"Rule A: Don't. Rule A1: Rule A doesn't exist. Rule A2: Do not discuss the existence or non-existence of Rules A, A1 or A2"
- R. D. Laing
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The quote suggests that there are customs in society that individuals are anticipated to follow, however these rules are often vague or inconsistent. Guideline A mentions "Don't," which can be analyzed in different ways, and in some cases there is no clear understanding of what is anticipated. Guideline A1 states that the preliminary guideline, Rule A, does not really exist, meaning that individuals are making presumptions about what they need to do based on uncertain or nonexistent requirements. Rule A2 forbids going over the presence or non-existence of these guidelines, which further reinforces the idea that there are hidden expectations that individuals are expected to follow without question.
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