Demand Respect, Give Respect On Demand Right Back

 

 

I’m not the first to feel left out and ignored by people who demand respect. Nor the first to be banished for demanding it back.

 

One man’s sibling spoke in a way that lacked respect. The message given back was, “Don’t talk to me unless you talk with the respect I demand.”

 

For them it’s been a quiet fifty years may last a lifetime. Before lamenting and gnashing teeth, consider the ‘toxic relationship.’ Where’s the place to demand respect in there?

 

Metro News, But Not As You Know It detailed toxic relationships seven ways.

 

Only one matters for those who demand respect.

 

Given carte blanche to be your most carnal self, would you? If you were invisible for the day, would you plant daisies in the Royal Parks or go on thieving spree in Selfridges?

Toxic relationships facilitate, and validate, naughtiness.

This is realised through risky behaviour such as excessive drinking, drug taking, or illicit or secretive sex – an affair is the epitome of a toxic relationship.

This type of behaviour is thrilling, freeing and indulgent and it binds you and your toxic partner together. But in the absence of these, is anything genuine left?

 

Metro News is a British site, so I take that into consideration when the extra ‘u’ shows up too often. They need more respect for the power of ‘u.’

 

What is ‘risky behaviour’ in England? Drinking tea with the wrong finger up? Show some damn respect. They’re not that much different than us, and when you consider the size of their former empire on which the sun never sat, they know how to demand respect. Politely.

 

A woman recently spoke to a stranger at a party about her failed relationship. After six years her man cheated on her with someone else. The boyfriend was an Englishman.

 

“Did he cheat on you with a man or a woman?” the stranger asked.

 

“A woman, of course. Why would you say a man?” she said.

 

“Did you say he was English?” he asked, knowing the answer.

 

“Yes, I did.”

 

“Well, there you go.”

 

“I don’t follow you,” she said.

 

“Would you feel better about it if he’d cheated on you with another man?” he asked.

 

“Come sit with me on the steps. You know, I’ve never thought of it, but I would feel better if he’d come out gay.”

 

He looked into eyes and said, “I’ve been sitting all day. He doesn’t have to be gay, he’s already British.”

 

“Is this supposed to be a joke?”

 

“Sort of. I really hate guys who dump all over women. Eight years in and he runs off, and you’re supposed to be okay with it. Right?”

 

“It was six.”

 

“Whatever. If it was four would you feel better?”

 

“No.”

 

“But you would feel better if he was gay.”

 

“Then it wouldn’t be about me.”

 

“I don’t think is was about you. It was about him and his fling, you were extra. You need to demand respect or never see him again.”

 

“Oh, he dumped me.”

 

“He dumped you?”

 

“Or I dumped him if that makes you feel better,” she said.

 

He sat down beside her and said, “I saw what you did there.”

 

“Did you? What else do you see?”