History Main / ScrewTheRulesTheyreNotReal

* ''VideoGame/GhostOfTsushima'': Mongols invade the Japanese island of Tsushima where the Samurai follow an honor code. When Lord Shimura sends Lord Adachi to take on the Mongols for a one-on-one duel however, the Mongols demonstrate that they ''don't'' play fair nor will they follow the honor by the Samurai, easily outsmarting them and defeating them effortlessly to conquer most of the island.

* In ''Literature/SoLongAndThanksForAllTheFish'', Arthur Dent describes an occasion when he ''thought'' he'd encountered someone who ignored the unwritten rule "You do not sit down opposite a stranger in a railway cafe and start helping yourself to their biscuits", and he realised there was absolutely nothing in his mental toolkit to deal with the situation because people just don't ''do'' that. It turned out [[spoiler: his biscuits were under his newspaper; the ones on the table ''were'' the other guy's.]] This is apparently based on something that actually happened to Creator/DouglasAdams.[[note]]apparently it also happened, to a given value of [[UsefulNotes/{{Plagiarism}} happened]], to Creator/JeffreyArcher, who also used it as the basis of a short story sometime after Douglas. Douglas Adams was generous about this and speculated if they'd independently met the same man at the same railway station.[[/note]]

* In ''Literature/SoLongAndThanksForAllTheFish'', Arthur Dent describes an occasion when he ''thought'' he'd encountered someone who ignored the unwritten rule "You do not sit down opposite a stranger in a railway cafe and start helping yourself to their biscuits", and he realised there was absolutely nothing in his mental toolkit to deal with the situation because people just don't ''do'' that. It turned out [[spoiler: his biscuits were under his newspaper; the ones on the table ''were'' the other guy's.]] This is apparently based on something that actually happened to Creator/DouglasAdams.

* Former US President Creator/DonaldTrump refused to release his tax returns either while campaigning or after taking office, despite it being [[https://www.investopedia.com/history-of-presidents-and-federal-income-tax-what-s-normal-5080237 something previous presidential candidates had traditionally done]] since TheSeventies (ostensibly intended to show they have nothing in their financial lives worth hiding, {{blackmail}} vulnerabilities for example). He got away with this while in office because there isn't a specific law against withholding his tax records from the public, meaning that nobody can actually make him release them simply for being a presidential candidate or elected official. The subpoenas of his returns as part of criminal or Congressional investigations are a separate issue, and eventually succeeded despite his best efforts. [[Administrivia/RuleOfCautiousEditingJudgement And that's as much as we'll say on the subject.]] %%Seriously, just don't.

* ''Film/GalaxyQuest'': The Thermians have no concept of things they are told not being the literal truth, and so were easily taken advantage of by the BigBad through the simple expedient of ''lying''.

* ''Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries'': In "[[Recap/StarTrekS1E23ATasteOfArmageddon A Taste of Armageddon]]", Jim Kirk and his crew discover that the Planet of the Week, Eminiar VII, is conducting a ForeverWar with a neighboring planet, Vendikar, entirely by computer simulation, with the "simulated" casualties ordered to report to the government for euthanasia. They're horrified but aren't allowed to do anything about it under the PrimeDirective... until the computer erroneously marks the ''Enterprise'' as a valid target and designates it "destroyed". Kirk refuses to abide by the Eminian-Vendikari rules, and instead starts blowing up the euthanasia booths and ultimately the computer. The Eminian head of state complains that with the computer gone, their underlying civilizations will be destroyed by war instead of merely people's lives. [[KirkSummation Kirk counters]] that the simulated war has taken all the [[WarIsHell horror]] out of the conflict, and with it any incentive to ''make peace'', and how about they try ''that'' instead.

* ''WesternAnimation/RegularShow'': {{Invoked}} in one episode. Mordicai and Rigby find themselves in a place without any rules after having many rules placed on them; the only rule is there aren't any rules. However, an issue arises which forces them to fight against that world's inhabitants. Because there wasn't a rule against rules, they were able to enforce several rules which altered the reality of the ruleless world, which allowed them to escape.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheOwlHouse'': The Boiling Isles coven system forces people to join one particular coven which prevents them from using any form of magic outside of it. The only exception the this is the Emperor's Coven but they have very strict recruitment requirements and are effectively the Emperor's SecretPolice. Eda simply never joined a coven and this allows to to use any form of magic.

* In ''Franchise/StarTrek'', this comes up with James Kirk and the [[UnwinnableTrainingSimulation Kobayashi Maru]] scenario :

* The non-fiction book ''How Democracies Die'' argues in part that because no system of laws can cover every eventuality, democratic governance requires political actors to restrain themselves in their use of power and adhere to unwritten norms. The increasing polarization in the United States from about TheNineties on is attributed in part to the Republican Party starting to break those norms (e.g. abusing the filibuster and procedural rules) and the Democrats reciprocating. The authors are interviewed about the topic on Creator/{{NPR}}'s TalkShow ''Fresh Air'' [[https://www.npr.org/2018/01/22/579670528/how-democracies-die-authors-say-trump-is-a-symptom-of-deeper-problems here]].

* ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'' (including ''Series/GameOfThrones''):
** In ''Literature/AGameOfThrones'', Ned Stark attempts to use King Robert Baratheon's last will and testament to take regency of Westeros so that he can prevent Prince Joffrey from being coronated, [[spoiler:having realized that he and his siblings were conceived by BrotherSisterIncest]]. To Ned's shock, Queen Cersei Lannister simply rips the will up right in front of him. [[TooDumbToLive Ned probably should have realized]] that the fact Cersei didn't care overmuch that she'd been caught [[spoiler:when he confronted her about the incest earlier]] (before Robert was reported wounded) meant that [[AppealToForce she had no intention of playing by the usual rules]].
** In ''Literature/AStormOfSwords'', Catelyn Stark strongly insists that Robb specifically ask Walder Frey for bread and salt, to invoke the Westerosi tradition of [[SacredHospitality guest-right]] against Frey's known grudge over Robb having broken his engagement to one of his daughters. [[spoiler:Walder, however, has conspired with Roose Bolton and Tywin Lannister to kill Robb and decapitate the Northern rebellion, and simply ignores guest-right and attacks anyway.]]

-->'''Mandor's Herald:''' All within sound of my voice pay heed: I speak for Mandor of Bannerwell, most adored, most jealously guarded, and for the High King, Prionde, of the High Demesne, most puissant, most terrible. I speak for these two in alliance here assembled to call Great Game and make unanswerable Challenge upon Himaggery, styled Wizard, who has in treacherous fashion betrayed the hospitality shown his followers by the High King by stealing away one dependent, the Seer Windlow, and who has betrayed the good will of Mandor by sending into his Demesne a spy, the Healer Silkhands. For these reasons and others, more numerous than the leaves upon the trees, all reasons of ill faith and betrayal, treachery and all ungameliness, do my Lords cry Challenge upon this Himaggery and wait his move. We cry True Game!\\

'''Mandor:''' ''(gets confused at the lack of response)''\\

'''Himaggery:''' ''(waits for his preparations to finish)''
'''Mandor:''' ''(gets confused at the lack of response)''

-->-- '''Professor Quirrell''', ''FanFic/HarryPotterAndTheMethodsOfRationality'' (by Creator/EliezerYudkowsky)

-->-- '''Professor Quirrel''', ''FanFic/HarryPotterAndTheMethodsOfRationality'', Creator/EliezerYudkowsky

** In ''Literature/AGameOfThrones'', Ned Stark attempts to use King Robert's last will and testament to take regency of Westeros so that he can prevent Prince Joffrey from being coronated, having realized that he and his siblings were conceived by BrotherSisterIncest. To Ned's shock, Queen Mother Cersei simply rips the will up right in front of him. [[TooDumbToLive Ned probably should have realized]] that the fact Cersei didn't care overmuch that she'd been caught when he confronted her about the incest earlier (before Robert was reported wounded) meant that [[AppealToForce she had no intention of playing by the usual rules]].

* ''Series/GameOfThrones'':
** Ned Stark attempts to use King Robert Baratheon's last will and testament to take regency of Westeros so that he can prevent Prince Joffrey from being coronated, [[spoiler:having realized that he and his siblings were conceived by BrotherSisterIncest. To Ned's shock, Queen Cersei Lannister simply rips the will up right in front of him. [[TooDumbToLive Ned probably should have realized]] that the fact Cersei didn't care overmuch that she'd been caught when he confronted her about the incest earlier (before Robert was reported wounded) meant that [[AppealToForce she had no intention of playing by the usual rules of the Westerosi aristocracy]].]]
** Catelyn Stark strongly insists that Robb specifically ask Walder Frey for bread and salt, to invoke the Westerosi tradition of [[SacredHospitality guest-right]] against Frey's known grudge over Robb having broken his engagement to one of his daughters. [[spoiler:Walder, however, has conspired with Roose Bolton and Tywin Lannister to kill Robb and decapitate the Northern rebellion, and simply ignores guest-right and attacks anyway.]]

* ''VideoGame/StarWarsTheOldRepublic'': One of the Sith Inquisitor PC's best weapons in general is that while they may ''appreciate'' Sith traditions depending on roleplay, they're not nearly as hidebound to them as other Sith, especially their ArchEnemy Darth Thanaton. In fact, they can frequently make note of the last line of the Sith Code, "Through victory, my chains are broken / The Force shall free me," arguing that the entire point of being a Sith is not having to follow arbitrary rules the way the Jedi do. At the climax of the class story, Thanaton tries to rally support from the Dark Council against you after [[spoiler:losing the [[AllowedInternalWar Kaggath]] to you on Corellia]]. The other Lords of the Council have about had it with him, though: Darth Ravage pooh-poohs [[spoiler:the whole concept of the Kaggath]] and he and Darth Marr annoyedly wonder why Thanaton hasn't just had you assassinated instead of beating around the bush all this time. (He's tried; [[AssassinOutclassin it didn't work.]])

