Feb 8, 2013
When people voice their complaints or issues, it sometimes makes sense to call "Midas Rule" and encourage them to fix the problem themselves.

For example when someone says, "Someone might trip on this toy" they are either:

  • Asking someone else to pick up the toy
  • Complaining about a child or the tidiness of the child's parent
If the person pointing out the toy can easily pick it up, is being lazy, and/or is responsible for cleaning up the floor, by all means use the Midas Rule to encourage them to pick it up:

"By the Midas Rule, you have the ability to pick up the toy and you obviously care about it, please pick it up."
If on the other hand, Midas Rule doesn't apply if the complainer happens to be any of the following:

  • Your mom or other older relative
  • Your significant other or wife (the correct response is either "yes dear" or getting the child to pick up the toy)
  • A young child who can't possibly move the toy
One more example:

"Landlord, my roof is leaking!"

Incorrect response: "By Midas Rule, feel free to fix it."

Better: "We'll send someone over and fix it first thing tomorrow."

The tenant might reply, "That's too late, by Midas Rule I'll fix it now and send you an invoice."

The landlord could even claim Midas Rule once more with, "No that's okay, I send someone right over."

See? It's a combination of who gives a shit more plus who's responsible for the issue.