Do you follow the rules, ignore them, bend them, break them, or do you make new ones?

Answer 1

it;s a case by case basis, it really depends on the rule. Some rules make sense, and these I follow. Some can be bent to help people in need. Some are ignored, like speed limits. Some are broken, for me it's some of the 10 commandments.
I try to make a new rule whenever possible, but these new rules are for me only.

Answer 2

In the beginning I follow the rules, as I go along if I find a better way I create rules by bending ones that are possibly already in place I never ignore them because a lot of times the true answer is within them :-)

Answer 3

It'd be cool to say I'm a badass, that I just make up my own rules and the hell with anyone who gets stepped on or bumped out of the way. I used to be like that in a lot of ways, often leaving a wave of pissed off people in my wake.

Now, I try to live life a little more gently: Follow some rules, bend or ignore others. The libertarian in me tries not to make a lot of new ones.

A couple of incomplete lists:

Rules I think everyone should follow --

- Have fun whenever you can.
- Don't cut ahead of anyone in line.
- Don't drive when you're drunk or high.
- If someone needs help, help them. If you can't, try to find someone who can.
- Tell the truth.
- Don't hurt anyone.

Rules I ignore when I can:

- I only cross the street at crosswalks and with the light when it's convenient for me. (But I don't jump out in front of moving cars, either.)
- If it's two in the morning and nobody else is around, I'll run red lights.
- Okay, I'm really sorry for this one, but sometimes I eat my dessert first.
- If I'm in a hurry, I'll run with scissors.
- I walk on the grass. That's what it's for.

Answer 4

I make new ones.. and this is what happens
**I make great rules but then of course I cannot follow them bcs it is easy to formulate them in mind but difficult to perform in real life so --> I feel bad about not doing the right thing
**OR I make rules and after some time I realize how stupid they were and change them.. and then I get confused since I cannot be sure whether I will think of my 'new' rules the way I think of my old rules now --> confusion
**I make rules and also follow them but then again I cannot be sure whether they are really good for my soul or they are only justifications of my bad instincs --> dilemma
**I make some other rules and feel quite sure about their greatness and then take a psychology class and realize that my definition of 'correct' depends on soooo many external factors that I am not aware of --> Am I thinking or is the society and ancient history talking to me from inside?
THEN I read and think and dream and pray, I ignore all of my rules, bend them, break them and then make new ones --> vicious circle

Wow, I did not realize the situation before answering this question ;)

Answer 5

All of the above!

I'll follow the rule of driving on the right hand side of the road as this makes driving safer for everyone.

I'll ignore the rule regarding chewing gum in libraries. I am not 8 years old and I don't chomp it, crack it or otherwise bother bystanders with it. And I don't spit it out on the carpets. So I personally ignore this rule because it doesn't hurt anybody.

I bend the rules regarding work all the time. Management may not like it, but the job gets done well.

I completely break the rules regarding posting literature (eg. ACLU freedom of speech posters) on public property. They're not offensive and I always remove them so they don't become trash.

And I make (actually discover) new rules all the time...but that's part of my job as a Scientist :-)

Answer 6

If the rules dont hurt anyone, will help me and other people i follow them. If not then i will break them, or make new ones.

Answer 7

I always try to follow the rules. Without them we would have chaos. But I'm also sure I have bent a few.

Answer 8

I tend to do a lot of bending, especially if my social conscience is rubbed the wrong way. I am for the underdog and listen to my heart before my head.

Answer 9

I would rather do the right thing than follow the rules.

Answer 10

i guess it just depends on the situation at hand.
i follow the rules of physics.
i ignore the rules of logic.
i bend the rules of botany.
i break the rules of society.
i make my own rules when deemed necessary.