2010 Version of the Silver Rule

The Silver Rule is a long-held notion that roughly corresponds to the famous Golden Rule. But the exact meaning of the silver saying has never been 100 percent agreed on by the masses. Different sources have it as "Do not do to others as you would not have them do to you" or as "Do no harm."

Wise men over the ages, from Tobit, Confucius, and Sirach all the way to Martin Luther King, Jr., have tapped into this gray area of metal colored axioms. All have tried to buttress the Golden Rule with something more obtainable and usable on a daily basis. Think of the various Silver Rules as a working man's way of living, as opposed to that of a living Saint.

Here in the 21st century, I think the phrase needs updated, and in particular, hardened. Too many holier-than-thou folks abuse these rules and take advantage of other people by them. The new Silver Rule needs to be helpful as well as protective, a sword as well as a shield.

The new Silver Rule to live by should be, "Treat others as they treat you."

Be it how they talk to you, or how they act towards you, be it civil and proper or elitist and jerk-like, as a follower of the new rule, you are freed to respond to people in the same manner that they address you. And maybe in doing so, the offensive people of the world might just get a taste of their own medicine and see how people really view them.

Examples:

1. If someone is being rude and obnoxious at a bar or some other public gathering, be rude right back at them. Stand up to the bully by using their own tactics against them. 9 times out of 10 the loudmouth will shut-up and back down.

2. If someone opens a door for you while going into a mall or grocery store, return the favor with the next door, or get a cart out for them. Repay kindness with kindness.

Most people, from my experience, already do things listed in example #2. But those same people clam up or turn the other cheek when the person from example #1 show up. With the updated Silver Rule, one can deal with the troublemakers and jerks of the world on their own terms without feeling bad about the encounter. And, most likely, will right, or at least, curb the delinquent actions of the rude one in doing so.

Following this new Rule takes more courage than previous versions. It requires one to be a hero or a champion of yourself, as well as for others. Being the one to confront blowhards and evil people is never easy, but in doing so, you preserve your own self-esteem and can possibly be protecting others who lack the nerve to stand up for themselves. Anyone can do it. The gumption to do the right thing is innate in everyone.So there you have it in a nutshell, a brief modification to the centuries old Silver Rule to live by. I personally have lived with this rule as a guiding force in my life for years and have excellent results with it. Maybe it will work for you in the same way.