Lots Of People Who Say "You Need To Show Respect To Get Respect" Are Full Of Crap!

[Gizmo j]

What they really mean is, "if you don't treat me like a SUPERIOR, I'm not going to treat you like a HUMAN BEING.

 

[IronWing]

Well, okay.

 

[pete6032]

I try to treat everyone with respect regardless of stature. The idea that respect must be earned from the get go is flawed. You can respect someone who you disagree with, who is less knowledgeable, less moral, less upstanding than you, it just takes concerted effort. Doing so is much more difficult than simply disrespecting someone you deem to be "below" you.

Edit to add: I also fail at this goal all the time. I need to be reminded to respect the homeless, respect the combative, respect the unreasonable. It's so easy to judge others rather than extending grace and understanding.

Edit 2: I often come across people asking for money on public transit and my immediate reaction in my mind is "weren't you asking me for money last week too?" as if one week was completely enough for a homeless person to figure out their whole life and find housing and solve all their other problems too. Smh at myself.

 

[lxskllr]

I try to treat everyone with respect regardless of stature. The idea that respect must be earned is very flawed. You can respect someone who is less knowledgeable, less moral, less upstanding than you, it just takes concerted effort. Doing so is much more difficult than simply disrespecting someone you deem to be "below" you.

I disagree with that. Respect is a spectrum, and it has to be earned. A lack of respect for an individual doesn't necessitate *dis*respect. There's also the neutral stance of basic courtesy if they haven't "earned" disrespect.

 

[pete6032]

I disagree with that. Respect is a spectrum, and it has to be earned. A lack of respect for an individual doesn't necessitate *dis*respect. There's also the neutral stance of basic courtesy if they haven't "earned" disrespect.

I respect your opinion that there are shades of gray. I think reasonable well-minded people see and understand that. Problem is that most people are all or nothing. Either complete disrespect or respect and nothing in between.

 

[nakedfrog]

Tell us more, OP.

 

[BoomerD]

What they really mean is, "if you don't treat me like a SUPERIOR, I'm not going to treat you like a HUMAN BEING.

The OP has nothing to worry about. NO ONE would ever mistake him for a HUMAN BEING.