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by Bull wears a COAT of many colours on November 3rd, 2009
False. Respect should be given to all. But, it can be un-earned very easily.
by Sir yhvhash on November 3rd, 2009
False, sorta.
There is a baseline level of respect that concience require us to have for everyone.
People can earn more respect or forfeit their respectability
by weatherman taking week or so off on November 3rd, 2009
Not for me. Respect is a given. Everyone in this world is deserving of my love and respect until/unless they prove otherwise.
by RosieGHM Jetpacker on November 3rd, 2009
True. But everyone is owed civility.
by NoWhereMan on November 3rd, 2009
A bit of both. Respect ( Or good manners) should be the start of the interaction. But a greater respect can manifest itself as time goes on.
by HoboJoe on November 3rd, 2009
True. I had to work two jobs before I earned the respect of credit card companies.
by The Anonymous Witch on November 3rd, 2009
giving respect is a by-product of receiving it .. and receiving it is a by-product of giving it. ;-)
by Gabstar on November 3rd, 2009
true
by Rufus_T_Firefly on November 3rd, 2009
In many cases, I think that's true. I tend to look at respect as a two-way street that starts and can eventually come to some kind of an end. I also can't help but make the obvious distinction between the words 'politeness' and 'respect'. Most generally, I will be polite to everyone that I meet and try to show everyone the same level of politeness and empathy. However, while I can be polite when necessary, I frequently find that I cannot automatically extend my respect to someone that I do not know or have never even heard of. After that first initial encounter, if the relationship is to continue, it is up to everyone involved in the relationship to act politely, amiably and positively in order to help broaden or develop the relationship and thereby earn, renew or increase any respect they might deserve.
by gondola on November 3rd, 2009
I give respect until it is lost. I like the give people a chance ahead of time.
by Takei-Shihan on November 3rd, 2009
False ... respect SHOULD be earned, but some people give it too freely and some people try to take it by force ...
by xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx on November 3rd, 2009
it is true if you respect me then in return i will respect you.
by DaniMac on November 3rd, 2009
False. Respect should be given to all people & creatures, but it's up to them to keep my respect.
by PrairieWind on November 3rd, 2009
Doesn't seem to be that way for our elected leaders.We are forced to smile at them.
by Jessicax23 on March 23rd, 2007
Depends on how you define "respect" - I use the word to describe different concepts in different contexts.
Respect as in "courtesy" - by default; can be squandered.
Respect as in "high esteem" - not by default; may be earned, can also be squandered.
by Millenium - The Mysterious M. . . GONE! on November 5th, 2009
Not in MY "biological" family! It was flat-out DEMANDED!
by Ailsa on November 4th, 2009
True, its just a shame alot of parents seem to fail to teach that to their children
by 1 month only on November 4th, 2009
Munchkin, I'm sorry, please don't leave, I really am sorry.
by 1 month only on November 4th, 2009
Munchkin, I love you. I'm sorry, I was just making an example of your questions. No harm intended.
by Factotum on November 4th, 2009
Hard to say without a solid definition of 'respect'. Do bullies 'earn' respect? Do Presidents or judges? Cops?
by Ubiquitous Name on November 3rd, 2009
True, I don't respect people unless they have earned it. :/
by JohnOBonno on November 3rd, 2009
False. Respect cannot be earned, bought, extorted or stolen. Respect is something which is given in response to being respectable, you can ask someone to respect you, you can tell them to, you can threaten them, but you cannot force it, nor can you earn it. Many people are respectable and yet disrespected. It will be given freely when it is given, that is the prerogative of the one who gives it.
by -Icy- on November 3rd, 2009
false --> i respect till it is lost +5 (i give the benefit)
by DukeG on November 3rd, 2009
Of course, but little punks try to demand it with a gun
by -Ben 10- on March 23rd, 2007
One must earn respect.If One is respected without any reason It must be because of fear.Respect must come from heart.
by mac1896 on March 23rd, 2007
When I was growing up I was taught to be polite to everyone, use the manners that I have learned, and to respect people, even if I didn't know them.
