Should authority get instant respect or should it earn it?

Question

It seems to me respect for authority has led to 2 world wars and many other atrocities, perhaps more people should question authority?

some authority figures seem to think they should automatically get the respect of authority, just because they are wearing different clothes.

Answer 1

It would be my hope that respect leads to authority (i.e., respect for a political candidate makes you vote for him, and thus he becomes governer). This is a very intriguing question; I've never thought about it this way before. Certainly, it seems that authority should have to earn respect, but it also seems to me that a person of authority *should* have respect just because they are the ones in charge, after all.

I think it depends on the level of authority... For example, I think teachers should get instant respect; in fact, I come from a country in which in the classroom, you NEVER talk back to the teacher, no matter what. So that may be biased from my viewpoint, but students are a lot more disciplined that way (although of course there are the bad eggs too).

I think, ultimately, authority should have some instant respect (i.e., show some support, give them a chance to prove they can do the job), and they should have to earn the rest (i.e, long-term loyalty). As for respect for authority leading to world wars/atrocities, I guess respect, then, is really up to those people who decide to follow a certain person. After all, a leader without followers is just a crazy. = T

Answer 2

This is a double-edged sword of a question. If authority is absent, there is anarchy - and let's face it, if the public are taking time out to assess their authority, it doesn't have power and is therefore absent. If it is trusted implicitly, however, the public become pawns in their games. What is actually happening (in Australia, anyway, and seemingly the other Western nations as well) is that we follow our authorities though we distrust them. I don't honestly believe the current Australian government was elected legitimately (and if it was, it was through the public ignorance/complacency about the workings of the voting system), as I don't know more than a few people who have any feelings of support for John bloody Howard. Now and then, I think a good revolution is a worthwhile course of action.

Answer 3

It is like this you respect the authority but you dont have to respect the person weilding that authority. When i was in ROTC for the Army in college there were a **** load of people i thought were dickheads, morons, and just plain not fit for the power they had but you know what i respected and recognized the authority and power they had cause of the rank they had not because of who they were.

Answer 4

Well, I think those people earned their respect to get the opportunity to wear something different before they have the privilege to make important decisions that can hardly be changed even if they were questionable.

Answer 5

i agree man. i reckon that if you have authority its because you earned it or people before you earned it therefore its up to you to earn the right to authority. If someone is going to treat you like crap because the think they can its not going to gain respect...i think it has to be a mutual thing;)

Answer 6

authority should be earned and not by coersion. It goes without saying that power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. so those in authority find it easier to demand respect rather than command it. What a pity?


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Answer 7

Everybody whether in Authority or not HAS to earn respect and it does not come easy and is easily lost , my view is give respect and respect is what you receive.

Answer 8

a million) Obsession with soccer (soccer). there is not any way i ought to come 2d to a gaggle of blokes kicking a ball around a container, each time. Emphasis on the be conscious "obsession" - do no longer understand the way it is over there, yet over right here some adult males (and the ordinary female) are genuinely obsessed on it, so because it is a no no. 2) Hatred of or intolerance of or hypersensitive reaction to cats. Cats are great element of who i'm, and on a similar time as he would not could desire to be a cat lover, he has to a minimum of have the potential to tolerate them or no longer be allergic to them. 3) If he needs youngsters. NO! 4) If he as have been given youthful youngsters and shares the custody or has comprehensive custody. I havent had toddlers of my own via fact I dont decide for any, so I dont decide for to be stricken with somebody elses. (additionally, fairly often there's a needy and frequently spiteful ex in touch too, and that i in my view dont decide for to be stricken with that). 5) that he's not a picky eater. with the help of picky eater I propose somebody who wont even entertain the belief of ingesting something different than chips, sausages and baked beans. 6) somebody who's possessive and controlling. it is a tragic actuality that there are females who like their guy to be like that, yet i'm a procedures too loose lively to be counseled what to do. 7) Intolerance and bigotry. on the spot deal breakers. 8) No experience of humour . 9) Unwilling to shuttle and characteristic foreign places adventures. 10) somebody who's propose and tight with money. do no longer assume them to spend it ON me, yet i might like it if somebody wanted to spend it WITH me. do no longer decide for somebody who sits gloating at their financial enterprise stability yet sits counting out pennies and wont do issues via fact they "value". money is for enjoying!

Answer 9

Nobody gets instant respect in my book... gotta earn it who or whatever you are

Answer 10

Both!@