Why do people respect people according to what occupation they are in?

Question

Isn't this just a way of putting other people down? Is this not a little childish? I have seen some people become a little depressed because of this kind of attitude. Are these people sadistic?

Answer 1

Occupations are a measure of education, and that gains respect. Those in a no-education job (labourers) versus those in high-education jobs (surgeons) are viewed differently. Even in high-education jobs, such as doctors, GP's are not as highly respected as Neurologists.

It isn't about the money. People making lots of money still don't get the respect of, say, judges (who actually don't make as much as lawyers, yet are respected more).

Answer 2

I think having a job is an important thing in live to achieve. If other people respect people because the job they have then let them. It really is good to be appreciated. However what job are they doing some people respect honest abiding people who are in respectable jobs but then some respect those who are not in law abiding jobs. Also some people are very shallow and treat someone based on their job like if you are a high flyer and have alot of money because of your job and a name some people want to know you rather than know that person who is a really nice but is a cleaner. These people love them or not have the right to their opinion. Keep in mind though you can have all the qualifications in the world and be up there but you still might have the personality of a cardboard fish. I have admiration for people who try and do what they love.

Answer 3

I think that people respect others based on what occupation they are in perhaps because they assume that people in higher positions have more to offer them, and so if they act respectful towards them, they may get something in return. Like for example, people treat rich people with a lot of respect in the hopes that the rich person will be happy with them and give them something. Someone with less money has fewer opportunities to give them anything, and so they don't care to be polite with them. I don't think this is right, though, because we're all people in the end and money doesn't make us better, money is not the solution to everything. That's what I think.

Answer 4

It's a class thing. Higher paying occupations bring more class and power to individual.

Doctors, lawyers, pilots, they put their pants on the same way teachers, nurses and walmart employees do. But the difference in their pay scale makes the difference in their class stature and the respect they get.

It is depressing to see the value they place on a pilot verses a teacher. Guess which one pays more for their education and reaps the least amount of respect for it!!

Answer 5

Here is my theory. Its not the actual job people respect but the avg. income that comes with that occupation. For example look at how much attention, admiration,and respect we give to entertainers and athletes who make fantastic salaries compared to civil servant professions like teachers, police officers, and military personell who are all practically spit on by society in my opinion. I think its sad.

Answer 6

Well, for doctors, it's because they are healers, and that is an honorable profession, because it is needed. Teachers, for the same reason, at any level. People individually have to stop letting others decide how they are going to feel about themselves, though. Even if everyone in the world didn't like me, I would like myself because God loves me, and so I am worth something. People need to quit letting other people decide how they are going to feel about themselves.

Answer 7

We live in a very materialistic and judgmental society! I don't know why people are so predjudice and why people rate others worth through careers and material belongings!! I notice an extreme difference myself when I drive our beat-up pick-up truck versus when I grab the bmw....it's a trip!