Death glides out into the street, looking all menacing and dead... for most of you being menacing and dead is hard to imagine, but as JD is dead and still moving it makes him all the more menacing. In years to come George A Romero will be reading about the metoric rise of Captain Stubbing in New Orleans and the descriptions of Death will inspire him to write the screenplay for Night of the Living Dead, but that is another story. Suffice it to say that Death looks scary and menacing, more so than the Captain's mother, who if she had her own profile would look just like Anne Ramsey from The Goonies and Throw Mama from the train... but I digress.

I seem to be doing that a lot lately, my job as a narator is on the line. Anyway, Death takes an apple from his pocket and hands it to a small boy standing nearby, much as he has seen Godfather Roman do in the past when out walking through the streets. He ruffles the boys hair and walks accross the street as the boys skin shrinks, turns grey and the boy keels over dead.

Ladiesss and gentlemen, I have decided to interrupt my busssy day and have a chat with you all about sssomething that came up yesssterday in a conversssation with Sssly, Ressspect. It ssseemsss that many don't quite underssstand the concept of ressspect. they alssso don't ssseem to realissse that there is a difference between disressspect and an absssence of ressspect.

Esteem for or a sense of the worth or excellence of a person, a personal quality or ability, or something considered as a manifestation of a personal quality or ability: I have great respect for her judgment.

Deference to a right, privilege, privileged position, or someone or something considered to have certain rights or privileges; proper acceptance or courtesy; acknowledgment: respect for a suspect's right to counsel; to show respect for the flag; respect for the elderly.

You can ssshow ressspect to sssomeone without actually ressspecting them. It mossst circlesss we call thisss being polite, in our way of life we call this ssshowing resspect. Doesss thisss mean that I have to have an actual ressspect for the perssson? No, it doesss not. I might never have met the perssson before, however, asss he hasss reached a certain level in thisss thing of oursss I am polite to him.

I might sssecretly hate the bassstard. But this isssn't being disssressspectful unlesssss I make that animosssity public knowledge.

Death looks around and points at Derek, who he can see at the side of the street, looking bigger and... well bigger than he ever has before.

Derek worksss with me for Captain Ssstubbing. Ssso I have ressspect for hisss posssition within the family. However I don't know Derek... I don't think we have ever ssspoken in a sssocial sssetting. Ssso I don't have ressspect for him as a man, I don't know what he isss capable of. However, I don't disssrespect him either, for he hasss done nothing to me or my friendsss to warrent such treatment. There is jussst an absssence of ressspect. This isssn't a bad thing, it doesssn't mean I'm insssulting the man, or that I wish he were dead, jussst that he is outssside my persssonal sssocial circle.

Death looks around at the sea of blank faces and wonders if he is likely to get any kind of response from the assembled masses

Alabama listens to the Judge giving his thoughts on respect, shuddering at every hiss he makes

I think I get what you are trying to say there judge, and I have to say, I disagree to an extent. To me, having respect for someone and their position means you have a level of respect for that person in general, not just the badge.

Take the TheDean, for example. I've never met the man, why would I? Our paths have never had reason to cross. I respect him, though. Not just because he has a high position in our community, but because I know how hard a road it is to not only get there, but stay there. Without knowing the man personally, I can still tell a lot about him from his actions. So although you say that because a person hasn't interacted with you, means you have had no reason to respect them on a personal level, this is what I disagree with.

As many have said before, actions speak louder than words. Someone that has earned my respect through their actions is worth more trust than someone who may have happend to cross my path and be polite and respectful to my face.

Resurgam approaches JudgeDeath, circling the entity ahead of Deaths gaze so as to avoid contact with......those eyes...........

I agree with you to a point Sir, however disrespect is something that is not only manifest in direct conversation or deed with the individual concerned. I for instance would show disrespect in my private conversations with other individuals should I condemn, belittle, or otherwise your own actions, personality or personal traits within this thing of ours.

Feeling the eyes of Death nearing his own, Resurgam turns on his heel and circles the entity in the opposite direction.......

Respect can be shown in many ways, politeness itself in my opinion is a form of respect. Afterall, to greet someone with a pleasant smile and "good day to you Sir, `tis a bright bewitching morn` to begin the day" and think "Fuck me, you`ve gone downhill, is that a colostomy bag you`re wearing?" is of course something that would betray not only the honour and integrity which we all are capable of, but would endanger the one thing that matters the most, the honesty you have with yourself.

I for one have much respect for many members of our society, passed and present. I am also keen to ensure respect is an integral part of the education with the youngsters I am actively involved with.

As for you and I Sir, our paths have crossed but occassionally, and yet I hope I show the level of respect towards you that is considered acceptable. As for me, I gladly bestow the levels of respect that as an individual I would expect in return..........

Resurgam once more turns on his heels, circling once more in the other direction before diluting into the gathered throng...............

I have a clearer understanding of your view now, JudgeDeath.  I tend to equate "showing respect" with "respect."

Once again, though, disrespect is where our perspectives align.