The so-called “Golden Rule” is something that most theists and non-theists seem to agree is a Good Thing, but I hope that people will not invoke that “rule” in their dealings with me.
Simply put, the Golden Rule says:
Treat others in the same manner that you would like to be treated.
Since I do not know how you would like to be treated, I do not know if I would like to be treated in the same manner. So the Golden Rule makes me a bit leery.
The Silver Rule, on the other hand, carries no such risk. It says:
Do not treat others in any manner that you would not like to be treated.
If you would rather that something not be done to you, it is reasonable to presume that I would not want it done to me; and even if I would, no direct harm is done by you not giving me what I want.
There is also the “Platinum Rule,” which says that we should treat others however they want to be treated; this sounds nice, but it is unreasonable, I think, because it would allow others to make arbitrary and selfish demands on us. Even if they agreed to reciprocate in kind, there is no guarantee that they would be capable of doing so, whereas everyone is able to meet the demands of the Silver Rule.
Posted by DD 