i think it depends on your (not literally your!) definition of “respect,” no?

i respect complete strangers right to live their lives and try to follow the golden rule, but i feel like people who say “respect is earned” mean you have to beg to be treated like a person on equal person-footing.

i’m also not going to invite random people (or new neighbors, say) into my house for tea right off the bat, though. some might consider that disrespectful. ¯_(ツ)_/¯