Respect is a two way street
By megamatt
@megamatt (14291)
United States
October 5, 2011 9:23am CST
Do you ever get the feeling even if you respect someone, they don't offer the same courtesy? It does really make you sometimes see them in a slightly different light. Sadly, there are more people leading these days through fear and power, as opposed to respect. That leads to a rather strained environment and if something causes them hardship, they really have no one to blame but themselves due to the lack of respect. Respect is something that needs to be earned, but it is hard to respect a person who doesn't respect others.
10 responses
@huilichan8 (1378)
• Singapore
6 Oct 11
I agree with you!:) I think many people don't realise that respect has to be earned.
@megamatt (14291)
• United States
7 Oct 11
Too true, respect needs to be earned. Its not really something that is really automatically assumed due to the position of power that people do have as well. There are just many people who really think that they can get that respect handed to them right on a silver platter. Which is a wrong assumption to make. Thanks for responding. Its appreciated. Have a nice day.
@huilichan8 (1378)
• Singapore
8 Oct 11
Yup...many people expect to be shown respect automatically becos of their positions, etc, and that's wrong.
You're most welcome and hv a gd wkend.:)
@april_dawn (35)
• Philippines
8 Oct 11
I also agree..Respect should really be earned.If you want to be respected then I think you should first know how to respect yourself then after that know how to give respect to other people..There's no harm if we should just try it..=D
@sanofer (525)
• India
6 Oct 11
well said.if we dont respect others,we should expect others to respect us.respect is a two way communication.they may gain respect though weapons like power or anger.but people will not like that person who dont respect others and ultimately that person will be a loser in life.
@megamatt (14291)
• United States
7 Oct 11
Power might intimidate those for a little bit. However, when it comes a time where people lose that blanket of power. Thus there is a chance that they come groveling to the people that they previously stepped on and then they realize the error of their ways. The fall from power is a rather harsh one for many, who don't show respect to other people. Thanks for responding. Its appreciated. Have a nice day.
@picjim (3002)
• India
6 Oct 11
Your discussion is very much to the point when you say people are imposing their power on others by virtue of their position.One has to respect the other before we expect the other to reciprocate.I. agree with you we have to do deeds which get the respect of others instead of automatically expecting others to respect us.Others who do not as a matter of courtesy give us respect when we respect them do not deserve respect.Hope you have a great day.
@megamatt (14291)
• United States
7 Oct 11
Indeed there are a lot of times where people in a position of power can earn their respect. They are in a position to do so. They just really choose not to. It is really something that is extremely frustrating when they take the chance to make a difference and squander it. They have the power, they are the people who rule the common people. It is kind of disturbing when you think about it. People expect respect because of who they are and that's not a good thing. Thanks for responding. Its appreciated. Have a nice day.
@SIMPLYD (90721)
• Philippines
6 Oct 11
I totally agree with you. 
How can you respect a person , if he himself cannot command respect, because of the bad way he deals with people. If you like to be respected, then start doing so to others.
How can you respect a person , if he himself cannot command respect, because of the bad way he deals with people. If you like to be respected, then start doing so to others. @megamatt (14291)
• United States
7 Oct 11
It is really good to set a good example for others. Even if the example is something that is lost among many people. Still there are many times where you really have to be the better person. There are going to be a lot of times out there where its not going to be easy but it could open the doors to something that is going to be rather great. Thanks for responding. Its appreciated. Have a nice day.
@HeartROB (434)
• Philippines
6 Oct 11
You are absolutely right, it is hard to respect people who don't respect other people. Those kind of people did not deserve to be respected. But, if we do that we are no different than them. And so, just give respect even to those kind of people. They will just realize it somehow that what they are doing are not really good. Everyone deserves a respect. Have a good day my friend.
@megamatt (14291)
• United States
7 Oct 11
That really is a frustrating thing to say the least. We really are not any better than them if we don't respect them. Yet, it does make it rather difficult to respect someone who doesn't respect others. It is a rather nasty cycle in life and thus respect is something that should be given to set the example. Even if said example is lost to some people. Thanks for responding. Its appreciated. Have a nice day.
