When The Golden Rule Causes More Harm Than Good | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Politics and Activism

When The Golden Rule Causes More Harm Than Good

Maybe it isn't so golden after all.

173
When The Golden Rule Causes More Harm Than Good
Imgur

We all know the Golden Rule. “Treat others how you want to be treated.” Our parents, caregivers, teachers, babysitters, and pretty much every adult in our lives from right about the time we could walk drilled this into our heads, over and over, ad nauseam. But what if this rule isn’t the best rule to live by? What if using this rule as our life philosophy not only harms us but also harms those around us?

Don’t get me wrong; on the surface, the Golden Rule is, well, golden. If everyone always treated everyone else well, the world would be a great place. But this line of thinking comes from an underlying philosophy that can actually be quite harmful. This philosophy basically assumes that if good begets good, bad must beget bad, too. So, basically, we get what’s coming to us. Therefore, if someone mistreats us, then they deserve to be mistreated back. The Golden Rule actually subconsciously brings about an eye for an eye belief.

Obviously, this can be quite a harmful belief to act upon. If someone does something awful, they deserve to be punished. But sometimes people misread others’ actions or words, and then mistreat that person back. For example, if a coworker is making slightly offensive jokes, it would be much more effective to tell the coworker or a superior clearly that the jokes are offensive. Maybe the coworker didn’t even know their jokes were being taken offensively and would stop if they knew they were. Or maybe not, but hopefully telling a superior would bring about the proper punishment.

My point is, no one ever “gets the message” by “giving them a taste of their own medicine.” There’s something to be said for showing grace and giving people kindness in response to their coarseness. Kindness usually begets kindness, and anger usually begets anger. If someone reacts with kindness to a person who is being rude, it usually exposes the rudeness and makes the other person feel foolish. This is much less likely to happen if someone responds with anger, lowering themselves to that person’s level.

If everyone tried their best to respond to people with kindness, there would be a whole lot less bad in the world. There would be fewer hurt feelings, fewer grudges, and more unity. And, as we know, unity is exactly what our world needs right now. Next time someone makes a rude remark to you in a store, try disarming them with a nice comment and maybe even a compliment. Not only will it make them think twice about their behavior, but it’ll also make you feel better. It’s much easier to be happy when you’re spreading kindness rather than anger and bitterness. As Gandhi said, “Be the change you want to see in the world.” I know we hear and see this quote all the time, but it’s so true. We can’t expect others to change if we’re not willing to change ourselves.

“Throw kindness around like confetti,” –Bob Goff

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Relationships

10 Facts All People In A Large Family Can Confirm During The Holiday Season

The holiday season can be the best and most stressful time of the year, especially when more people are involved.

161
kids jumping

The holidays are full of lights, sweets, sweaters, and your favorite movies. There's nothing quite like this period from the beginning of December through January. Christmas, Hanukkah, and New Years. The fun of it all.

I don't know about you but with my large Italian family something is always going on during this season. It can be the most wonderful time of the year while also being the most hectic. These are a few things you know if your family is anything like mine during this time.

Keep Reading...Show less
10 things that happen the second Thanksgiving is over
reference.com

To those who celebrate, you just spent an entire day cooking an elaborate meal with all of your favorite foods. You probably ate your body weight in pumpkin pie and mashed potatoes. What happens now? Oh yea, Christmas. It’s time to take out all of the decorations and Christmas themed things that have been sitting in the attic since last year; it’s time to make a reappearance. So, here are 10 things that happen the second Thanksgiving is over.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

18 Things I Want To Do Now That I'm 18

I'm technically an adult, so I'm legally required to live a little, right?

3687
Happy Birthday Cake

For the entirety of my high school career, I was always seen as the goody-two-shoes. I never got in trouble with a teacher, I kept stellar grades, and when I wasn't doing extracurricular activities, I was at home studying. Even when I did go out, it was usually with a bunch of fellow band geeks. The night would end before 11:00 PM and the only controversial activity would be a fight based on who unfairly won a round of Apples-to-Apples when someone else clearly had a better card (I promise I'm not still holding a grudge).

Now that I'm officially an adult, I want to pursue some new things. I want to experience life in a way that I never allowed myself to do prior to entering college. These are the years that I'm supposed to embark on a journey of self-discovery, so what better way to do that than to create a bucket list?

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics

The holiday classics that shaped my life

2252
10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics
Flickr

The holiday season is full of stress, debt, and forced conversation. While we rush through the month of December, it's important to take a step back and enjoy the moments before they're gone. Most families love to watch Christmas movies, but these beloved films provide more than entertainment. Here are 10 life lessons that I've learned from the holiday classics we watch every year.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

201586
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments