Don't Swim For 30 Minutes After Eating...Plus Other More Important Rules....

The college curriculum includes MLA-style format as the most-taught format in paper-writing so that students understand all elements of writing style and don't hand in papers that are messy and incorrect. Much like college English students are taught the values of writing essays in the MLA format to ensure uniformity among each of their papers, and to make sure all the rules of "proper" English are followed, i.e. spelling, punctuation, length, citations, rules and formats are applied in society. In life, formats and rules are created as well, so that certain things are done in a uniform manner and the level of chaos is kept to a minimum. Generally, I agree whole-heartedly with having distinct definitions of how things needs to be handled. For instance, traffic laws - even down to the lane lines painted on the roads - have been created so that, while driving, people know where they should be, where they should stop, how fast they should go. Have you ever come to a 4-way stop where the traffic lights are out? If there are 4 cars each going a different direction, without the right light to tell the drivers who gets to go when, either everyone tries to go at the same time, or no one goes. Without defined lanes, cars would just drive all over the place and there would be major confusion, accidents, and frustration. The format of drivers ed, which teaches all new drivers the same rules, is very necessary to the health and well-being of our population. In the U.S. the guidelines for children to receive immunizations has greatly reduced sickness in our country and since these shots are required before a child can enter kindergarten, people are "forced" to comply, which ensures the purpose of immunizations has positive results. Some countries don't have these same immunization rules, and there are illnesses that run rampant in their populations because of it.

Speaking of school, the format in the U.S. for children to attend school was put into place to give the opportunity of education to every child. Since the format of school is kindergarten though twelveth grade, a person is deemed fit for society after having fulfilled the school requirements. As I said, I agree that regulated "rules" are generally very necessary for society, because, let's face it, not everyone in this country has the best common sense. Most people need to have direction. If there were not laws and guidelines created for the protection and advancement of society, people would just do whatever they felt like, whenever they wanted, and we would fail at being a productive society. The next time you go to the store, stop and actually pick things up, and read the warning labels on them. Some of them are so hilarious, you can't believe that someone would ever need to be told NOT to do what they are showing not to do, but since they need the warnings, its obvious someone did. The most obvious are the scariest - plastic bags with stickers showing not allowing children to use them as toys, lawn mower directions showing how NOT to use for trimming hedges, and so on. Its very discouraging to think that in this day and age in our country, that people need to be told these things instead of just using common sense.

On the flip side of good rules, sometimes I feel the disguise of "keeping people safe" rules and laws go a bit far. Although I feel I am of sound mind to make the best decisions for myself and my family, at times, lawmakers decide for me what's best, while limiting me in my decisions, and that makes me mad. Unfortunately, because so many people do need to be told how they need to live though, rules can't be made only for a specific few. What applies to one, must apply to all, so to speak. Recently, in an attempt to curb obesity, NY tried to pass a ban on large drinks served throughout their state. To me, this law was an absurd waste of tax-payer money, and useless at that. People who drink those big drinks would just buy more smaller drinks in order to drink the same amounts, and people who don't drink them don't care either way, but would have had their choice taken away if they wanted to. This type of regulation is unnecessary, and the same effort put forth to pass this law should be used for enforcing laws already in place, such as child abuse and neglect laws and drunk-driving laws.

I've been discussing actual laws, and guidelines that must be followed to avoid punishment of some sort, but sometimes, there are unspoken rules that everyone follows as well. These tend to make for a better, more civilized society and although not everyone adheres to them, I am proud when I see someone using one. Many times, while riding the bus to or from work, I've seen a young man give up his seat so that a woman wouldn't have to stand. When people hold doors for others, say "Please", "Thank you" and " You're Welcome", and be considerate of those around them, they are following a certain format. These "rules" must be taught, and usually children learn them by example. If parents behave appropriately and abide by these unspoken rules, their children will learn correct behavior and grow up doing the same!

“Any fool can make a rule, and any fool will mind it.” ~ Henry David Thoreau