Disrespecting you elders.

[SigmaSD]

My inspiration from this thread came from this which I wrote a couple of mins ago.

So, is it ever alright to disrespect your elders? If so, when and why? How would you do it?

Or does being older not have anything to do with it. Discuss.

[Uncanny X-Man]

I don't know if this will come out as a totally dumb statement but i am going to give my input in this anyway.

I really don't live by the "respect your elder" thing, being older should cause people to respect you more just because you are older than them, people should just respect others in general.

I have no idea if I made any kind of sense with this, but I gave my 2 cents in on the matter, so I'm happy now

[Gjallarhorn]

Respect is earned, not inherent.

[SigmaSD]

I don't know if this will come out as a totally dumb statement but i am going to give my input in this anyway.

I really don't live by the "respect your elder" thing. Being older should not cause people to respect you more. People should just respect others in general.

I have no idea if I made any kind of sense with this, but I gave my 2 cents in on the matter, so I'm happy now

It sounds confusing, but I think this is what you were trying to say.

@Gjallarhorn: I like that phrase.

The reason I bring this up is because my family lives by the whole "be respectful of your elders" blah blah stuff. So they could treat you like garbage, but you still have to be respectful.

[Miss Moonlight]

I also believe respect is earned. Usually parents/elders traditionally think you should respect them just for them being older than you -- and if they respect you, you should respect them, but if they don't, and still think they somehow deserve respect when they don't give it, then I say screw that.

[Anime Forum]

As others have said. Respect is earned. Just because someone is older then me, doesn't automatically mean I should have respect for the person! Let's say.... for just an example.

What if my friends' mother is a total nut job. I just don't think I could have respect for her. And trust me. If you knew her, you'd side with me.

[Uncanny X-Man]

It sounds confusing, but I think this is what you were trying to say.

Yeah never been good at explaining myself :P

[~*Red*~]

As others have said. Respect is earned. Just because someone is older then me, doesn't automatically mean I should have respect for the person! Let's say.... for just an example.

What if my friends' mother is a total nut job. I just don't think I could have respect for her. And trust me. If you knew her, you'd side with me.

I agree with you on that LP. Respect is earned, not given. And yeah, I've disrespected my elders a couple of times to be honest.

[.Sev]

There's a difference between acting polite towards someone (What most people think of when they say to respect someone) and genuine respect. So I would say respect is earned, not given.

[Izzy Stizzlebonk]

I'm a little old school mixed with a little new school. Will explain in a minute.

Old school: I've always been taught to respect your elders. And I'd like to believe that I practice my lessons well. For one thing, most of my elders are/were very wise and kind.

New school: That being said, there are exceptions.

First exception: Elders are not all old people. To me, an elder is someone who I feel is wise and gracious. Like Confucius. If he was alive, I would consider him an elder. My gramma, I would consider her an elder. Sometimes, there are old people who just don't know any better, and I would not consider them an elder.

Second exception: Sigma's situation. After reading his post, that is definitely an exception. Getting punched in the eye is like crossing ten lines. A definite no-no and a definite exception to the rule. And to make matters worse, being punched in the eye from a family member. That's another ten lines crossed.

Third exception: Getting mistakenly punched incorrectly (aka "I got set up") is like... beyond the threshold of line crossing.

Simply put, Respect your elders. But understand there are exceptions. And not all old people are elders.

All seriousness aside, I suppose it is too late to see if I can get some free fish tacos?

[SigmaSD]

All seriousness aside, I suppose it is too late to see if I can get some free fish tacos?

There is no such thing as fish tacos where I comes from. Who do you think we are, Taco Bell? lol

And I like your post; full of great description on what you mean.

[Finale]

Elders are still people so if they disrespect you then you may as well disrespect them.

[Lord]

I also believe respect is earned. Usually parents/elders traditionally think you should respect them just for them being older than you -- and if they respect you, you should respect them, but if they don't, and still think they somehow deserve respect when they don't give it, then I say screw that.

You are totally wrong there, the parents traditionally think you should respect them because they are your parents.


OT: You shall earn respect.

[Skylar1]

You are totally wrong there

, the parents traditionally think you should respect them because they are your parents.


OT: You shall earn respect.

.. isn't that excatly what moony said? o_O

[miniPhil]

Why are you all talking about respect should be earned? The OP asks whether its ok to disrespect your elders and to me disrespecting isn't the same as not respecting. Disrespecting implies going out of ones way to do harm or insult someone. To answer that question I have to say no its never ok. If someone is bugging you ignore em, they're like trolls and zoo animals. You should never feed em.
In regards to your particular situation Sigma I'd say you acted like any human would in the heat of the moment. I'd say explain exactly what happened to your family and if they still won't accept it then thats their problem.

[Lord]

.. isn't that excatly what moony said? o_O

She said "I also believe respect is earned. Usually parents/elders traditionally think you should respect them just for them being older than you"

Notice the sentence where she said "Respect them just for them being older than you"
That is actually not the same thing as being a parent.




MiniPhil: Why everybody is talking about respect that should be earned? Because we posted our oppinion, there is nothing wrong with that.

[Aku no Hikari]

Well, parents should indeed learn how to earn their respect.

It's not only a matter of whether or not the children respect them. If parents don't show good examples to children on how respect is earned, the children will not learn how to earn their respect inside or outside of home.

It's just impossible to get your children to truly respect you if you don't respect them.

[Cobra Commander]

I disrespect my elders when they disrespect me. I haven't had much of this in my life though. I try to treat people with courtesy and honesty, and I expect the same in return. It's people in my own age bracket that can't seem to respond in kind, not the older folks.