Where do you stand on the role that rules play in life? Do rules create valid boundaries for protection of yourself, others, property? Do rules hinder you from doing what you really want to do? Do they offer guidelines? Is the rule the most important thing, what the rule is meant to safeguard, or is it the spirit of the rule? Do you think that rules should have a shelf-life, come up for periodic review?
I know people for whom rules are a means to an end. The rules are to be applied or ignored in whatever fashion necessary to achieve the goal. Perhaps sometimes just bent or loosely interpreted. Creative thinking is liberally applied.
I know people for whom the rule is the ultimate. The letter of the rule, the face of it – each rule stitched together with all of the others to provide these people with the comfort to get through all the moments of life. No creative thinking necessary.
And I know plenty of people of varying stripes between these opposites. And some who don’t seem to think much about rules one way or the other.
photo credit: Wikipedia
It couldn’t have been long after people started to congregate that it became clear that some sort of standard was necessary. Rules were born. And they can be found in nature – plants and animals have them. Do this, don’t do that.
Rules serve a purpose except when there are rules for the sake of rules. They help to create commonality and structure. But they can and should be examined for validity. (Old laws on the books can be very odd, and sometimes hilarious.)
I used to tell my boys that if they thought any of my rules didn’t make sense, they should tell me. Along with why. Scoffing at a rule is easy, but putting together a compelling argument why the rule should be removed or changed is important.
It comes down to one of my favorite questions – what is the intent? If the intent isn’t clear, well hmmm…. But that doesn’t necessarily mean it is ok to ignore or flaunt the rule.
How are the bindings on the rules around you?
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Tagged: Learning, Perspective, Purpose, Reflection, Responsibility
BAReed Writing, Business Writing 
One of my pet peeves is rules that aren’t necessary. A lot of workplace rules exist simply because somebody didn’t have the nerve or energy or ability to take someone aside and explain that their behavior is/was inappropriate. So, we all end up weighed down by another ill-crafted rule. Just smack the bad guy and move on, no need for another rule.
If only you and I were the ones updating the rules, Dan.