The golden rule is simple. Treat others as you want to be treated. In other words, don’t treat others in a way you don’t want to be treated.

How could we do even better? Hold people we like to the same standards as people we don’t like. Don’t accept behavior from people you like when that behavior is unacceptable from people you don’t like.

As with many things worth doing, simple doesn’t mean easy. Still, how much better off would we be if we expected good behavior from everyone?