"Respect your elders."
I was joking around with my best friend (we're 13), who is 6 months older than me. You know how friends aren't exactly polite to each other all the time? When I said something to her (i forgot what it was) she just said, "Respect your elders," as a comeback. Haha.
So does a few months count? A few years? Or what exactly makes a person an elder?
2007-07-23 06:51:03 · 13 answers · asked by CaliGurl♥ 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
Depending on a lot of circumstances. Technically, whoever is older - if only by moments (multiples - twins, triplets etc.)
However, an "elder" is commonly thought of as someone of the generation prior to yours and older. For example, your elders are your parents and their siblings - as well as grandparents etc. etc.
The idea is that someone who is older - is perhaps a little bit more experienced, possibly wiser, if not smarter, than a younger person - having "been there, done that and have the tee-shirt to prove it."
Your friend was just being a smartypants - as she said "respect your elders." she was giving you a dig just as you gave her one.
2007-07-23 07:04:24 · answer #1 · answered by Barbara B 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
In my opinion, someone who is 8-10 years older than you should always be addressed as ma'am or sir. That's what I think of when I hear respect your elders. Since you were joking around, she probably was too. I used to do that all of the time to my friends, since I was older than most of them, but they knew I was just joking around.
2007-07-23 07:02:14 · answer #2 · answered by coopermom2006 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Even twins can be called the younger or elder, depending which was born first.
Elder simply means the one who has been around longest.
In some formal societies (eg in Arab Majlis), younger brothers have to show deference to an older brother by remaining silent unless invited to speak, and they rarely contradict the 'elder'.
In our western society we generally mean 'older/more mature' when we say elder......... but really it just means an older person.
2007-07-23 07:16:13 · answer #3 · answered by Cilly Buggah 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I consider an elder someone who is older than you, more in knowledge and years than anything. Your friend really isn't consider an elder but I would say it also just as a joke.
2007-07-23 08:44:20 · answer #4 · answered by Les 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
To me, an elder is a person who teaches me and probably older than I am.
I had an elder (who I consider a sage) who taught me everything to do with growing plants, veg, from seeds. I had a tremendous amount of respect for this person.
He was not only was an elder, he was a great teacher.
In my heart forever.
2007-07-23 07:05:58 · answer #5 · answered by Pacifica 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The person has to at least be 10 years older than you (or a generation if you will) for that rule to be very useful!
2007-07-23 07:10:19 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
To me, it's anyone older than or around the same age as my mom.
2007-07-23 07:00:17 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Mostly elderly people. But adults can count too.
2007-07-23 15:14:15 · answer #8 · answered by courtney n 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it's an adult. a few months don't count. the rule is void if the adult is a sibling.
2007-07-23 07:44:16 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
anyone at least one year older than you
2007-07-23 07:00:05 · answer #10 · answered by Izzy C 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