Be Nice to Your Elders!

[Superevie]

This is for all the youngin's here! Are you respectful of your elders? I'm curious if this is a regional thing at all because in the South, we have a little thing called "Southern Hospitality." I always call my elders either Mr. or Mrs. or Ms. It's only polite and I do use sir and ma'am. Do you guys try to be respectful or do you treat your elders the same way you would someone your own age?

 

[Gainy]

Depends who it is, and if they look tougher than me or not - pretty much everyone

 

[newfangle]

I stand up whenever an elder walks into a room.



This, of course, is a lie.

 

[Turner]

While I should probably do like you say, I do find it hard to follow all the time. Showing respect, that is. I do respect them, for the most part. But then again, I've never embarrased my parents in public for a lack of respect. . . .

 

[Moonsinger]

I have always respect the elders (not just my own elders). Plus I have always tried to help them out like given up my seat to them on the bus or walking near them while they cross the street (just in case they are in trouble and need my help since a lot of young kids don't seem to slow down for old people these days). Anyway, no one live forever and one of these days, I will become the elder.

 

[Smaasnekje]

I respect the elders. I open doors for them and stuff..

 

[Gothmog]

I try to treat everyone with respect, young or old, until they prove that they do not merit it. In the case of the physically disabled, I try to offer necessary assistance without regard to age - for example giving up my seat on a bus, holding a door, or just allowing them to pass unhurried.

I was in Florida last week and thought it was a bit strange to be called 'Mr Insert-your-first-name-here' by the 'youngins' (children of my friends). I would really hate to be called 'Mr Insert-your-last-name-here' in a social situation, of course that sort of thing has its place in formal non-social dealings (though I prefer Dr in those cases ), but it just feels ingenuine to me otherwise.

 

[Cilpot]

I respect everybody, regardless of their age

I don't call elders for sir or something like that. If they cant handle being called by their name because theyre old, I find them sad

 

[Smaasnekje]

@Cilpot: Well, there arent that much of a tradition to say "Sir" to an elder person in Norway either..

 

[funxus]

As much as I can. At least my grandparents' friends find me and my sister nice and respectful younglings...

Just as in Norway, we don't use any titles in Sweden, and most people generally think it's depreciating to be sirred or misterred. We also seldom use the family name out of respect.

The trend is however that people younger than 15 years generally have very low respect for people older than them. Before, kids at least felt ashamed when being told off by someone older, but today it doesn't touch them the least.

 

[Cilpot]

Originally posted by Smaasnekje
@Cilpot: Well, there arent that much of a tradition to say "Sir" to an elder person in Norway either..

Well, true that, sir.. I guess I'm not that much of a "rebel" then

 

[cgannon64]

I respect them as long as they respect me. But if they treat me like a little kid or are generally an *******, they get it right back.

I can't resist being a smartass to them.

 

[andrewgprv]

I treat old people like I treat all people. If they are nice then I am nice to them, if they are rude then I am rude to them.

I don't like the idea of treating people differently. Even if it's a good kind of different.

 

[philippe]

I treat everyone the same (depends on my mood) so elders make no exceptions

 

[Gainy]

I think I misinterpreted the question I assumed you meant anyone older than myself.
If you're talking about old people, I am very courteous, and polite towards them. Although I don't call em Sir (especially not the females )

Edit: I'm referring to old Strangers, if I know them, and don't like them, then they get no respect...

 

[Mark Young]

Respect needs to be earn't. If you dont get respected it means that you never earn't it.
Why are Americans so obsessed with needing to be respected but never do any thing to be respected for?

If you act like a d***head you should get treated like one, People get the attitude they deserve/earn't.

 

[Archer 007]

Yes, I respect them unless they act like pains.

 

[Superevie]

Originally posted by archer_007
Yes, I respect them unless they act like pains.

Yes, of course. I'm not trying to say with this thread that absolutely everyone older than you should be revered. I'm saying do you give people older than you a special courtesy initially. If they are picking on you, well...then they're fair game.

 

[Gothmog]

Why are Americans so obsessed with needing to be respected but never do any thing to be respected for?

Troll much?

 

[Paalikles]

Well, I always talk S L O W L Y when "grandpa" is on the chat

Hm - I am as respectful to those around me as they are to me (basically stole that from the "golden rule" of the Bible, and modified it )
IMO that is more important than being respectful because of a person's age or status.

My 2 NOK's worth though