It really isn't.
First, an anecdote is a short story. Its supposed to be about a specific circumstance and it's often used either to be amusing, or as evidence to support a claim. The above is not an anecdote, because it is not specific enough.
Second, the above post describes a specific situation, while keeping it generic enough to not exclude circumstances they mean to include. It uses phrases like "sometimes people" which is very generic as doesn't pin blame on anyone.
Third, a useful anecdote is usually one that succeeds at supporting its claim. Since this is not an anecdote it cannot be a useful anecdote. However, because it was written with a specific situation and not specific people, readers are able to put people they have meet into this story. It allows people to create their own instant anecdotes. And this does support the claim. The claim of course being: Its wrong not to treat someone like a person because said person does not treat you like an authority.
You made a claim that was false for two different reasons directly related to word use. I thought it was a more productive response than getting upset and resorting to attacks of character or argument about the legitimacy of the original post.
It’s somewhat relative isn’t it? Fair doesn’t mean equal. It’s equal to make Jim and Jane both pay a ticket of $500- but for Jane that’s only 10% of her monthly income and for Jim that’s 30%- so while they pay an equal amount, the actual penalty they suffer for the same thing isn’t the same is it? That’s a month without banking in savings for Jane and choosing food and bills or rent for Jim. So while we should always treat others like they are people- what each of us defines as being treated like a person is different. It’s a question of self identity. The Fleet Admiral and the Street Artist likely are each going to feel out of sorts of you reversed the way you interact with them no?
Maybe, but there is a certain base amount of respect that everyone wants and should be given. Everyone should treat everyone else with dignity. You accept that this is another person who has feelings and make sure to consider this with your words and actions.
I do agree- as I say above we should treat everyone as human- but it still isn’t quite that simple. The root of treating someone as a person isn’t a checklist we could go through, and if we think about it, such a list we go over with others would be more a placation or pleasantry of social convention than an actual example of respect. The root of treating a person as human comes from acknowledging they are an individual, respecting that individuality by making a best effort to discern and act in a way which they would like to be treated no?
Culturally, here in America most people would say it is respectful that when we meet, we would look each other in the eyes, shake hands, and exchange names. However a man doing that to a woman or a woman to a man in certain other cultures would be considered rude by that person because that isn’t how men and women communicate with each other. Not speaking of where women are forced to do such things- but where a woman genuinely feels such a move by a man is aggressive or inappropriate. Many evangelicals for instance do not believe married women or men should be alone with a person of the opposite sex, and certain other interactions as well.
Likewise- in some asian cultures it is considered rude to accept a gift to willingly, it is seen as greedy and a gift should be refused many times. In certain other cultures, refusing a gift would be quite disrespectful. Now there are some general fundamentals of respect in any culture or relationship- not hard rules because few things really are- but even hospitality is an example. Some cultures hold a guest is a VIP who is to be doted on. Others hold a guest is to treat your home as though it is theirs- get things themselves and do as they like. Others still hold guests to fire on their hosts- be deferential, demure, impose as little as possible and perform acts of service or give gifts for their imposition.
The list goes on- but the real truth of treating people like humans isn’t in sets of rules or conventions or some basic principals we think apply universally. It’s in the individual. “You make some valid points but...” the desire to save feelings there by pandering? To a very direct person that’s like calling them an idiot, a simpleton, weak. They wouldn’t speak that way to someone they respect and to speak to them that way shows lack of respect to them. Their line is “just say what you mean..”
So the “fundamental respect” of human beings isn’t some speech on the sanctity of life or feelings or anything else- it’s when we invest. It’s not an empty gesture of formalities or the safe bet of applying generalities but when we actually show respect to a person by trying to identify who they are as a human being and individual. Mutual respect is when they do the same and we come to a manner of communication which is some level of compromise between our two preferences which we can both live with whatever the ratio is.
First, an anecdote is a short story. Its supposed to be about a specific circumstance and it's often used either to be amusing, or as evidence to support a claim. The above is not an anecdote, because it is not specific enough.
Second, the above post describes a specific situation, while keeping it generic enough to not exclude circumstances they mean to include. It uses phrases like "sometimes people" which is very generic as doesn't pin blame on anyone.
Third, a useful anecdote is usually one that succeeds at supporting its claim. Since this is not an anecdote it cannot be a useful anecdote. However, because it was written with a specific situation and not specific people, readers are able to put people they have meet into this story. It allows people to create their own instant anecdotes. And this does support the claim. The claim of course being: Its wrong not to treat someone like a person because said person does not treat you like an authority.