Respect.

[TheMinz]

The problem with someone saying "They have to earn my respect" is that you have to watch them to the 'respectful' things. However, if you in the military and you see an officer, you don't question whether they have earned your respect, you give them respect because even if you didn't see them graduate their officer training, they have done it and have achieved a position worthy of respect. So yes, they earn the respect, but even if you have only known them for 5 seconds, they still receive the respect they would have earned had you watched them complete years of training.

 

[jhlip]

I respect those that respect me. Simple as that.

You can be a teacher, my parent, someone elses parent, the president of the united states.

Dosen't mean i'll respect someone because there older or have a "Mr" in there name.

I completely agree with that. I have gotten trouble for this when I was younger, but I didn't care because I will not be talked down to just because you have a few years on me.

 

[The Gnome King]

You don't respect the President? What about your principle or dean?

Personally, I think the "they need to earn it, *****" approach to respect is absolutely stupid. If Gordon Freeman himself approached you, holding in his hand a crowbar dripping with headcrab blood, you would respect THE SHIT out of him. And don't claim otherwise.

I think you're confusing "respect" with "fear" - or maybe "common sense"

To answer the original poster, people have to earn my respect. I don't grant it easily. I have... issues... with authority.

 

[Still Life]

I don't give respect to people due to their class or their position. They need to earn it.

You do realise that works both ways, right?

Good luck trying to attain upward social mobility, friend.

 

[Fenrir Strife]

Everyone gets a baseline. No respect, no disrespect.

After that, your actions define the respect I give you. This includes such past actions as I am aware of. As such, a president, of any country, is afforded a little more respect, unlesss their actions while in term cause me to believe otherwise.

 

[Will of One]

I try to live by the principle that people deserve respect until they prove otherwise. Of course I will respect some people more than others, but it seems to work.

 

[Grimbold]

I respect people who are more intelligent or skilled or visibly stronger and more intimidating than me.
Wealth and power do not earn my respect. When I was a child I poked out my tongue at the mayor. And the black guy of the three wise men. And at tourists. I guess I was a natural racist back then.

 

[Arrogancy]

This question is a little too vaguely worded. "Respect" in a general context can be applied to just about everyone. I give most people a fair modicum of respect, but there are people I respect far more for different reasons. To get basic respect from me you don't need to do anything, other than not be a total ass, but you need to earn more of my respect from there.

 

[KingofallCosmos]

I do hate it when people are using the word respect in the opposite way, like when they call you buddy and start shouting the word in your face. Seems to me a lot of people demand respect instead of giving it. Like when you take right of way instead of getting it, like you're supposed to.

 

[Lucifron]

What makes you respect someone? That's the question. Simple as that.

Personally, they need to earn it. I don't give respect to people due to their class or their position. They need to earn it.

This.

As for this:

You don't respect the President? What about your principle or dean?

Personally, I think the "they need to earn it, *****" approach to respect is absolutely stupid. If Gordon Freeman himself approached you, holding in his hand a crowbar dripping with headcrab blood, you would respect THE SHIT out of him. And don't claim otherwise.

1. Respect =! Politeness[footnote]As per definition #3 on this [http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/respect] page. Definition #4 overlaps with politeness, but I don't believe it to be the kind of respect we are discussing here.[/footnote]

2. You could perhaps go as far as to say that the person who has been given the responsibility to command of the most powerful nation on Earth by said nation's citizens or someone who has kicked the ass of an interdimensional empire may have earned a shred of respect.

 

[Brainpalm]

I respect those who deserve it. By that I mean people who have shown me (whether directly or indirectly) they are a good person, and kind etc. I despise people who demand respect because they think they are better than you, and will not respect them, as they are childish, arrogant twats. I don't respect authority figures (principles, prime ministers, presidents, etc) but I do respect that they have authority. Most authority figures are bastards anyway.

 

[Burck]

For me, respect is given to those who show compassion and aren't fake all the time. I don't mind people acting every now and then, but it gets really frustrating when I don't know the real personality of the person I'm talking, hanging out with, or otherwise associated with.

These are people I consider good human beings.

 

[Floppertje]

2. You could perhaps go as far as to say that the person who has been given the responsibility to command of the most powerful nation on Earth by said nation's citizens or someone who has kicked the ass of an interdimensional empire may have earned a shred of respect.

oh really? I can think of some prominent political figures who I don't respect in the slightest... your theory would fly only if elections weren't a massive popularity contest and the voters weren't idiots.
My approach is that when I meet someone I'm supposed to respect (the president, old people, etc.) I give them the benefit of the doubt and will respect them initially (i.e. be polite) but that can easily turn around. I absolutely hate it when people demand respect from me with no reason, especially when it's old people. sorry, but I don't think being old is proof of any kind of accomplishment (except being lucky enough to not have died in a car accident yet)

 

[Iwana Humpalot]

If he does something awesome for me or if the person has alot of power but doesn't abuse it.

 

[Lucifron]

2. You could perhaps go as far as to say that the person who has been given the responsibility to command of the most powerful nation on Earth by said nation's citizens or someone who has kicked the ass of an interdimensional empire may have earned a shred of respect.

oh really? I can think of some prominent political figures who I don't respect in the slightest... your theory would fly only if elections weren't a massive popularity contest and the voters weren't idiots.
My approach is that when I meet someone I'm supposed to respect (the president, old people, etc.) I give them the benefit of the doubt and will respect them initially (i.e. be polite) but that can easily turn around. I absolutely hate it when people demand respect from me with no reason, especially when it's old people. sorry, but I don't think being old is proof of any kind of accomplishment (except being lucky enough to not have died in a car accident yet)

I definitely agree with what you say about old people. I tend to be more polite and more eager to listen to old people than... other, less old people, but I can't say that I believe staying alive long enough for your skin to have wrinkled is enough cause for respect on its own.

Receiving the trust of the better part of 300 million people and commanding the most powerful nation known in the history of our species on the other hand, does count for something in my book. Call me a traditionalist, I guess.

 

[bdcjacko]

I agree with the OP, if you haven't personally done something for me, I will not respect you, ever. Upon meeting me, you must go through a series of test before I begrudgingly give you respect (/sarcasm)

No, I give everyone respect until they have done something to lose it.

 

[Sexual Harassment Panda]

Respect is automatic until something has been done to change that.

Anyone who thinks they matter immediately goes down in my estimation, if you can't look beyond yourself...we probably won't get along.

 

[Riff Moonraker]

What makes you respect someone? That's the question. Simple as that.

Personally, they need to earn it. I don't give respect to people due to their class or their position. They need to earn it.

Well, you've pretty much answered the question. I feel the same as you about it. How they earn it can obviously vary, but the bottom line is respect is earned. Period.