Board Thread:News and Announcements/@comment-6380028-20180301072145/@comment-4450205-20180301075120

Respect is generally defined as "viewing something with a sense of admiration." However, we are talking behavior, not mindset, so I think more "treat other people/opinions/ideas as equal to your own" is a better definition for our purposes.

Generally, I would say a more respectful response would be one that treats others as on a comparable level to your own, not inferior nor superior. Looking down upon others is the prime form of disrespect.

That being said, the line between criticism and insulting can be difficult to draw, so some differences need to be set. Criticism can point out flaws, but they also offer ideas to improve upon the flaws in a usually suggestive manner. Insults/bashing, however, is often criticizing without giving reasons or ways to improve, and is often stated in a factual, confrontive manner.

Likewise, I think the key to respect lies in wording. We should voice opinions as opinions (i.e. "I like this because ___" "I don't like ___" I disagree with ___ because ___", etc.), and we should avoid a matter-of-fact tone ("___ sucks" "____ is wrong and anyone who agrees is wrong" etc.). Stating opinions as facts indicates that the person making the statement views their opinions as superior to others and comparable to unquestionable truths, even if this isn't the case. This doesn't mean anyone who voices their opinions like facts are automatically disrespectful and deserve banning, but I think we should all avoid that phrasing if we can.

However, the real key to disrespect is when someone belittles an idea or person because they don't match that person's point of view. Whether it be saying someone is lesser because they like or dislike something or stating an episode is awful just because it has a result the person disagrees with, insulting something because it has a different idea is the foundation of disrespect.

Again, the above examples of disrespect can be reworded respectfully. "This DB episode is awful because it's wrong and I'll never watch it in a thousand years" could be rephrased as "I dislike the episode because I thought the verdict was incorrect, and I probably won't be rewatching it in a while." "You're trash for liking this" can be reworded as "I personally don't enjoy this thing you like." Disrespect is insulting opinions with absolutes, and that's what we should be avoiding as much as we can.