Do you follow Instructions or Do you like to do things your way?

@poohgal (6845)
Singapore
January 2, 2008 12:20pm CST
There are many instances in life when we are given instructions to follow. Some of us abide to these instructions faithfully because we think it's only good to do so. Whereas, some of us prefer to do things our way and disregard these instructions. Which category do you think you belong to? Recently, I went to the Night Safari in my country. It's a really nice place featuring nocturnal animals. You get to see animals like tigers, flying foxes, bats, otters and etc up close in the dark. We were specifically instructed not to take pictures using flash lights as the flash light will hurt the eyes of these nocturnal animals as they are not used to brightness. Despite the countless number of reminders, there were still many people who did it anyway. I personally feel that these people should try to be more considerate and follow the instruction. Their behavior might cause damage to these animals in the long run. What do you think of the behavior of these people?
2 people like this
22 responses
@Adoniah (7513)
• United States
3 Jan 08
I always thought that the instructions were there as a last resort! A rebuttle: That of course does not include doing something as heartless as what you mentioned in your statement in reference to the nocturnal animals. I was born with a modicum of common sense.
2 people like this
@Sissygrl (10912)
• Canada
3 Jan 08
There are many many people in this world who are not born with either common sense or courtesy! I think that those people should have to be subjected to the same sort of tormet those animals suffer everytime that flash goes off in their poor little unsuspecting eyes.
@poohgal (6845)
• Singapore
3 Jan 08
Haha.. I am sure you have much more common sense than those people who use flash light. =D
1 person likes this
@Adoniah (7513)
• United States
3 Jan 08
That was nice of you to say! La Shana Tova! Happy New Year!~Adoniah
@ahgong (10064)
• Singapore
15 Jan 08
It really depends on what I am doing when it comes to following instructions. Take for example, baking a cake. You have to follow the instructions, to a Tee if you have to, especially when you are attempting the recipe for the first time. Cos if you try any short cuts, you will never know for sure if the recipe is correct. But turn around, if you are talking about programming, there are some things that can be done in a faster and shorter way without having to go thru the full instructions to a Tee. For example, when you are creating some programming objects, there is no need to create them from scratch if there are already some current objects that you can tap on in the system. Why re-invent the wheel when you can just re-use the wheels in the current system? So it really depends on whether the situation calls for the need to follow instructions exactly or not. I recently been to the night safari as well. I brought my camera there and was toying with the various settings. Upon the instructions of the trainer, I did switch off my flash. Well, I still see a lot of people using the flash like you said. Guess there will always be some who will stubbornly ignore instructions when it is given. As expected, the pictures taken without the flash, came out poorer than I expected due to the poor illumination.
@ahgong (10064)
• Singapore
15 Jan 08
like I said, there will always be some joker who will never obey the rules. Take for example, driving. When we go to driver school, we were taught to give way to pedestrian. Once we get our license, most of us forget that very basic rule. Or Tailgating... who actually remembers that till some one kisses our tail when driving in a congested road. Then we start to cuss and swear. Takes all kinds to make this world.
@poohgal (6845)
• Singapore
15 Jan 08
True true. I agree with you. You went to night safari too? Nice right? It was exciting to go into space with bats. LOL The emcee for the animal show is quite funny. She constantly reminds us not to use flash but there are still some who do. =S
@lecanis (16647)
• Murfreesboro, Tennessee
2 Jan 08
If it were a situation like that where it would actually cause harm to the animals, I would certainly follow the instructions. Anything that important (involving the health and safety of other living beings) I take very seriously, and would do according to the instructions. However, on issues that are less serious, I often do things in the way that works best for me. I am not what anyone would call "normal", I have my own way of thinking about and doing things, and so I often have to modify things in order to fit my life. The other thing I don't follow the instructions of other people on is how to live my own life. I make my choices based on my own honor code, not what others say is proper... again, as long as it's not harmful to another living being, unless of course they deserve it. ;)
1 person likes this
@poohgal (6845)
• Singapore
3 Jan 08
It's good to hear that you have your own principles and you do not conform to norms just because they are norms. =D
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@lecanis (16647)
• Murfreesboro, Tennessee
3 Jan 08
Yup, life would be boring if we all just did that! :P
• China
15 Jan 08
Hi,there poohgal, What these people did reflect their disregard to the nature to the animals to the instructions.their behavior of course should be punished ,if we failed to do so then there will be more people behave like that and do more harm to our innocent friends-animails...... As far as I am concerned the government should ban some rules to protect these animals.. Molly
1 person likes this
@poohgal (6845)
• Singapore
15 Jan 08
Hi comeonmolly, Well, the night safari is a tourist attraction and all you can do is to remind. 98% of the people followed the instruction. It's very difficult to enforce rules on such things. Hopefully, human beings can have more empathy and care more for these animals.
