Laws are nothing but rules that we, as a society, agree to adhere to. Individuals may disagree with the laws or even break them, but it is illegal to do so. (Breaking a rule, then, is the definition of illegality, eh?) Most rules are good for the society as a whole. It’s a good rule not to kill anyone simply for the hell of it. If you are going to kill people, you must follow the rules to do so. Police know those rules very well. It’s a good rule not to take things without permission that belong to anyone else simply for the hell of it. If you are going to steal, you must follow the rules to do so. Banks know those rules very well.

But not all rules are good ideas to follow under certain circumstances. Just the other day, I was walking downtown Toronto when this guy on a bicycle comes easing by me on the sidewalk I was walking on. I yelled at him, “Hey, bikes are illegal on sidewalks.” He stopped, dismounted and walked back to me, first to apologize, acknowledging that it was indeed illegal and then, second to explain why he was on my sidewalk. He pointed to an intersection about a block or so further on and asked if I had seen the news the other day. (I normally don’t read nor watch the news much.) He went on to explain that there was a lady bicyclist in the legal bicycle lane beside regular city traffic lanes for bikers to take. A large truck hit her, crushing her bicycle into a contorted mess.

“No,” he replied when I asked if she was okay. “She died.”

Tragic. But this was why the biker was breaking the rules set aside for him to go biking on. He apologized again but added that he would rather apologize to me, pay a traffic ticket, or even get punched in the nose rather than end up following the rules to his death. I just stood there and watched him look about for a policeman, then climb back onto his bicycle and continue down the sidewalk.

Sex is a strange thing. Not only is it necessary for the survival of our species (and most others, as well) but it’s a fun thing that feels really good. I mean… really good. So, by its nature, sex is a very important thing in our lives. Just a few animal species indulge in sex just for the fun of it. Our species does.

Religions. There are three or four established organizations and clubs that we call Religions that claim exclusivity on “god stuff”. All of them, without exception, have advisors that recognize the mental incapacity of desperate people who want a magic path to immortality and more god stuff. Realizing a good thing when they see it, these advisors become dictators and look to solidify their control over the masses of individuals so hysterical that they are willing to ignore reality and cling to stupidity. These advisors, in order to validate their claim to god stuff, insist they are the only people allowed to talk to god directly. So, the desperate people will do anything however ridiculous when promised magical fluff. Since sex is so very important, the advisors must regulate it, restrict it, and keep it for themselves. Thus, control of sex stuff becomes a way to control the masses of individuals. Breaking the rules of Religion control over individuals is very risky. Salman Rushdie provoked protests from Muslims in several countries. Death threats were made against him, including Muslims invoking some of their god stuff calling for his assassination on 14 February 1989. The British government put Rushdie under police protection all because of something he wrote.

Me? If I were to stand in an open public square and yell that a 6 year old little girl was in love with me and we were having sex, how long do you think I would survive? Even though there was no real little girl and I wasn’t having sex with anyone, do you think that would matter?
My point here is that, like that biker on my sidewalk, when you do decide to ride a bike on the sidewalk, look out for police first. Then ride your bike carefully. Breaking rules is not an adventure to be undertaken carelessly.