Rules, Rule-Breaking, and Sudsy DramaQUOTE(Jimmy Wales)
The history of Wikipedia can tell something about rule breaking having great impact.
I agree 110%.
QUOTE(Jimmy Wales)
We had a lot of ideas about what this project would look like, how we would create an encyclopaedia, and tried to a priori design the whole thing to match that preset idea. It turns out we were wrong about several things and right about a few things. The excessive a priori thinking led us to believe we had to proceed in a certain route, which we didn’t.
I couldn't fail to disagree less.
QUOTE(Jimmy Wales)
The lesson that I learned from that is, whenever possible, if you don’t have to make a decision today, then don’t. Wait. Leave things open-ended and try to pursue a path so that you can make that decision at a future juncture when you need to. This has a broad applicability in many contexts. If you a priori imagine everything and then you pursue it in a very rigid way, you can get off track before you can realize it and never get back.
Indeed.
QUOTE(Jimmy Wales)
Takeaways- Top-down models and old-fashioned processes can stifle innovation. In such cases, breaking the rules can have great impact.
- Develop an open-ended model instead of a priori figuring out what you think the right path is. Solve problems as you encounter them.
- If you don’t have to make a decision today, then don’t. Make those decisions in the future, when you need to.
The Rules
Rule #1: No Narcissistic Wounding.
Rule #2: No Narcissistic Wounding.
Rule #3: No Narcissistic Wounding.
Violators will be summarily stigmatized, reverted, humiliated, scapegoated, blocked, banned, baleeted, blacklisted and made to stand in the corner with a dunce cap and a scarlet letter.
Doubleplusungood, you'll get spanked, like a bad boy scout, on your
a posteriori.
Takeaway If you can't build a first-class encyclopedia with the resources at hand, build a juicy, first-class, brand spanking new
drama engine instead.