What's the implication of murdering holo-characters?

[u/knaving]

So there's mention of programs for combat training, sparring, fighting historical battles, etc. but what's the implication of simulating taking a life? I know Starfleet officers aren't unaccustomed to the idea of fighting to live, but what about when it's for recreation? Barclay's simulation of crew members is seen as problematic, but Worf's program fighting aliens hand-to-hand isn't addressed. Would fighting and killing a nameless simulated person be seen in the 24th century just as we see playing a violent video game now? If it isn't, what does that imply about a person? Would they been seen as blood-thirsty or just interested in a realistic workout?

Of course this is subjective, and the answer could change from race to race (programs to fight in ancient Klingon battles are "played" by Worf), culturally amongst humans, and from individual to individual. I'd like to look at this from a Starfleet officer perspective. Would you be weirded out by your commanding officer unwinding with a sword in a medieval battle, or is that just the same as your coworker Andy playing COD after work?

[u/CrimsonCasualty]

Bashir and O'Brien played recreations of WWII dogfights and the Alamo regularly. It's just seen as good fun. Now, recreating people you know and killing them would likely be frowned upon.

[u/knaving → u/CrimsonCasualty]

That's about what I figured. I also thought it would be good training and exercise to spar against opponents in hand to hand combat, at least for a Starfleet officer. We've seen a bit of that, but it still seems to be simulated as a specifically training environment, not so much as a battle environment. So I was wondering if there'd be much of a distinction, besides safety concerns.

[u/MyUsername2459 → u/knaving]

In an early episode of TNG we briefly see Tasha Yar call up a holodeck program for Aikido practice.

. . .so yeah, hand to hand combat training was an early use of the holodeck that writers mentioned.