Recently, Tony Blair said that he wanted people to show more respect for each other and I totally agree with this concept, however, how can this be achieved? it has to be voluntary, as one cannot legislate against disrespect.

Surely, respect for others, has to be taught at home when one is a baby and is something that has to be second nature, for it to become part of someones natural makeup, part of a persons self discipline and attitude towards others, it doesn't take any intelligence to be a sneering git and to put other people down, but takes education, self control and restraint to treat others with respect.

There is very little respect for people these days. Just walk down the street and you will see. It is a surprise when someone is courteous and pleasant to you. But that shouldn’t be the case!

I don’t think this is only a symptom of the young nor a subject the old bring up.

I was raised to respect other people and to be helpful when ever I can. I hold doors open for people and I try to park in places where I’m not causing problems to either other traffic or pedestrians, but that one time when a little old lady just walks through a door I’m holding for her, without even a smile of appreciation, you start to wonder why bother!

Serapis

I know what you mean at work with customers being ignorant, but what makes up for it, is all those who appriciate the respect I give them when talking to them.

The one thing in life I have always been in charge of is my respect for others, if not myself.
I would go out of my way to be polite, and I have tried bringing my children up with the same views, give respect, get respect back.l

I think respect for others is a sypmtom of respect for oneself.

I find that there's even less Respect about now that Kilroy Silk has dropped from the public eye.

Seriously though, there is less respect for people and property than in days gone by. I feel that this comes about from a breakdown of the community, the deterioration of the family unit and the lack of influence of religion in todays society. In the past there were numerous moral restraints upon people meaning that they would not even consider acting the way some of society do now.

I'm not calling for a return to the good old days but at least some reflection upon it to see if we can glean some of the good bits.

This is a very interesting and timely topic. I agree that respect for others is disappearing and it pains me to see the direction in which western society is headed.

As a child, I was taught to respect my elders and to be polite at all times. Perhaps I am wrong, but it seems that most of the change occurred in the late 1980s with the advent of the "me generation." Psychologists began advocating that people not repress their true feelings and voice them out loud. Sadly, people seem to have become far more self-absorbed and fragile.

In addition, with a large number women entering the workforce in the 1970s and 1980s, we began to have far less time to spend with our children. Where I live, it now takes two incomes to produce the equivalent of one income in the 1970s. It is no wonder that in our hectic lives we are taking short cuts such as not following proper social grace.

Perhaps, local communities could launch campaigns to encourage people to be more polite. Legislation could be enacted to fine anyone caught verbally abusing someone such as the clerk at the local store. This would certainly tell people while it is “ok” to get angry and frustrated, it is not “ok” to be rude.

Since children mimic adults, this should reduce the number of poor role models with whom they come in contact. In addition, social grace should be taught in schools if nothing other than as a way for children to learn how to get along with each other.

While my conclusions may be flawed, they have been presented in earnest. I do hope something can be done to change the current direction in which we are headed.

Thank you!

Good topic.

I was bought up to show respect to others; even now I'll use 'sir' when speaking to the first time to a man significantly older than myself.

A lot of people today are full of the need for 'respect' for themselves, but fail to see that it's a two way thing. When some people talk about 'respect' what they are actually requiring from people around them is fear and obedience.

As Jamie says, respect for others starts with respect for yourself.

And self-respect starts with self esteem and love for one's self.

There's something that I've heard referred to as 'the golden rule' - which is quite simply 'Do as you would be done by'. Quite how we start inculcating this and some politeness in to everyday life I have no idea, but if the users of SF took these ideas out in to the world there are probably enough of us to start making a local difference.....

Joe