What? Even if someone is being a jerk towards you, I don't think that's the right phrase you're looking for. I think you're referring to "an eye for an eye"?

TBH, I think that rule holds different meanings for different people. This is one rule that I do not believe has one all encompassing meaning that needs to be followed one particular way, and that way only.

I've always gone by the "Eye for an Eye" rule, I've never had to uphold it and hope I never do but if someone does something that hurts me greatly then I should have the right to give the perp a taste of his own medicine.

"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."

That has one and only one meaning. That's not to say that others don't have their own variation on the concept, but the wording of the rule has only one meaning.

Isn't the Golden Rule(s):

1. A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
2. A robot must obey the orders given to it by human beings, except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
3. A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.

As for me, I always go by: "No regrets, no remorse, no mercy."

If we take the golden rule literally, the guy who spits in my face, ought to be expected to get spit in his face too (just an example, not to be taken literally). By the definition you just gave me, this is precisely what I should do the next time something like this happens to me. The idea behind it is to use some sense in any given situation and come to your own conclusions as whether or not it's worth actually following to the letter.

You could always go by:

1: To serve public interest.

2: To protect the innocent.

3: Uphold the law.

Or you can do what Detective Kennex does to his MX partners; throw them out a moving squad car on the freeway.

Or you can also do that, sure they'll be busted up a little but they'll be fine .

That's not what it's saying, though. It's saying that you should behave the way that you'd like others to behave. "Treat others the way you'd like to be treated." That's what it's saying...literally. That means that you wouldn't want someone to spit in your face, so you shouldn't spit in other peoples' faces. There's really no other interpretation for that sentence that follows English language rules.

Actions are more important than motives, so doing a nice thing is nice even if you don't think that's why your doing it.

No, because your meant to be doing what you'd like them to do as well, so unless you wanted to get spit in your face you aren't following the rule, it isn't "Do unto others what they do to you"

Actually the sentiment of the saying is to be willfully ignorant and self-righteous enough to believe that the world will follow your example. The point is that by doing so, others will treat you the same way in kind.

Reality doesn't work that way.

That's not the sentiment...that's your judgement of the person you've imagined coining the phrase.