Norms Are Broken Laws

A LessWrong essay argues that social norms are fundamentally unfair. Unwritten rules like 'keep the kitchen clean' are only truly enforced against people who actually care about following them. The author identifies three types: those who comply automatically, self-interested people who skip rules if it costs nothing, and conscientious people who bear emotional guilt. The claim is that the conscientious shoulder a hidden tax others avoid. The proposal: convert enforceable norms into explicit laws with concrete penalties, distributing the cost fairly. For norms that can't be reasonably enforced—like being kind—stop expecting them. The thesis: unwritten norms are broken laws that punish the ethical while letting others skate free.

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