Respect is overrated. There are no more reasons for us to respect our peers, friends, parents, or even our country. Everything is falling apart and respect doesn't get what we need so why should we do it? Respect doesn't make people listen to us, it doesn't get you authority or bonus points. You don't get more money for being respectful, and you don't get any special recognitions for respect. If we don't get tangible and real rewards for being respectful, then it isn't something we need to take part in anymore, especially if it doesn't get us anything worth keeping.

Obviously, that sounds ridiculous. I know that, and you hopefully understood that as you were reading it. So why can't we show respect? By being disrespectful and disregarding people's feelings, authority, and opinions, we are moving backwards as a population. By not paying attention to the difference you can make by being respectful when compared to being ill-mannered and rude, people can find themselves in a position that could risk their job, their family and friendships, and even their own well-being. So yes, while it's true that people may not pay you extra for going out of your way to be respectful, and they may not always acknowledge what you do and say when you're acting in a respectful manner, they will definitely notice when you act in the opposite way. This could negatively impact you in almost every situation you may encounter in your life. You could lose a job or position you worked hard for if you express a lack of respect for the people that surround you. You could also corrupt relationships and close connections you may have by not carrying yourself in a respectful manner.

Contrary to popular belief, respect is not a hard concept for most people to grasp. It generally just means not being degrading or harmful to a person and allowing them to have their own opinions and differences from you. People you encounter will not always be the same as you. They may have views that are vastly different from your own, and you may not agree with them. This does not mean you get to determine how you treat them. They play a role in the community and society that you exist in, and their beliefs can help you shape your own even further. Having respect includes using manners and being cordial to people around you. This does not mean that you have to agree or get along with every person you meet. This does not mean you have to become best friends with them either. It simply means allowing yourself to acknowledge that their beliefs are valid and that they deserve to be able to express their thoughts as well. This goes for people in all walks of life and all positions in society. It is important for people to respect the rules that exist in the society around them and those that are set by their bosses, parents, and other people in control. This does not mean they can manipulate those that are under them, because respect is a two-way street.

People have such a hard time handling respect and using their manners, and that’s part of the big issue that we have in this society of rudeness and the need too be rewarded for good behavior. This is the reason why many millennials are viewed as rude or anti-social, and don’t know how to communicate their opinions in a meaningful way. Being raised with manners is my foundation for the other core values I have. This means I take pride in my ability to be respectful, and understand when someone is not being respectful as well. It can be difficult to watch the country we live in fall to pieces as the respect for one another diminishes. Respect is the building block of relationships and opportunities we develop in our lives, and we overlook the importance of this respect in our daily lives. So, returning back to my original point: respect is overrated because we need more than just respect these days to keep us up and running.