Do You Know How To Live The Golden Rule Online?
With few things in life being more state-of-the-art than the world wide web, it's hard to think about things that went on thousands of years ago, but that's exactly what the Golden Rule offers.
Most people associate the Golden Rule with Jesus' teachings and passages in the New Testament (like Matthew 7:12, which says, "Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.").
However, the Golden Rule goes back even further than that.
The Indian prophet Mahabharata was quoted saying something similar to the Golden Rule in 3,000 B.C. Passages similar to the Golden Rule are found in the Koran and the Torah. Similar phrases were also used by Confucius and Buddha and played a role in the Ancient Egyptian and Ancient Greek societies.
Now fast forward and think about the web.
People are emboldened by the anonymity of the internet. They hide behind keyboards, screen names, and avatars. They don't have to worry about having face-to-face conversations anymore.
The end result? Nasty comments on forums. Over-the-top reviews. Scathing emails. Spam that's obnoxious and abusive.
So, how can you make sure you don't get caught up in the madness? Specifically, how can you apply the Golden Rule to the world wide web?
- Remember that words carry more weight online.
Whether you're typing out an email, a blog comment, or a restaurant review, there's no chance for inflection because you don't get to use your voice. As a result, sarcasm is tough to convey. It's also hard for people to distinguish jokes from plain ol' meanness.
Plus, everything you type is out there forever. Information spreads like wildfire on the 'net, so even if you delete something from your own website, thousands of other sites may have already picked it up.
As a result, think carefully before you hit "send" or "post"!
- Don't do anything you wouldn't do in "real life".
Would you scream obscenities at someone on the street? Would you insult someone's family while you were standing in line at a cash register? Would tell someone at a cocktail party that they're stupid?
If you wouldn't say it to someone's face, don't do it online. Otherwise, you're nothing but a bully.
- Strive to provide value.
This is a big problem for online businesses, many of whom think the Golden Rule means "He who has the gold rules"! Some online salesmen are so busy trying to "upsell" that they forget to provide value in their "little" products. Or, they're so happy to get someone's credit card information that they "forget" to provide any kind of customer service.
Would you be OK with someone doing that to you? Just because you can't see your customers doesn't mean you owe them any less than your very best!
Most people associate the Golden Rule with Jesus' teachings and passages in the New Testament (like Matthew 7:12, which says, "Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.").
However, the Golden Rule goes back even further than that.
The Indian prophet Mahabharata was quoted saying something similar to the Golden Rule in 3,000 B.C. Passages similar to the Golden Rule are found in the Koran and the Torah. Similar phrases were also used by Confucius and Buddha and played a role in the Ancient Egyptian and Ancient Greek societies.
Now fast forward and think about the web.
People are emboldened by the anonymity of the internet. They hide behind keyboards, screen names, and avatars. They don't have to worry about having face-to-face conversations anymore.
The end result? Nasty comments on forums. Over-the-top reviews. Scathing emails. Spam that's obnoxious and abusive.
So, how can you make sure you don't get caught up in the madness? Specifically, how can you apply the Golden Rule to the world wide web?
- Remember that words carry more weight online.
Whether you're typing out an email, a blog comment, or a restaurant review, there's no chance for inflection because you don't get to use your voice. As a result, sarcasm is tough to convey. It's also hard for people to distinguish jokes from plain ol' meanness.
Plus, everything you type is out there forever. Information spreads like wildfire on the 'net, so even if you delete something from your own website, thousands of other sites may have already picked it up.
As a result, think carefully before you hit "send" or "post"!
- Don't do anything you wouldn't do in "real life".
Would you scream obscenities at someone on the street? Would you insult someone's family while you were standing in line at a cash register? Would tell someone at a cocktail party that they're stupid?
If you wouldn't say it to someone's face, don't do it online. Otherwise, you're nothing but a bully.
- Strive to provide value.
This is a big problem for online businesses, many of whom think the Golden Rule means "He who has the gold rules"! Some online salesmen are so busy trying to "upsell" that they forget to provide value in their "little" products. Or, they're so happy to get someone's credit card information that they "forget" to provide any kind of customer service.
Would you be OK with someone doing that to you? Just because you can't see your customers doesn't mean you owe them any less than your very best!