That would be the proverbial - and figurative - fig leaf.

They had an achievement in 4 for saving a civilian farmer, there was no achievement for letting him get executed or doing it yourself (I don't even know if you could shoot the farmer, but if you weren't quick the bad guys shot him).

I'm not quite sure, but I think this boils down to personal preferences and POV. To address the virtual stuff vs real life I remembered a case about two of the best air traffic controllers (in the US or in LAX I can't remember specifically)

The point is, these two air traffic controllers have totally polarized way of accomplishing their jobs. One of them answered (the question IIRC was what is your secret) that he reminds himself of each dot as representing lives of people, that each dot is important... VERY important. The other air traffic controller however answered in a very different manner, he said that he gets the job done by imagining all those dots on the radars as only dots, no lives attached and such.

Probably, the important thing is, if you think it's not right and it disturbs you then don't do it. I remember playing Rome Total war and I would always massacre a conquered city to prevent rebellion. However, after reading history, the conquests of Rome and their atrocities, I can't even bring myself to do it today.

According to the achivement list, and the descriptions of it, none what so ever. You didn't get an achievement for being executed in the first one. Altough it seems you can get an achievement for killing seven chickens at one point. So, let's cry outrage over that one now people

http://www.xbox360achievements.org/game/call-of-duty-modern-warfare-2/achievements/

Yeah, because THAT would be in poor taste, right?

pfunk