The Golden Rule
is a terrific tool...
It says Do Unto Others as You Would Have Others Do to You.


I remember teaching my kids this song when they were little.  I learned this principle in church and home.  Wasn't everyone taught this at some point in their lifetime?
I am beginning to wonder if it is a principle that's being thrown out that proverbial window.
Do we really believe and live the Golden Rule?  Or do we merely pay lip service to it?
Do we really treat other people how we really would like to be treated?
Do we extend to others the same mercy we would like to have extended to us on any given day?  Or are we quick to judge, not taking the time to try and understand?
Do we recognize that most of the time, most people really are putting forth their best efforts and take the opportunity to acknowledge that?  Or are we impatient and unfair in our demands?
Do we truly accept people for who they are and what they can contribute, regardless of their personality, appearance or income level?  Or, do we quickly judge someone through our limited frame-of-reference and assume we are right because, well... we are?


Most of us are not guilty of being outright rude or hurtful to people.  Some of us may even be so good as to never gossip openly about others.


But, what happens when we are given one of these?

Can we maintain the same standards of mercy, kindness, fairness and compassion that we might if people knew it was us who was making the judgements?  Is it easier to be unkind when no one knows it's us?


Anonymous surveys can be dangerous things.  When completed fairly and carefully they can be valuable tools to help an organization make improvements.  However, they can also become an easy way for people to let off some steam.  Just go to any news site on the internet and read the comments people make to see how stupid some people can become when masked with a shield of anonymity.


So, the next time you are given a survey to respond to, take a minute, take a breath and think about that Golden Rule.