Judges follow gut feeling
PrevNode LinkIf you’ve ever visited the ultra-orthodox Jewish communities of Jerusalem, all of whom agree in complete and utter adherence to every iota of Jewish law, you will discover that despite general agreement on what constitutes kosher food, that you will not find a rabbi from one ultra-orthodox community who is willing to eat at the home of a rabbi from a different ultra-orthodox community. And the web designers are discovering what the Jews of Mea Shearim have known for decades: just because you all agree to follow one book doesn’t ensure compatibility, because the laws are so complex and complicated and convoluted that it’s almost impossible to understand them all well enough to avoid traps and landmines, and you’re safer just asking for the fruit plate.
( Joel Spolsky )
I enjoyed watching the 1991 comedy film Nothing but Trouble, at the time (despite its vulgarity). It demonstrated that most judges (or juries for that matter) followed reason, gut feeling, prejudice, etc. rather than the letter of the bylaws, legal code, regulations, and legal precedents when formulating their judgements. This is given the complexity, volume, and the contradictory nature of the latter.
As hacker monarchs and action heroes, we should constantly challenge the 'rules' / 'laws' that we abide by to defy our fate. I do not encourage people to murder harmless people, vandalise property, rape, or steal for vanity (rather than for self-support like Disney's Alladdin) and you should try to "be excellent to each other", but there are many guidelines that were or seemed beneficial at the time that no longer are.
Guidelines are important for the philosophical processes of thought and communication. But they should not be taken as gospel or dogma.