# Has the essence of respect been lost? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 3, 2012, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-essence-of-respect-been-lost/639769 "2012-11-03T15:45:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2012, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-essence-of-respect-been-lost/639769/41 "2012-11-05T15:50:19Z")
> [@PSXer](#): > > yes. American society in general has been on a downward slide since the day Kennedy got shot It’s because we don’t wear hats anymore. All that respect was stored in hats. ---
**Author:** ![MegaBee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f0a364/32.png) [@MegaBee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MegaBee)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2012, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-essence-of-respect-been-lost/639769/42 "2012-11-05T17:59:30Z")
> [@PSXer](#): > > yes. American society in general has been on a downward slide since the day Kennedy got shot Would you mind elaborating? ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2012, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-essence-of-respect-been-lost/639769/43 "2012-11-05T18:02:43Z")
Post-Kennedy, the media got the idea that they were allowed to cover presidential sex scandals. You can see the result. ---
**Author:** ![Chicagojeff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b19c9b/32.png) [@Chicagojeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chicagojeff)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2012, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-essence-of-respect-been-lost/639769/44 "2012-11-05T18:02:56Z")
> [@zoid](#): > > The old “Things were so much better in the old days” meme. > > No. People have always acted like asses at times and they’ve always shown great virtue at times, it just depends on when you’re looking. This.. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2012, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-essence-of-respect-been-lost/639769/45 "2012-11-05T19:52:54Z")
> [@regor62](#): > > If I assume you mean Canadians think they are or have been given the distinction of being more respectful than some others your wrong. There’s more than enough disrespect going on up here as anywhere its just maybe a little more subtle. Actually, it usually means that our southern neighbours are showing us the respect of assuming that we have a sense of humour and making a joke. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2012, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-essence-of-respect-been-lost/639769/46 "2012-11-05T20:00:05Z")
> [@regor62](#): > > If I assume you mean Canadians think they are or have been given the distinction of being more respectful than some others your wrong. His wrong _what_? ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2012, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-essence-of-respect-been-lost/639769/47 "2012-11-05T20:10:58Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > Respect by whom, towards what? Women and non-whites get a lot more respect than they used to. On the other hand, if anything we’ve gotten a lot worse towards the lower class. I agree mostly, altho the backlash against PC has made it a little easier to get away with hateful speech towards women and minorities. Yes, there’s a shitstorm of criticism against it, but there’s also an open audience _for_ it - you can call it free speech or call the offended party oversensitive. Perhaps relatedly, the proud White blue-collar conservative is less concerned than ever with showing respect (pr at least decorum) in public. I think many of them might actually act more aggrieved than they feel, because it’s become a legitimate mode of expression. ---
**Author:** ![regor62](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ce7236/32.png) [@regor62](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/regor62)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2012, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-essence-of-respect-been-lost/639769/48 "2012-11-06T12:39:25Z")
> [@DrFidelius](#): > > But isn’t this subtlety exactly what you are decrying the loss of? Besides, all of us here South of the Border are hot-headed and rude. I would say I’m glad there is some distinction between the two Countries because I would hate to be thought of as an American, with all the baggage tied to the honour of being American. Don’t get me wrong I respect Americans and the good things they have brought to the world. I guess there’s a price to pay for standing outfront. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-essence-of-respect-been-lost/639769.md?page=2)