In my profession in aviation I am responsible for teaching very technical and complex rules, regulations, and procedures. And I work with other instructors. In my position as being responsible for training I have students come to me with many questions just like this..."this instructor said I had to do this"...that instructor said I can't do that".
I give each new student this advise...
1) the only way to inoculate yourself from receiving counterfeit information is to know the information precisely. Then when you are told something you immediately know if what you are hearing is true or bogus. There are many we'll know books and studies on this very subject.
2) when someone tells you something and uses words or phrases like..."have to"..."got to"..."you can't"..."you're supposed to"..."must"...they are, in effect, saying "there is a rule that requires you to do it this way"! This is easy to verify because if "I have to..." There must be a rule that says "I have to...".
I generally find that many times there is no such rule, or the rule has been distorted through interpretation, assumption, or hand-me-down generational modification and the like.
If it is a requirement for a passenger to show a license when asked how you are doing then THERE MUST BE A RULE THAT REQUIRES THAT!...a rule that, if it exists, can be found, researched, and, against which, the assertion can be tested.
I have found that what usually happens is that someone asks someone else to get their opinion as if to rely on that opinion for their education on the subject rather than going to the source themselves and making themselves expert on that subject. Relying on others opinion about a subject in a technically precise field such as the precise law governing our field, LTC, inevitably introduces error because not everyone can resist giving their interpretation of what a law means. When learning one should not want anyone's "opinion" of the rule but a study Of what the rule ACTUALLY says.
Learn the precision of the rule or law FIRST...then seek out opinions or advise SECOND. And never confuse interpretation with fact or actuality. This is why it is important to study before taking any class on anything so that you are prepared with expertise and are more likely to recognize counterfeit teaching. Imagine that...the principle of studying material prior to class. The same holds true for any learning environment.
Grown ups play the children's game of 'Telephone' with more abandon the kids do! AND with important subjects.
Shame on instructors who fail to separate the fact from the self generated fiction.
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