Rules are for tight-wads.

Maybe you've seen this "offbeat" article.

Essentially, a bunch of ignoramuses complained that a wreath which is in the shape of a peace sign (the circle, not the fingers) and hung on the outside of a house was a protest of the Iraq war (possible, as a stretch), and/or (get this) "a symbol of Satan." Now, even a pentagram is not inherently "a symbol of Satan," but I can only assume that those people thought that that's what the peace sign was. As bad as this may seem, it is worse.

The president of this particular Homeowner's Association "ordered the committee to require [the offender] to remove the wreath," but the committee let saner minds prevail and "refused after concluding that it was merely a seasonal symbol that didn't say anything." Subsequently, "[the president] fired all five committee members."

Fortunately for this particular homeowner, because of the national media attention and subsequent pressure from anyone with the ability to reason, the three-member "board" (whether a different committee or the newly replaced committee) withdrew its request. But every case like this cannot get national attention, and there must be many more where this one came from. The solution is actually quite simple: don't put up with bullshit rules. I will never live in a "community" which imposes any rules in addition to the local, state, and federal laws (renting is of course a different case). I hope that you, readers (2? 3?), will make similar pledges. If no one bought houses in such communities, they wouldn't exist!