Rule of Thirds?

I read a short article on about.com about the Rule of Thirds:
http://graphicssoft.about.com/librar...leofthirds.htm

This article surprised me somewhat as I have never heard about such
rule. I do however know of the Golden Section.


The Golden Section positions the lines approximately 38% from the edges
of the picture, whereas the Rule of Thirds positions the lines
approximately 33% from the edges. If I overlay the two types of guides
on an image, I find that the suggestions for composition are rather
different.

I know that both the Rule of Thirds and the Golden Section are
suggestions only, but I'd like to know if I generally should stick to
the Golden Section or if the Rule of Thirds is just as valid? Is the
Rule of Thirds just meant as an easy approximation to the Golden
Section?