NationStates Jolt Archive

According to Dictionary.com:
re·spect ( P ) Pronunciation Key (r-spkt)
tr.v. re·spect·ed, re·spect·ing, re·spects

1. To feel or show deferential regard for; esteem.
2. To avoid violation of or interference with: respect the speed limit.
3. To relate or refer to; concern.

This is spawned by late night thinking, mind racing, and insomnia; so, pardon me, if some of this doesn't make sense.

I adamantly DO NOT believe in just giving someone respect because they exist, I believe in earning it, clean and simple. I don't think that just because you exist, I should respect you, because I don't know who you are as a person until we get to know each other, and I can see your character first hand.

For example, Person A respects people because they exist, Person B does not.

Person A meets Charles Manson. Automatically respects him even though Person A knows he is a murderer. What does that say about the quality of Person A's judgment?

Person B meets Charles Manson. Doesn't repsect him whatsoever, probably even turns him in (not to say Person A wouldn't). What does that say about the quality of Person B's judgment?

Person A does not judge, yes, and that is a good quality but one that can have serious consequences if A accepts the wrong types of people with showering respect on them when they don't deserve, and certainly haven't, earned it based on the intellectual, spiritual, emotional, physical, and mental aspects of what Person A holds to be dear.

Person B, on the other hand, never questioned their judgment of character, because the people they meet are judged from the beginning and are expected to be upheld by their ideals. B has never lost sight of what makes them an individual of character, and thus, holds everyone accoutable to those standards.

I am undoubtedly a Person B, and I always have been. My friends all have to adhere to the characteristics I define as important in my life, if they don't follow them, they don't have my respect, and they know that.

Not that I don't have friends who follow everything to the letter T, I have friends I respect and trust, and I have friends I trust. I don't judge people and let them be, I simply don't respect those who don't make an effort to at least be good upstanding people, and only people who make an effort can earn respect that way.

respect is deserved universaly untill it is demanded.
then contempt is earned.

one earns honor, but even a rattlesnake gets 'respect' (the
'respect' of acknowledging reality).

also respect is not love and expecting the one is a sure way
to lose the other.

when humans who should know better demand respect, the deserve to be
put in little cages in zoos.

(obviously, or it should be obvious, give them the 'respect' of
never turning your back on them, the're likely to stab you in it if
you do!)

=^^=
.../\...

http://www.click-smilies.de/sammlung0304/waffen/violent-smiley-026.gifhttp://www.click-smilies.de/sammlung0304/waffen/violent-smiley-027.gifhttp://www.click-smilies.de/sammlung0304/waffen/violent-smiley-010.gif

respect is deserved universaly untill it is demanded.
then contempt is earned.

one earns honor, but even a rattlesnake gets 'respect' (the
'respect' of acknowledging reality).

also respect is not love and expecting the one is a sure way
to lose the other.

when humans who should know better demand respect, the deserve to be
put in little cages in zoos.

(obviously, or it should be obvious, give them the 'respect' of
never turning your back on them, the're likely to stab you in it if
you do!)

=^^=
.../\...

Interesting conception and sentiment, Carlemnaria. Did you write that yourself (out of curiousity)?

Politeness should be automatic. Respect should be earned.

Politeness should be automatic. Respect should be earned.

Amen!

I agree with Ryanania. There should be a certain base level of respect for all people, but any extra is something that has to be earned.

And yes, when people demand respect without having earnt it, then they deserve almost none.

I think it is earned.

Respect is something only some people deserve. You do not disrespect them. But you just do nothing until they deserve respect.

I think it is earned.

Respect is something only some people deserve. You do not disrespect them. But you just do nothing until they deserve respect.

I think it is earned.

Respect is something only some people deserve. You do not disrespect them. But you just do nothing until they deserve respect.

I think it is earned.

Respect is something only some people deserve. You do not disrespect them. But you just do nothing until they deserve respect.

I respect everyone until they do something that loses there respect.

Like insulting a friend. :x

Then it is very difficult to regain my respect or trust.