@kun2349 (23381)
• Singapore
4 Jan 08
Even recently on the papers, there's a family who went to matrichie reservoir to feed the monkeys.. When they got caught, they deny by saying that they dunno not supposed to feed the monkeys.. Because of all these inconsiderate ple, that's y animals suffer and became not scared of humans.. There are certain things and certain instructions to follow especially those involving lifes..
@poohgal (6845)
• Singapore
8 Jan 08
Indeed indeed. Poor animals.
@kun2349 (23381)
• Singapore
9 Jan 08
But i'm someone who will wanna do things my own way but still will respect other ple's decision.. LOL =P
@auckwang (43)
• China
13 Apr 08
Well,that depends on the situation I'm in.If that's my own business,I'll do it my way,but if it's the case you've described,I'll follow the reminders.Because it's the right thing to do.
1 person likes this
@poohgal (6845)
• Singapore
7 Jun 08
Yup. That's the right way.
• India
9 Jan 08
i always try to regulations or rules..... if it has any instructions..i read them carefully and follow...it i sgood to do like this... inow i renmember one instance i lost my pen tourch....i diidnt read its instructions...so once after overcharging,it become out of service.....
1 person likes this
@poohgal (6845)
• Singapore
9 Jan 08
Yes. i have similar experiences too. That's why I always try to read the instruction manual too. However, sometimes I get too lazy about it. =P
@subha12 (18441)
• India
3 Jan 08
It depends on what i am doing actually. If I think taht what i am doing and I do not know the exact way to do, and it maty cause problem, then I follow instruction. Otherwise I do it as per my own understanding.
1 person likes this
@poohgal (6845)
• Singapore
3 Jan 08
Same here. =D
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
9 Jan 08
I'm usually the "good girl" doing what I'm told to do. Not always, of course, I'm no angel but the people you described are thoughtless and inconsiderate. Since they're there to see these animals you'd think they'd be concerned for their welfare, but either they're too stupid and ignorant or they don't actually care for the animals at all. Annie
1 person likes this
@poohgal (6845)
• Singapore
9 Jan 08
Yes, none of us are perfect but we should have the basic common sense to know what's right and what's wrong. Those people are indeed thoughtless and inconsiderate.
@shinjiao (1457)
• China
4 Jan 08
I think they should obey the rules.Taking pictures with flash lights are not proper for nocturnal animals because the flash lights will make the animals be afraid.It's very hard to say whether these dangerous animal will attack people after being scared.
@poohgal (6845)
• Singapore
8 Jan 08
Very true indeed. There are animals like tigers and boars in the night safari.
• India
10 Jan 08
"Instructions"--Its is the word that most of the teenagers hate or turn a deaf ear towards it.Definitely,following instructions in some cases is of utmost importance as its for our own self development and betterment...but its not alz recommended to bound to instructions which wud take away the spice from ur life.One must definitel follow those instructions that are for their betterment but also avoid unnecessary boundness that wud kill the spice from one's life....considering the behaviour of the people...I personally feel that they were really selfish from their act of pleasure..just for their own entertainment these people managed to risk the lives of the innocent creatures which is absolutely not done...n should think about it....
1 person likes this
@poohgal (6845)
• Singapore
10 Jan 08
Young people are usually more rebellious. They do not really analyze whether something is right or wrong. Their decisions are mainly based on 'what's cool'. I am glad to say I was never that rebellious when I was younger.
