Chaos Theory: Breaking Rules Doesn’t Improve the Game
Image by Gemini AI
As a society, we like playing by the rules. Green light means go, red light means stop. Three strikes and you’re out.
Without rules, we focus less on the situation or game before us and more on how we feel. Our movements become ragged. We stop and go and become fearful of making mistakes or being accused of cheating.
We stop playing.
We do better in life when there is order all around us and not chaos. We use lines to get a coffee at Starbucks. We step quietly into an elevator or a subway car and are only truly comfortable when the doors close and we’re on our way to our destination.
We hold up our hands in class to be heard and are told not to shout out questions. We hold doors open for people behind us and seldom push them out of the way when we’re in a hurry.
But it does happen.
Some of us, though, are not comfortable with rules. They enjoy coloring outside the box. They think it's okay to lock the door or put hair gel on a baseball so no one can hit it.
They’re not cheating, they’re just winning the game.
Who would pay good money to watch an NFL game with 60 players out on the field?
Chaos.
There is no such thing as No Rules Aussie Football or Soccer with Hands. That’s why there are umpires and referees to enforce the rules.
Without them, anarchy.
But life isn’t a game, not like badminton. Rules get fuzzy. Rules get in the way when money and power enter the field. People want to win. We’re a competitive species. We train. We practice endlessly. We take steroids and cheat.
We just want to win.
In California, the Governor is pushing for a special election for redistricting. The rules say no, it’s too soon.
The legislature in Texas has passed a bill to change its boundaries so the GOP will win 5 more seats, if anyone shows up to vote.
The rules say they, too, should wait.
They’re not.
Super PACs and other groups, like Protect Voters First or Protect Fair Elections-org, are sending out glossy brochures and flyers in CA shouting – The Rules Are Being Broken – This Must Stop!
And they’re right, the “rules” are being broken. But they still want the game to go on and be played anyway.
Kind of like stepping up to bat at a baseball stadium and facing 15 players in the field. What’s the chance you’ll actually get a hit?
Chaos.
The thing is, if we continue to play a game when the other side is changing all the rules, then we’ll likely lose.
Who wants to play a game where we have little chance of winning?
That’s not who we are. We’ll just stop playing.
But that won’t work, not in life. Not in politics.
Sometimes we have to bend or break the rules to save the game.
It’s either that or change the game altogether.
Now there’s a thought.