The Rule Truth

AITOOW thinks rules are just window dressing (just for show)? Everybody just follows the ones they agree with and hopes that they don't get caught violating the ones they find oppressive. Anyone who thinks that a system of rules will change behavior doesn't understand human nature. They just ascribe cause and effect to the wrong cause. The cause of rules efficaciousness is conformity with instinctual norms or ignorance by the assessor to violations of the rules. Possibly. Just Possibly. A ridiculously disproportionate penalty may influence behavior. But, the individual whom it may sway would probably not be too uncomfortable with the behavior required by the rule or disproportionately fearful of the consequences.