Ignoring your conscience, he thinks, allows one to justify everything.
The stupid thing about this is that most people know they have a conscience, but they don't listen. Why? Because they don't want to hear it. He has seen this happen too many times for him to count, and he doesn't like it. The city, he thinks, would be a lot better off if people just quit ignoring the voice in the back of their head. The problem with this, though, is that people are too wrapped up in themselves to really give a care.
As for him? Well, he's a cop. He couldn't pretend not to give a care even if he wanted to.
It is this theory that leads him to a conversation with his partner. "Why," he asks, "Do you think people do what they do?"
Fin gives him a strange look at this point and shakes his head. "Because they have to. What d'you expect them to do, sit around and do nothing?"
John snorts. "It'd make the crime rate go down, that's for sure," he says.
"Well, yeah, but then where would we be?" Fin asks in reply. "You been taking something?"
"No." John leans back in his seat and goes on. "If you got a feeling that you shouldn't do something, would you do it anyway?"
"Depends on what it is," says Fin, "Can't always determine what you're gonna do by feeling."
"Sure you can." Says John, and effectively turns the conversation into a debate. "Say it was whether or not to investigate something."
Fin rolls his eyes. "Come off it," he says, "We got a reason to investigate, we do. Easy as that."
"All right, then." John trails off for a moment and then goes on. "What d'you think goes through someone's mind when they do thinks?"
"You know what? I ain't got time for this. We got paperwork, y'know."
"Forget paperwork. Answer the question."
Silence. After a moment, Fin answers. "I don't know," he says. "Probably wonder what they're doing and why."
"Supposedly when their conscience kicks in, but then they ignore it. Why?"
"Because they don't wanna think about what's going on," says Fin, and then, "Come on, John, why are you thinking about all this, anyway?"
"Don't know," John replies, "Just crossed my mind. But why d'you think they don't want to hear it?"
"Who knows? They probably don't wanna admit they're wrong, so they go and do it anyway."
Once again, neither of them say anything after this remark. The squad room is quiet, because almost everyone is out on a case, but they've just closed theirs. After a long moment, John speaks again.
"You ever ignore it before?" he asks. "Your conscience, I mean."
Fin casts a half-annoyed look in his direction. "A few times," he admits. "But then, it ain't the same for everyone."
"How d'you figure?"
"Some people feel guilty. Others don't. All they're looking for is a reason to do something they want, so they blow it off."
"And then we get called in."
"Yeah, that sounds about right."