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Even as a child, I never really understood this concept and I am old enough to remember going to video stores a lot. But you're rewinding one way or the other. Why does it matter if you're doing it when you just get the cassette or when you're done watching it?
And video stores were super adamant about this too.
If everyone does it, it improves the overall experience of everyone, as you said, at absolutely no additional personal cost, financial or otherwise. You get home from Blockbuster, insert the tape, flop on the couch with the still warm takeout food, and begin your movie night without any friction. At the end, you placed the cassette on rewind and switched to cable to watch something else until you dozed off, or kid's bedtime came or whatever.
The other experience, you insert the tape, flop on the couch and…wait, the VHS says the videotape is at the end. Ok, then put the VHS into rewind, it was usually slow, then use the rewinder. You have to get up, take the cassette out, put it in the rewinder, wait a few minutes. “Daddy I want to watch the movie now.” “Patience, just wait a minute.” “Honey, the food is getting cold sit down to eat.” “Wait, the rewinder is do…shit, it swallowed the tape again.” Take it out, clear the jam, manually wind the tape, put the tape back in the VHS, it is gentler. Wait some more. Now start the movie. At the end, should you rewind?
It was just one of those things that, are simple, nice and cheap for everyone. Not doing it is just a mild annoyance for others, but it costs you nothing. It was truly a test of morality back then. Good people are those who still do the right thing even if no one is watching.
I guess if those particular scenarios happen in abundance... But in reality they were few and far between.
I don't know man... It was so benign to me that I don't even remember if I did it often or not.
Yeah, that's kind of the point. It was benign, you didn't have to do it. If you didn't do it, you wouldn't hurt anyone. But if you did it, it displays a modicum of kindness towards an invisible fellow that speaks of a considerate moral character.
Ya, I'm just going to say no. Morality has nothing to do with it, nor does kindness in the ethical sense. Not every courteous or considerate act automatically rises to the level of a moral concern.
If you feel that way, fine, you're entitled to that view, and there's nothing wrong with it. But objectively, choosing not to rewind a tape causes no harm, violates no duty, and infringes on no one's rights.
At best, rewinding it is a small courtesy. It does not constitute a moral or ethical dilemma.
To be fair to myself, I do have very clear memories of rewinding tapes prior to returning them to the video store.
I think I did it because I was instructed to and for no other reason aside from it literally costing nothing but a minute in the tape player.
Good thing morality is not objective, right?
Only people who deny evolution say morality is objective. Thankfully I am an avid proponent of evolution.