The idea has been brought up that we should respect our elders. One argument for this was a matter of upbringing, that it was taught you should respect your elders. This thread should be used as a place to discuss whether there is any merit in the idea that elders are deserving of respect simply because they are our elders.

I will start the discussion with a summary of my beliefs on the matter. I do not think anyone, elders or not, should automatically be deserving of a person's respect. I do think that we should be respectful, which means treating people with common courtesy and being polite, but does not mean that we should just concede, or give higher authority, to a person based on their age. Like all people of any makeup there are going to be elders who are wise, and those who are fools. So my opinion on the matter is that just because someone has "been around the block a few times" does not mean they are more qualified to give an opinion than anyone else.

Your thoughts on the topic are welcome, and encouraged

Respect should be earned, it's been said. And, to a certain degree this is true. But how do we feel about the elderly being shown respect, as a matter of course. Because of their age, Because of their experience in life, Because of the knowledge they can impart to us, or simply Because they are (for eample) our parents. Let's break this down into the four chatagories that I've listed:

Because of their age: It's true, that in some cases, it can be argued "There's no fool, like an old fool" As quoted by kano, in another post. There is some merit, in what he has said. I know one or two elderly people myself, that have some funny notions, on the road where I live. But let's not forget that those ideas, in their time, were sound ones to them and others of their age; though not strictly speaking, relevant in todays society, because of the change in trends and fashions. But does this prohibit us or give us the right to show a moderation or respect nontheless, I think not.

Because of their experience in life: We learn who and what we are, from those around us, the ones we call our 'Peers'. It just happens that these 'Peers', happen to be older that us. And knowledge is a good learning tool, that the young, and inexperienced don't have; but like to think they have. They learned that fire burns, for example, and they help us by pointing this out. You wouldn't let your children play with matches afterall, would you.

Because of the knowledge they can impart to us: not to be confused with the above. Our Teachers in school, weren't children our own age. They were adults, our elders, that taught us, and shaped us for our journey into the world as young adults. When we started or learned our first job, it was with the help of someone older than us, imprinting their knowledge on to us.

Because they are (for eample) our parents: When we got married, how many of us sort some much needed advice from our parents. And hopefully, that advice did us some good.....Our parents are the first people that we see, and recognise in life. They provide security and comfort, when we need it. For those that never know/knew their real parents, they will tell you. That the loss is beyond anything you can imagine. And the desire to find them, can often take over their lives. (I should perhaps emphasise, however, that there are exceptions to this, aswell.)

I used to believe that a person older is a person wiser... That's the generation I was brought up in...

I think it was right in part - simply because I was brought up - or conditioned - to believe that.. I remember when I was a teenager that if I wanted to get on in life I needed guidance...

Nowadays it's just got out of hand - I wouldn't class myself as an elder but do have grown-up children... Google has more respect than most parents...

The wierd thing is - I never saw that coming...!!

Respect has always been something that has to be earnt in my book - but common courteousy should still be instilled in everyone - manners included..

As far as opinions go - everybody's got one - regardless of age..

To state the ever present joke - why are opinions and ***holes so similiar..

I concur with everything Affinity said and couldn't have put it better my self.

I just narrow elders down to elders in my family....simple

I respect them ......because with out their personal struggle I would not be..................at all

so they deserve my respect

and I believe that's what that whole saying is about anyway

Dont think the youth of today have any respect for anyone or manners , if i spoke to anyone like teenagers speak to there elders today my mother would of give me a punch lol

Only yesterday i went to my local shop, as i was walking up towards the door a group of 5 kids ( 2 boys and 3 girls ) no older then 14 said to me " Mate can you go in the shop and buy me some smokes and some beer" My reply was no you are to young!! As i left the shop the 2 boys were walking behind me , as i got round the corner they walked infront of me and started mouthing and name calling.. i then grabs one of they by the throat and pinned him against a wall ( i should not of done that i know he was only about 13 ) but i let him go and they run off ,but when they are down the road they start shouting " we are gonna knife you next time we see you "............ the point of that story is no youths have respect!!!

You can't expect respect if you don't give respect....a lot of values have been lost which is very sad..where are the parents of these kids,probably pissed or drugged somewhere or they don't give a shit....that's my believe,some people should never have had kids. and the ones that do care are to busy working for their big houses and cars.

For me it is very simple. You treat everyone respectfully, whether you have like or dislike them you always conduct yourself in a respectful manner towards others. Being respectful towards someone and having respect for them are two entirely different things however.

Respect is something that is earned and doesn't automatically come with age or position. It is on you to understand what it means to have earned your right to respect.
A parent earned it the minute you were born, because you owe everything to them.
A teacher has earned it, because they have taken it upon themselves to share their knowledge with you and thereby enrich your life.
A Soldier/Veteran has earned your respect, no explanation needed.
Age is not a precursor to earning respect and has nothing to do with it. If you were and a$$h@le at 17 you don't automatically get to demand respect because now you're an ahole at 70.

My father told me, "Conduct yourself in a respectful manner, demand respect from others, but do it respectfully." Words to live by.

Thankyou, affinity. This is starting to get interesting.

There is a difference between politeness / civility and respect and I would suggest it is unwise to give blanket respect to just any group.

Respect is to be earned. Period.

