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Finding guiding rules for life is a complex task. Entire self-help industries exist to promote principles people should embrace and to help people find what brings them the most joy. Some people turn to religion for guidance, others to pop culture academics like psychologist Jordan Peterson and philosopher Slavoj iek.

For me, one of the most important principles that can guide action is the concept of good faith. Engaging with people in good faith is a central mantra that underlies not only the success of interpersonal relationships, but also the functioning of society at large.

To act in good faith means a few things. First, it means to act honestly. That requires individuals to be honest with themselves and others, and to give their best effort to understand others. That extends into the second premise, which is to extend the benefit of the doubt to others. Someone being short with you in line at the coffee shop or bumping into you in a crowded bar is rarely a reflection of their character. Finally, acting in good faith means behaving in ways that would be sustainable should everyone engage in them.

On a micro-community level, acting in good faith is critical for the functioning of any organization. From clubs to sports teams, there needs to be an underlying assumption that everyone involved is working together in a genuine fashion, as being honest with each other promotes a culture of trust and support. Absent that, social groups cant help their members when times are tough, which moots the whole point of finding community.

That spills over into the larger Northwestern community. The greater goal of an educational institution seems to be lost when people no longer act in good faith. Professors start to assume every student who doesnt attend class must be lazy and not actually sick, and students are put in a place where the educational process becomes wrapped up in competition, which discourages genuine collaboration that would further everyones interests.

Beyond just those student-professor relationships, acting in good faith is important to help avert a cynical perspective on the world that can quite literally shorten life. Looking for the best in people helps color life differently. No longer is everyone out to get you. Not entering every interaction with the assumption you are going to get screwed is necessary for a much happier and more peaceful existence.

This is absolutely not to suggest life should be approached with some sort of blank-slate naivety. When approaching the world in good faith, there is still ample room to be skeptical. It remains necessary to be vigilant, and if in any negotiation or interaction the other party doesnt seem to want to act in good faith, then perhaps you dont owe it to them. However, when the waiter makes a mistake with your order, life is better when you assume the mistake was just that, rather than some sort of targeted action.

The last principle, to behave responsibly, is a critical touchpoint. The best example of this is when theres construction on a five-lane highway that takes it down to one or two lanes and everyone is merging all the way over. Some people will speed ahead to the very point where they have to merge, and then hope some good citizen allows them in. Ultimately, when only a few people do this, it doesnt totally ruin the flow of traffic. But if everyone were to drive with ignorance for common decency on the road, traffic-guidance systems would collapse. If only one or two people abuse the system, nothing goes wrong. But it becomes wildly unfair when some portion of the people within a system can abuse it with no consequences while others play by the rules.

None of this means I always act in good faith. Ive ignored these principles many times. But when it comes down to it, I try my best to be responsible, extend the benefit of the doubt to people and always forefront honesty. That process undergirds social cohesion in all the micro-level interactions we participate in on a day to day basis.

Jack Landgraff is a Weinberg sophomore. He can be contacted at [emailprotected]. If you would like to respond publicly to this op-ed, send a Letter to the Editor to [emailprotected]. The views expressed in this piece do not necessarily reflect the views of all staff members of The Daily Northwestern.

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Opinion | Acting in good faith benefits all - Daily Northwestern

A San Antonio judge running for reelection is under fire for YouTube video his opponent calls "undignified."

Carlos Quezada, 289th District Court Judge, was featured in a parody video posted to YouTube on January 30 showing him presiding over fake bench trial over a woman who stole Cleto Rodriguez's (yes that Cleto) "lucky" underwear, or chones, and used them as a rag for cleaning, reports the Express-News.

Quezada, running on the Democraticballot,told Express-News that he didn't think anyone would take the video seriously because he was having fun. His opponent in the Democratic primary, Rose Zebell-Sosa, believes Quezada is in violation of judicial conduct rules.

The video is awkward, to say the least, but it also leaves us with a lot of questions. Some of them answered. Someof them not.

The video was posted by a channel called The Carpenter's Apprentice, which reportedly belongs to a man named Roy Aguillon, according to the Express-News article.

Exactly. The Express-News says Aguillon is a political activist for the Southside who ran unsuccessfully for San Antonio City Council in 2015.

According to a welcome video on his channel, Aguillon credits writer and right-wing figure Jordan Peterson for helping him get his life back together. Peterson has publicly made transphobic remarks and railed against feminists. Peterson believes feminism is destroying America. And men.

The video is a little cringe, but apparently Quezada made it to campaign for reelection to his district judge seat. Near the end of the video he asks the fake plaintiff and defendant for their vote.

We're not sure. He is a local celebrity and Cleto does appears in several of Aguillon's videos, including a recent video segment he introduces as "Cleto's Community" where he interviews Pamela Espurvoa Allen, founder of Eagle's Flight Advocacy and Outreach.

His opponent Zebell-Sosa appears to imply that it can. She told the Express-News that she finds it "disturbing, undignified and disappointing." His opponent says the video also promotes stereotypes.

Again, Zebell-Sosa seems to think it could. Judges are held to rules and standards of conduct set out by the State Commission on Judicial Conduct.

That remains to be seen. Jacqueline Habersham, executive director of the SCJC, told the Express-News whether Quezada was in violation of any of the rules to warrant an investigation.

Quite often. In fact, there is a whole public archive of suspensions, resignations, and sanctions.

It's five minutes long. The "joke" is presented in the first minute and 30 seconds. After a while, the "holey chones" discourse becomes awkward. Maybe there will be a re-cut?

Depends on who you speak to. There have been more serious judicial violations and investigations against Texas judges in the past. There was a district judge in Polk County who was accused of showing prejudice against a defendant, and a Burnet County judge who took to Facebook to say the man charged with the murder of SAPD Detective Benjamin Marconi should be lynched.

God, I sure hope not.

The primaries and midterms are upon us so only time will tell. Some of his supporters and people on the fence could legitimately be offended by the video, which Zebell-Sosa says mocks court proceedings. Or they could not care at all.

Election Day for the primaries is on March 1.

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San Antonio judge taking heat over controversial 'chones' video. We have some questions. - mySA