Good rules should be circumvented as little as possible.

Bad rules should be followed to the letter.

Comments

Jefferey Cave - 2017-05-31 16:51:38-0400

I once was debating laws with someone and they countered some point or another with: “but without laws who would enforce ‘no J-Walking laws’”.

There was a fatal assumption buried in his statement: I don’t need the police to force me not to cross the street unsafely; cooperatively waiting for a walk signal at the lights reduces the chance of being accidentally run over.

“Don’t J-Walk” is a good rule that should not be circumvented without due consideration.

Good Rules should make our lives easier, and help us work cooperatively by pre-arranging some communication. In the various places I have worked, I often come across bad rules; these get in the way of productivity and cooperation.

The best thing I have found is to obey the rule to the letter. Bad Rules should never be circumvented to make life easier. Bad Rules should be obeyed to the point that they make everyone’s life obviously miserable. Every time someone tries to circumvent a Bad Rule, just to get on with life, the breach should be escalated the the very top: right to the point it starts to make the rule maker’s life miserable

Nothing is more satisfying than forcing rule makers to suffer the consequences of bad rules.

Comments

PlaidSheep - 2017-05-31 16:54:12-0400

Addendum

This guide can be used to measure the merit of a rule: the more exceptions there need to be, the worse the rule is.