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When I was in school, I was a menace to the teachers and administrators. I hated rules, and would flout them whenever possible, and then fight or attempt to fight any consequences. I felt they were needlessly restrictive and often pointless. I likely would have been a thorn in Ms. JadziaDax's side, had I been her pupil. I loved to question and correct teachers.
Why are kids supposed to be quiet in the cafeteria? Why say "you can't chew gum", when it should be, "don't spit out your gum or place it anywhere but the trash."? Far more gum was stuck to the bottoms of the desk because of students hoping not to get caught due to the no gum chewing rule, which, ironically was put in place to prevent that very thing, than would have been stuck to the desk bottoms had students been free to spit their gum out in the trash without fear of reprimand.
My behavior changed, as schooling progressed and things started to matter - college recommendations, college GPA's, actually needing to know the stuff that was being taught, etc.. and it did not behoove me to pick fights with teachers. However, my attitude toward pointless regulations did not. It was just in my best interest to play the game and be nice.
Now, I do not break rules or try to get away with bending rules or even do things that are within the rules but just cheap, dirty or chickenshit that would hurt someone. (Though you can be aggressive, especially if you're not dealing with a "little guy") I guess I follow my own morals, in that respect. I won't try to take something that I feel like I didn't earn.
Traffic tickets, etc.. I'll continue to push the envelope, gleefully not coming to a complete stop when there is no one around and driving too fast on the highway. That doesn't hurt anyone. Am I willing to pay the consequences? Only if I get caught and then can't fight my way out of it.
Does this dichotomy make sense? Yes. It goes along with my political philosophy. I'm selfish, just like I expect everyone else to be. I don't want the government, or teachers, or anyone else telling me what to do or not do. Until I start infringing on the rights of others, I ought to be able to do whatever I want, and I'm willing to allow others to do whatever they want, until they start infringing on my rights. Arbitrary rules infringe on my rights.
On the other hand, TFP rules, however arbitrary (and I'm not saying they are - there have actually been pretty decent explanations given) do not infringe on anyone's rights, but rather their wants.
Alright, I'm done, but if JadziaDax wants to keep me after class to "teach me a lesson" I probably wouldn't mind all that much!
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