GEN531 [Some] Rishonim [Torah scholars of the 11th-15th centuries – AJL] maintain that according to Rabbi Akiva, you are only commanded to treat your fellow like you would personally like yourself to be treated. Therefore, if you are very righteous and do not mind being embarrassed and disgraced, you would be allowed to treat others the same way [citations]. If you were robbed, wounded, and cursed, your fellow could be robbed, wounded, and cursed just like you [citations]. You would not have to see that your fellow has things any better than you do. They conclude that is the great principle of Ben Azzai that precludes and discards such an attitude. According to some versions of the Midrash Genesis Rabbah 24:7, Ben Azzai was in fact arguing with Rabbi Akiva because Rabbi Akiva’s rule [i.e., that “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself Leviticus 19:18 is even a greater principle - AJL] would allow one to say that since I am despised, my fellow can also be despised. Ben Azzai said of that the written verse [this verse], is the great principle of the Torah. It is from there that we learn to respect our fellow because he is created in the image of God. He deserves this consideration regardless of your own particular idiosyncrasies or predicament.  CASTLE 53-4