When we talk about social relationships today, a frequently discussed topic is, "One must respect the being of another." "Respect" has become a modern key in social relationships nowadays. So, let’s discuss how the meaning of respect is defined, and why it has become a modern key.

What is Respect?

In Burmese, revere and respect are often used together, so people tend to view respect as the same as reverence. In fact, these two are different. Revere often means "reverence for elders," is about being humble towards those superior to you in age or status. Respect, however, means acknowledging every being and refraining from interfering with them, without factoring in measurements like age or status.

There is also a common misunderstanding here. Respecting a person does not mean you support everything they do. Everyone has their own inherent background, beliefs, preferences, and personal views. Respect means refraining from offending or interfering with those things, whether physically or verbally.

For example, a person likes the rock music genre, but you don't. Yet, when you interact with them, you refrain from speaking offensively about rock music. That is showing them respect.

Why Has it Become a Modern Key?

Social relationships today are broader than before, and they are increasingly being maintained at a certain standard. This is also related to the rise of social media. When people meet and talk in person, there might be physical confrontation if things go wrong, but when interacting on social media, since communication is mainly done through writing, there is a rise in people offending or interfering with others verbally. This is called Cyber Bullying.

Such things not only greatly harm social relationships between individuals, but because they spread so quickly on social media, the harm tends to be wider and greater. If you truly consider it, in any situation, offending another person can only lead to negative consequences for both parties. That is why "Respect" has become a key in today's social relationship landscape.

Benefits of Respect

People cannot live alone. Especially today, social relationships have become a crucial factor for survival. Whether you are self-employed, in a partnership, or an employee, whatever job you do, having good social relationships is necessary to achieve your desired goals in life.

Furthermore, respect can bring about peace. If people have mutual respect for each other, conflicts will be minimized, benefiting the entire community. The best part is that respect costs nothing, but the benefits are immeasurable.

Therefore, I want to give an advice that everyone to prioritize respect for one another to create good things for both you and for all social environments.