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You set the rules. When I play by them and win, do not complain.
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| Ahhhh shaddap. |
Seems pretty simple and straightforward eh?
Here's another way of looking at that statement: Let me adjust my standards to be the same as yours.
This adjustment could be higher. It could be lower. It could be a lateral adjustment. To be completely fair, I must also admit no adjustment is necessary. We could have the same standards and rules going in.
But the idea expressed behind my little aphorism is that you (a general you and not directed at any specific person) are attempting to twist the rules to your benefit. Cheating, in other words.
So when I take my set of ethics, morals and standards and make the needed adjustments to line them up with yours, what does that say about me?
Again, let's focus on the implication here. I have to lower myself. I ain't too happy about that.
But, the rules are the rules, right?
What do I do? I see three options.
• Walk away and have nothing to do with you and your arbitrary standards.
• Keep my own standards and compete anyway, knowing that my chance of success is in a serious tailspin.
• Lower myself.
All three are viable depending on the situation.
If it is something that's not important, leave. F'r'instance: A vacant lot baseball game (Calvinball goes through my mind right about now), I can walk away. No worries.
If it is of some minor importance, or I don't care about the eventual outcome, I'll stick to my ideals and we'll rock.
But what if it is something of major importance? Ah. Now what? By what measure do you gauge the importance of the situation. How do you compare that to your ethical standards? Is it an absolute bar, or does it shift depending on the circumstances?
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| In case you wondered. |
Arg. Complicated.
Lemme simplify - If you bend your own personal code of conduct, it's bent.
That's enough to chew on today. Tomorrow I plan to give you a real example of this, something that is bothering me quite a bit.
Came across your blog when looking for information on heartburn. Realise it has not much to do with the medical side of that topic but the name grabbed my attention. Is the photo at the top of an actual product?
ReplyDeleteBut interesting topic and post - > think as you say it depends on situation but if you are prepared to lower your own standards can be a slippery slope....