I am not a traditionalist. I believe in doing what works, not what has always been done for its own sake. Humans have a way of ritualizing behaviors that produce positive outcomes. We find something that works, then dogmatically stick to that approach out of fear of failure. The problem with that approach is that it may both lock in superfluous practices, but also discourages experimentation and innovation. The following two anecdotes highlight the potential risks surrounding unquestioning obedience to tradition…