Uncommon sense

"I'm staying out of this one." "I'm not getting involved." "I'm going neutral here."

Is it possible to ever be truly neutral? By not taking a position in a dilemma, I would argue that you are not being neutral because you've made a choice to not be involved. By not engaging in a relevant problem, you express a moral opinion about your value of staying ambivalent. Humans are by nature moral agents and our actions and choices (and yes, not making a choice still involves a choice - don't get me started on that one) enact those morals, regardless of whether we want to or not.

For example, lets say a friend asks your opinion on whether or not she should turn in a sum of cash that she encountered while walking in a busy public area. She's had varying opinions and now asks for yours. If you reply "Just do what you think is right," or "Do what is in your heart," because you don't want to influence your friend, I say that you are doing her a disservice. If your friend is in a true moral dilemma and is struggling with a choice which is causing her real discomfort, then as a friend, is it right to offer her nothing? I would argue that instead, you could begin by stating "Though no one but you can ultimately decide your actions, and I do not wish to be responsible for your actions, but this is what I think..." then you have a) been honest and genuine about your fear of responsibility for the consequences that might stem from this choice and yet you have b) still offered your friend support by expressing an opinion. Is it possible that by hearing one side, then your friend will have an opportunity to form her view by freely agreeing or disagreeing with your viewpoint?

"Use your common sense" I think is perhaps the worst counter of all. There is no such thing as common sense - our view of reality is subjective and different, filled with cultural connotations. What may be common to you is not common for everyone. What is morally right for you may not be right for someone else. By not offering a viewpoint, but telling somoeone to "do what makes sense" you ironically impose a view that assumes an arrogant stance that your reality should be a common one. Perhaps we need to start thinking with uncommon sense, rather than common sense.