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It’s important to have rules around. Everyone benefits from general order and knowing how things are done calms the inner anxiousness inside many of us.
However, not all rules are sound in terms of their reasoning. While all rules might have a reason, not all reasons might make sense, whether it’s logical, practical or any other -al. And that might cause some social issues. But more on that later.
Anyway, this in turn urges some to protest against the rule entirely, and these people have recently shared some of the rules that irked them something fierce—so much, in fact that they regularly break these rules because they fundamentally disagree with them.
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#1
Speaking ill of the dead. I'm not going to pretend that somebody was a better person than they actually were because they are dead.
Wingsofwrath 9 months ago
I never understood the concept. Should we not "speak ill" of a******s like Hitler, Stalin, Mao or Pol Pot just because they're dead?
#2
I hate how they give perfect attendance awards in schools.
If my kid is sick, going through trauma, or we have a funeral, they can skip a damn day
Gustav Gallifrey 9 months ago
"Yes, Jimmy, i know that you're sick, and yes, i know that it's super-contagious, and yes, i know it's possibly lethal to some people, and yes, i know the doctor said stay home, BUT, think of your attendance award!"
Recently, one Redditor asked folks on r/AskReddit to share common rules that they break just because they fundamentally disagree with them.
Believe it or not, this is the second post in the past month that asks this question, with both of them collectively garnering 14,100 upvotes and generating a discussion of 12,500 comments.
#4
Stole a pet frog that was severely neglected. Don't give a rat's a*s about stealing if they don't care about mistreating an animal.
#5
Pluto is a planet.
So, rules are guidelines created by individuals, communities, countries, what have you, which dictate a certain code of conduct among people and processes. These can vary based on social interactions, beliefs, governance, and the like.
The key idea behind following rules is to push away the tide of chaos and anarchy. Sure, they feel like restrictions, but they are the lesser of the two evils.
#7
If it's a single restroom then I won't care which gender it is.
Kirsten Kerkhof 9 months ago
And if there is a line for the ladies' but the gents' toilet is free, I will go there. Shoot me dirty looks, but I just gotta go.
#8
Elbows on the table. Why????? Unless someone’s in another persons space or their elbows are by the food, it’s such a silly rule. What’s wrong with setting my arm on the table???
Kirsten Kerkhof 9 months ago
It's historical. In the Middle Ages tables were trestle tables, set up for meal times. Leaning your elbows on the table could flip the whole thing. Etiquette (almost) always has a functional background, and then it was simply made into a rule.
RavenTheCat 9 months ago
Oh no i flipped the mashed potatoes into the kings face, and they were hot!
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Upstaged75 9 months ago
I'm nearly 50 and my mom still has this rule. She'll also yell at my dad for doing it. :) I think it was rule from HER mom when she was a kid and she passed it on.
JayWantsACat 9 months ago
I don't really put my elbows on the table, just out of comfort, but I will rest my forearms on them.
Brian Droste 9 months ago
Yes, when I was growing up this was a thing. Is it still a thing today?
Huddo's sister 9 months ago
I've never heard anyone complain about people doing that, which is good because I do it all the time
Philip Rutter 9 months ago
There's a myth, which I cannot confirm, that "When Einstein was depressed and wanted to be cheered up- he'd get out his book of "Etiquette" ; which would have him rolling on the floor." I'd love to believe it.
#9
I let the squirrels use the bird feeder. My fluffy bois are hungry too.
As such, rules provide safety as they limit certain bad behaviors and possibly encourage good ones. Same goes with protecting those who are disadvantaged—rules provide safeguards that ensure certain rights and guarantees for people or groups considered vulnerable to particular factors and influences. In that sense, it evens out the playing field so that everyone could have equal opportunities. Oh, and rules also lay the groundwork for malicious compliance.
#10
I think Netflix and other streaming services should have the same contents worldwide. We live in the age of internet, borders don’t matter. If I wanna watch something that’s not on my version of Netflix, I’ll find it online at a pirate website. Most of the time they don’t even give me the option to watch it legally because it’s just not on any service in my country. In that case it’s on them, they only have themselves to blame.
