Should we always obey the rules?
By Arianna
@Borlotti (268)
United States
December 17, 2020 6:16am CST
I was brought up quite strict and definitely taught to always obey the rules. It didn't matter if those rules were from the pastor, the Bible, teachers at school, my parents, the government, or whatever. Rules were there to be obeyed.
I still believe that most of us need rules so that we live right and don't hurt other people needlessly. But more recently I've started to question whether it's always so cool just to obey the rules, always do what you're told by some authority figure just because it's considered to be "the right thing to do".
I guess what I'm saying, is that I'm starting to think that maybe we really need to question first before just going ahead and following the rules. I guess it depends who is making the rules and why they're making those rules, and whether they are also following those rules or just making other people do them.
So, with the pandemic I follow the rule about wearing a mask in public and keeping social distance because I've checked it out and I think that it's scientific and helps keep people safe. But, I'm not totally sure that you should always, always tell the total truth to everybody. I think sometimes "a little white lie" might be the right thing to do if it protects a vulnerable person, say, from something bad happening, or something like that.
So, what do you reckon? How do you decide whether to obey rules or not and are there any rules that you wouldn't, or don't, obey?
5 people like this
4 responses
@owlwings (43915)
• Cambridge, England
17 Dec 20
I think that what is important is to understand rules more than just 'knowing' them. We need to understand why a particular set of rules exist, who they apply to and why they are worded in a particular way. Of course, that involves questioning but it is not the questioning which is the issue, it is the answers to the qusetions which we need to know and understand.
Most rules are reasonable and are there to protect us and others like us. That is why it is usually important to follow them - and why it is just as important not to follow them in certain specific circumstances.
3 people like this
@Borlotti (268)
• United States
20 Dec 20
@owlwings Haha, you're right. I should have figured that you'd choose your words carefully! So, it's never right to break the rules except when it is. That's probably true. Well, put like that it has to be true, doesn't it? But does it help? Hmmm. 
2 people like this
@Borlotti (268)
• United States
17 Dec 20
Hi Owl! Thanks so much for sharing your insight and opinion. What you say makes a lot of sense to me and seems logically argued. I think I remember reading somewhere – – probably in Psychology Today – – that several studies showed that people are more likely to follow rules that they understand. Not sure why they needed to do studies to figure that out, as it seems obvious!
But anyway, yes, I guess I agree. But to understand what rules mean and why they're there you've got to question first, right? And then maybe also question the answers to the question, if you see what I mean. But I totally agree that most rules most of the time are at least meant well, as you say, to protect us all. Someone once said that the rule of law is not perfect but until we all live by reason and compassion we have no choice but to follow it.
So, in what circumstances do you think it might be okay to break the rules?
@Borlotti (268)
• United States
17 Dec 20
Hi AR! You're very outspoken and I appreciate that. But what about rules like not stealing, not abusing people, and being socially responsible, for example? I guess it's politicians, the government, or the law or whatever that makes these rules and tries to enforce them and I can see that people with power over other people can and do totally abuse that power. But the idea of rules in itself is surely something we must have? Otherwise, like, bad people could just do anything they want and get away with it. Maybe you think that's what politicians do!
@owlwings (43915)
• Cambridge, England
17 Dec 20
It depends what rules you are talking about. Most rules are NOT made by "self-important, self-righteous, hypocritical pieces of human garbage": they are very often made to protect you and others from people who think like that without attempting to understand what rules are actually there for.
3 people like this
@Borlotti (268)
• United States
17 Dec 20
@owlwings I probably agree with you on this, Owl, more than with AR. But I have to say I also get where their coming from. And in these troubled times it seems to me super important to listen to people who feel that the rules are unfair or that they are being abused by people in power and ask if there is truth in that and if the system may not be a bit broken and need fixing. It's no good just having rules, those rules have to work for the benefit of everyone, don't they?
@kanuck1 (4394)
•
17 Dec 20
We should obey rules depending on who makes them and if they are made to protect us and improve our quality of life. We should disobey rules that have a bad purpose and be ready to deal with the consequences of breaking such rules. Does that make any sense?
2 people like this
@kanuck1 (4394)
•
17 Dec 20
@Borlotti I always think that I have some good ideas! 
However, if my ideas are proven to not be so great then I try to find a better idea and I do the best that I can. I'm not afraid or too proud to adjust or change direction when necessary.
I'm a believer in God and am convinced that he knows best and so ultimately I'm responsible to him and that helps me to decide where I should go when faced with rules that differ, are opposed or collide. I also respect that we have different goals and so do not impose my decisions on anyone else.
However, if my ideas are proven to not be so great then I try to find a better idea and I do the best that I can. I'm not afraid or too proud to adjust or change direction when necessary.
I'm a believer in God and am convinced that he knows best and so ultimately I'm responsible to him and that helps me to decide where I should go when faced with rules that differ, are opposed or collide. I also respect that we have different goals and so do not impose my decisions on anyone else. 1 person likes this
@Borlotti (268)
• United States
20 Dec 20
@kanuck1 You sound like a sensible, level-headed kind of guy, Ken! I think a lot of problems in the world are caused by people who are not ready to change their minds or admit when they got something wrong. I'm sad to say, that seems specially true of many people who believe in God. But I'm sure that's not what God would want if it causes us all to start fighting with each other. You know what I mean?
1 person likes this
@Borlotti (268)
• United States
17 Dec 20
Hi Ken. Thanks for your contribution! Yes, that makes perfect sense and you put it very clearly. It does make me wonder, though, how we figure this out if there's more than one set of folks who disagree with the rules for different reasons and don't obey them -- maybe like the civil rights movement with civil disobedience and non-violent non-compliance and all that and white supremacists and the Proud Boys and stuff, also disobeying the rules but they're in conflict?
How do we deal with that? And I guess how do we decide who should be included in the "us" the rules protect and who should be outside that? Just Americans? Just white Americans? Everybody except group"x", or "y", or "z". I don't pretend to have the answers. But I reckon these are serious issues we need -- kinda desperately right now -- to figure out.
I'm not saying you should have the answers, either, I'm just thinking out loud! But maybe you do have some good ideas?
@Mga_715 (90)
• Cagayan De Oro, Philippines
18 Dec 20
I am am a rule follower and I believe rules are made as a guide for people to follow in order to achieve the expected results. Rules are everywhere. We have it at home, it maybe for our own or even for the family or our children. In school for students, teachers and parents to obey. In every establishment, they also set rules. It is somehow a way to promote discipline, provide safety and to make people aware of what is expected of them.
1 person likes this
