Hey ya'll, I doing something for school, and it involves taking a survey type thing on different people's points of view on respect. So it is sort of like an opinion thing, and hey, it could be made into a short discussion so... What are ya'lls defintions of respect (in your own words)? Mine is...

Respect is giving another the treament they deserve. Being polite, and being respectful are two totally different things...

I think respect is take someone the way he/she is. I can't allways respect someone, cause Smart-asses just are smart-asses, they can't do anything 'bout it. Still..I think it ar jackasses :\. Or peoples who are so lazy (and most of the time fat too, no offend too fatties) they begin to cry and shout and stuff when they have to run a few miles. I have a boy in our class who is both ( smart-ass, fat and lazy) so I don't have respect for him, sorry :\.

Whoa, now a lotta people think I'm a cruel, focked up guy, I think

hmm...well... that's the way it is... respect it...or not...:P

In my school, there are plenty of people who curse and bad mouth their parents, and I think its rude. They feed you, school you, give you a home and as much as they can, and you go off and talk like they are an ass because of something they didnt get you. That is just plain rude.

I know someone who used to call his mom at school just to yell and curse at her, and that wasnt cool in my opinon. I got pissed off and told him off. Luckyl he moved away because I couldnt take it anymore. I think the people you should most respect are your parents and elders in your family. But many of the new generations dont care and do drugs and crap. Dissrespect to the worst.

I don't know anyone who is 13 and under and does drugs.

Personally, I feel that politeness and respect go hand in hand. I'm expected to be respectful towards the elderly (because of my culture), and I mainly deal with that by acting polite (which gives off the impression of being respectful), no matter what I may actually think or feel about them.

I don't know anyone who is 13 and under and does drugs.

Because you dont live in Oregon. You can move to the most populated city in Oregon in a try to excape from the Meth use, and come to my town. We have 50% more Meth users in our village then our states biggest city <_< I know pleanty in my grade and even class that use drugs.

Interesting question. I never realised how hard it is to define "respect".


Respect is giving another the treament they deserve. Being polite, and being respectful are two totally different things...

Disagree with the former, agree with the latter.

"Giving another the treatment they deserve" would suggest that you know which treatment they deserve and that said knowledge is independent of what said people think they deserve. Which makes you, basically, superior to other people. Which is the antithesis of respect.

I think that to respect someone is to show consideration for the other one's reasons, motivations, feelings etc. even if you disagree with them, hate them, or simply don't care about them.

Respect is not the same thing as politeness; but very often politeness can be seen as an expression of respect. But, because of this, politeness can be used to mask lack of respect. On the other hand, lack of politeness does not indicate a lack of respect.

For example, you may respect your elders, but if they make demands upon you that you think you cannot face, you may feel the need to speak up to them. This may be considered impolite, and in consequence disrespectful. But you may be acting out of the feeling, that, if this behaviour towards you goes on, and you keep up a mask of politeness, your respect for the elders may dwindle and disappear by attrition.

If you're uncapable of respect in general, you're a sciopath. If you don't respect certain people you may be arrogant, you may be an ego-maniac, you may have a "special" history with them, you my be judgemental... Though it may be understandable, lack of respect is never a condition to be desired, IMO.

In my school, there are plenty of people who curse and bad mouth their parents, and I think its rude. They feed you, school you, give you a home and as much as they can, and you go off and talk like they are an ass because of something they didnt get you. That is just plain rude.


I have to agree with you, it disgusts me, especially when spoild little kids complain that they hate their parents for the stupidest reason (zomg my mom won't get me like the new iPod, my other one isn't color like the new one, I hate my mom so much)

alright but that's over the top a bit but I think you get the point. (even though that does happen)

even though I'm in high school, there's a lot of immature people drive me nuts over things like this. (maybe it's because I go to a partly yuppie rich kid catholic school)

in the end, respect should be given to those who deserve it, elders, parents (of course) your peers that aren't like "yooo I like told mai mom off last night for not giving me money to do sehiiit" **shudders**

Interesting question. I never realised how hard it is to define "respect".



Disagree with the former, agree with the latter.

"Giving another the treatment they deserve" would suggest that you know which treatment they deserve and that said knowledge is independent of what said people think they deserve. Which makes you, basically, superior to other people. Which is the antithesis of respect.

I think that to respect someone is to show consideration for the other one's reasons, motivations, feelings etc. even if you disagree with them, hate them, or simply don't care about them.

Respect is not the same thing as politeness; but very often politeness can be seen as an expression of respect. But, because of this, politeness can be used to mask lack of respect. On the other hand, lack of politeness does not indicate a lack of respect.

For example, you may respect your elders, but if they make demands upon you that you think you cannot face, you may feel the need to speak up to them. This may be considered impolite, and in consequence disrespectful. But you may be acting out of the feeling, that, if this behaviour towards you goes on, and you keep up a mask of politeness, your respect for the elders may dwindle and disappear by attrition.

If you're uncapable of respect in general, you're a sciopath. If you don't respect certain people you may be arrogant, you may be an ego-maniac, you may have a "special" history with them, you my be judgemental... Though it may be understandable, lack of respect is never a condition to be desired, IMO.

