While I don't see respect as a cost/benefit situation, I _do_
believe that respect is something that is deserving of all life
forms, human or other, age nonwithstanding. I respect someone
because they're a person.
However, I don't fault someone who is not listened to turning
around and saying, "Ok, you won't listen to me? Then, I will be
a mirror and reflect your bad behavior back at you."
Why is adolescence so often filled with anger towards the
generation above them? It's because they weren't listened to
when they were kids. But when you're a kid, you REALLY have no
voice. When you're a teenager, you find your voice and you say,
"Enough."
As for me, I wasn't one for engaging in battle. I did the
"You're not so different than me, just been here longer." thing.
I listen to EVERYBODY just in case they have something to teach
me and I respect people because simply being here on this planet
as the same time as me deserves respect as a fellow traveler.
But... will I sit down and shush? Nope. Never did. I listen but
I also speak up. Who else will speak up for me? It's a skill you
have to learn young as a survival skill.
But I would do so nicely. While you are not obliged to listen to
adults that do not respect you - and I agree with that - it also
isn't license to be mean, or unkind, or rude, because kindness,
niceness is free. It costs nothing. You can ignore someone
nicely if they're disrespecting you. But again, I've never been
one for battle.
Of course, if someone is being verbally abusing, then they've
lost all rights to niceness. If a kid is being yelled at
unfairly, they have a right to ignore it or yell back.
