THE RULE RULE

Are you as tired as I am of hearing the nonsensical "Every rule has an exception and it's the exception that proves the rule." The exception doesn't prove the rule, it proves that the rule is wrong.

If we have a rule that says "No human can fly" and then we see little 10 year old Johnny flying around like a bird, he doesn't prove the rule right, he proves it wrong.

The love affair with exceptions likely stems from a hatred of extremes and of being pinned down. Rules that are written in absolute terms, that seem to always apply, have no wiggle room, and if there is one thing most people seem to love it's wiggle room.

"KEEP LOOKING, THERE IS ALWAYS ENOUGH WIGGLE ROOM"

That is the mantra of the wrigglers.

The next time you hear someone voice the "Every rule has an exception..." rule, ask him if that rule has an exception.

If the answer is NO, then that rule is self-invalidating.

If the answer is YES, then there is a rule with no exception...and such a rule would then be a rule that cannot be proven to be right. Only the rules with exceptions can be. Remember?

To sum up: A rule that is always right can't be proven to be right, while a rule that is wrong can be.

Clear?