@jammyPaul (101)
• Taiwan
6 Oct 11
If you respect someone and someone did not pay you the same, it would not be called respect rather tolerance. Because you just bear other people's bad temper and let them belittle you. It is not right to respect those guys. They have to be taught one thing- the respect needs to be earned. They are not free. If they want your respect, they have to show you that they are deserved to be respect. It fits everyone even the guy with huge fame. Why hero should be respect by you ? Because he does the thing that no body can do? Or he respects everyone? I think most of heroes have latter features. They would not belittle anyone who talks to him or her. That is why makes them great.
@megamatt (14291)
• United States
7 Oct 11
You made some rather good points. Some people tend to really think that a position of power also is mistaken by someone who should command respect. Whether it should rather be earned by what is done with the power(or rather the responsibility) of such a position. And do not belittle people, even if you could have a rather sound argument that they do deserve it. Thanks for responding. Its appreciated. Have a nice day.
@obe212003 (2299)
• Philippines
5 Oct 11
i definitely agree that respect needs to be earned, and one needs to try consistently to do things worthy of admiration and emulation. i give due respect to those who really knows how to be considerate of what others think and do, although i think it should begin with learning to respect yourself first.
@megamatt (14291)
• United States
5 Oct 11
Learning how to respect yourself, that is a rather admirable thing to know. And when you really think about it, a lot of the problems do really has to do with a lack of self respect. It can really trickle down into other problems regarding any form of respect. Still respect is earned and really a lot of people don't take the effort to earn it, rather commanding such a thing. Thanks for responding. Its appreciated. Have a nice day.
@hardworkinggurl (37063)
• United States
5 Oct 11
I give as much as I expect and I don't accept what I am not equally given back. I understand that no two people are the same for which I can also respect. However if there is no merit to the disrespect then I opt to distance myself.
I realize I cannot live in the perfect world, however I don't intentionally disrupt my world. Therefore I can totally respect others for their differences in opinions so as long as they too agree that we can agree to disagree. There is no point with intentionally torturing myself as although I can be respectfully spoken to, to see if there perhaps might be a chance to get me to see their views differently, but anyone who thinks it is okay to ram their views my way will not get me to stoop to their level.
@megamatt (14291)
• United States
5 Oct 11
That really is a key thing. The world is far from perfect. I think that if we got along about half of the time, it would be far better, and even more would be a lot of times. There are going to be a lot of people that we're not going to agree with. Which really does make the world both interesting and frustrating at the same exact time. And all things equal, sadly is not an assumption. Thanks for responding. Its appreciated. Have a nice day.
@igatiful_badass (1222)
• Philippines
6 Oct 11
a for this post.
I totally agree with this. There are really so hard to respect when this person doesn't know how to respect him/herself and to others.
The respect must come within our self. Just hope that they would understand what the real meaning of RESPECT.
for this post.
I totally agree with this. There are really so hard to respect when this person doesn't know how to respect him/herself and to others.
The respect must come within our self. Just hope that they would understand what the real meaning of RESPECT.@megamatt (14291)
• United States
7 Oct 11
The easiest way to get respect is within ourselves. Which is a hurdle that many people cannot pass said to say the very least. They cannot fully respect others unless they have self respect. It is really an unfortunate thing that many people do not. Thus they don't have a full grasp of what respect truly is. Thanks for responding. Its appreciated. Have a nice day.
@tpisces (66)
• United States
5 Oct 11
Respect needs to be earned in so many ways. If you don't have respect for yourself how do you expect someone to have respect for you. When it comes to respect many people may not realize it & thats when you should put your foot down to let them know & it comes across that you have to explain yourself more just to get your point across so they can fully understand you. What respect means to them may be totally different.
@megamatt (14291)
• United States
7 Oct 11
Indeed respect does come in many forms. And you ask a few different people what respect means to them, you'll likely to get some varying responses. Still it is something that really does vary from person to person to say the very least. And it is one of the hardest things in the world to earn, right up there with trust and it can get lost in an instant, much like trust. Thanks for your response. Its appreciated. Have a nice day.
