World standardized rules?

I'm a member of this forum for only a few days, but I already saw several "how to save pool" threads. I have to say I do see some point in that whole world standardized rules idea. For example, the way I regularly play in my city and country is completely unknown in the US.

I've witnessed (and taken part in) countless arguements about rule variants. It appears that in large regions or even continents there are rule patterns unique to that region. Then, inside any chosen region there are "sub-patterns" of rules for every country, then even more "sub-patterns" for every part of the country, city, town, city block, all the way to small groups of players (like my friends and I). Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the things function just like that.

I do like the diversities, but I just hate when it comes to confusion and arguements about which rules we should use. Having a standardized set of rules would sound reasonable, although I don't know how we could accomplish something like that... Still, it's a shame that this entire idea became a synonym for forum trolling.

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I'm not sure exactly how rule variations happen. I don't think it's really by region, you'll see different rules used even in the same pool hall. But I do think there are little differences once you get into entirely different countries. For example in english 8 ball, you can choose your group after breaking... even if you don't make a ball. It's still basically the same game, but you get little differences like that.

But within the same country or region... I think the differences don't happen based on geography, it mostly comes down to skill level and experience.

Beginners use all sorts of unusual rules... when I was still learning, you could move a cue ball away from the rail by the width of your cue butt, we called it "the spacer". That's kind of a popular (and entirely made up) rule that helps beginners deal with awkward rail shots.

As players get experienced, they start to learn how stuff like behind-the-line and no-rail-needed can be abused. For example, in snooker, there's no requirement to hit a rail... and sometimes, even in high level televised games... the game can reach a stalemate because of it. Player A nudges the ball gently into the middle of a cluster and freezes the cue ball next to two other balls. Player B walks up and very gently taps the cue ball, basically not moving it at all. Neither player will risk selling out, and after a few of these the ref will call a stalemate and they're forced to rerack and start again.

As you get higher up in skill, certain rules just become a given... the rules start to become more standardized. Two professionals playing 8 ball will 100% always play ball in hand, they would never assume behind the line. They always assume called shot, and they will always play with the rail requirement. They might still argue about whether you can use a jump cue though, or some very minor rule like how many balls must hit a rail on a legal break.

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