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The Golden Rule

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ConstipatedVigilante

Diamond Member
Feb 22, 2006
7,670
1
0
Originally posted by: alkemyst
Originally posted by: Fritzo
Originally posted by: KLin
Originally posted by: nkgreen
Originally posted by: TallBill
You didn't even post the golden rule?

alkymyst is always right.

The silver rule also states if alkemyst is ever wrong, see the golden rule.

I thought the silver rule was "Always hide your porn."

for straight guys it is.

Are you trying to tell us something, alk? And honestly, I would be a lot more shocked to find gay pr0n than straight pr0n on a guy's computer. Disgust != homophobia.
 

alkemyst

No Lifer
Feb 13, 2001
83,769
19
81
Originally posted by: ConstipatedVigilante
Originally posted by: alkemyst
Originally posted by: Fritzo
Originally posted by: KLin
Originally posted by: nkgreen
Originally posted by: TallBill
You didn't even post the golden rule?

alkymyst is always right.

The silver rule also states if alkemyst is ever wrong, see the golden rule.

I thought the silver rule was "Always hide your porn."

for straight guys it is.

Are you trying to tell us something, alk? And honestly, I would be a lot more shocked to find gay pr0n than straight pr0n on a guy's computer. Disgust != homophobia.

It's not homophobia. Their rules are different.

I am just speaking for the straight guys.

I didn't mean you any offense, man. I have no problem with someone being gay.
 

Kaido

Elite Member & Kitchen Overlord
Feb 14, 2004
51,612
7,261
136
Originally posted by: Baked
Oh you mean Karma.

Did you see last week's My Name is Earl with the voodoo kid vs. Karma? :laugh:
 

alkemyst

No Lifer
Feb 13, 2001
83,769
19
81
Originally posted by: HardcoreRobot
problem is, most people just don't think that deeply

some are just not as well-endowed as others...the chicks here don't seem to mind, they are happy with whatever bone comes their way.
 

ConstipatedVigilante

Diamond Member
Feb 22, 2006
7,670
1
0
Originally posted by: alkemyst
Originally posted by: ConstipatedVigilante
Originally posted by: alkemyst
Originally posted by: Fritzo
Originally posted by: KLin
Originally posted by: nkgreen
Originally posted by: TallBill
You didn't even post the golden rule?

alkymyst is always right.

The silver rule also states if alkemyst is ever wrong, see the golden rule.

I thought the silver rule was "Always hide your porn."

for straight guys it is.

Are you trying to tell us something, alk? And honestly, I would be a lot more shocked to find gay pr0n than straight pr0n on a guy's computer. Disgust != homophobia.

It's not homophobia. Their rules are different.

I am just speaking for the straight guys.

I didn't mean you any offense, man. I have no problem with someone being gay.

Me is confused. Whose rules? And don't you turn the tables on me!
 

alkemyst

No Lifer
Feb 13, 2001
83,769
19
81
Originally posted by: ConstipatedVigilante
Me is confused. Whose rules? And don't you turn the tables on me!

our rules...it's ok to have your own though...it's ok. ;)
 

waggy

No Lifer
Dec 14, 2000
68,143
10
81
I try my best to live by it. but i admit it si hard and i don't always. but when it comes down to it in big things i will/do. i ran my business with that in mind (which made me a sucky car dealer/salesmen).

but i agree when i to it things are better for me. i feel better about myself and people are more willing to help me when i need it.
 

Amused

Elite Member
Apr 14, 2001
57,387
19,676
146
Originally posted by: SlitheryDee
The golden rule only works when other people also follow it.

Not true. You do not live by the golden rule to satisfy others and to expect returns or rewards. You don't live by it with the expectations that others will live by it at all. You live by the golden rule to satisfy yourself and give you an ethical basis to demand others treat you well. Again, the Golden rule is purely selfish, not altruistic at its heart. It gives you the ethical standing to complain when others treat you poorly... Because if you do not treat others well, you have no logical or ethical basis to complain when others threat you just as bad.

