Following the rules.

Post Reply New Topic

Whenever there is a set of rules or directions to follow, I always follow them.

Some NTs often look at the rules and know they exist, and know they should follow the rules, but they don't. And then when the rules are enforced, they get upset and act as if the rules do not apply to them.
I am mocked and teased for actually following the given rules and directions. But then they wonder why I get things done quicker and easier, whilist they keep having trouble.


Why is this?

Is "following the WRITTEN rules" an AS trait? I am not talking about those vague, unwritten rules. I am talking about those rules that are made clear for everyone to see.

I wouldnt call it a trait of aspieness, more or less I'd say its that we fear being in trouble. We dont have a desire to live on the wild side usually, and most of us had overbearing ignorant parents. By ignorance I mean of our condition and what limits it actually puts on us.

Besides, the rules do give us a routine to follow, but one could easily do the opposite with the correct type of parents(badboy dad and cheerleader mom for instance). Also, concrete things like laws allow us to understand there will be consequences if we choose a different route than the one they've predetermined for us. Maybe you should try breaking a rule once in a while to see what it feels like.

I tend to follow the rules. I don’t like getting in trouble. I suppose you can call me a bit of a goody two shoes when it comes to following orders…save those orders make sense.


I think it is stupid to break a rule simply for the sake of breaking a rule. However, if a rule/order goes against my moral code, I am more apt not to obey it

Verbal rules (written or spoken) come accompanied by non-verbal commentary (which includes how and why and when you can NOT FOLLOW those rules). Only we Aspies/NLDers are blind to the non-verbal, so that's why we "follow the rules blindly".

I tend to follow rules. Providing there logical, I like rules. They make me feel safe, I know what to do, as long as I follow the rules I can't go wrong.

If they're illogical however I will break them.

For example, when I was five my mum said I could play downstairs in the garden, but I wasn't allowed out the gate. However I saw our neighbours two year old playing in the road. So even though I knew I'd get in trouble her safety came first and I brought her in.

Interesting example! What happened after, BE?

My mum punished me!

She understood my reasons, but knew that she had to keep to what she said so in the future I would know not to go outside. And told me in the future I was to get an adult.

Luckily the situation never happened again, because I knew that I would do the same thing again because of the possibility that in the time it took to get a adult she could have been hurt or worse. I did explain that to my mum and she said she didn't care (because obviously she would rather I'm safe than someone else is. maternal instincts are biased that was ) But I would rather (even then) risk my life and get into trouble than hate myself for the rest of my life because I didn't get to an adult in time.

What should have happened is her mum should have been arrest for neglect. But....

Your mum acted correctly, I think...And so did you. Wonderful example of the dilemmas posed by the topic of this thread!

Aspies generally follow the rules because we are so literal. People are just stupid for not following them. Lot of people don't like rules. Some aspies get upset when they get broken and some of them turn into watchdogs. That makes things even worse because lot of people don't like tattletales.

As far as I can recall baring that instance it's never happened again. But then I have really bad theory of mind, so I probably have got into trouble because I haven't followed some rule and then just assumed that either 1, I was in trouble for something else, or 2 that the person who punished me or reacted badly to my rule breaking was just not a nice person.

If I think something is illogical I just assume that everyone else does.

I always follow the rules no matter what I'm doing, usually.

The main exception to that is the speed limit. Don't know why but I tend to speed quite frequently.

I play by the rules just enough to avoid being arrested.
I will bend or ignore most any I find unnecessary. I don't follow directing well either.

I usually follow rules, unless they are idiotic. Or if I'm reasonably certain I won't get in trouble.