For an extra chapter that was not assigned to the class out of Bryson's book, I decided to read chapter five, titled Rule Number One: Follow All Rules. In this chapter, Bryson talks about how Americans love rules and how all citizens are expected to follow them. An example he gives from this chapter would be when he seats himself at a local cafe despite the fact that there was a sign that clearly said "Please wait to be seated" in the front of the cafe. Because he decided to disregard this notice, the waitress made him wait an extra couple of minutes for him to get service. Another example Bryson gives from this chapter to support the fact that Americans love rules would be when he is describing his experience at the airport. Without a picture I.D. the check-in clerk would not let him board his flight. Once negotiating with the clerk and his supervisors, he was eventually finally able to bored his flight. This is evidence that if Bryson had just had his photo I.D. with him, he would have been able to board the flight no problem and wouldn't be held up or delayed if he had just followed the rules.
Max Meyer
I believe Bryson has a point with the message he is attempting to get across to the reader in this chapter, which is that Americans like to follow rules and guidelines set forth for certain places in our lives today. Personally, I feel that Americans do like to follow rules, and that rules are a necessity if we want to have order in our society today. Sure, at times these rules can be inconvenient to ourselves to follow, but I'm sure the majority of people who have to follow the same rules would want everyone else to follow the same rules and guidelines as they have to. If there were not certain rules and guidelines for citizens to follow, there is a much better chance for a riot to break out. The example Bryson uses about needing a photo I.D. in the airport may have been inconvenient to himself and other passengers behind him in line, but this was to ensure that Bryson was not a criminal or terrorist and is safer for all of the passengers in the long run. Sure, Americans at times have to give up some of their freedoms for the rules and guidelines, but this is to ensure their safety and security, and I'm sure most Americans would be okay with that.
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