If my code of ethics is based around the golden rule and the other guy's code of ethics is based around "Treat SlitheryDee like shit" then we're going to have some pretty one-sided dealings with each other. Of course I could avoid this one person who has it in for me, but what about other people whose codes of ethics are as varied as they are?

The ethics of others are irrelevant. The only ethics YOU need worry about are your own. Life is not making others act as you wish, but making YOU act as you wish.
 

moshquerade

No Lifer
Nov 1, 2001
61,504
12
56
Originally posted by: Amused
"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you"

The golden rule transcends nearly all religions, and almost all secular cultures. The reason for this became obvious to me nearly two decades ago as I studied ethics and morality; it is the most logical way to live one's life in any given society.

Years ago I made the personal choice to aspire to live my life by this one very simple, yet all encompassing ethical code.

Something amazing happened. I gained nearly universal respect, became more prosperous than I ever imagined I would (which, to me, proved that taking advantage of people seems to backfire in the long run) and am well regarded among those who know me. Even those who dislike me still have respect for me. The last was most remarkable to me. To have the respect of those who personally dislike you is the greatest compliment to the way one lives their life. No one is universally liked. Personalities clash. But when personalities clash, yet respect is kept, that speaks volumes.

The most amazing thing is that I have found is that living by the Golden Rule is actually a logically selfish way to live. I found myself living by it not to impress others or to please them, but purely for my own edification. The Golden Rule is not about altruism, but about one coming to a single logical conclusion: I have no ethical or logical basis for complaint when others treat me poorly if I have not treated others as I would wish to be treated.

No, I'm not preaching here... but I would like to start a discussion on this topic and share in the opinions/experiences of others.
You are the wisest poster on this site. Maybe that's not saying much, :p
but I meant it as a huge compliment.
 

Amused

Elite Member
Apr 14, 2001
57,387
19,676
146
Originally posted by: moshquerade

You are the wisest poster on this site. Maybe that's not saying much, :p
but I meant it as a huge compliment.

Before you edited your post and added the last two sentences I was going to tell you just what you said. The wisest are the ones who lurk for computer knowledge and don't waste their time posting in OT. :p

But... thank you. I disagree with you strongly, but am deeply flattered that you think so. This site has many wise people on it. Some that put my wisdom to shame, in my opinion. I may be very opinionated but I have learned much from some of the posters on this site.
 

moshquerade

No Lifer
Nov 1, 2001
61,504
12
56
Originally posted by: Amused
Originally posted by: moshquerade

You are the wisest poster on this site. Maybe that's not saying much, :p
but I meant it as a huge compliment.

Before you edited your post and added the last two sentences I was going to tell you just what you said. The wisest are the ones who lurk for computer knowledge and don't waste their time posting in OT. :p

But... thank you. I disagree with you strongly, but am deeply flattered that you think so. This site has many wise people on it. Some that put my wisdom to shame, in my opinion. I may be very opinionated but I have learned much from some of the posters on this site.
A wise man with some humility. :thumbsup:
If only others could understand that the two should go hand in hand.
 

Toastedlightly

Diamond Member
Aug 7, 2004
7,214
6
81
Amused, I think that you've put the best thing I've learned from my relgious upbringing into words. Thanks.
 

Amused

Elite Member
Apr 14, 2001
57,387
19,676
146
Originally posted by: moshquerade
Originally posted by: Amused
Originally posted by: moshquerade

You are the wisest poster on this site. Maybe that's not saying much, :p
but I meant it as a huge compliment.

Before you edited your post and added the last two sentences I was going to tell you just what you said. The wisest are the ones who lurk for computer knowledge and don't waste their time posting in OT. :p

But... thank you. I disagree with you strongly, but am deeply flattered that you think so. This site has many wise people on it. Some that put my wisdom to shame, in my opinion. I may be very opinionated but I have learned much from some of the posters on this site.
A wise man with some humility. :thumbsup:
If only others could understand that the two should go hand in hand.

