The Rules

Rules are a major part of our daily lives. From laws to restrictions, they tell us where, when, how many of everything we can or can’t have or do. It can bring us comfort or can bring us stress. It truly depends on what the rules are and how they apply to each individual person. That individual person then decides for themselves if they will chose to partake in the rules and comply, thus be accepted into their tribe. In John A. Hostetler’s “The Amish Charter” he supplies the reader with the Ordnung of a Christian Church. This lays out the rules and restrictions from the size of a hat “to be black with no less than 3-inch rim and not extremely high in the crown” (p. 143) to “No insurance. No photographs” (p. 144).The Amish people know their rules and it carries them through as a community knowing exactly where they stand. They are willing to keep severed ties with the outside world for the greater good of their community. Even to the extreme of excommunication and shunning, they know that if they do not follow the rules, this will be their fate. The threat of shunning is a last resort, but the strongest of all rules to keep the tribe together in their common beliefs. Each individual is deciding if the outside world is worth the price of excommunication or deciding that the Amish community is truly where they belong. 

Some rules are not so obvious or written out for all to see. In Mim Udovitch’s “A Secret Society of the Starving” she states “But she does have self-devised rules and restrictions regarding eating, which, if she does not meet them, make her feel that she has erred” (p. 151). The pro-ana teen knows the main rule is starving and may not have all of the rules, but to be part of the tribe of pro-anas, she has devised her own rules and restrictions. As long as she fits the basic mold of what the rest of the tribe is looking for, she is in.   She is taking the rules of the community and adding her own rules into the mix. It allows her to better fit into her community.

Not all tribes and communities have straight forward rules. Sometimes it a common interest that becomes a rule. For example, if you collect Barbie Dolls, then there is your common interest and the rule. To be a part of the tribe, you must be a collector. It doesn’t matter if you are a “de-boxer” (terrible!) or you keep the dolls in the boxes which give them character and value. The choice is the collector’s own, but they are still a collector nonetheless. In Shari Caudron’s essay “Befriending Barbie” she states “But since spending time with the Barbie collectors, I’ve begun to realize that I’m, well, um, envious of the Barbie collectors. I envy their enthusiasm. Their deep connection with one another. Their ability to shriek with delight over a pair of Patio Party earrings just marked down 20 percent. I want what they have, what the rock collector has, what Angela has, and am willing to go to extraordinary lengths to get it. Or at least understand it” (p. 175). Excitement and an abundance of enthusiasm is the rule for a Barbie Collector. Believe me, I know. With over ninety Barbie Dolls in my collection, I know that embarrassing my daughters by squealing and bursting into tears over a new doll in a Toy’s R’ Us has become a way of life for us. It’s the passion that brings me together with other collectors. The passion to hold on to something that was so special as a child that you can not give in to the rule of being too old for dolls. I am not too old for dolls. I love each and every one of them.  The passion for Barbie is what makes me part of the Barbie community.