Many people know or are familiar with some version of the golden rule which says to treat others the way you want to be treated. But then came along a supposed new and improved version called the platinum rule which says to treat others the way they would like to be treated.
I don’t like it. For two reasons.
Firstly, it strikes me as somewhat pedantic and unimaginative. It seems to me that both statements could easily end up with the same result. If I’m a meat eater and I invite a vegetarian to my house, supposedly the golden rule falls short here because I will make a meat filled dinner for my vegetarian friend. Of course, reading the golden rule in this type of narrow, literalistic light is dumb and unnecessary. The golden rule is perfectly fine. Just as I would like to enjoy a meal in line with my normal diet, so should I treat my guest. But thank goodness we have the platinum rule to spell it out for those for whom that wasn’t clear.
Secondly, the platinum rule misses a key aspect of the golden rule. The golden rule observes human selfishness and says to take that same kind of energy and care and love that almost always goes toward yourself and instead direct it outward to others. The platinum rule completely misses this.
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