“It is just the way it has always been done…”

We are humans, we progress.

Why is ‘it is just the way we always do it’ an acceptable reply when someone politely points out how illogical/unethical/inefficient something is.

I am sure there are lots of things that have this reply when the person answering does not really know much about it. Fine, say ‘I do not know much about it’.

There will be systems/rules/policies that are outdated and need to be updated, or corrected. That is the organic nature of life. We progress.

Until it is not. Until pointing out the inefficiency of something is not welcome, considered rude, or inappropriate.

Until the person with a better idea, is reminded of their place, or how unwelcome their opinion is.

This is when systems break.

Top tips

Breath and calmly listen to the person’s suggestions/thoughts

Ask questions, if you have any.

You do not need to reply (yet). Just think about it.

Ask more questions if you need more answers.

Discuss it with others to get more views.

Maybe their suggestion was not appropriate at the moment, but if someone has used their energy to think of the ‘problem’, and think of a ‘solution’, then bravely shares their view - maybe that is enough to realise maybe something with the current situation is not working.

If systems/rules do not adapt then society becomes stagnant, outdated and potentially damaging.

We move forward together.

Listen to each other.

Do not judge.

Be kind.