I wouldn't mind someone keeping it on if it's a light jacket or something but if it's a big heavy one it seems rather daft.
You get annoyed at good manners?

I've met some rather old fools and some rather wise young people.

Being old doesn't make you any worthier than anyone else, nor does it mean you deserve respect simply for that fact.

Respect, in my opinion, should be resultant from your actions or as the case may be, inactions. Nothing more or less.

That is just equality taken to absurd levels.

And a lot of people seem to equate mutual respect with complete interchangeability.

When people say "are you cold?" "are you going somewhere" "why don't you stay a while" they don't usually mean it literally.

They say it with a wry smile because it's code for "TAKE YOUR JACKET OFF".

How is it absurd? If it's absurd, does it not follow that it's absurd for me to stand? Otherwise it is one-sided and not mutual respect.


Well, given that the standing is a display of respect, it should be performed by both parties or not at all.

Well it's a "rank" sort of thing, similar to the military or the respect you give to your elders.

Some days I wish this forum had a post rating system.

Yeah, but in the military they salute back.

A leiutenant had one of his men salute 100 times for failing to do so initially. His superior asked why, the Lt explained, his captain said "okay, that's fine. But you have to salute him back 100 times".

Everyone tends to think ofthe previous genration as fools regardless, but you don't just show disrespect to someone because you percieve them as a fool, unless they do it to you then it's fine.
WWII veteran is older than you, do you show him respect? What about the old man walking down the street, do you show him respect?
Maybe so but you should always start of with showing everyone respect regardless, and then make the judgement to respect the fully or not at all. From your past stories I figured you'd be a bit more respectful towards others but it seems like you don't show any respect to anyone?

Maybe you should say yes to them and see what their response is

Yes, but saluting is not the only form of respect given. For example an officer will just call a private "private (insert last name here)" or simply "private" but you have to address higher-ranking soldiers as "sir". It makes sense when you think about it. As for your teacher situation, sometimes you just have to svck it in and exercise self-control.

It does. Now BOW TO YOUR MASTER!!

I couldn't possibly express myself with such splendour without kowtowing and kissing ass to every person I visit.

Straw man sure is fun.

Erm, in my house we take our shoes off so as not to track dirt throughout the place.

And as I mentioned those with overbearing rules.. necessitates not going to their house. There's no mention or iteration of changing someone's rules, or fighting their rules, this is all in your own head, and I have no idea why you keep bringing it up as if you might and power are being challenged in your own home like some sort of paranoid invasion. In fact there's no argument whatsoever that a person is more than entitled to have whatever rules they see fit in their own home, I certainly would defend mine, but rules can be overbearing, especially the one being discussed in the topic, so as I mentioned, it's nice to have rules but don't be surprised when people don't want to come over because of excessive ones. Making someone take off their hat, as in one example that was being discussed, yeah, that's excessive. I like wearing hats, if a person doesn't like me wearing a hat in their house, which is nothing like shoes in relation to the example given, don't invite me over, and if I feel that's something I'm going to run into, I won't bother coming over. If one wants to spend time with me they can come over to my house where I have less overbearing rules. Life sure is simple isn't it?

Well, you're welcome to believe that I don't respect anyone if you want. I show basic courtesy to everyone. I have no special regard for the elderly, I don't think any more or less of them. If I saw a WWII veteran, I'd respect him. But not because of his age, but because of his actions, which I made very clear already.

This was the bit I was looking for. Thanks

Apparently, back in the day old people were wiser. Somehow I have absolutely no trouble believing this. Hence the stereotype of old people being wise. Of course you eventually get to that age where you loose your mind and become a senile old fool, but until then they may actually be wise due to their life experiences.

Wonder why you didn't see it in the first two posts you responded to:

That doesn't mean every old person is wise. Some are stupid in addition to being foolish, out of touch, and bigoted. Just as I wouldn't show preferential treatment to a race or gender, I will show no preference to those older or younger than I.

Reminds me of a time when I was riding the bus back from school and some kid and an old guy got into a fight because the old guy [censored]ed at the kid to take off his bag while standing up and the kid [censored]ed right back foolishly. I was standing there on a crowded bus, watching these two argue, with Bathory singing about Valhall or Nordic forests or something in my headphones and I found the whole situation so comical I nearly burst out laughing, I really couldn't make up my mind about which of the two was stupider. Now back on topic; I tend to show preferential treatment to those with a disability and this often includes old people. This is only physical things like letting them take my seat and similar stuff, so it's not a big deal.

What if actions were that of a coward who hid in the trenches and was too scared to fire a shot?
What if his only kill was a 'friendly' fire incident were he shot them because they spilt his booze?
Seems more like you respect a title than his actions, and that you judge without knowing fully of the circumstances

Typical gotcha tactic. Obviously, when you say WWII vet, it must mean some exemplary soldier who has done his bit for his country. Don't lie, that was the implication. You were asking how I couldn't show respect to such a person.

Have you considered working for tabloid newspapers?

For what it's worth, the veterans I most respect from the world wars are the stretcher-bearers and medics who walked through the killing fields unarmed to save lives.

I have no problem with this statement



edit: well, okay... maybe a little... but damn if that isn't a borderline case if ever there was one.

It's onyl a straw man argument if I fabricated another argument to counter. In this case, you clearly said people who make rules inside their own house are megalomaniacs.

As much as I try to respect people in terms of treating them all as equals, I don't do this and never will. The only time I will move is maybe for a pregnant women and that's if there are no more seats left for them.
I always put my bag on the seat beside me so people don't sit beside me, I hate it when people see the back yet still think it clever to sit on the bag or move it themselves, one moved it before and dropped the laptop out of it, and act surprised that I bite their head off for it. I would move it, all I require is a little manners on their part like an "excuse me" or "May I sit there"

You're conveniently missing part of what "I clearly said". Doesn't seem that clear evidently, does it? You should go back and finish reading, and clarity just might show up at your doorstep.

This is why you should always have your arm going through the straps of the bag when it's sitting next to you.