Respect your elders

Not really. But possibly not the way you may think.

I'm of the view that virtually all people, no matter who or what they are, no matter what their standing or titles may be, are all peers with one another. I will respect people if they are respectful of others themselves - and to be fair, there are very few people I've met who aren't like that. Whether or not that person is in a position of authority, to me, that's immaterial. I respect people based on their merits as a human being, not because of any accolades they hold.

I'll respect elders, but not because they're elders. There are other, better reasons to respect people for.

 

This is how I know I'm getting older: I grumble about "kids these days" (like just a few years younger than me) often making incredibly stupid decisions that I made at the same age turning down my humble advice to not end up screwing up their own lives.

One particular kid-these-days I have a 100% success rate in giving good advice to, and 90% of the time after the fact he pouts and admits I was right. This latest mistake? It's not just wasting a semester picking a bad class or losing twenty bucks not waiting for a Steam sale I can smell coming in a few days, we're talking about him ruining a pivotal timeframe in his life that will ultimately derail his bright future and generally make his life start sucking really soon. I have a 100% success rate in giving good advice to him, and he knows it, because I've been there, but he denies my advice all along. Teenagers, I tell you.

Now onto a similar point as Eclipse, I don't think people should get authority or respect simply because of age, but rather that age is related to experience, and experience can be a qualifier for authority. I don't give you my respect because you're older than me, I give you my respect because you have more experience and knowledge than me. Age is just a number.

In summary: my respect is not simply given, it is earned.

 

How funny you should start a topic like that, for my sister Lugia told me to "Respect your elders," and to ultimately respect her, despite our one minute age difference (yes, she is older).

I would always respect those older than me, especially my teachers. Many young people I know these days do not show much respect to their parents or teachers than they deserve, but perhaps this is just a show of independence. Older people are perhaps more wiser and more experienced than younger people. Younger people, from what I know (before anybody makes a comment about me being offensive when I am not, I am not directing any offence), tend to try to be more... erm... popular, though I'm not sure this is the right word.

Regardless, I believe that it's not just older people who should be respected. Young people: kids, adolescents, even little children have a voice and based on experience, they probably more likely than not, want to be heard. Even when they have a 'silly' suggestion, it would be worth listening to kids and to allow them to grow more confident.

I basically show respect to everybody, and I do my best not to judge anybody. I have to say, though, that a majority of my respect goes to those who are older than me, because almost all of them are mature and respectable people.

 

This is basically me too. I always try to respect others and not judge people, but I simply cannot respect the other kids in my class who are constantly complaining about how everything sucks and there's too much homework blah blah blah. I'm known as one of the most polite people at my workplace, but I'm not polite to my teachers at all because I don't see them as superior, I see them as equal (I'm a teacher's pet yaay!)

 

I think I can say the same thing!

 

I'm usually by default nice and respectful of others unless they give me reason not to be ^^

 

I'll be honest, if I'm trying to learn something, I'll lend an ear. But I honestly don't care about how old someone is. I'll decide for myself if they deserve my respect. You shouldn't have to be complacent with someone because of their "wisdom," and if they're disrespecting you, what reason would you have to show them any respect?