Can you "demand" respect?

You can command respect, speaking of usage.

Nope. Got to be earned, at least in my experience.

You can demand, but that’s kind of like being a petulant child having a tantrum. No one gives in to such demands, except perhaps at the point of a sword. And if you demand respect using weapons, is that really the respect you want? It’s gone as soon as your weapons are gone.

You have to give it to get it.

I demand respect!

There. I just did it. Proving it can be done.

Next.

@burntbonez Damn! Outflanked!

@wundayatta If you demand it using weapons is it ever respect you get or just fear?

@rojo Exactly my point.

I demand respect in any of my ongoing relationships here or elsewhere, otherwise discourse is nullified.

Yes.

You can demand that respect be given (as others have now demonstrated), but you can’t demand the respect itself. I think this is likely a usage issue as Gailcalled stated—one can certainly command respect.

I suppose. But where does it say you will get it?

I think the only scenario where this is valid is in the case of a foe/enemy, dangerous to underestimate & so forth.

In the military you can and get away with it. The disrespect just goes underground.

@rojo, I agree with you. You can insist that someone treat you with respect and/or your position in society or the workplace may command respect, but whether someone respects you or not is their decision.

The most insecure people tend to demand the most respect, er….respeck.

I think that everyone’s entitled to respect. But, respect can be easily lost through one’s words or actions.

I don’t think that demanding respect will get you anywhere.

@marinelife I’m not so certain that demanding anything will get one anywhere. Maybe for the short-term, but not over a lifetime of peremptorial and self-absorbed behavior.

I expect respect, and I will accept nothing else.

Works for me every time.

In the Military demanding respect, especially a Lieutenant or even the odd Captain, almost guarantees fragging. It can be a fatal mistake particularly butter bars fresh out of OTS. Bullet wounds may come from the rear.