Summary: We have a different "Golden" Rule here -- treat all things according to the respect they deserve.

There is a popular post on TRP right now about three rules that one of us used to turn his life around. It is mostly a good post, but one of his rules is wrong.

We do not follow the Golden Rule here. We do not treat others the way we want to be treated. The Golden Rule is a basic tenant of morality meant for those who can hardly think outside themselves -- it is egoistic to think that others want the same things you want. Also, TRP is, for the most part, amoral -- it is practical, realistic (sometimes simplified for clarity) advice for how to succeed.

To practical men: Don't be such an egoist, treat others either how they want to be treated or according to the respect they deserve (depending on your intensions). That doesn't mean be an ass to everyone. This principle of giving the proper respect applies not only to people, but to damn near everything.

In the most general terms, everything is essentially information -- particular arrangements of matter in time and space. This applies to you, me, women, gold, computers, whatever. You should respect information -- and the higher quality it is the more you should respect it. A fine woman is worth more respect (time, thought, etc), a wise man is worth more respect, a good book, a knife, etc. ... even randomness demands respect -- why?

Usefulness is one of the greatest determiners of whether information is of high quality or not, and usefulness demands a certain groundedness in reality. Words, stories, art, philosophy, "wisdom" -- these are worthy of respect when they refer (or point to) something real or useful.

I think the other posters point was that we should give others a modicum of respect -- that's true -- people contain a great deal of useful information. But be careful, a great deal of the "information" people have in their heads is not related to the real world -- it is not, therefore high quality information, and does not deserve respect -- except as it tells you something about that person ... and how to treat them more appropriately.

Lessons Learned: Get rid of your Christian morality. "The Golden Rule" is the proper name for a well-known moral concept -- use it properly. Give credit and respect where it is due, or useful.