FTR, this is a hill I’m willing to die on.
ETA: I know this isn’t Netflix’s fault, it’s the ppl that own the movies and series etc. They won’t get royalties when I watch it illegally, but if I can’t watch it in a legal way, they only have themselves to blame.
Two_rolling_black_eyes 9 months ago
I agree but part of the problem is distribution rights. For instance, Paramount Pictures has the rights to do whatever they want with the movie in the US. However, Alibaba has those same rights for China.
#11
I refuse to say that somebody "passed away". They died. Ascribe a weighty word to a weighty concept.
Emperor Kitten 9 months ago
Passed away doesn't bother me in the slightest. "Unalived" on the other hand...
And if that’s not reason enough, there’s also the consequences of rule violations to make sure they aren’t violated. These vary depending on the severity of the offence—after all, littering and stealing, while both crimes, don’t seem like they are on the same level of damage done. And both can be contextual too, as throwing a paper wrapper in a public park isn’t the same as throwing plastic bags into the ocean, but you get the point.
#13
Don’t talk about your pay at work or at all. No, because finances are incredibly important and I sure as f**k would wanna know what a job pays. This is my life we’re talking about. Money makes it good.
#14
If I'm working at some sort of establishment that throws food away, even though it's clearly still edible, im taking that s**t.
Kimbowa 9 months ago
In my area, we have an app and a service called Too Good to Go where restaurants make food that is left over at the end of the night available for people to pick up at low cost. Food that otherwise would’ve been thrown out but is perfectly edible and fine. You reserve it on the app and then go and pick it up at your designated time. With this, you can even sample food from very expensive restaurants at a much lower price! Sounds like a great idea to me.
#15
At my job, we aren’t allowed to go home on break. I live right in front of the store, three minute walk away. Yeah no, I’m going home.
But there’s also the other side of the coin. Why do people choose to disobey rules? Is it because taboos are fun to defy because of the reactions you get from folks, or is it because it’s time for change?
Civil disobedience is a great example of breaking rules in order to raise fundamental questions about anything from morality to civic obligation to government rule. All of this to drive needed social change.
#16
The assistant manager always wants you to serve old fries at the end of the night. No. Once they go to the back office the last hour of their shift to count money and do computer things, I’m going to let you know it’s late and has been slow, but just for you I’m cooking your fries fresh, it will be about 3 more minutes. I don’t serve old, cold food. I get that you break down the fry station because it has to be cleaned. But placing a tray of fries on the sandwich warmer isn’t going to maintain taste and flavor. The fryer still works. On my shift you can trust I will get you fresh fries at 11:45 pm. Write me up. Idgaf. Ain’t nobody got time for cold fries.
#17
Teacher: If kids are hungry, I let them eat. They can eat as much as they want. Even if they show up late, they can eat, if it’s in the middle of the day, they can eat while they work. Also, they can go to the bathroom, maybe they have to wait 3 minutes until I’m done talking, but otherwise go. It helps I have a bathroom in my room which would solve many problems for middle schoolers.
#18
No food or drinks at the nurses station. I work ER and haven’t taken a full 30 minute lunch in about a decade, I’m definitely snacking at my desk.
The idea of civil disobedience can shed light on an issue that would encourage debate, rethinking and subsequent change of unjust laws, ways of thinking in terms of ethics, morality, culture or social norms.
And while it can go a long way, there’s an important thing to note with civil disobedience: yes, you are breaking rules for a greater good, but your cause still has to be just and follow a standard of just behavior.
#19
I help homeless people on the streets by passing out food. Never know what they've been through. I've gotten tickets for it too , sad
#20
Crossing the street in the middle is fine when there are no cars. Also it's okay to go diagonally at cross walks for the same reason
#21
Consumption Dates: Eating food past its sell-by date, as you believe it’s often still good and don't want to waste food
It’s actually in the name—civil disobedience.
