1. This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Learn More.

Do We Overuse The Word Respect?

Discussion in 'Chit Chat' started by ZenMusic, Jan 11, 2015.

  1. ZenMusic

    Regular Member

    Joined:
    Jul 28, 2013
    Messages:
    1,015
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Middelsbrough, United Kingdom
    Gender:
    Male
    If to have respect for something is to admire it, then why do we say "I respect your opinion?" I could respect someone saying I believe there is a God, but I could not respect someone saying " I believe black people should be burnt at the stake." It's not so much respecting someone's opinion as it is tolerating it for the sake of argument. I can't respect a world view in which people are treated as subhuman because of someone's personal opinion, so is there a more appropriate term we could use?
     
  2. MotelGuy

    MotelGuy Guest

    Joined:
    Jan 1, 2015
    Messages:
    0
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Tijuana
    Gender:
    Male
    Sexual Orientation:
    Gay
    I think it's overused by people who want to be overly nice...Every girl that I've told that I'm Gay, always say "I respect your decision." Sometimes I feel that they're just being nice, and at the back of their minds they're thinking, "That's just wrong." I never use the word unless I REALLY mean it...
     
  3. Aussie792

    Full Member

    Joined:
    Apr 5, 2013
    Messages:
    3,317
    Likes Received:
    62
    Location:
    Australia
    Gender:
    Male
    Gender Pronoun:
    He
    Sexual Orientation:
    Gay
    Out Status:
    Out to everyone
    "Your opinion is a legal right, but I find it utterly detestable and I will not respect your refusal to respect my existence".

    Don't be sweet about it. Don't lie. To acknowledge that they have the right to have an opinion doesn't mean you have to let it pass without criticism or be considered equal to your own.
     
  4. Zombi3

    Full Member

    Joined:
    Jan 8, 2015
    Messages:
    191
    Likes Received:
    5
    Location:
    Lancashire
    I used to hear so much of "Respect Yo!"

    Other than that I hardly hear it, I myself don't use it much. Not that I don't respect others, I just haven't had the need to say it.
     
  5. Chip

    Board Member Admin Team Advisor Full Member

    Joined:
    May 9, 2008
    Messages:
    16,551
    Likes Received:
    4,750
    Location:
    northern CA
    Gender:
    Male
    Gender Pronoun:
    He
    Sexual Orientation:
    Gay
    Out Status:
    Out to everyone
    If someone expresses an opinion that's abhorrent to me, I will usually say 'I disagree with your opinion, but I respect your right to hold it." I think that's a better and more precise way to express the sentiment.

    I agree that stating respect for an opinion you disagree with is probably not a very accurate use of the term.
     
  6. Jellal

    Regular Member

    Joined:
    Dec 23, 2014
    Messages:
    1,359
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Florida
    Gender:
    Female (trans*)
    Agreed, the word is overused because people often have a hard time saying what's really on their minds.
     
  7. treatmeright

    Regular Member

    Joined:
    Dec 30, 2014
    Messages:
    152
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Dubai
    Gender:
    Female
    Sexual Orientation:
    Lesbian
    Out Status:
    Not out at all
    OMG I just used the word a second before in another thread, that is psychic LoL

    In my experience in real life the people who use it intensively the one who are condescending other human but want to appear polite.
     
  8. resu

    Advisor Full Member

    Joined:
    Jun 23, 2013
    Messages:
    4,968
    Likes Received:
    395
    Location:
    Oklahoma City
    Gender:
    Male
    Gender Pronoun:
    He
    Sexual Orientation:
    Gay
    Out Status:
    Some people
    Respect comes from the Latin for "to look back at, regard". I think that's a good way of describing respect: to regard something as it is without judgment. But, I also think respect is about reciprocity. Anything that violates the golden rule is false respect (disrespect).
     
  9. Kaiser

    Kaiser Guest

    Joined:
    May 10, 2014
    Messages:
    2,867
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    кєηтυ¢ку
    I respect this entire thread.

    LOL.
     
  10. tscott

    Full Member

    Joined:
    Dec 18, 2013
    Messages:
    1
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Rochester, NY
    So overused. It is a quality to be earned, not merely given. The word people should be using is "polite". An etiquette than will help everyone get through the world peacefully.