Treat people the way you want to be treated

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the ethical principle encapsulated in the phrase "treat people the way you want to be treated." Participants explore its implications, particularly in scenarios where the treatment received does not align with the treatment one desires to give. The conversation touches on personal behavior, empathy, and the expectations of reciprocity in social interactions.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants question whether the dictum holds in situations where one party is abusive, suggesting that treating someone as they wish to be treated may not be appropriate.
  • Others argue that the dictum is fundamentally about personal choices and how one reacts, rather than about expecting others to reciprocate in kind.
  • A participant reflects on personal experiences, indicating a disconnect between desires and reality in social interactions, particularly in romantic contexts.
  • Another participant emphasizes the importance of empathy as the core of the principle, suggesting that the dictum is meant to foster understanding rather than strict reciprocity.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the interpretation and application of the dictum, with no clear consensus on its validity or implications in various contexts.

Contextual Notes

Some arguments rely on personal experiences and subjective interpretations, which may not universally apply. The discussion does not resolve the complexities of interpersonal dynamics or the assumptions underlying the Golden Rule.

Imparcticle
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The common dictum "treat people the way you want to be treated" asserts that by treating people the way you want to be treated, they will treat you the same way, right?
Suppose a man, J, a ruthless villain is attacking a person, Z, both verbally and physically. J is then treating Z the way he(J) wants to be treated. Should Z treat J the way J wants to be treated then even though Z disagrees with the way J is treating people like Z?
 
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Imparcticle said:
Should Z treat J the way J wants to be treated then?
The common dictum be damned? :redface:
 
Imparcticle said:
The common dictum "treat people the way you want to be treated" asserts that by treating people the way you want to be treated, they will treat you the same way, right?
Not exactly. It's just a simple logical statement "don't expect someone to treat you any better than you treat them"
 
Imparcticle said:
The common dictum "treat people the way you want to be treated" asserts that by treating people the way you want to be treated, they will treat you the same way, right?

No, that is not right. It makes no mention of how others will treat you. The Golden Rule is about your personal choices, how YOU react not how others react. It is a simple rule of personal behavior, don't over think it.
 
Sadly, as a young man I discovered that most attractive young women did not want to do to me what I wanted to do to them.

Njorl
 
Sadly, as a young man I discovered that most attractive young women did not want to do to me what I wanted to do to them.
Did you do unto them as you would have had them do unto you anyway? :-p

When ugly old women don’t want you either the gig, as they say, is just about up! :biggrin:
 
The whole point is just to make you empathize with others. Geeze.
 

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