Standards of Conduct and Their Importance
The topic of the moment is artificial intelligence (AI) and why we need rules, regulations, and guidelines for its behavior. Debates are happening nearly constantly as experts pick sides (for or against AI) and researchers from both ends of the spectrum make arguments and give examples from their research and experience. Based on what I’ve seen and learned, most commenters think some rules are necessary even if these rules are basic.
Now, take out the word AI and insert people.
The topic of the moment is PEOPLE and why we need rules, regulations, and guidelines for (their) behavior. Debates are happening nearly constantly as experts pick sides (for or against PEOPLE) and researchers from both ends of the spectrum make arguments and give examples from their research and experience. Based on what I’ve seen and learned, most commenters think some rules are necessary even if these rules are basic.
Doesn’t look much different when you insert PEOPLE instead of AI.
It’s why we have rules for our online communities, our homeowners’ associations, laws in our society, rules for games, rules of engagement for facilitated meetings, bylaws for nonprofit organizations, and Standards of Conduct for professions and industries. People need guidelines and a framework for decision making. We need to know what to do, how to do it, and what is expected of us.
Some organizations or groups call Standards of Conduct a Code of Ethics, but both titles describe the same intention: outlining expected behavior to provide a framework for making the best decisions possible. When it comes to ethics, it is really all about our behavior. What type of person are we? It is demonstrated by how we treat other people, how we conduct business, and how we commit to the rules of any group we join.
If you have ever been treated unfairly, or know someone who has, you might have thought, “HEY, that’s not right.” Exactly. That’s why we have Standards of Conduct; so we know what is right and what is wrong behavior. It all started with Hammurabi’s Code back in ancient Bablyon – this king realized that people needed to know what is expected of them so that we can live and work together peacefully.
We look at the world around us and wonder why it seems to be falling apart. One problem feeding the beast of chaos is a lack of basic standards of behavior. We live in a world where everyone is right so no one is wrong. But if no one is wrong, what will protect us from the people with evil or bad intentions? You’re right. No one. Unless we agree that certain behaviors are just not acceptable and then we work together to enforce the rules and expectations of how we will treat each other.
