Follow the rules!

Rule 1:

RED = STOP
GREEN = GO

Have you ever noticed that most rules/policies/regulations always talk about what should NOT be done, rather than what should be done..?? Rule 1 would have been easier to understand if it had been written like this:

RED = DO NOT GO
GREEN = DO NOT STOP

There you go! Now everyone will know what to do when they see a light.. correct?? WRONG!! You know why? Because fundamentally, at a subconscious level, we simply don't understand rules. The basic logic that even a 3-year old can comprehend - the meaning behind YES and NO - we just don't get it, do we?? We just don't get it.

As of 11.20am this morning, I have already had 1 sorry email from IT that clearly states "you must not install commercial VoIP software on any company owned hardware" but 4 arguments, and 6 emails talking about how we can find a way to still do it!! There surely must be a tiny loophole somewhere. Arguments, emails, web references... after the tipping point, you realize it's not about the rule any more. It doesn't matter what the rule says or doesn't say. We just don't care! Brings me back to the classic Indian attitude that - like the cockroach that survived the Ice Age, and the dinosaurs - still believes in this mantra:

"It's not like you're going to get fired... relax!!"

This is so hard to believe... the fact that in today's world of man-eat-man, you would still believe that YOU are SO GOOD and SO irreplaceable, that even after you screw up a million times you won't get fired!! Hell, it's not the government that's employing you for God's sake!

But honestly if you take a step back and think for a minute... why don't we get it? Is it that we aren't taught rules (blame it on the teacher) or is it that the enforcing doesn't happen (blame it on the rule creator)?? Or at some level deep inside us, we really don't give a damn?