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Respect.

Who is worthy of Respect of these options?

  • Total voters
    31
I believe all people are worthy of respect, even those who are rude and disrespect me. I do my best to respect everyone even when they treat me like garbage.
 
Whether or not someone is worthy of respect is a totally different concept from whether or not I would treat someone with respect.

I can't tell how worthy any of them are or are not of respect based on the information provided. I reject the false dichotomy that it is all or none.

However, I would treat all of them with respect until I had a personal reason not to do so.

Even then, it would be my own subjective assessment of how much respect they deserved, not an objective measure of how much they truly deserved (a potentially mythical concept).
 
digsbe said:
I believe all people are worthy of respect, even those who are rude and disrespect me. I do my best to respect everyone even when they treat me like garbage.
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Combating rudeness, and aggression with kindness is usually the best approach, even if it does take alot of self restraint.
 
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SE102 said:
There is the way 'respect' is used by the rest of the planet. And if you're being courteous and yet have no respect that is lying through your teeth. Possibly revise your usage of the word? You are from the midwest though, where theres 1 person every 5 miles I guess.
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You seem to be having trouble with the concept that I'm putting forward, so maybe an example will help. I'll use DP since it is a common frame of reference for us all.

Before today you'd never made much of an impression on me one way or the other, so you make a passable approximation of a random person off the street.

Before today I didn't respect you because I didn't know you. However I treated you courteously here on the forum. Even if I disagreed with you, I did it in a polite manner.

Now, on the other hand, you've shown me that you're a rude little pissant who insults people for no reason. Now that I have some measure of you as a person, I can determine that you are definitely not worthy of my respect.

Despite my disrespect for you, I would still treat you courteously if you treated me the same way. Since you haven't, I don't even feel the need to do that.

Get it now?
 
all of them, until they prove otherwise.
 
Everyone should be entitled to basic respect, unless and until they prove themselves to be unworthy of respect.
 
molten_dragon said:
wow, way to overreact there.

There's a difference between respect and courtesy. Even though I may not respect someone, I always try to treat them courteously. Clearly that's lost on you though.
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In the same way you seem to be arguing that posters are conflating the words "respect" and "courtesy," you could be construed as conflating the terms "respect" and "admiration." I would say admiration must be earned but respect should be the default.
 
Kal'Stang said:
How do you know that one of those people that I made up in the OP isn't a serial killer?
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Of course, I do not...
But, then, I'd argue that intolerance and disrespect create criminals..
in other words , being judgmental when the man is a complete unknown does not, IMO, work.....
After the serial killer nails me then he will lose the "basic" respect...
 
Krhazy said:
In the same way you seem to be arguing that posters are conflating the words "respect" and "courtesy," you could be construed as conflating the terms "respect" and "admiration." I would say admiration must be earned but respect should be the default.
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That's just an argument of semantics though. You can call the terms whatever you want, but there's a difference between the politeness with which you treat a stranger and the sort of respect you have for a friend.
 
Kal'Stang said:
Name: Amy Lynne Bower
Age: 35
Occupation: Hair Dresser
Race: Black

Name: Jose Chavez Gonzales
Age: 20
Occupation: College Student
Race: Hispanic

Name: Hun Lee
Age: 67
Occupation: Retired
Race: Asian

Name: John Smith
Age: 44
Occupation: None
Race: White

Name: Mohammed Ackbar
Age: 51
Occupation: Store Clerk
Race: Arab

Name: You insert someone you know.

This is all you know of these people. Do they deserve your respect?

There is no "other" option in the Poll because its a straight yes/no anwer. With the exception of the person that you know personally you either respect them all or you don't respect any of them.
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Respect is a religious obligation.
 
I treat everyone with respect, indiscriminately, until they show me that they don't warrant it.
 
Mickey Shane said:
You've got to show it to get it.

All strangers are respected by me until they prove otherwise.
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I'm not this way.

People have to earn my respect for them. I don't give it away by default. If I did, it would detract from the value of my respect.