• Australia
3 Jan 08
I think it depends on whether I have any idea what to do with something. If i have no idea how to do something I will follow the instructions so that I learn what to do. If i have some idea I will try it and if that fails I check or ask for instructions. if I know exactly what to do I will just do it!
@poohgal (6845)
• Singapore
3 Jan 08
True. Same for my case. =D
3 Jan 08
I usually like to do things my way unless I need to do things another way eg a Tutorial, but I do mostly get to do things my way, for example gif making it's not a major changed in what I've been told to do in a tutorial but still it's a change. I also feel it's better to do things my own way most of the time since if I followed by what other people said I should I doubt I would learn as fast, if you get what I mean, because even if I fail doing something my way I'll at least get something out of it by learning from a mistake.
1 person likes this
@poohgal (6845)
• Singapore
3 Jan 08
Yes. It's good to innovate sometimes too and not just stick to instructions. =D
• United States
3 Jan 08
i think its not that black and white of an issue. yes there is a reason for most rules and restrictions, but i definitely do not think we should blindly abide by any and all rules we encounter. everything should be questioned. authority should ALWAYS be questioned. but in that particular case, i think it was wrong of them to photograph the animals anyway. its selfish and ignorant. as a basic rule of thumb you shouldn't do anything that infringes on anyone else, including animals.
@poohgal (6845)
• Singapore
3 Jan 08
Agree with you totally. We must use our common sense when it comes to following instructions. =D
@CORDALE (866)
• United States
3 Jan 08
I think in that case they were being very cruel to have flashed lights at the animals however i am a believer that as long as an animal is in it's habitat they should be left alone and in this case it was made dark to accomodate the animals therefore those who flashed should have been thrown out.
1 person likes this
@poohgal (6845)
• Singapore
3 Jan 08
True indeed. I did tell them nicely to put away their cameras but none of them listened. =(
@lingli_78 (12822)
• Australia
2 Jan 08
i usually like to follow instructions because instructions are made to be followed... and there must be a reason behind it why the instructions are being made... and i know that usually instructions are made for our own good... unless the instructions are ridiculous, then i won't follow them... otherwise, yes... most of the time i will follow... as for those people, i think they are really being very thoughtless and inconsiderate... they don't realise at all what damage their action can do to those animals...
1 person likes this
@poohgal (6845)
• Singapore
3 Jan 08
Yes. It's good to discern whether the instruction is ridiculous or not before we follow them. =D Sigh.. there are still many selfish people who disregard other people's or animals' feelings. =(
• United States
3 Jan 08
I think that those people that took pictures with the flash should have been kicked out after all of the warnings that they have received. I dont know how many people worked there. There might not have been enough people to do that but at least there should have been some kind of punishment at the end of the trip for those people who do not follow rules. I am one of those peole who like to follow the rules when I can. Now my wife likes to follow the rule sometimes but other times she does not.
@poohgal (6845)
• Singapore
3 Jan 08
The problem is most of them are tourists. The zookeepers have to take care of the animals and yet be courteous to the tourists. It's quite a difficult decision they are in.
• United States
2 Jan 08
I usually follow instructions up to a certain point. If I obviously see a flaw in their instructions and can see a better way to do something then I throw out their instructions and do it my own way. I mean, there are a lot of different ways to do things, so why prescribe to one certain way? And not everyway is the best way or the right way either. So I figure out what's best and go from there.
1 person likes this
@poohgal (6845)
• Singapore
3 Jan 08
Good. You sound like someone who is sure herself. =D
• Australia
2 Jan 08
I usually like to do things my way but I guess it depends on what the instructions are for!
1 person likes this
@poohgal (6845)
• Singapore
3 Jan 08
Yes indeed =D
@bear_cute (124)
• Malaysia
3 Jan 08
Hi friend,here i think all people must have principle for success in their life.for me without principle their life can destroy anytime they want.so all people must follow instruction wherever they go include Night Safari.if they not follow instruction will give the trouble to management that place.so do the good behavior as a visitor.
1 person likes this
@poohgal (6845)
• Singapore
3 Jan 08
Yes! very true.