Whats authority and why should people take notice of it?

Question

Why should I take any notice of anyone who says they can tell me what to do?
What makes them better then me?
Whats the difference between a policeman in the street telling me what to do and some random stranger Ive never met before telling me what to do?

To the UK youth there is no difference. Why should they take the blindest bit of notice of anyone?
Think about who you respect. Why do you respect them? Is it because they tell you what you can or cant do?

Sensible, thought about, real world answers please.
No....because its the law.......or.......... because police should be respected and obeyed.
My question is why?

Physical violence or threats has never controlled anyone. Its no basis for respect. It makes people want to fight back more.

Authority and respect doesnt come from the use or threat of force and punishment. Do you agree?

Answer 1

question authority.

Answer 2

Because your fathers and fore fathers gave government the right to take some of your freedoms for the good of society. You elect people you trust (theoretically) to make laws that will be enforced on everyone equally (again, theoretically). If you break those laws there is a general agreement in the society that you should be punished or pay some sort of fine, if you do not, the punishment worsens till you comply or leave the society, or you die.
And the government has police, guns, tanks, fighter planes and bombs for enforcement. In a ideal society no punishment or enforcement would be necessary, the people would make the rules and follow them cause that's what they want. So far there hasn't been a ideal society.

Answer 3

When following orders from anyone, or choosing not to, use your best judgment. Is the order for my protection and the protection for others around me? Is the order consistent with my values? What will happen if I don't follow the order?

Police are required in every culture and every society. Historically, their absence leads to civil unrest. Even in a highly disciplined environment like a ship or military base, police are employed. Think about what would happen if a policeman told someone not to break into your home and they chose not to take the blindest bit of notice to the cop. What would you want the cop to do? How would you like them to react?

If a police tells you to do something that is not right, assess your ability to do what is right in spite of the officer's orders and proceed accordingly.

Answer 4

Because if you don't then they will 1) fine you 2) put you in prison 3) beat you 4) kill you

That's what it boils down to. Do what they say or they will punish you. What makes them better is that they have the power to destroy your tiny little life, and do it legitimately, with no fear of reprisal. It certainly isn't because they're necesarily better people, or because they're ordained by God or some such thing.

*Er, authority and respect certainly DO come from threat of force. "Do what I say or I will kill you" is a pretty authorative thing to say - not many people are going to disagree with you. The respect comes from people seeing how much power these people weild and admiring it, and wanting a share in it. Look at how much respect the mafia had - even 'gangstas' of today have plenty of respect.

Whether they deserve it is of course a different matter entirely.

Answer 5

Yes we are all sort of born into a common agreement that there are those who have authority over us. Who says that i don't have the right to eat and sleep in comfort? Who says that i need permission to take some land and build a house? Isn't living a god given right? But the common agreement is that there are those who have authority over us. But i tend to listen to no one but myself! The problem is that the powers to be command the system, and even if you don't agree with that sysytem, you are still a victim of it. Best do what i do then, don't fight it, acknowledge it exists and use it to your advantage.
Its actually a clever brainwashing trick, an illusion. But it cant be broken because too many people acknowledge it.

Answer 6

I think you are confusing authority with power. Authority is a paradigm IE it should be utilised as a guidance to how people should/could live there lifes. It should generate and shape better values and behaviours, in an ideal world!!!

Answer 7

good question, very basic but it needs asking and needs answering. i know what authority is supposed to be, its supposed to be wise and knowledgable people guiding the nation, in truth and light, and protecting us from all kinds of evil, making sure we can prosper and stay strong and keeping our nation. what we have now is the entire opposit, they have betrayed us inflicted all kinds of evil vibes on us corrupted themselves and the people as well, poisoned our minds with lies and treatury, demora;ised the people wrecked the nation overrun us with strangers in the land, the young today are the result of the traitors yeasterday.they have even planned the mess that we are in, and should be removed from any form of authority, while they insist on ruining our country....you might well ask.

Answer 8

Authority is a method of using people for personal gain to get a false sense of importance and acceptance.

Answer 9

Authority needs to be self-respecting and to therefore command respect in order to work. Otherwise, it can never truly work and is of course quite dangerous

Answer 10

No, but a stranger can't put you in jail. A cop can, there is the difference.