Do onto others as you want others to do you

I think it was in kindergarten, when I learned such great life lessons such as "two wrongs don't make a right" "treat people how you want to be treated." So sure I might get a gold star for following those tricks, but what happens when others dont? What kind of reaction does that deserve. What kind of prize besides disappointment comes from throwing effort into something that does not deserve it, or does not return it?