Excellent observation OP, I am definitely of the same mind. It seems almost every day I'm pushing some kind of limit, making my own boundaries, or doing something others consider unorthodox or outrageous without first "asking permission." Funny thing is, others usually see me as the one with foreign ideas, even as they are proverbially walking off the cliff like lemmings. Here are a few that come to mind that I've encountered in everyday occasions:
- Calling out sick: (just had a debate about this with my family the other day!). I say, when someone's sick, you stay home. Unless the f*ing business is going to completely implode because you don't show up, or the Chinese will launch nuclear weapons at us because you weren't at your radar post, stay home. My family (including wife!) disagree -- they all felt you need to show up at work or school unless you are pretty much near death, otherwise you're letting down the boss/teacher and besides, you'll "get behind." Screw that.
- Traffic: WTF? *No one* is going to take that empty lane over there, or you're all going to be "polite" and hold up traffic by not merging as late as possible using the "zipper" method?
- Lines/queues: I frequently see people waiting 3- or 4-deep in lines without so much as bothering to look a few aisles down to observe a completely empty lane that I waltz into. No free lanes and lines stacking up? I'll walk over to the manager and ask him to open one for me or handle my transaction on the spot.
- Deadlines: Someone sets an unreasonable deadline at work or anywhere else? I ignore it (again, unless it's of the utmost importance or in my own interests to meet it).
- Any kind of arbitrary rules: I ignore them unless there are stated consequences (that I care about), or if ignoring them will harm others somehow.
- HOA's
- Schools: These seem to be complete f'ing clearing-houses of arbitrariness. I'm sure all of their madness came about from some good reason, somewhere, sometime (OMG!! You brought dangerous weapon-like NAIL CLIPPERS to class!!), but for the most part they've succeeded very well in turning kids into automatons doing what they are told. Related to this...
- Kids' homework: My younger daughter once had a teacher who, every night, assigned a completely unreasonable amount of homework. We're talking 2-3+ hours every single night for a 4th grader. I discussed it with the teacher (numerous times) and finally elevated it to the principal to get it rectified. In the meantime, my poor straight-A and mindful daughter was busting her ass every night and stressing to get it all done. I told her to screw it, it doesn't matter if she doesn't complete it all, her being a kid and not stressing is more important than the ridiculous and excessive "copying" exercises the teacher had them doing. It was hard getting her to see the light and not stress over it, but it gave her an appreciation for how questioning authority and "rules" can be valuable (I've seen her do it herself now!).
- Just last night I sent a response to an offer I got, a couple of days past the due date for my response (I had to return it late for reasons I can't explain here). I imagine 99% of people would tell themselves "Oh, this offer expired, it's too late so I'll forget it."
- Bad actors or bad customer service: I'm kind of a legend (in my own mind) in not allowing myself or others to get screwed over by bad actors. I don't let it drop, and I don't take no for an answer. I'd like to think I'm not a dick about it and keep it all professional and pleasant, but I'm sure my persistence pisses some off. I don't do it to be a trivial jerk, and only when the outcome actually matters -- for example, insurers trying to deny claims that should be covered.
- Over-criminalization in general: This is a whole topic in itself. The very fact that the U.S. has so many people incarcerated demonstrates just how pervasive this is. I'll continue to break those dumb rules.