Bah, it's not humility. "A man's got to know his limitations." And boy, do I have a lot of them!
 

Amused

Elite Member
Apr 14, 2001
57,387
19,676
146
Originally posted by: Toastedlightly
Amused, I think that you've put the best thing I've learned from my relgious upbringing into words. Thanks.

Glad I could shed some light on it. :) I came to the Golden Rule from agnosticism and objectivity, actually. The logic of the ethic is undeniable, even for the non-religious. Even for the objectively selfish, it is the most logical way to live.

People fail to understand that ethics don't start with others, but only with yourself. The ethical codes of others should never have an influence on the ethical code you choose. If it does, you are allowing others to control you. What a miserable way to live; merely reacting to others instead of acting for yourself.
 

Amused

Elite Member
Apr 14, 2001
57,387
19,676
146
Originally posted by: LS21
karma > organized religion

But karma expects rewards.

The true basis of ethical codes should never be the expectation of rewards. Expectation of rewards makes us little more than trained dogs waiting for our reward, be it from this world or a supernatural one, rather than giving us an ethical and logical leg to stand on when treated poorly by others.

Can there be rewards to living an ethical life? Of course. But to expect them is to fail at why one is ethical in the first place.

Live for you, not for the carrot on the stick.
 

Amused

Elite Member
Apr 14, 2001
57,387
19,676
146
Originally posted by: BudAshes
Wake up and smell the Kant.

But Kant's is an over-complication of the golden rule, trying too hard to address the concerns of Cogman earlier in this thread when, in reality, the Golden Rule itself addresses it already.
 

LS21

Banned
Nov 27, 2007
3,745
1
0
Originally posted by: Amused
Originally posted by: LS21
karma > organized religion

But karma expects rewards.

The true basis of ethical codes should never be the expectation of rewards. Expectation of rewards makes us little more than trained dogs waiting for our reward, be it from this world or a supernatural one, rather than giving us an ethical and logical leg to stand on when treated poorly by others.

Can there be rewards to living an ethical life? Of course. But to expect them is to fail at why one is ethical in the first place.

Live for you, not for the carrot on the stick.


absolutely nothing wrong with incentive. especially balanced incentive.

if you are karma-neutral and dont act in any way that negatively impact anyone else then it doesnt bother me a bit and thats perfectly fine
 

Amused

Elite Member
Apr 14, 2001
57,387
19,676
146
Originally posted by: Shadow Conception
Golden rule and karma are the results of humans trying to apply patterns to what they experience in their daily lives.

The Golden Rule is not karma. Karma expects rewards. The Golden Rule by itself gives no expectation of rewards. Some religions may have attached carrot on a stick crap to it, but by itself, the Golden Rule promises no reward at all.
 

Amused

Elite Member
Apr 14, 2001
57,387
19,676
146
Originally posted by: LS21
Originally posted by: Amused
Originally posted by: LS21
karma > organized religion

But karma expects rewards.

The true basis of ethical codes should never be the expectation of rewards. Expectation of rewards makes us little more than trained dogs waiting for our reward, be it from this world or a supernatural one, rather than giving us an ethical and logical leg to stand on when treated poorly by others.

Can there be rewards to living an ethical life? Of course. But to expect them is to fail at why one is ethical in the first place.

Live for you, not for the carrot on the stick.


absolutely nothing wrong with incentive. especially balanced incentive.

if you are karma-neutral and dont act in any way that negatively impact anyone else then it doesnt bother me a bit and thats perfectly fine

Incentive leads to people EXPECTING rewards, and failing in or dropping altogether their ethical code if and when that incentive expectation is not met. The carrot on a stick philosophy of ethics fails for this very reason. Look at some of the people in this thread who refuse to adopt ethics because they see others not doing so. They think ethics are only worth it if everyone else is doing it too.
 

gorcorps

aka Brandon
Jul 18, 2004
30,741
456
126
Did you make a list of all the bad things you did and are now making up for them one at a time? Good on ya Earl.