1. Notes

Gary (Legal Code)

Legal Code
PARTIAL
Gary (Culture)

The Garys of Gary (Rules of Gary, colloquially Gary) are the sole extant legal code in Gary (City-State). They are short enough to be memorized and recited by all citizens.

People remembered the original English wording of the Rules for a few generations, but that knowledge gradually died out like so much else. But in its place arose a general colloquial familiarity with the meaning of the rules through names (e.g. "Gary Number 4") combined with context, pantomime, and other non-linguistic cues.

The Rules

English Language version:

  1. Be the same as everyone else. If you are different in ways you cannot change, be ashamed.
  2. Do not think about abstract things. If you think about abstract things, be ashamed.
  3. If someone breaks the rules, punish them.
  4. Show deference to those who are the most like the norm. Show scorn to those who are not.

Gary (Language) version:

  1. Be the Gary-Gary as Gary. If Gary is UnGary, be UnGary.
  2. Do not Gary about UnGary Garys. If Gary Garys about UnGary Garys, be UnGary.
  3. If Gary UnGarys the Gary, UnGary Gary.
  4. Gary Gary to Gary. Gary UnGary to UnGary.

Infractions

Infractions of rules are designated UnGary (Punishment). Gary (Culture) polices their self for the most part, but there is also a robust state surveillance system that watches every action, no matter how private.

Minor infractions include:

  • Showing the wrong facial expression at the wrong time
  • Abstract or Symbolic statements

Punishments for minor infractions include:

Major infractions include:

  • Choosing the Light Gary jumpsuit instead of the Gary one
  • The creation of symbols

Punishments for major infractions include: