# What things can a person say to you to make you lose respect instantly? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 6, 2003, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-things-can-a-person-say-to-you-to-make-you-lose-respect-instantly/211755 "2003-11-06T19:54:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![cuauhtemoc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecb155/32.png) [@cuauhtemoc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cuauhtemoc)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2003, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-things-can-a-person-say-to-you-to-make-you-lose-respect-instantly/211755/141 "2003-11-13T21:27:24Z")
I avoid losing people’s respect by never speaking to anyone. Everyone respects me. Except people who have no respect for people who never say anything. They think I’m a tool. ---
**Author:** ![Adridne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ccd318/32.png) [@Adridne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Adridne)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2003, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-things-can-a-person-say-to-you-to-make-you-lose-respect-instantly/211755/142 "2003-11-13T21:42:02Z")
“Your hair is so lo-ong!” What am I supposed to say to this? Thank you? It wasn’t a compliment, it was a statement. What if the next thing they say is “It’s ugly.” I’d feel pretty foolish for having thanked them. But no, the next remark is usually… “How do you keep it healthy/clean/from strangling you in your sleep?” That’s rather personal, isn’t it? How would you like it if a complete stranger came up to you on the street and asked about your personal hygiene? None of this is as bad as the people who pick it up and try to pet it, though. ---
**Author:** ![BurnMeUp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@BurnMeUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BurnMeUp)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2003, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-things-can-a-person-say-to-you-to-make-you-lose-respect-instantly/211755/143 "2003-11-13T22:09:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by BiblioCat \* > \*\*Hmmm. I’m trying to figure this one out. I’m a preschool teacher, but I don’t have a “Gosh, gee whiz” detachment from the rest of the world. At least I hope I don’t. Can you explain a little more? \*\* Same with the Missus, she’s a pre-school teacher… although you wouldn;t know it when she’s driving and calling people “senseless ass-hats” but she’s great with the kids. In fact it is entirely possible to have a great outlook and proper teaching style for kids but still be a fully functional adult. On a side note my items are: Homophobic or racist people People who believe in urban legends/conspiracies despite being shown overwhelming evidence to the contrary People who constantly rail against corporations/big business People who pick one corporation and rail against their ethics, business practices and such when the same policies are used by other sucessful companies People who make it a point to tell me they don’t have/don;t watch tv in every conversation People who don’t read People who feel the need to shove whatever they are keen on down your throat (Jesus, the environment, feminism, “witchcraft”). People who are unwilling to try new things That’s the short list for now. ---
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2003, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-things-can-a-person-say-to-you-to-make-you-lose-respect-instantly/211755/144 "2003-11-14T15:05:20Z")
“I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but history isn’t really very important, and while it can teach lessons, they’re really only lessons fit for statesmen.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-things-can-a-person-say-to-you-to-make-you-lose-respect-instantly/211755.md?page=7)