It has to be civil. And by proxy, the reasons behind the disobedience have to be backed up with just behavior—one that aligns with fundamental moral principles with individuals accepting and bearing personal responsibility for their actions and choices.
#22
Getting around paywalls. I understand financially supporting journalism, but I can’t subscribe to everything.
Charles McChristy 9 months ago
Yeah, they are getting pretty ridiculous with this. Even my hometown paper has a paywall, which isn't too bright.
#23
Loyalty to a company. P**s me off after 3 months? I’ll quit. 5 years? I’ll quit. 18 months? I’ll quit My family doesn’t give two s***s whether im somewhere for 90 days or 9 years. They just care that dad loves them and is there for them, and I never ever ever want them to be cold, hungry or in pain. And if I have to quit a job because even for a second that’s threatened, so be it
#24
After the 3rd sneeze I stop saying bless you.
Flamingo Croquet 9 months ago
Oh no, I will not stop. I will rob you of your last bit of sanity by blessing you for the 16th time. Preferrably in public.
The fact that a person is willing to stand by their choices and opinions, saying “no” to things they don’t believe in all the while adhering to that which is considered civil and human ultimately adds power to the protest.
Think of the greats—Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King Jr.—they all approached civil disobedience in a principled, yet effective way to achieve great things for millions, if not billions, of people.
#25
Pirating something you've paid for previously. I didn't just buy the CD or DVD, I bought the right to install and view or use that material. Owning a physical copy of an intellectual property (music, videogame, film) implies a perpetual right to viewership and use.
Paying wildly overpriced medical bills. For a decade, now, I've just refused to pay, let them go to collections, and dispute them for ages until they finally give up. At worst, I make the collection agency waste money on the pursuit, then settle for pennies.
#26
I'm a teacher, so we're not supposed to wear jeans. I think this is the most out-dated, nonsensical rule.
We know now that building relationships with students is the most important thing, and I truly believe that you are distancing yourself from kids if you come to school in some wack a*s "professional" office outfit. Who will a kid be more likely to bond with? Somebody who looks more like them!!
Also, I'm convinced that districts only keep this rule in place so that they can dangle a "jeans day!" in front of our faces every so often to try to keep us complacent. It's insulting.
I'm too afraid to break this rule completely, because ultimately I do love my job, but every Friday when we have a "jeans day if you wear a school shirt," I just wear my jeans with whatever shirt I want. It's my tiny, miniscule, absolutely microscopic taste of rebellion, lol
General Anaesthesia 9 months ago
Miniscule: the odds that minuscule will be spelled correctly.
#27
If something is no longer being published, I don't have qualms about copyright infringement
But it doesn’t have to be on an epic scale to count, though. It’s crossing the street when there is no crossing, but neither are there any cars. It’s pirating something that you’ve previously paid for. It’s writing the Oxford comma despite heated debates among language purists. They are all breaking some form of rule, but the context allows for it in a non-threatening and non-harmful way. And all of that is in the hopes that something will change for the better.
#28
right now I pirate guilt free because streaming services suck more and more and you never know when some a*****e game service is going to delete a game you bought tomorrow
#29
Polite conversation topics. I wanna talk about death sex and money
LillieMean 9 months ago
And this is why using a comma is important. You won't make friends with that topic, or you'll make very, very strange friends.
#30
Work Dress Codes: Wearing more casual clothing to work than the dress code permits, feeling that comfort boosts productivity
What do you think ?
Ben Stubbs 9 months ago
Since finding it is still illegal in England "to carry a Salmon in a suspicious manner along the High Street" I often take my pet fish for a walk into town whilst constantly looking over my shoulder. Sticking it to the man!!
Ben Stubbs 9 months ago
Since finding it is still illegal in England "to carry a Salmon in a suspicious manner along the High Street" I often take my pet fish for a walk into town whilst constantly looking over my shoulder. Sticking it to the man!!
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