I think that "respect has to be earned" is a piss-poor approach to interacting with our fellow human beings.
I try to live from "my respect is automatically granted until lost"? Some people manage to lose my respect pretty quick, and some take a while. Most people, though, I continue to respect for what they are and what they're not, regardless of their background, age, politics, or philosophy. And I don't set the bar too high for people to redeem themselves, either--and I can name several TFP members who HAVE regained my respect after losing it.
I submit to you that "respect has to be earned" is not the TFP way. That's certainly not the attitude we display in our "Newbies Introducing Themselves" threads.
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