** Carcer Dun in ''Literature/NightWatch'' is not, technically, insane. It's merely that he's realized that all those little rules that keep society ticking over nicely only apply to you if you let them, and therefore the only thing between him and murdering a coach full of accordion players for shits and giggles is his own inhibitions. He is, in fact, more in tune with objective reality than the average man on the street; a sort of inverse psychosis if you will.

* ''Playing to Win: Becoming the Champion'' by David Sirlin is a book about his experiences in competitive Street Fighter tournaments and his Play to Win philosophy on competitive gaming. In one tournament when facing a superior opponent, Sirlin adopted a purely defensive strategy and was simply repeating a block move over and over. His opponent was so unprepared for that that he essentially defeated himself by running his character into that defense over and over and taking a bit of damage each time till his character was knocked out. Sirlin talks how certain strategies are considered "cheap" by the people playing a game but are actually perfectly legal and will win you the game if applied correctly.

--->'''Kirk:''' You know, coming back in time, changing history... that's cheating.
--->'''Old Spock:''' A trick I learned from an old friend.

-->'''Patrick:''' So, here we are in Southwark, about to test a legend. Is there really such a thing as a whore with a heart of gold?
-->'''Leebrick:''' And after it's all over, you'll insist the test was false, anyway.
-->'''Patrick:''' Why would I do that?
-->'''Towson:''' You idiot, I'll be glad to set this great heavy thing down finally, I can tell you that. Patrick, you benighted Irishman, there's enough silver in here to offset any reward of Cork's. Halfway, at least.
-->'''Patrick:''' You miserable bastard, Leebrick. You're cheating!
-->'''Towson:''' That's why he's the captain, and we but his lowly lieutenants.

---> '''Leanansidhe:''' You are far from your sources of power here, my dear demon.
---> '''Mouse:''' I live with a wizard. I cheat.

* The non-fiction book ''How Democracies Die'' argues in part that because no system of laws can cover every eventuality, democratic governance requires political actors to restrain themselves in their use of power and adhere to unwritten norms. The increasing polarization in the United States from about TheNineties on is attributed in part to the Republican Party starting to break those norms (e.g. abusing the filibuster and procedural rules) and the Democrats reciprocating. The authors are interviewed about the topic on Creator/{{NPR}}'s TalkShow ''Fresh Air'' [[https://www.npr.org/2018/01/22/579670528/how-democracies-die-authors-say-trump-is-a-symptom-of-deeper-problems here]].

-->'''Hood:''' That's cheating, Earl.
-->'''Earl:''' My daddy always said that if you ain't cheating, you ain't trying hard enough.

---> '''Wedge:''' Falynn, consider this. When an Imperial laser cuts through your canopy and hits you, the energy will superheat the water in your tissues. [[LudicrousGibs They will literally explode. If there's enough of your X-Wing left to retrieve, they'll have to hose down the inside.]] When that happens, will you complain that the TIE fighter pilot cheated?
--->'''Falynn:''' No, sir.
--->'''Wedge:''' What will you say?
--->'''Falynn:''' I won't say anything. I'll be dead.
--->'''Wedge:''' So to keep one of these bad boys from cheating until you're dead, what are you going to do?
--->'''Falynn:''' I guess I'll have to learn to cheat, sir.
** ''Starfighters of Adumar'' is a {{deconstruction}} of the ProudWarriorRaceGuy. The Adumari [[DuelToTheDeath dueling mentality]] and insistence on live-fire training means that a lot of Adumari pilots die before they gain much skill compared to the New Republic and Imperial {{Ace Pilot}}s courting them for their governments. Wedge's Red Flight pilots openly disdain the honorable single combat mentality: Wes Janson inflicts an intentionally humiliating NoHoldsBarredBeatdown on a pilot in a hand-to-hand duel, Hobbie Klivian tells the group when they [[TheAlliance join forces with a coalition of other Adumari nation-states]] against [[ProxyWar Imperial-backed Cartann]] that after dealing with the Cartannese for so long, he just wants to kill something without "rules", and Wedge tells the allied pilots before they sortie against Cartann's alliance that if he catches a single one of them flying for glory instead of victory, he'll shoot them down himself.

--->'''Belkar:''' --oh! Wait. You seem to have made a mistake right here.
--->'''Mr. Rodriguez:''' Aw man! What's the mistake?
--->'''Belkar:''' I'm {{Chaotic|Evil}}. ''[draws his knives]''

''Tropers/StarSword wuz here, stealin ur draft''
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Possible alternate trope names: The Power Of Cheating, That's Cheating That's Technique, Only Cheaters Prosper

I'm really not sure about the name, so please offer opinions.
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