Indifference to rules.

Post Reply New Topic

I've noticed various statements that people with autism/Asperger's are usually commited to rules. To me this almost seems contradictory to the logic they normally have because following the rules is the opposite of independent thinking.
I could really care less if I break someone else's rules and feel angered when some tries to enforce them on me. I have my own personal set of morals I decide on my own. I feel strongly against people doing what they're told and respect personal independence.

From what I know, aspies will only follow the rules if they agree to them and understand why they are there in place and if it's logical enough for them.

Sounds like you're plenty committed.

What League_Girl says, is exactly how I treat rules / laws.

If it makes sence, I have no opposition to them.
If I don't agree with it, then it doesn't exist in my mind.

I'm in the curious position of agreeing with you... but at the same time I'm a moderator here. It just happens that my own personal morality coincides with the site rules so I have no conflict with them.

The only down-side of not following other people's or societies rules is that if your break those rules you have to be prepared to suffer the consequences such as exclusion or fines etc.

It seems to me that these statements are very often misunderstood. The tendency is for people to think that 'someone who is committed to rules' means the same thing as someone who is 'obedient'. Your post illustrates one aspect of being committed; you are committed to your "own personal set of morals I decide on my own". Your morals write the rules that you live by and you are committed to those rules.

Ritualistic/repetitive behavior is another aspect of being "committed to rules" and is common in ASD. Some people can't eat foods that are touching each other. Others must drive the same route every day. Someone else must sit in the same spot on the couch every time. There are countless examples of these types of rules all over WP. Again, these are generally people following their own personal rules.

Neither case precludes independent thinking. Both cases are examples of being "committed to rules". In the latter case the commitment to rules is beyond what is considered normal in this society and is how following rules is usually thought of in connection with ASD. It's seen as part of the disorder.

This reminds me of something I read on CNN for managers of aspie employees. The point discussed in that piece was that aspies don't respect authority, or rather require logical explanation for policies that other employees would just accept because they were the rules laid down by the boss.

http://www.cnn.com/2013/04/11/health/as ... -work-irpt

This is another way of saying what Tallyman said from a slightly different perspective.

I've observed the complete opposite here - when a member admits to doing or having done something illegal, several members will immediately be outraged and comment on it. But that's possible just an effort to counter one's innate weakness?

I always view rules as follow them or suffer the consequence, your choice. You have no right to complain about what consequence you get for breaking it. If you want to break it, then be willing to accept the consequence and not mind it. This is what I am trying to teach my child.


I have found rules on forums stupid and would break them anyway and willing to suffer it if caught. Some rules on forums are so ridiculous I wouldn't follow them. One of them is no posting adult links in PMs and I am like "Why is it bad posting it to another user who is over 18?" so I would break it anyway. I only have a problem with the consequence if it was not even listed in the rules what I did that was supposedly against the rules on the forum. I just think it was made up by the mod to gun me and they twisted the rules to justify their actions.

I think everyone is like this to an extent. Even kids break them too and grown ups. That is why tickets are handed out to drivers. Thank god for rule breakers or the police wouldn't be making their money.

When I was younger, I used to be very anti-authoritarian, but it was because I was dealing with PTSD and lack of control in that situation and this was my way of taking back control.

However, I really appreciate rules these days. It takes the guessing out of behavior. I am in a position that I have to explain rules, the reasons I use for the "why" is what I find when researching why I rule was enacted. I do not have to explain my feelings because they are embedded in the rules and it goes beyond anything I need to feel or relate feelings for. These days, I do a lot less questioning of rules even if it does not make a lot of sense because rules are easy for me -- explaining why without them is extremely difficult.

As a kid I needed to know rules so I would know what to expect and how to act or it was all chaotic for me and I'd have behavior issues. I didn't even need to know why they were in place because I needed to know what to expect and how to behave or it was chaos for me. So my mother would just give me them. Not typical for an aspie. She said I just needed structure to function.

I don't get this thread. So what sort of rules do NTs break and follow and what sort of rules to Aspies break and follow? I hope you'll pardon the generalization, but that seems to be what goes on a lot here anyway.

The reason why I follow rules depends on the context of the rule. I am not stubborn, like if I didn't have any money on me but needed something from a shop, I'm not going to stubbornly argue with the shop manager all day by saying that if I don't have any money on me I have to steal the item that I wanted. But I have stole from a shop before when I was a teenager, but I knew it was wrong and I was just doing it to impress some thuggy kids I used to hang out with. I'm sure lots of people have done that before, and most adults frown upon people who deliberately steal from shops.

I sometimes break small rules. Like at work we are not allowed more than 20 minutes break, but I do often deliberately prolong my break to 25 or 30 minutes. Some others do, some don't. But it's easy to do it and not get found out.

When the child is young they may follow the rules as they don't know what else to do and often become so caught up in it when they become teenagers they think breaking the law is bad, they can't drink, etc. I don't care about the rules or laws, just don't get caught and it is fine. Obviously never harm someone, but the simple fact that someone said not to do something doesn't mean you can't do it.

Where I come from most teenagers lose their innocence they once had as a child.

well from own view of autism and this issue,am not someone who cares about attaching personality labels like 'independant minded' to self but acutely follow rules,for example,will properly read the rules on forums until able to understand as much as possible before ever posting,will not download copyrighted things etc.
yes have got own personal morals to.

everyone needs to follow basic society rules and laws otherwise society will not work as it shoud do,why shoud some individuals get a free ride being part of a society that supports them in different ways whilst ignoring the rules that everyone else is able to follow?

This is exactly how I've come see things lately. Every action has a consequence and if you are willing to be accountable for whatever the results are you have the freedom to choose.

When I was younger I just followed rules blindly and didn't even feel like I had a choice to break them.