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"Treat others as you want to be treated" is the most ineffectual rule ever.

I do it all the time, and people think I'm being an asshole. I have to be nicer to other people than I'd prefer they were to me.

Huh? This one is cryptic. If you are a humanist, but not religious, and not secular, what are you? Postmodern?

I think that's just an artifact of it being a Venn diagram. The point is that "do unto others" isn't a religious thing.

"Do as you would be done by" is a good way of living,in spite of what t3knomanser thinks.
But there aren't many religions where it's encouraged, more's the pity.

@moses: People always complain when I treat them how I would be treated. They think I'm mean.

t3knomanser—

I've seen a guy get beat up because the fella beating him was living by the Golden Rule. I agree: that dog don't hunt. Instead, try a rule implied in Discourses on Livy:

In a free society, we all owe debts to others simply because they do us no harm.

That way, you're obliged to treat other people how *they* want to be treated, and you've the right to ask them to treat you how *you* wish to be treated.

"Treat others as you want to be treated"or "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" make great sound bites. The problems start when you start having to deal with the sado-masochists (or in laws) who believe in the same rules.

Well, I agree that the "do unto others" rule poorly phrased for what it's intended to mean. I probably would have put compassion instead of the golden rule, but still. I agree heartily with the spirit of this one.

Talk about overthinking. I'm not going to ask the guy behind me in line with two restless kids and just a few groceries how he'd like to be treated. If I've got more than a pack of gum, I'm going to ask him if he wants to go ahead of me. Do Unto Others is brilliant in its simplicity. It won't make a$$holes go away, and it won't ensure that everyone loves you, or is even decent to you - but it's the simplest way to live, and the one bound to make you the happiest, frankly.

Actually, maybe it makes more sense to leave yourself out of the equation. Just be kind and thoughtful. The end. Reciprocity shmeciprocity. Suck it up.