"That's the way it's always been done." Do you agree with this statement or does

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   Ciel Clarkposted 11 years ago

   "That's the way it's always been done." Do you agree with this statement or does it bother you?
   
   I like traditions and history, but saying something is right just because it's always been done that way is no recommendation to me.  What do you think?

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   Sherry Hewinsposted 11 years ago

   I hate that when it is a response to a suggestion of a new possibly better way to do something.

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   remanikiposted 11 years ago

   Just like Sherry says I hate it too to be told that something should be done in a particular way. I am always open to change in anything and everything. It bothers me a lot to be told to follow a set of rules just because it has always been followed by our peers.
   
   Change is the need of the hour and it is so refreshing to take a new path when everyone is following the same old boring path tread by most people.

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   glmclendonposted 11 years ago

   I don't like it,because you may have always done it wrong. And you are determined to continue doing it wrong.
   
   Stay Well

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   loveofnightposted 11 years ago

   I knew a woman who use to have one of the best beef roast recipes ever. The steak was huge, enough for everyone at that Sunday dinner. She had a way of folding that steak in the pan and cook that side for a while and then later come back to the pan unfold the meat reposition it and continue cooking; it was great. When her daughter became older she too fixed the same recipe for her family  just as her mother had done. On one occasion the grand-daughter asked her mother why she cooked it the way she did and her mother told her that it was the way that her mother did it.The grand-daughter decided to ask her grand mother and was shocked by the answer.Her grand-mother told her that she fixed it the way she did because she only owned one frying pan and the meat was always too big to fit so she would fold it and cook sections at a time. Her daughter didn't know that it had nothing to do with the recipe,  her mother just didn't own a bigger pan.

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      Ciel Clarkposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Oh, great story!  So did the granddaughter try cooking it in a bigger pan?  I wonder which was better, or if there was any difference... So many good inventions are found by accident and/or necessity.

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   backporchstoriesposted 11 years ago

   We are such creatures of habit that sometimes this saying makes sense to many people.  However, it is those who think outside the box that have propelled this world forward.  And often people need a explanation so to understand and not just a "I said so" attitude.

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   duffsmomposted 11 years ago

   That statement drives me nuts and almost always seems like an excuse not to learn more.
   
   Years ago I got a job in a bank and it had been quite a while since I had worked.  I learn better if I can connect why I am doing something in a specific way.  Time and again when I asked why we did something--the answer from various people was always, "I don' t know, we've always done it that way."
   
   My first thought is, "Aren't you curious as to why, don't you want to know?"
   
   No they did not.

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      Ciel Clarkposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I agree!  I've always been a "why?" person

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   Civil War Bobposted 11 years ago

   I hate it most times.  In 32 years I've seen it as The Seven Last Words of the Church, indicative that a particular congregation wants to die. 
   On a broader frame of reference, I think the same principle works for individuals, nations, and the whole human race, given we keep trying the same wrong methods over and over again.

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   Mazzy Boleroposted 11 years ago

   I used to get this all the time when I started working in London in education. I would go to colleges to discuss setting up vocational IT courses, and they would insist on doing it in a way that wouldn't work. When I suggested changes, they would say, "Oh, we've always done it this way."  If the courses didn't work, they blamed the students, not themselves. That was something they'd always done, too!  It was really frustrating!  Most people don't like change, they're in a rut but it's a comfy one:)

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    Steadman11posted 11 years ago

    "If you do what you've always done, you get what you've always got"...the progression of technology is because of innovative minds who refuse to do things the way they have always been done. They are always looking for answers, bigger and better ways of achieving our goals. First, man made fire by rubbing sticks together, then man made matches, and then man makes a lighter. The statement may work for some things, however, I can't really think of any situations at the moment!

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11. 59

    kellyteamposted 11 years ago

    It bothers me because as times change things change and we need to change with it!

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    Kari Peteposted 11 years ago

    It totally depends on the context for me.  Doing something as it's always been done, like holiday traditions or other rituals, can be reassuring and welcoming.  But if a process is no longer functional, then it definitely should be looked at.

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    chitradileepposted 11 years ago

    This statement really irritates me. I do not know why, but I always had a "Why" to everything. As you said I too like traditions, customs, culture and all but I strongly believe all these should not hinder our freedom.
    
    The worst thing is no one knows why things are done that way. Whenever I ask a question, the answer I get is "it is done that way and is always been that way". It drives me nuts. I agree that it is done that way, but can't we have a change, atleast for a try. People just keep on following rather than being innovative. I think hardly few have the guts to move from the already followed path.

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    Rebecca2904posted 11 years ago

    I think it depends on the situation. I think the answer 'because that's the way it's always been done' is enough when it comes to celebrating certain traditions, for example the day that Christmas is celebrated on. It's different everywhere, but that doesn't mean it's right in one place or wrong in another, it's just the way it's done and that's alright. I think changing anything like that is unnecessary and would just cause upset and disruption as opposed to getting anything productive done.
    
    On the other hand, some things are not fair, not done simply because of tradition and should be changed. I think one of the best examples of this is gay rights. Just because gay people didn't have the same rights as straight people in the past does not make it right or fair, and it's not because of tradition - it's because of a lack of tolerance, education and compassion.
    
    I think if the answer 'that's the way it's always been done' is causing a great deal of pain or upset to a section of society then it's not a good enough answer - it needs to be looked at and reconsidered.

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    CBartelmeyposted 11 years ago

    It definitely strikes a certain chord, but there are some who like their routines and the certainty those routines can bring.  It could just be a matter of personal preference.  While I thrive on change and challenge, there are others who would not consider those ideal circumstances.  I also have a tendency to question, while others lean more on the side of just accepting what they are given.  When I have run into individuals who would give that standard answer of “it’s always just been done this way” I have tended to respond with let’s change it and see what happens.

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    dghbrhposted 11 years ago

    This statement always drives me crazy..... as it is again driving me crazy now.
    It sure bothers me a lot. If only I could have been able to break this very statement forever......forget about all the 'way's......rules would have been mystery to the history....lolz:-)

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    1. 75

       Ciel Clarkposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       It drives me crazy too.  That is NOT a reason!!  The only time it made sense was cooking with my mother.  She said to first try the recipe as written, and experiment the next time.

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    DDEposted 11 years ago

    No I don't agree people should change the way things are done to make better provisions

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       Ciel Clarkposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       So glad you  answered -- would love to hear more about your point of view.  Thanks!

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    MomsTreasureChestposted 11 years ago

    I can't stand this answer, especially when it's obvious that another way would be better!  Thanks for asking!

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    DubstepMakerposted 10 years ago

    common sense should tell you that sometimes this phrase has relevance and meaning to a situation, and sometimes it is just complete poppy cock. there is no one answer to your question.

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