vixstile

My understanding of the golden rule is "do unto others as you would have them do unto you"(or something like that).

Now the hypothetical situation:

Some ass-hole punches me in the mouth and steals my shoes . According to the golden rule, how do I treat this individual? Say "thank you friend" and hand over my wallet?

It seams if I was to truly follow the golden rule, I could easily be exploited. I would have to react positively toward people who treat me negatively. <img src="confused.gif" border="0">

PandaJoe

I beleive this is a very poor rule by itself. If you follow it all the time, then yes, you will be exploited by those who don't follow it.
What I generally do is try to follow this rule with people I don't know, or people that I care about. Actually, with people I care about, I try to treat them better than I would expect them to treat me.
If it's someone I don't like, I just go with "Do unto others as they do unto you".

The Other Michael

Hello vixstile,

I've seen mentioned a "Silver Rule", which goes like this:

Don't do unto others as you would not want them to do unto you.

So unless I got my negatives compounded in the wrong way, if you don't want people to steal your stuff, don't steal their stuff.

This may help avoid the "I wish people would witness to me about Jebus, so I'll witness to everyone, since that is want I done to me" caused by the "Golden" rule.

cheers,
Michael

kctan

Since the ass hole have punched you in the mouth & steal your shoes, you should apply the golden rule by punching him in his mouth & stealing his shoes.

"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."

Just reverse the order

"Whatever others do unto you, they would have like the same do unto them."

No change in meaning at all. It's just a manner of understanding.

vixstile

I don't think that makes much sense. If I don't want some cracked out transient to steal my TV, I shouldn't steal there crack pipe and crusty pants?

Following the golden rule may insure that my actions are always "golden", but it doesn't seem to really provide any incentive for others.

I think "do unto other as they do unto you, and then some!" makes more sense than the golden rule. If someone is nice to you, your nice to them, and then some!. If someone is an ass-hole to you, your an ass-hole to them, and then some!. This would provide incentive for other people to be nice to you and avoid being an ass-hole. Besides, I don't see the moral value in treating ass-hole behavior with a smile and complements.

The Gold Plated rule

[ December 07, 2002: Message edited by: vixstile ]

[ December 07, 2002: Message edited by: vixstile ]</p>

vixstile

That would be "do unto others as they do unto you" or "an eye for an eye".

CuriosityKills

This is the logic of a two year old.

By living by this rule you are not obligated to treat asshole behaviour with "a smile and compliments". What you are obligated to do is attempt to have some empathy and understanding for the situation. Try to understand where that person is coming from, don't become an a$$hole yourself. Don't allow yourself to be victimised, but don't victimise people in the process.

You said that Michael's logic doesn't make sense.
Would it make more sense if you stole your TV back as wellas the crusty pants and crack pipe?

Would you want stereotypes thrust upon yourself?
Don't stereotype people. I don't think all crackheads have crusty pants and steal TVs.

Dr. Retard

Actually, I think I would want stereotypes thrust upon myself. It forces me to face the possibility that my beliefs, attitudes, behavior, etc. are not rational, but instead the merest product of social conditioning. I haven't talked to people about this, so maybe I'm overlooking something obvious, but...

It seems to me that stereotyping can be an important and legitimate way of alerting people to their blind spots.

vixstile

That's insulting

Valid points. This is the kind of input I was looking for

Yes. My thinking was that someone is less likely to steal from you if they would loose more than they took. Someone would be less likely to treat you poorly if they would be treated even more poorly. Someone is more likely to be generous if the generosity will be reciprocate twofold.

What stereotype? I gave a hypothetical situation involving a single individual.

Nor has anyone else indicated that they think that all crackheads have crusty pants and steal TVs

Liquidrage

The Golden rule isn't only as was originally stated in the OP. It's a vague rule but I like the following definition:

"Treat others only in ways that you're willing to be treated in the same exact situation."

I apply the Golden Rule as follows:

You mind you own fucking business and I'll mind mine.

You step on my feet and I get to decide if I'm going to step back on your feet or not.

If you're attempting to force your will on others that do not want your will forced upon them, I get to decide if I would like to interfere or not.