The Golden Rule versus the Platinum Rule

Moridin

Which is superior?

Golden Rule: Treat other people the same way you wish to be treated.
Platinum Rule: Make it better than it was before you got there, but not because you are waiting for return.

In my opinion, the Golden Rule is passé. Doing something good for others so that they will do good for you seems selfish. Platinum rules.

Smurf

Whats wrong with selfishness?

guten

Hi, I think this is interesting. This is my first introduction to the platinum rule. Could you point me to a link where I could read about it, I tried googling but it didn't lead to something applicable.

DaveC426913

Nitpicky point:
The golden rule is about people.
What's the platinum rule about? Housekeeping?

baywax

You have completely mis-understood the golden rule, judging by your statement above.

"The golden rule" is a way of identifying any important rule...

like: wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn

or like:

wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn

In today's english you could say that what the bible says means "treat other people the way you would like them to treat you".

This is totally ethics 101. When people don't follow this rule, there is a lot of unbalance in their relationships.

I think your platnum rule could make "golden rule" status with the idea of making things better than they were when you found them.

But, in many cases, "better" is your judgement call that may not apply to the next person or environment.

It was Confusius who first made the golden rule
"do unto others as you would have them do unto you." He came up with it in China around 500 years before the Christians. Buddhists also embraced the idea

And George Bernard Shaw once said that "The golden rule is that there are no golden rules".

JoeDawg

What if some doesn't want to be treated like you think you should be treated?

Hell_SD

Platinum Rule: Make it better than it was before you got there, but not because you are waiting for return.

...who's to say you made it better ???

I understand what you mean like 'the elves and the shoemaker' but I hate people messing with my stuff...

...down on my uncles farm the rule was "leave everything as you find it" otherwise you better not wait for him to return

baywax

Good point. One could only hope that some would let you know that the way you treat yourself is not how some would want to be treated.

NeoDevin

Do not unto others as you would have them do unto you, they may have different tastes.

For this reason the platinum rule is better.

Smurf

the platinum rule pre-supposes some objective form of 'better'. What if people like it the way it is?

raolduke

The platinum rule only exists because you or whomever created it is selfish and if a rule,such as, did exist no one would or should know about it if you actually followed it.

baywax

If the golden rule applied to the practice of invading other countries, the invaders will always be invaded. And I haven't seen a case where this rule has been broken, in the past.

JoeDawg

You can twist any 'rule'.

If you're a pacifist, you treat others kindly because you want them to treat you kindly.
If you're a warrior, you kill others who are weak, and want others to kill you if you become weak.

If you're a doctor, you can improve on a way to treat the sick, out of concern for others.
If you're a scientist, you can improve on the delivery system for a biological weapon, in order to help defend your country.

Asimov's three laws of robotics, although they sound good initially, were always creating problems. Rules are no substitute for thinking.

baywax

And thinking is no substitute for feeling.

If it feels good to treat others well... that is the reward.

If it feels good to blow people up, blow yourself up.

HallsofIvy

?? The golden rule says nothing about "so they will do good for you"!

Yes, that's true. But the way you want to be treated is a good "first approximation".

DaveC426913

You're right, it does. But then again, that has nothing to do with the Golden Rule. As others have pointed out, you missed the point.

baywax

Re: poll. My chad was hinged. Can I vote again?