Meaning of Coexistence Rules (What are they, Concept and Definition)

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What are Coexistence Rules:

The rules of coexistence are a set of rules established in a social group in order to guide and facilitate relations between subjects and ensure the proper development of work and daily life, all based on tolerance, mutual respect, fulfillment of duties and rights and respect for the rights of others.

The rules of coexistence differ according to the contexts, for example, in the family, the school, the church, the workplace, the community, the city and, today, cyberspace. However, it is worth saying that some rules are common to all of them, such as the use of friendly and respectful language.

Characteristics of the rules of coexistence

  • They vary according to the context, type and function of the community (academic, labor, citizen, etc.).
  • They express the values ​​of the social group.
  • They are flexible, that is, they adapt to historical transformations.
  • Are punctual.
  • They are easy to assimilate.
  • They can be transmitted through custom, oral or written tradition.
  • When the norms are established by formal institutions such as schools or the municipality, they incorporate sanctions systems.

Role, purpose and importance of the rules of coexistence

The rules of coexistence help to prevent conflicts between the members of a group or community, as these, by sowing hostility, threaten the well-being of daily life, hinder the development of social goals and can even lead to tragic and irreparable outcomes .

Compliance with the rules of coexistence favors the promotion of a peaceful environment, good communication and the assimilation of the values ​​of respect, tolerance, solidarity and companionship.

In this way, the rules of coexistence contribute to the transmission of healthy habits in individuals, in productive work and in the construction of the sense of belonging.

Examples of living standards

School coexistence rules

Among some of the most important rules of coexistence in the school environment, we can point out the following:

  1. Be kind to classmates, teachers, administrative and cleaning staff.
  2. Practice the rules of the good speaker and the good listener.
  3. Maintain good hygiene.
  4. Dress appropriately.
  5. Attend regularly and on time.
  6. Take all necessary materials to class.
  7. Help keep the school clean.
  8. Keep the work area tidy.
  9. Leave electronic games at home.
  10. Do not verbally or physically assault any partner (zero bullying).

Rules of family life at home (children and adults)

Some of the rules of coexistence of the home can be the following:

  1. Practice the rules of courtesy: greet daily or correspond to the greeting, ask permission, thank, etc.
  2. Speak with kindness
  3. Not scream.
  4. Request and allow the opinion of all family members on matters of common interest.
  5. Actively participate in household chores according to the abilities of each one.
  6. Share what you have and negotiate the use of common areas and equipment when necessary.
  7. Respect the space of others as well as rest schedules.
  8. Set aside a specific time for the family gathering.
  9. Do not use the mobile during family meals.
  10. Notify or request permission before taking visits.

Coexistence rules at work

Among some of the elementary rules of coexistence at work we have:

  1. Practice courtesy: greet, say goodbye, thank, ask permission.
  2. Use a respectful, decent and appropriate vocabulary.
  3. Maintain assertive communication with team members.
  4. Answer personal calls in private to avoid distracting others.
  5. Listen to music with headphones to avoid disturbing colleagues.
  6. Keep clean the work area.
  7. Eat at the places intended for it and not at the desk.
  8. Consult the equipment before altering the physical conditions of the environment (alter the temperature of the air conditioning or heating, change the furniture, do some noisy activity, etc.).
  9. Do not repeat gossip or create rumors.
  10. Call people by name.

Rules of citizen coexistence

Whether in the neighborhood community or in the big city, these may be some of the most important rules of living together:

  1. Practice courtesy: greet or reciprocate the greeting; ask permission; give the thanks; give way, etc.
  2. Speak respectfully and in a calm voice.
  3. Take responsibility for damages caused to third parties.
  4. Take care of common spaces.
  5. Keep the front of the house clean.
  6. Dispose of garbage in places destined for it.
  7. Take special consideration for children, elderly and disabled.
  8. Keep audio equipment at a moderate volume and lower it during break hours.
  9. Avoid performing noisy work during break hours (drilling, hammering, sawing, etc.).
  10. Respect the laws.

Rules of coexistence in social networks or “netiquette”

Social networks have become everyday spaces that also demand rules for healthy living. Many people, hidden in anonymity, create unnecessary tensions and discomforts in social networks due to their irresponsible or disrespectful attitudes.

In response to the growing hostility of social networks, some people have reflected on the issue and proposed some criteria to improve “virtual” coexistence. This is the case of Virginia Shead, known for coining the term Netiquette or netiquette, with which it refers to the rules of every Internet user must follow for healthy living. Shead proposes the following decalogue:

  1. Be empathetic: keep in mind that the person behind the screen is also a human being and may feel affected by the messages he receives.
  2. Follow the same courtesy standards practiced in real life, such as greeting, thanking, asking permission, etc.
  3. Do not write in capital letters since, in addition to making reading difficult, in the virtual world it is equivalent to shouting.
  4. Respect the time and bandwidth of others.
  5. Show the good side of yourself during the online activity.
  6. Share the knowledge acquired with the community.
  7. Maintain or channel discussions within a healthy and mutually enriching environment.
  8. Respect the privacy of others.
  9. Do not abuse the power or advantages you have at hand.
  10. Excuse the mistakes others may make.

To these standards we could add the following criteria:

  • Make sure the veracity of the news before sharing, in order to prevent the spread of unnecessary rumors, errors and social unrest.

Rules for (living together and) the use of chats WhatsApp group:

Unlike social networks like Facebook or Twitter, where many times people do not know each other, in WhatsApp there is, in theory, a real relationship between contacts. However, group chats have become a breeding ground for authentic conflicts.

Indeed, when the protocols in the groups of WhatsApp enormous problems are created by small misunderstandings, and these put the coexistence in real environments at risk, to the point of being a cause of ruptures and enmity.

Therefore, as far as groups are concerned, it should be remembered that, no matter how virtual the medium, group socialization requires rules of coexistence. Among some of them, we can suggest the following. Let’s see.

  1. Respect the objective for which the group was created.
  2. Do not address personal matters.
  3. Do not establish conversations with a single member of the group.
  4. Do not respond to everything, except what is requested.
  5. Be brief and punctual in the messages.
  6. Maintain proper and friendly language.
  7. Avoid controversial issues, especially if they have nothing to do with the objective of the group.
  8. Do not feed discussions.
  9. Take into account the schedule before sending a message, that is, do not send messages at dawn.
  10. Avoid sending chains, especially if they are files that jeopardize the performance of the equipment.