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Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!genrad!grkermit!mit-vax!eagle!mhuxt!mhuxi!mhuxa!houxm!hound!rwhw
From: rwhw@hound.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.lang
Subject: need opinions (response summary)
Message-ID: <230@hound.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 21-Jul-83 13:22:01 EDT
Article-I.D.: hound.230
Posted: Thu Jul 21 13:22:01 1983
Date-Received: Fri, 22-Jul-83 11:16:13 EDT
Organization: Bell Labs, Holmdel NJ
Lines: 54

Summaries of the interpretations for the meaning of "respect".

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New Yorkers do not show respect to strangers.

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Respectability should be assumed until demonstrated otherwise.

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Respect new acquaintances by being courteous.

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Respect is definitely earned.

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Give a person the benefit of the doubt. Unfair to be disrespectful 
without cause.

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Treat a stranger that is unworthy of respect, with respect, that stranger
will try to take advantage of you.

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Do not show respect to people that should be respectable (Leaders,
Police, Politicians, Teachers etc.) until they earn it, but, be polite.
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I enjoyed the following response, therefore, I will post it in its original
form.

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hound!rwhw asks
Should you treat someone you've never met with respect?  Damn right
you should!  Make a matrix of possible scenarios:

1) I treat with respect someone who deserves respect.
2) I treat with respect someone who doesn't deserve respect.
3) I don't treat with respect someone who deserves respect.
4) I don't treat with respect someone who doesn't deserve respect.

1) is fine.  There's no harm in 2).  3) is atrocious and hardly to
be excused.  4) is harmless but a matter of luck at first impression.

You should always treat someone with respect until you're sure (SURE!)
that you have a reason not to.  I don't always adhere to this rule, but
I often regret it when I'm mistaken.

This message brought to you as a public service by:

	Andy Tannenbaum   Bell Labs  Whippany, NJ   (201) 386-6491


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