Originally Posted by ngdawg

In some ways, I disagree. I think respect can be lost; I don't have to be friends with someone to respect them and their space. And up until the meltdown, I did just that all along, yet was 'told' I hate people...Hell, the only things I hate are asparagus and the smell of coffee. (ok, flame me for that one!! )
Life's too short to hate on people. But hate is what is coming to the surface and it's spreading like a fire out of control. I find it ridiculously sad.
Yes, everyone has a dark side, some darker than others and some that might surprise one or two. It's a level acceptance of that imperfection that determines the difference between respect because they're another human being and friendship. But once that darkness becomes the norm and dictates the course of action, the respect can and does go way down or disappears.
Allowing the worst of yourself to dictate your behavior, not censuring yourself and crossing boundaries with full knowledge that you are going to destroy another, to me, at least, kills my respect for you (ok, 'you' as in unknown entity, just to be clear!) My bad behavior was the result of that killing of respect and trust. So I censured myself.
At the end of the day, you have to feel good about something you did and know that,even if it didn't make a postive difference in life, at least it didn't do purposeful destruction. Some don't get that, apparently.