BossyCow
Forum Deputy Chief
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In the uniform thread the topic of standing for 'superiors' and the difference between rising when someone enters a room and having to stand at attention in the military was discussed.
It got me thinking. Please, read through the rant because there's a question at the end.
I grew up in New England and was taught at private schools. We wore uniforms and we stood when the instructor entered the room. I went through a phase of thinking how lame that was and lived through the 60's where a new crop of instructors and professors were more likely to have us call them by their first names and go out with us after class for a beer (college level).
I have to say that I think we've gone a bit overboard when we refuse to treat each other with formal demonstrations of respect. How many of us use the phrase "you're welcome' when someone thanks us? How many of us refer to someone older by Mr. or Mrs, Sir or Ma'am. until we are invited to call them by their first names?
I believe that giving someone a token of respect takes nothing away from me, but gives me something. It's not subservience, because being subservient makes it all about me. "I'm not going to stand up because I don't have to and you can't make me" Showing someone else respect is a truly wonderful act. It is an acknowledgement of their life, their experience, their knowledge and their position in society. If you believe acknowledging that about someone else takes something from you, what does that say about us as a culture?
What do you think folks?
It got me thinking. Please, read through the rant because there's a question at the end.
I grew up in New England and was taught at private schools. We wore uniforms and we stood when the instructor entered the room. I went through a phase of thinking how lame that was and lived through the 60's where a new crop of instructors and professors were more likely to have us call them by their first names and go out with us after class for a beer (college level).
I have to say that I think we've gone a bit overboard when we refuse to treat each other with formal demonstrations of respect. How many of us use the phrase "you're welcome' when someone thanks us? How many of us refer to someone older by Mr. or Mrs, Sir or Ma'am. until we are invited to call them by their first names?
I believe that giving someone a token of respect takes nothing away from me, but gives me something. It's not subservience, because being subservient makes it all about me. "I'm not going to stand up because I don't have to and you can't make me" Showing someone else respect is a truly wonderful act. It is an acknowledgement of their life, their experience, their knowledge and their position in society. If you believe acknowledging that about someone else takes something from you, what does that say about us as a culture?
What do you think folks?
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