So, by virtue of Social grace, respect should be given, though unearned. Respect earned leads to admiration.
by Kevisaurus is a Carnotaurus today on March 23rd, 2007
Answerbag respects you by giving you 25 points off the bat for joining. More respect can be gained and on the flip side it can be lost. We are a neutral slate that receives positive and negative points based upon our actions. We are a cummulation of our actions and experiences on the planet.
by American idle on March 23rd, 2007
I respect everyone I meet, until they prove otherwise.
by MelindaWarren on March 23rd, 2007
Some people just demand respect. Not because of what they do but because of who they are. They just have a presence that you can’t help but respect. Other people have to earn it don’t know why they just do. I think you should always respect people and if they act in a way that is disrespectful, at lease you gave them a chance.
by johnboywalton34566 on February 23rd, 2010
Some of the answers already posted vary due to different interpretations of the question. My interpretation of the question does not relate to occupation or social standing or elected officials etc. I believe the question is being asked on a basic level. Addressing issues like respecting firemen or the president of the U.S.A only serves to complicate the answer and over-analyze the question.
A person should automatically be given respect with regard to the way we normally behave in this society when meeting a stranger (unfortunately, this type of respect can be skewed in many ways, much of it based on a person's appearance or the environment/neighborhood where you meet etc.). It is the respect we give to another human being without even knowing their personality or deeds. We give it to each other. We don't give that same respect to animals, dangerous machinery, guns etc. even though one can be said to respect nature, respect a machine which might amputate a finger if used improperly, respect a gun because if mishandled it may injure or kill you.
Respect to fellow humans is different from being respected for performance at work. Respect at work should come without regard to private personal differences such as what religion you follow. So a boss should respect you as a human being like when granting permission to go to the bathroom if you should work in that kind of environment. But a different respect is given based on your performance of your job. Here is where respect can be very subjective in that you may believe you deserve respect for a job well done but your boss doesn't give it to you. In that case, it doesn't mean necessarily that you don't deserve respect for those deeds, it just means your boss is an ass and wants more for his money than he deserves.
I agree with the responders who believe that respect should be freely given, sometimes expressed as "give them the benefit of the doubt". The respect can then lessen if we find later that a person's personality/behavior/ethics differ too much from our own.
I don't believe there can be any universally respected person. It seems to be similar to the concept of TRUST. I can trust you to do a good job washing my car but I can't necessarily trust you to babysit my children. Trust is something that is based upon circumstances and many other factors including competance. One cannot trust someone completely without reservation. It is not necessarily insulting, but in many cases simply a technical issue. I can't trust you to do a good job preparing my tax return because, even though you have never been fined and have done a good enough job on your own taxes, you have not been formaly educated so I prefer to have an accountant do it.
In closing, the phrase "you have to earn respect" is a fallacy, a myth and is terribly over-used. It can be used as a "catch all" to cover up the fact that some people simply don't respect others as they should. So they use this as a challenge or threat or as a way to make you feel undeserving and worthless. It also emphasizes their position of needing to be "above" you or to be perceived as being more important in general.
If you know in your heart of hearts that you deserve respect under a given set of circumstances, you need to stick to your guns. Seek out people who perceive that truth and distance your self, if possible, from people who don't.
by 1 month only on November 5th, 2009
Absolutely true, never trust anyone.
by xxxxxxxxxx on March 24th, 2007
i think that everyone has the right to be respected. but sometimes people lose that respect by their actions, and when that happens... they need to earn that respect back.
by Empress of Everything Ever on March 23rd, 2007
Well I have always beaed it on this: every one is entitled to a basic respect. When you meet someone and develop some kind of relationship the level of respect can go up or down based on experience with that person. Some people automatically get a little more basic respect than others because of their position in the community, ie, police, firemen, paramedics, doctors, business owners, teachers, people who have demonstrated by their actions and work that they may have earned a little more respect than basic. Some people you meet you find that you respect levels goes down for them and other it goes up. I find the more you ge to know someone the more respect you give them...
That is my experience and my opinion.
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Comments
Oh that is so true! Thx!
by bye friends health problems on November 4th, 2009