What is respect?

I've been thinking a great deal about this lately. It's a real head scratcher for me. The dictionary says respect is "A feeling of deep admiration for someone or something elicited by their abilities, qualities, or achievements." I occasionally get into arguments because I don't agree with this concept of respect. I think I'm in the minority here but to me respect is just respect for a persons boundaries. Not stepping over them. Not invading their personal space. Not violating their consent. Not harming them in general. What I think people are confusing for "respect" is actually admiration. <br><br>I respect everyone. I respect everyone's boundaries. I won't invade their personal space. I won't violate their consent. I won't harm anyone without a damn good reason. I don't care who they are, or what they've done in life, or what they believe, or what they've achieved. But I don't admire everyone. I think there are a lot of people out there who are not admirable. I think there are a lot of people who are downright contemptible. This has gotten me into some trouble when people mistake my lack of admiration for a lack of respect. <br><br>For example, when I was in the military I didn't think my commanding officers were admirable people. Very few of them were. Most were self-absorbed assholes who couldn't get a job outside of the military. But I still respected them. Very few of them actually violated my personal space. Very few of them actually violated my consent. Most commands were reasonable. Most commands made sense. I could obey those commands without feeling disrespected. But I didn't admire those people. I didn't praise them. I didn't consider them great leaders. I considered them mediocre leaders who, if they had to make a tough decision, they would often choose wrong. <br><br>Another example is the police. I don't think cops are admirable people. I think most of them are petty tyrants who abuse their power. But I respect them. I respect their boundaries. I don't invade their personal space. I don't violate their consent. I don't threaten them. I don't fight them. I think if you do those things to a cop, you should expect trouble. But I don't admire them. I don't think they're the "bravest of the brave." I don't think they're the "finest of the fine." I don't think they're heroes. I don't think they have a tough job. I think anyletic 20 year old with a high school education can do what they do. I think they're overpaid, overpraised, and overestimated. <br><br>It's the same thing with politicians. I don't admire most politicians. I think most of them are contemptible. But I respect most of them. I respect their boundaries. I don't invade their personal space. I don't threaten them. I don't fight them. But I don't admire them. I don't praise them. I don't vote for them. I think most of them are corwardly and selfish. I think most of them are bought-and-paid-for by special interests. I think most of them couldn't survive in a competitive environment if they had to compete with anyone. I think most of them are mediocre at best. I think most of them are stupid at worst. <br><br>So to me, it seems respect and admiration are often conflated. What are your thoughts?