The Problem with Consistency Today

Why is there such a lack of consistency among people today? I know this sounds naive and idealistic, but I just don't understand why people play mind games with others (with themselves is a whole other story and I will save that for another post). If you believe something, act in a way that actually reflects your belief. I think that the old adage: "Say what you mean, and mean what you say" is appropriate here. Consistency is believability, reliability, and plain easier to deal with than trying to figure out what a person means or what they may do because they never act the same way twice.

Obviously, I cannot stand people who are unpredictable-- in a certain way. For instance, I may be doing the same action in multiple situations, but the person may not react the same way each time. It makes no sense which way they'll go. One just has to hope it doesn't end badly, I suppose. Ahh, I'm not really making sense. A better, more concrete example: I say something about a political figure (take Ron Paul) and mention something that I like him. That's all I say. This happens on two different occasions. Both times, I am merely speaking in general to the room at large. One person is present in both situations. The first time I mention Paul, they say nothing or say something trivial. The second time, they freak out completely and berate me for liking him. What am I supposed to do in a situation like this? An easy excuse is to say that I should just not say controversial things, but why should I curb my speech when it isn't inflammatory or in bad taste? Perhaps these people are just unstable and I shouldn't pay attention to what they say at all. But this problem is compounded when there is accountability involved-- that is, the person has some sort of power or authority (professors, supervisors, and government officials, mainly), and things I say or do may have a negative effect if the things are the wrong thing. Regardless, when I don't know how they will react to my actions, I get very stressed out. And this is a bad thing, because I don't know why people are inconsistent in the first place.

Certainly everyone is inconsistent here and there. I understand this. After all, if consistency in life and beliefs was easy to achieve, it wouldn't be something that I remind myself to live for every day. But it seems to me that inconsistency fills the world and is especially rampant in positions of authority. Why do authority figures/organizations make rules that can't (or won't be) enforced? This makes no sense. It instills a sense of wrongfulness into everyday life and if the rules aren't going to be enforced, this sense of uncertainty is reinforced. The rule-follower feels obligated to follow the rule, even though there is no guarantee that the enforcement of the rule will occur. This can have the effect that most people will uphold the rule just to save themselves the trouble of dealing with the authorities.

I am more concerned with the rule-breakers, however. Some will get away with the action, others will be caught and punished. Now, some will say that the rule-breaker who is not caught is just smarter than the person who did get caught breaking the rule. But is he? What if the authority figure (the rule-maker) knows both people broke the rule, but only chooses to pursue one suspect (ceteris parabis, of course) over the other? It seems to me that inconsistency regarding the enforcement of rules only causes inequality to ensue. And everyone knows that inequality is intolerable, right?

Ah, I don't know how I got into this ridiculousness. Frustrated, I suppose, with the other people in my life and trying to talking about one of the three words for which this blog is named (I think I was thinking about mind games that people play with others. Another issue for another day, as it doesn't fit completely into this topic. Perhaps more in tune with confidence...). Stay tuned for a post on clarity, another on coherence, and one on mind games.