Challenge
Everybody who wants to study in the BYU have to sign a thing called "Honor Code". That document dictates what students can not do while they are here. I have a few words about that.
All around campus there are fliers and posters with something like "Ты записался добровольцем?YOU! Remember what you signed! You promised to obey the honor code. Keep up to your promise!"
Sure I did sign that. They MADE me sign that. Do I care about promises that I was FORCED to make? Sure I care not to get caught while breaking them, but that's about it as far as appeal to conscience goes.
However, that's not the point.
I do not see any actual meaning in some of the HC restrictions. Maybe if I have seen some I would've been more responsive, but right now most of the bans contradict my personal common sense. Let's go over some of them, from the most meaningless to the lesser ones.
a) No beard, restricted hair styles. Exactly why? What's wrong with a beard? That restriction makes people look uniform and limits individuality. Is it its intended purpose?
Biblical reference: every biblical male had a lot of facial hair.
b) The same stands for piercing. What's wrong with that? It looks unusual but why not look unusual?
Not much biblical reference here, I'll admit. However, Bible is "somewhat fuzzy around the area of kneecaps" too.
c) No tea, no coffee. This is at least explained... somewhat. They say caffeine may cause addiction. It definitely may, as just about EVERYTHING around you. You can get addicted to the internet, video gaming, Terry Pratchett, shower in the morning etc. However, we do not ban all those things, even though, say, video gaming addiction is particularly bad. Why then do they ban caffeine, addiction to which is harmless? Oh, yes, a frequent statement that "hot chocolate is much more tasty than coffee". It's like saying that a hamburger is much better than foie gras.
Biblical reference: I am pretty sure that tea was quite popular back then
d) No swearing. Yes, swearing may be disrespectful. However if you want to be disrespectful I am pretty sure you will find ways to be so without swearing. I would say that swearing actually enriches the language. We are talking about EXPLICIT words and statements here, right? Doesn't it mean "strong, picturesque, colorful, definite"? You can actually be much more straightforward and expressive if you use swearwords "correctly". You don't need to beat around the bush and can go straight to the point. Although all these "Darn that shut to heck" phrases are hilarious.
Biblical reference: swearing is ageless and timeless.
This would be enough for now. I'll cover alcohol, erotics and "virtuous life" later. Maybe.
All around campus there are fliers and posters with something like "Ты записался добровольцем?YOU! Remember what you signed! You promised to obey the honor code. Keep up to your promise!"
Sure I did sign that. They MADE me sign that. Do I care about promises that I was FORCED to make? Sure I care not to get caught while breaking them, but that's about it as far as appeal to conscience goes.
However, that's not the point.
I do not see any actual meaning in some of the HC restrictions. Maybe if I have seen some I would've been more responsive, but right now most of the bans contradict my personal common sense. Let's go over some of them, from the most meaningless to the lesser ones.
a) No beard, restricted hair styles. Exactly why? What's wrong with a beard? That restriction makes people look uniform and limits individuality. Is it its intended purpose?
Biblical reference: every biblical male had a lot of facial hair.
b) The same stands for piercing. What's wrong with that? It looks unusual but why not look unusual?
Not much biblical reference here, I'll admit. However, Bible is "somewhat fuzzy around the area of kneecaps" too.
c) No tea, no coffee. This is at least explained... somewhat. They say caffeine may cause addiction. It definitely may, as just about EVERYTHING around you. You can get addicted to the internet, video gaming, Terry Pratchett, shower in the morning etc. However, we do not ban all those things, even though, say, video gaming addiction is particularly bad. Why then do they ban caffeine, addiction to which is harmless? Oh, yes, a frequent statement that "hot chocolate is much more tasty than coffee". It's like saying that a hamburger is much better than foie gras.
Biblical reference: I am pretty sure that tea was quite popular back then
d) No swearing. Yes, swearing may be disrespectful. However if you want to be disrespectful I am pretty sure you will find ways to be so without swearing. I would say that swearing actually enriches the language. We are talking about EXPLICIT words and statements here, right? Doesn't it mean "strong, picturesque, colorful, definite"? You can actually be much more straightforward and expressive if you use swearwords "correctly". You don't need to beat around the bush and can go straight to the point. Although all these "Darn that shut to heck" phrases are hilarious.
Biblical reference: swearing is ageless and timeless.
This would be enough for now. I'll cover alcohol, erotics and "virtuous life" later. Maybe.