Rules

It must be really hard I reckon.  We are writing our own rules.  One of the troubles with that is it seems the more we write, the more we have to write.  Just when we think something is done and dusted, something else comes up, and we need to write a rule for that.
Personally, I think it is totally un-necessary.  Besides, people seem to know instinctively a lot of things. “Don’t kill someone else.”  It is great it is written, but it is something most of us do, not because it is written, but we just know inside it is not the way to go.  Besides, doing it is pretty anti-social.  If it happened to me, it would wreck my immediate plans completely.
To me, rules are necessary, and it is necessary they are written down.  Not everyone adheres to “don’t kill someone else.”  If it is written, that serves as the reference point.  So even if is not my nature to comply, then there is something written that says it is a no-no, and there will be consequences.
It seems written rules are a good thing.  Unfortunately, there seems to be within us a desire to cast off restrain.  The riots in LA showed that graphically to me.  The rule of law had broken down.  What did people do?  They burned cars and broke into shops.  Without restraint people tend to run amuck.  So often we seem to do something only because the consequence of not doing it are dire.
“Hmmm, I’m late, I’ll speed because I want to and too bad for those people crossing at a pedestrian crossing.”  The rule is those people are free to cross at a pedestrian crossing without fear of being run over.  It may monetarily inconvenience me, but it is better for everyone I comply.
I was driving along and the car in front of me seemed like they were in too much of a hurry.  They thought they would overtake the car in front of them by driving on the inside where there was no lane.  At that moment the driver in front turned into a child-care centre.  Bang!  For the sake of two seconds there was a price to pay.  At the very least cars needed fixing and there was un-necessary stress.  At worst, the person in the wrong would have lost their licence and could not get to work and lost their job and been out on the street because they could no longer afford rent.  All for two seconds.
Rules are there for a reason.  Unfortunately for me, I know I can’t adhere to all life rules and ignorance is no excuse.  Good thing is though, when I inevitably fail, I know someone who wipes the slate clean for me every time.  Just as well really.  I’ve tried and I just can’t do it.  I’m going to stick with someone who can.