway, have my sympathy, and require instruction (and, from me, it frequently consists of the previous paragraph) - but that's it.
Note: as can likely be seen from the left side of this post, I adhere more to the "play right to the Law line" than many; and fully expect - in fact, sometimes insist even when the opponents want to "ignore" something - to be held to the same standard. I wish that more players knew the right, Legal, way to waive away an infraction, of course.
Edit: Note that the ethics in Golf - many adhered more in the breach than in the fact, at least outside tournament play - are also written into the Laws. The difference is that in golf, you are expected to know, and apply, the Law. Putting the first half of that expectation into Bridge would, IMHO, be an improvement.
When I go to sea, don't fear for me, Fear For The Storm -- Birdie and the Swansong (tSCoSI)