In my opinion, most parents do not deserve respect. My parents beat me as a child. That does not deserve respect. Most parents punish their children as a form of behavior modification in order to make them fit in. I never fit in, nor do I fit in now. So much for their attempts at modifying my behavior. Very few parents teach their children anything anymore. They expect the propagandist school system to do it for them. Most people know nothing of manners or etiquette. If people spent time learning such things, they would find the reason why it is dying out. I had an experience about a year ago when I held open a door for an elderly woman. She was seventy-ish and hit me with her purse saying she was more than capable of getting the door for herself.

Very few teachers deserve respect because most of them are just cogs in the machine. They had great dreams of teaching the generations of tomorrow to find out their hands were tied once they got there. They just do as they are told even though they know the system is obsolete and does nothing to actually teach the students. I have had three teachers who went above and beyond when it came to teaching; they told us what we were learning was total BS and showed us the proof otherwise or gave us a slant that made sense instead of the joke of an explanation presented in the textbook. But most become disgruntled with the system and just show up and do a half-assed job to get a paycheck while just pushing the children through at all costs so they can excel in mediocracy.

Veterans do not deserve respect because most are mindless drones who do what they are told without question. This is a double-edged sword because it has proved to be very useful at times, but many, many soldiers used the excuse of "I was just following orders." Most would agree that defeating Hitler was a good thing, but I say that Vietnam was a massacre that the USA should never have entered. And the Korean War wasn't a war, it was a "police action." Now they declare war of concepts like drugs, AIDS, and terror. These things will never be eradicated; they are concepts, but people just do what they are told without a second thought.

Elders do not deserve respect because their opinion matters no more than anyone else's. Age does not denote wisdom or knowledge. Many old people are crotchety and cranky. Some are very nice, but you can tell someone to got to Hell with a smile.

As ABBANDON said, politeness and civility are different than respect. I will treat nearly everyone with civility and politeness, but I can count on both hands (as in ten or less) those I actually respect.

If you expect everyone to change their behavior in order to make you happy, you are sadly deluding yourself.

Respect must be earned, period, I dont think anyone, or group, etc, should be given respect automatically. I would advise that even after respect has been earned, that it is kept 50/50, once you go past the 50/50 mark in respect, you start to dabble in what is called trust.

Ha! No!
I'm a friendly person (No really) but if a teacher doesnt treat me with respect then im gonna shove his head....well you know where that leads to.
My rule is simple, If someone treats you with respect and dignity then do the same for them.
And i take that very far, if a teacher thinks just because he's older i will take crap from him, then he usually gets my mind on that...

If you expect respect, be the first one to give it.

But seriously i respect nobody that is older than me, they have to earn my respect. Its not like hey your older than me ill do whatever you say - screw th

Family is different, parents should get respect. Teacher think because they are teachers they can tell us to do anything. Buti dont do anything they say, not because i dont respect them, i just don't like teachers.

Also cops, well you kind have to respect them but there is no law saying i have to

Cops the world over, are used to having been given no respect, some of them deserve it.

nice topic indeed thanks Affinity

To treat someone with respect means to treat them with high regard, with honour. and for me respect is a pillar stones of my ethics.

respect should be given to everything, because everything has been created for a purpose, and it is that purpose we should respect.

and respecting the elders is a very important concept. We are always told that respect to elders is a good thing. One of the ways to respect

your elders is to greet them when you see them because they have had more time to do good than us, to respect our youngsters since they

have had less time to do evil than us, and the people of our own age because you do not know what sins they have committed, but we know our own sins.

+ the best ornaments of a community are its elderly people.

and i want to talk about Respecting our Neighbours! and this does not necessarily mean only those people living next door, but all the people in the area close

around us . We should have consideration towards our neighbours and try not to do things which will cause inconvenience to them. We should also help them

in all ways ( sacrificing time and if need be, helping them financially ) .

and there's also a respect towards a dead body! whether the one who died. and another respect for the disabled people We should treat them as equals.

and the respect of our teachers is as great as that of a parent. A person who teaches you is giving you something more valuable than any other wealth, because

knowledge is the greatest of all treasures. One should never insult a teacher!

in my view, i see that respecting family and especially our parents is the most important thing, they give life to us, especially the mother , if you know the pain she get

when the childbirth, you will kiss her hand everyday


I know my thoughts, my faith is soo deferent of yours! and what i said maybe is strange! but this is me

my fingers hurt me now

@ Laotzu : you're not the only one who is did beat by his parents! but they still parents. and imagine your self in that age without one of them!!!

how your life it will be ?

@ TerraPunks: "If you expect respect, be the first one to give it." well said here .

"i respect nobody that is older than me," LOL! what you think that you are ??? so! one day you will be without any respect !!!

peace,

i think everyone should respect there elders, and one thing to elders are more mature so they do no what should be done if someone says a smarta%% comment. I also think it works the other way to that elders should respect the young ones because it starts them one there way to being mature. I think if we so a good example it helps

It takes knowledge passed down from someone to hold another in reverence.

Other cultures seem to instill this "Respect for Elders" better than others.

It's often done in subtle ways at first, such as opening the door for your grandmother & saying "yes sir" "no sir" and the like...

Maybe this generation is a by-product of neglect, however there is always a pearl of wisdom locked in the shell of apathy.

The trick is finding those youths that are worth it, finding those that would carry the flame.

Treat others as you wish to be treated is always a decent motto & I think it works for this situation.

I'm old but still let those young Ladies on the Bus first.