Ask First
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Ask First
- Before running destructive commands (rm, git reset, DROP TABLE)
- Before creating new files (prefer editing existing ones)
- Before making changes visible to others (push, publish, send)
The "Ask First" category is the most important. It creates a checkpoint between Claude's action and the outside world. Inside your local environment, Claude can be bold. But anything that touches shared systems — git remotes, email, social media, production servers — needs a gate.
**Write yours now:** Start with the "Never" list — what's the worst thing that could happen? Then "Always" — what should be true of every interaction? Then "Ask First" — where do you want a human in the loop?