Eeeh, the wasn't exactly what I meant. Take example, a guilty, murder. I don't repect him at all, I don't think he deserves a second chance. But just because I don't respect him, doesn't mean that I shouldn't be polite. I respect very few people, but I am very polite to the majority of people. When I said respect and being polite are two different things, I meant it in a way like, Respect is something that comes from your heart, being polite comes from common sence. (But being polite isn't common sence to some people out there, but I think you get what I mean.

When I said "the treament they deserve" I didn't mean it in a way that I am judging them. But, let my definition be what I said in the first paragraph. Being respectful comes from the heart, being polite comes from kindess.

Respect is treatment towards another as if they are on your level or beyond. Being nice or null, either way, you try your best not to offend the person. Sometimes it's only given to those who earned it, and other times its an expectation that others ,for some apparent reason, are entitled to.

Being respectful comes from the heart, being polite comes from kindess.

I think you're onto something there, but I don't think politeness necessarily comes from kindness (though it often does).

Perhaps if I rephrase it like this?

Politeness is a way to behave (an attribute of behaviour).

Respect is an attitude.

Therefore, it is possible to express respect through politeness. But lack of politeness does not necessarily indicate lack of respect, and there are other ways to indicate respect, than to be polite.

***

I think respect has something to do with considering the other a subject instead of as an object; i.e. taking his/her desires & fears, pleasure & pain in account when "planning" your own actions.

Interestingly, we also use the word "respect" with regards to abstract qualities such as laws, life, authority... Perhaps, respect is about recognising/admitting the value of a person/thing/idea, even if it holds no value for yourself (or, if you actually hate him/her/it).

:think:

Hmmm, well I think either I am taking respect way too deep, or people are taking it too lightly. I myself don't think that just because your being nice to someone means you respect them. Of course, we all respect each other as human beings, but hell, I could go on for ever on what we respect each other as. I think respect is something that you give not because you get something back, but because you WANT to be nice to someone. I am polite to the majority of people, and hell I don't want to be polite to them, but I have to or else I'll get in trouble with the teachers. But respecting someone, I think you have to want to do, not be forced.

I myself don't think that just because your being nice to someone means you respect them.

I agree. But, also, I think you can do nasty things to someone and still have respect. Hell, you can hate their guts and still respect them. Think of the "I want enemies I can respect" cliché, for example. If you hate someone and are nice to him/her, suggesting you like them, this is not showing respect... I think.


Of course, we all respect each other as human beings, but hell, I could go on for ever on what we respect each other as.

Do we? Does respect for the humanity of a person come in degrees? Can people lose that respect by their actions (your murderer example)?


I think respect is something that you give not because you get something back, but because you WANT to be nice to someone.

Where's the difference between "respecting someone" and "liking someone", then? If you respect someone the way s/he is you do not want to change him/her. If you like someone the way s/he is, you also do not want to change him/her.

Of course, it's even more complicated, because you can like and respect them at the same time. And, I'd argue, you can respect people you don't actually like.

I'd also suggest that it's liking them that makes you want to be nice to them, not respecting them. But, then, what is respect?

Interesting topic (and you can tell me to shut up, if I take the word apart too much. ;) )

Personally, I feel that politeness and respect go hand in hand. I'm expected to be respectful towards the elderly (because of my culture), and I mainly deal with that by acting polite (which gives off the impression of being respectful), no matter what I may actually think or feel about them.

respecting someone and acting as if you respect someone are quite different things, really.

Because you dont live in Oregon. You can move to the most populated city in Oregon in a try to excape from the Meth use, and come to my town. We have 50% more Meth users in our village then our states biggest city <_< I know pleanty in my grade and even class that use drugs.

*sigh* the drug use were i live has gotten so bad, im supried that a teacher hasn't tried to sell me drugs. :sigh:

anyways i think that respect is when you truely think about others feelings and not just yours.

respecting someone and acting as if you respect someone are quite different things, really.

Yeah . . I think the following quote expresses my views more clearly, since I had a hard time figuring out what I originally wanted to say.


Respect is not the same thing as politeness; but very often politeness can be seen as an expression of respect. But, because of this, politeness can be used to mask lack of respect. On the other hand, lack of politeness does not indicate a lack of respect.

For example, you may respect your elders, but if they make demands upon you that you think you cannot face, you may feel the need to speak up to them. This may be considered impolite, and in consequence disrespectful. But you may be acting out of the feeling, that, if this behaviour towards you goes on, and you keep up a mask of politeness, your respect for the elders may dwindle and disappear by attrition.

respect is usually given when someone is better than you at something though this can change if you take it in respect with the all-round ability of the person. But with regards to what respect is, respect is just an acceptance of someone, someone's ability, or someone's opinion.

Respect is something that has to be earned. Politeness and respect are two totally different things in my opinion.

Example: there is a teacher at school who is a total prat. however, you jump through any hoops, get on with work and work your best for them. this is being polite, because the teacher is in a position of authority and there are consequences for not being polite. Basically, i think politeness is definetely something you can force.

However respect is something you can't. Whatever you do to please this teacher, however polite you are, he/she will always be, in your opinion, a prat.

Respect is what people say you should have for elders, people in authority and family, however i dont thing age/position or the label "mum" or "uncle" or whatever really counts for anything at all in the grand scheme of things; i think it's earned by what people do rather than what they are.