From: JNugent73@mail.com 
  
 On 12/08/2025 01:17 PM, Roger Hayter wrote: 
 > On 12 Aug 2025 at 10:17:12 BST, "JNugent"  wrote: 
 > 
 >> On 11/08/2025 07:40 PM, Roger Hayter wrote: 
 >>> On 11 Aug 2025 at 14:38:00 BST, "Jethro_uk"  
 wrote: 
 >>> 
 >>>> Assuming there is no power granted to the police by parliament to demand 
 >>>> the details described below, how does one respectfully - but firmly - 
 >>>> decline. 
 >>>> 
 >>>> 
 >>>> https://observer.co.uk/news/national/article/first-it-was-clarkson-now- 
 >>>> its-vance-spare-a-thought-for-the-beleaguered-cotswolds 
 >>>> 
 >>>> quote 
 >>>> 
 >>>> €€€We have had the police knocking on every door,€€€ said a dog walker 
 and 
 >>>> resident of Dean, as a helicopter buzzed overhead. €€€They wanted the 
 names 
 >>>> of everybody living there and details of their social media. I know 
 >>>> several people refused. We asked them if they were protecting us, or 
 >>>> Vance. At least they were honest and said it is for him and that it will 
 >>>> all be passed on to the American security people.€€€ 
 > 
 >>>> unquote 
 > 
 >>> Of course I would always be polite, but *respectful* - why? 
 > 
 >> To individuals. 
 > 
 >> Do unto others, etc. 
 > 
 >> It applies to the barman, the doctor's receptionist, the man who will 
 >> fix your car... and a police officer. 
 > 
 > Respectful has a different connotation to politeness. 
  
 Why would you not be respectful to a professional whose services you 
 require? Or to anyone else? Are they all your social inferiors? 
  
 As to your statement, no, not all that much. The key to politeness lies 
 in not conducting oneself so as to imply that one's interlocutor is in 
 any sense inferior to, or less deserving of, politeness AND respect for 
 his person that one's self. 
  
 > I would be polite to all 
 > of the above, but in no case treat them as superiors to whom I owe respect. 
  
 I'm not at all sure you are referring to the correct definition for 
 "respect". It has meanings at various levels, but does not necessarily 
 imply subservience. 
  
 I don't have a subscription to the OED, but a Google search for the OED 
 denition(s) provides the following: 
  
 QUOTE: 
 Oxford Dictionary defines RESPECT as: 
 /r€€€€spekt/(noun) 
 1. A feeling of deep admiration for someone or something elicited by 
 their abilities, qualities, or achievements. 
 2. Due regard for the feelings, wishes, or rights of others. 
 ENDQUOTE 
  
 Number 2 covers what I was referring to. 
  
 The simpler way is to remember: "Do unto others...". 
  
 And as it happens, I understand that "disrespect" is regarded as a sin - 
 in some cases a mortal one (literally) - among the kids on the street. 
  
 > Are you using it in some kind of American sense, where it seems to have 
 > replaced politeness as a word? 
  
 No, in the OED "sense". See above. 
  
 Are you using it in some kind of right-on sense, where it implies and 
 necessarily imports a personal sense of inferiority? 
  
 Would you regard it as an impugning of manhood for anyone to be expected 
 to respect a police officer asking him a few questions? 
  
 --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05 
  * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)