Dear Reader: If you choose to read this column, you take on the responsibility of emailing me your answer to one or more of the following ethical dilemmas. Thanks, GS.

Dear Ethicist,

I am a strong believer in preserving our environment and its natural resources. I am aware of the importance of conservation and of moderating our use of energy. To help save our planet, when doing laundry I sometimes use the “speed wash” cycle.

Dilemma: Is this a sufficient enough contribution to the cause for me to say, “I walk the walk”? GS, Leverett

PS: If, on occasion, I use the “Clean30” short cycle on my dishwasher, would I be judged more favorably?

Dear Ethicist,

When my 3-year-old grandson visits, he brings along a toy boat. He presses a button and the chorus of the song “Yellow Submarine” plays. He presses the button over and over and over and over … This, naturally, drives me crazy, mainly because I am a songwriter and do not like being reminded that Ringo (semi-talented) Starr has raked in a gazillion dollars for writing this inane, annoyingly catchy little ditty.

Dilemma: May I remove the battery from the boat and tell my grandson that it has developed mechanical difficulties? Or, preferably, am I permitted to stomp on the darn thing, dispose of it and say the boat was destroyed in an unfortunate accident at sea? GS, Leverett

Dear Ethicist,

I look back fondly at the times when I did my shopping in local stores. I enjoyed interacting with other customers and salespersons as I browsed for clothing, books, records and CDs and much more. I unequivocally support in-store shopping. Now, of course, neighborhood shops, and the employment they provide, are disappearing, as consumers do more and more purchasing online.

Dilemma: Currently, I receive on average five weekly Amazon deliveries. If I cut back to three, will I be doing enough to feel that I am living my life according to my values and beliefs? GS, Leverett

Dear Ethicist,

Last week I shopped at a local establishment. When I was ready to check out, both registers were quite busy. The store manager reminded customers that the self-checkout stations were available, urging us to consider using them. I took her advice and began scanning my items. The barcode on my final item was quite difficult to locate. When I found it (after considerable effort), I attempted to scan it not once, not twice, but three times!

I was unsuccessful and, understandably, felt frustrated. I paid for the purchases I had successfully scanned, put the last item (worth only $7.99) in my bag and left the store.

Dilemma: Is it really stealing when one struggles to pay for something but, through no fault of his own, is unable to do so? Was I ethically bound to report my issue to the manager, who was standing at least eight long yards away from me? GS, Leverett

Dear Ethicist,

I took up the sport of golf eight years ago, at the age of 67 (yes, I know, a masochistic decision.) I often golf alone, enjoying the peace and beauty of the course while berating myself for my ineptitude (“Head down! Head down!”). Two or three times during a round of nine holes, I hit a shot that winds up directly behind a tree, in extremely deep grass, or on a patch of soggy, almost muddy ground.

Dilemma: Given my amateur status, advanced age, and the cruel placement of trees and deep grass on the course, am I committing an ethical no-no when I modify the position of my golf ball? Does the fact that this is standard practice for our current president justify my actions in the eyes of an ethical judge? GS, Leverett

Dear Ethicist,

I am a nonviolent person. Outside of firing a BB rifle on a shooting range at summer camp, I have never held an actual gun in my hands. I have also never witnessed a gun being fired for any purpose, let alone a violent one. Come to think of it, I have never even witnessed an act of violence. In this regard, I have lived a sheltered life. Very recently, I have been finding myself daydreaming about the satisfaction I would feel in inflicting significant bodily harm on certain high-ranking American government officials.

Dilemma: Is this a normal reaction for a left-leaning Democrat? For any sane human being? Would some higher power forgive me for such thoughts? GS, Leverett

Dear Ethicist,

Dilemma: Given my advocacy for nonviolence, am I permitted to kill, by any means necessary, ticks and mosquitoes? If not, what is the statute of limitations for prosecuting such acts? GS, Leverett

Gene Stamell awaits your answers and opinions at gstamell@gmail.com. He thanks you in advance.