I think you have to have an automatic and unconditional respect for a person's rights, i.e their right to be heard, their right to exist, their right to be a prick etc.

But just because you respect an person's rights doesn't mean you have to respect the person.

Of course true respect is earned.

There is a base level of respect that everyone deserves until they do something to lose it. someone up near the top of the thread called this 'politeness', which is very similar.

BUT, much harder than earning respect in the first place is regaining it once it has been lost. :wink:

Then it is very difficult to regain my respect or trust.

Lol, we think and post so alike? :P

Then it is very difficult to regain my respect or trust.

Lol, we think and post so alike? :P

:? How worrying.

You two must be psychic

I adamantly believe in just giving someone respect because they exist, I believe in earning it, clean and simple.

A little contradiction right here...

I think there are different levels to respect...

fundamentally, it is earned, but I think that old people perhaps should be entitled to respect (to an extent) just becuase they are old, and all people deserve a small level of respect, until they prove unworthy.

I believe strongly in two principles.

Common Courtesy...

and Respect.

Common courtesy with me, is, and should be given to everyone equally.

Respect is earned.

Respect is placing someone on a pedestal, and honoring them as an individual to admire, or pattern yourself after, or if nothing else, recognizing that persons merits, or acheivements.

That is earned.

Sometimes, when I meet someone new, I will say very little, simply to avoid saying the wrong thing.
A few take this a rude, but its far from the truth.
The first rule of ettiquette:

Know when to shut up.

Now... taking a slightly different(?) angle... respect on NS is different from respect in real life.

I do believe that you have to be MORE careful with the respect you show to people you meet here, precisely because it is much, much harder to judge what people are like and where they're coming from. compared to RL we have access to so little information.

And I am differentiating here between true respect, of the sort you describe, Tuesday, and polite respect. In my reckoning, only a very, very small handful of people here deserve my true respect, while they all deserve my civility. (not saying i always manage to give it, mind :wink:)

Know when to shut up.

And Backwoods sums it up quite nicely, I think!

Know when to shut up.

And Backwoods sums it up quite nicely, I think!

Danke.

I do believe that you have to be MORE careful with the respect you show to people you meet here, precisely because it is much, much harder to judge what people are like and where they're coming from. compared to RL we have access to so little information.

I completely agree, however, I will hold the playes of NS to the same standards I hold someone in RL in manners of respect; I will not compromise my standards simply because "I don't know really know someone."

BackwoodsSquatches, very good definitions you have going here.

I adamantly believe in just giving someone respect because they exist, I believe in earning it, clean and simple.

A little contradiction right here...

I made an error in mechanics, I apologize. It should read I adamantly do not believe in... I'm only human.

There is a base level of respect that everyone deserves until they do something to lose it. someone up near the top of the thread called this 'politeness', which is very similar.

I don't think "politeness" and "respect" are in any regards the same thing. Politness is an action towards someone, whereas respect is symbolic towards someone.

I think you have to have an automatic and unconditional respect for a person's rights, i.e their right to be heard, their right to exist, their right to be a prick etc.

But just because you respect an person's rights doesn't mean you have to respect the person.

Very good point, Bobingrad, to which I agree with wholeheartedly.

And yes, when people demand respect without having earnt it, then they deserve almost none.

I don't hand over respect automatically for anyone who asks of it. If you have to ask, you generally haven't earned it.

BUMP.

Politeness should be automatic. Respect should be earned.

Ryanania
Negotiator


Founded: 10 Jul 2003
Posts: 1337

sorry, just had to make note of that.

anyway, i agree with your statement fully. yeah, can't really think of anything to add to it. good summary of the correct opinion of respect :D

Respect is like love in that there are various kinds of respect.

I believe in a general, tentative respect is due all people I have any interchange with. Generally it brings about a response in kind and we have a good basis to move forward or at the very least we leave each other on a positive note.

Respect where I hold an individual above the crowd is a result of exceptional accomplishment or effort. It is indeed earned.

As for the extreme of idolization or placing someone on a pedestal - I don't go there. No one is perfect and a pedestal is a very narrow platform from which there is only one direction to go - down.

SHL