Questions to Ask of the People Who Make the Rules

What, exactly, are the rules?

Why do these rules exist?

By whose authority are these rules upheld?

What’s more important—the spirit or letter of these rules?

Has anyone ever found or been granted an exception to these rules?

Could these rules be bent, modified, overlooked, or otherwise changed?

Will someone be penalized for excelling under these rules?

What are the consequences for breaking the rules?

What are the people who made these rules really afraid of?

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