However, I am polite to strangers. I try to be sympathetic to their needs and not rude to them. However, politeness is different from respect, and I don't think respect is something I can, nor should, give to a total stranger.
 
samsmart said:
I'm not this way.

People have to earn my respect for them. I don't give it away by default. If I did, it would detract from the value of my respect.

However, I am polite to strangers. I try to be sympathetic to their needs and not rude to them. However, politeness is different from respect, and I don't think respect is something I can, nor should, give to a total stranger.
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Precisely.
 
molten_dragon said:
You seem to be having trouble with the concept that I'm putting forward, so maybe an example will help. I'll use DP since it is a common frame of reference for us all.

Before today you'd never made much of an impression on me one way or the other, so you make a passable approximation of a random person off the street.

Before today I didn't respect you because I didn't know you. However I treated you courteously here on the forum. Even if I disagreed with you, I did it in a polite manner.

Now, on the other hand, you've shown me that you're a rude little pissant who insults people for no reason. Now that I have some measure of you as a person, I can determine that you are definitely not worthy of my respect.

Despite my disrespect for you, I would still treat you courteously if you treated me the same way. Since you haven't, I don't even feel the need to do that.

Get it now?
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This all started when you couldn't take a joke. Couldn't expect that from someone who doesn't know if you don't respect, you get wrecked.
:muffled giggles:
 
I generally respect everyone we wouldnt survive as people if we didnt think that way.
 
C.S. Lewis once pointed out that, next to the Eucharist, the Holiest object you were likely to run into was your neighbor. I would say that, for the Christian, disrespect for other individuals isn't really much of a legitimate option.


with the exception of car salesmen who do their own television commercials. i'm pretty sure there are special rules allowing everyone to hate those people.
 
I also come from the treat respectfully by default group. My [i[actual respect of them as a person[/i], however, must be earned... or lost.
 
cpwill said:
C.S. Lewis once pointed out that, next to the Eucharist, the Holiest object you were likely to run into was your neighbor. I would say that, for the Christian, disrespect for other individuals isn't really much of a legitimate option.


with the exception of car salesmen who do their own television commercials. i'm pretty sure there are special rules allowing everyone to hate those people.
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Awesome comment from CS Lewis.
 
I try to treat everyone with respect whether I feel they deserve it or not-- they either deserve it, or my behavior will encourage them to try harder.

I don't always succeed, but the thought is never far from my mind.
 
One thing I am noticing more and more as I get older is that respect is almost a currency. Those I respect, treat with kindness, dignity, etc are often the ones who will give me a helping hand when I need it. Almost always to my surprise. This seems more and more true for those on the lowest end of the totem pole (maybe they appreciate it more or something, I don't know)

Something similar but not directly related. Those at the lowest end of the totem pole often have interesting and unique practical talents as well.
 
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Kal'Stang said:
Name: Amy Lynne Bower
Age: 35
Occupation: Hair Dresser
Race: Black

Name: Jose Chavez Gonzales
Age: 20
Occupation: College Student
Race: Hispanic

Name: Hun Lee
Age: 67
Occupation: Retired
Race: Asian

Name: John Smith
Age: 44
Occupation: None
Race: White

Name: Mohammed Ackbar
Age: 51
Occupation: Store Clerk
Race: Arab

Name: You insert someone you know.

This is all you know of these people. Do they deserve your respect?

There is no "other" option in the Poll because its a straight yes/no anwer. With the exception of the person that you know personally you either respect them all or you don't respect any of them.
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I voted none of them. I do not know any of these people.
 
megaprogman said:
One thing I am noticing more and more as I get older is that respect is almost a currency. Those I respect, treat with kindness, dignity, etc are often the ones who will give me a helping hand when I need it. Almost always to my surprise. This seems more and more true for those on the lowest end of the totem pole (maybe they appreciate it more or something, I don't know)

Something similar but not directly related. Those at the lowest end of the totem pole often have interesting and unique practical talents as well.
Click to expand...

Respect costs me nothing, but is a priceless commodity in human interactions. I've worked with criminals and thugs for a living. Treating people with respect and dignity is something that is always to my advantage.
 
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