Policies are designed to simplify my life by eliminating the need for making the same decision more than once. Policies are not immutable; they are designed to serve me, not the other way around.
Accompaniment
Anyone is allowed to join me in any activity whatsoever as long as they pull their weight and don’t slow me down. In cases where the person is trying something for the first time or attempting to learn, that caveat will generally be suspended.
Alcohol
≤2 units/day.
Rationale: More alcohol correlates to less willpower. Decreased willpower results in violating other policies. It’s not critically important to me that I never drink to intoxication, but it is critical to me that I don’t smoke cigarettes or damage myself and others in ways that I would avoid if I were thinking clearly.
Confrontation
Confront issues as soon as any emotional reaction is under control, but no later than 72 hours from the time of the incident that demands confrontation. Any casus belli expires after 72 hours. Holding resentment for over 72 hours is an offense committed by the person still grasping onto the perceived slight.
Rationale: confronting issues while under the influence of emotion is likelier to escalate the conflict than it is to resolve it. However, no matter how grievous the offense, one should not allow oneself to be slave to emotion for more than 3 days. Finally, resentment is poison to both individuals and relationships, and it must be purged or it will continue to afflict whoever ingests it.
Food
Food is important for the following reasons, in this order:
- Nutrition
- Communion
- Pleasure
Unpleasant taste won’t prevent me from eating something nutritious.
Rationale: Food does more than keep me alive. The quality of my diet has direct downstream effects on my emotions, capabilities, longevity, health, toughness, resilience, flexibility, sharpness, and the effect of my presence on other people. I judge those long-term benefits to be more important than any immediate pleasure, so for me nutrition is the most important factor in deciding what to eat.
After that, it’s a great way to enjoy communion with other people. I relate to other people based on shared experience, and eating is an experience I can share with anyone.
Gossip
I don’t criticize people in their absence. I prefer not to know anyone else’s secrets.
Intellectual Property
I will pay for content rather than pirating it. Not only I think that it’s the right thing to do, but also because this will keep me from spending time on anything for which I’m not also willing to spend money.
When it’s impossible or onerous to pay for something that I think will add value to my life, then I’ll pirate it rather than depriving myself of it.
New things
By default, I’ll try them. Health risks may trump this policy, but historically they generally haven’t.
Punctuality
Punctuality is important to me because I value time. I’m not late to any commitment or event where other people’s time will be wasted by my tardiness.
If we’re going somewhere together and you’re not ready in time for us to leave and be punctual, I may leave without you.
Relationships
Relationships of all kinds are built on mutual respect and are formed and maintained for mutual benefit.
The following are grounds for termination:
- Lack of mutual respect
- Refusal or failure to communicate in a constructive manner
Smoking
- I don’t smoke cigars because I don’t like them.
- I don’t smoke cigarettes for health reasons.
- Marijuana is ok on Sundays or weekdays after 5 p.m.
Rationale: There may be no benefits whatsoever from smoking tobacco, and even if there are, those benefits are outweighed by the costs - the primary cost being addiction and compulsive behavior. Regarding marijuana: it’s enjoyable at times, alone, but affects me in the following ways:
- Represses expression
- Causes anxiety
- Slows down thoughts for a prolonged period after the initial high wears off and renders me ineffective
- Decreases sex drive
- Costs money
- Tends to be done compulsively
If you catch me violating any of these policies and cite this document, I will pay you a $20 fine.
Related concepts: Best practices