Nice grappling with a difficult issue, Ben. And I agree with your main point, which I would frame as the importance of living in reality. But it seems to me you only got a start on distinguishing cheating from insecurity from rule-breaking for other reasons, often also labeled "cheating."
I had a friend long ago who had to ship some hazardous material to a disposal site in California. If he followed California regulations, he would be violating both DOE regulations and EPA regulations. An DOE and EPA regulations were contradictory. So no matter what he did, he would be "cheating" according to 2 out of 3 agencies with authority.
The purpose, safe disposal of the waste, was worthy no matter which rules he broke. I myself broke dozens if not hundreds of administrative rules in my time within a big bureaucratic research lab, with the intent of producing something worthwhile. The bureaucrats in charge certainly would have viewed that as cheating. I didn't care; If they wanted to fire me over it I could find something else to do.
As to my friend, he followed CA regulations. They had the cops.
Hey Paul, thanks for reading and as usual offering insightful comments.
The example of your friend would not be considered cheating as he isn't trying to gain an advantage + avoid punishment, they are simply a victim of poorly constructed rules and policies. For it to be cheating, intent does matter.
I understand from the perspective of the regulators they might call it cheating but since they seem to have drafted their rules in isolation, a participant can't possibly follow all directives. As such if every participant becomes a cheater, than nobody can be a cheater. There needs to be some participants that can prove to follow the rules.
Your next point is also super astute. There are so many rules but unless they are enforced or carry real consequences, people stop following them. This is why somebody like yourself, who I assume is honest and with good intentions will break many of these rules.
So true, most cheat or resort to trickery because they do not have the will and strength to confront the demands of reality, worse still if they don't admit weakness.
Super coincident my latest piece touches on succession too! 🙏
Nice grappling with a difficult issue, Ben. And I agree with your main point, which I would frame as the importance of living in reality. But it seems to me you only got a start on distinguishing cheating from insecurity from rule-breaking for other reasons, often also labeled "cheating."
I had a friend long ago who had to ship some hazardous material to a disposal site in California. If he followed California regulations, he would be violating both DOE regulations and EPA regulations. An DOE and EPA regulations were contradictory. So no matter what he did, he would be "cheating" according to 2 out of 3 agencies with authority.
The purpose, safe disposal of the waste, was worthy no matter which rules he broke. I myself broke dozens if not hundreds of administrative rules in my time within a big bureaucratic research lab, with the intent of producing something worthwhile. The bureaucrats in charge certainly would have viewed that as cheating. I didn't care; If they wanted to fire me over it I could find something else to do.
As to my friend, he followed CA regulations. They had the cops.
Hey Paul, thanks for reading and as usual offering insightful comments.
The example of your friend would not be considered cheating as he isn't trying to gain an advantage + avoid punishment, they are simply a victim of poorly constructed rules and policies. For it to be cheating, intent does matter.
I understand from the perspective of the regulators they might call it cheating but since they seem to have drafted their rules in isolation, a participant can't possibly follow all directives. As such if every participant becomes a cheater, than nobody can be a cheater. There needs to be some participants that can prove to follow the rules.
Your next point is also super astute. There are so many rules but unless they are enforced or carry real consequences, people stop following them. This is why somebody like yourself, who I assume is honest and with good intentions will break many of these rules.
So true, most cheat or resort to trickery because they do not have the will and strength to confront the demands of reality, worse still if they don't admit weakness.
Super coincident my latest piece touches on succession too! 🙏
It’s so good!
Haha yea, power, wealth and family dynamics..potent!