User blog comment:Stone Roger/Pirates are Good or bad??/@comment-82.37.131.147-20110731232150

Rebels: (led by Monkey D. Dragon) are aggressively working to destroy the World Government/Marines. Pirates: adventurers/conquerors that travel the seas without the specific intentions of taking down the World Government/Marines. However, they gain the classification of 'pirates' by (intentionally or not) repeatedly breaking laws, and evading law-enforcers. The Strawhats fall into this category, as they are not trying to destroy the Marines and World Government - that's something they manage without trying! Adventurers/Merchants/Travellers/Workers: other seafaring folk fall into these categories. If someone is exploring the Blues or Grand Line and isn't breaking any laws, then, even in the world of One Piece, they aren't pirates. They're adventurers.

Whether or not any specific pirate is good or bad is an interesting question, as it depends entirely upon whose point of view you are gaining the answer from. Whilst we, for example, as onlookers, may view Blackbeard's actions as wrong, HE himself would view himself as justified - he would consider himself to be righting previous wrongs, albeit the case that this 'righting' is rather... warped. Also, whilst the Strawhats may view all of their actions as neutral - necessary for survival - an uninformed civilian on an island in East Blue may view them as evil villains, based on propaganda released by the WG/Marines. We view the Strawhats as the good guys/the best pirates/the ones that will, if anyone does, find the One Piece because we have followed their story specifically. It's all about perspective!

Although, these are just my opinions - don't hate me/tell me off/take it personally if you think differently!! Opinions, please - do you agree/disagree?