What Is Respect?

[D.A. Wright]

Does anyone know what "respect" means?

Or maybe a more meaningful question would be: Does anyone really care what it means anymore?

When I was a child in the '60s and' 70s, respect was something that was rendered to someone or something which possessed established honor or authority. It was not so much demanded as it was understood.

Today, it seems that respect is due to nearly anyone who insists that their opinions or wishes must be yielded to.

The English language (especially in N. America) seems to be changing faster than I can follow along.

It was this article (which I found in the SmartNews app):

I'm raising my child gender-neutral, and what I've learned is: It's not enough.

and this statement in particular:

"What I do know, however, is that my household is one with a foundation of respect."

which got me thinking along these lines (as I admittedly often do).

Thoughts? Comments?

(Please, oh please bear in mind that this thread is not intended to be a discussion about gender issues.)
-

 

[bèlla]

We are conflating accord with acceptance. As a believer, the absence of respect to another is a reflection of an unwillingness to recognize their humanity. Showing respect doesn’t diminish me. Nor imply I agree with their behavior or opinions.

But it does suggest my fear of the Lord and everything He made. Including them. If I’m lacking regard that’s an impetus for prayer on their behalf and my own.

Demonstrating respect for others is a reflection of the fruits of love and kindness. Loving our neighbor would include behaving respectfully and treating them the same.

 

[Halbhh]

Does anyone know what "respect" means?

Or maybe a more meaningful question would be: Does anyone really care what it means anymore?

When I was a child in the '60s and' 70s, respect was something that was rendered to someone or something which possessed established honor or authority. It was not so much demanded as it was understood.

Today, it seems that respect is due to nearly anyone who insists that their opinions or wishes must be yielded to.

The English language (especially in N. America) seems to be changing faster than I can follow along.

It was this article (which I found in the SmartNews app):

I'm raising my child gender-neutral, and what I've learned is: It's not enough.

and this statement in particular:

"What I do know, however, is that my household is one with a foundation of respect."

which got me thinking along these lines (as I admittedly often do).

Thoughts? Comments?

(Please, oh please bear in mind that this thread is not intended to be a discussion about gender issues.)
-

Beside the old definitions, there are 2 common usages today.

One is about our lives in the world with strangers, and the other is very different and about our lives together inside a family or close knit group.

The outward among strangers and acquaintances usage for 'respect' seems in recent times to mean 'respected as an authority on that subject' kinda meaning, lately. Someone is 'respected' because of their track record, their good work, and/or their knowledge.
(of course there are wrinkles possible to add to this for some groups of people)

In inside-family or close-knit group usages, the word 'respect' seems to mean usually something like positive regard and also treating the other person as you'd like to be treated.

These are the simple, ideal meanings of those 2 common modern usages as I've seen them.

So, for the instance you point out: "What I do know, however, is that my household is one with a foundation of respect."

That would most often or likely be the inside-family usage that is common (though sometimes people have their own unique flavor instead...), meaning just positive regard and treating the person as you'd want to be treated.

Apart from this simple general meaning though, individuals can pay attention to certain things in their own individual way (not like others), such as for instance a person may have an unusual attitude about being "on time" by which they mean something unusual like being a couple of minutes early, and if the other person isn't "on time" it somehow means something really serious (instead of merely accidental or trivial).

 

[zephcom]

Does anyone know what "respect" means?

Or maybe a more meaningful question would be: Does anyone really care what it means anymore?

When I was a child in the '60s and' 70s, respect was something that was rendered to someone or something which possessed established honor or authority. It was not so much demanded as it was understood.

Today, it seems that respect is due to nearly anyone who insists that their opinions or wishes must be yielded to.

The English language (especially in N. America) seems to be changing faster than I can follow along.

It was this article (which I found in the SmartNews app):

I'm raising my child gender-neutral, and what I've learned is: It's not enough.

and this statement in particular:

"What I do know, however, is that my household is one with a foundation of respect."

which got me thinking along these lines (as I admittedly often do).

Thoughts? Comments?

(Please, oh please bear in mind that this thread is not intended to be a discussion about gender issues.)
-

Respect is one of those English words which is difficult to pin down to a quantifiable singularity. When I was in the military, I was told that we should respect the rank regardless of the person holding the rank. There are those today who think along the same lines in regard to the presidency. I knew, however, that it was the person holding the rank who could get me killed and not the rank itself.

For me, respect is a measure of how much of my life would I be willing to put in the hands of another person. Respect can not be ordered. It can not be demanded. Respect has to be earned.

 

[brinny]

In general terms, it means a "regard" for.

 

[Dave-W]

 

[Dave-W]

When I was a small kid, there was a TV show on WGN (Chicago) that I saw from time to time. It was a talk show about city and state politics which did not interest me; but the title of the show and the quote displayed on the screen shaped my idea of fairness, respect, and free speech. The quote was attributed to Voltaire, statesman of the French Revolution.

“I may disagree with what you say, but will defend to the death Your right to say it.”​

The bolded phrase was the name of the show. Defending a person's rights, even when you disagree with them, is what respect is all about.

 

[creslaw]

Unfortunately, today, respect is often used to mean you must accept other people's behaviour. When two forms of behaviour clash, accusations of disrespect are thrown around.

In a statement issued Sept. 11, lawyers from the Alliance Defending Freedom said that Barronelle Stutzman’s case must be considered by SCOTUS for a second time. The Washington AG successfully argued the right of a homosexual man to purchase floral arrangements from Stutzman for his wedding prevailed over her right to religious freedom to live according to the convictions of her faith.

It seems that respecting others, just to live and let live, has been replaced by a situation in which there must be winners and losers.