I read that a good "rule" for deciding whether it is ok to pursue a particular course of action is this:

One of the great rules of life is that you can give yourself all the pleasure you like, just as long as nobody else is getting pain because you're giving yourself pleasure.

I know there are exceptions to every rule but this rule seems pretty right on to me. Sort of like "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." What do you think?