rules and obedience

Note the new quote in "Words I Like" by Beppe Severgnini...

This struck me so because I've been having a running conversation with a friend of mine about my strict adherence to the rules. Superficially, she is the one who adheres strictly to order, rules, schedules, and other similar structures. I'm the one who flits about like a fairy, changing my mind at a whim and always trying to keep my surroundings and schedule flexible. That said, I come from a lightly regimented background in which there were few rules, but those which existed were STONE SOLID. So, in spite of my wayward appearance, I have a deeply-rooted appreciation for a few good rules. I also hold that people are always more important than principles, and if doing the "right" thing hurts people, then a more flexible definition of "right" and "wrong" is in order. Yes, these two views occasionally come in conflict with each other. When in conflict, however, I put people before principles, and that usually resolves the problem. The only time I've seen that philosophy challenged was a case in which untreated mental illnes/addiction were involved. In that case, although I didn't seem to be valuing the (other) person over the principles, I had to choose between myself and another person and self-preservation won the day.

So, when I see a valuable outcome to following the rules in strict fashion, I do it. I base my decision on an evaluation of the situation in the moment, bearing in mind the long-term good. This includes stuff like: taking all of my antibiotics on schedule even if they upset my stomach, wearing all my safety gear on the bike even when it makes me sweat like a horse (a horse? of course! pigs don't sweat!), and using my turn signals in traffic. Of course, if I see no short- or long-term good to come of following a particular "rule" then I'm happy to disregard it.