The “golden rule,” while often taught as the ideal way to treat others, does not take into account different personalities, cultures, and backgrounds. Doing unto others as you would have others do unto you only work when people are like-minded. This may work when you share similar surroundings, teachings, and values. However, as technology, education, and work allows us to become more interconnected with people across the city, state, nation, and world, it’s important to realize that not everybody wants the same treatment.
We need to move beyond the golden rule to something higher (maybe the platinum rule?) and do unto others as they would have you do unto them. I don’t want to be treated the way you want to be treated. I want to be treated the way I want to be treated.