What are the parameters of respect, reputation and prestige respectively ? ‘Though, all these three terms sound common, but in fact are not. They may be synonymous but not identical one. Being “Identical,” is a condition when two words are at par and can substitute each other. In all these three terms, there is a subtle margin of degrees of “veneration.” Since veneration is the keystone of them.
Apart from other thing, these terms may be personal or objective one. Objective here connotes as a “good will.” That may be an outcome of your services rendered, in a proper way added with quality. Suppose, you are running a confectioner shop, and quality of product and services rendered by you, excel others competitors. Although this blog is being penned down from the “individualistic” point.
Respect is a virtue
Respect may be singular or reciprocal. It is a virtue one pays towards others. It may be within family for parents and elders. Further it may be for seniors or teachers within the social system one lives. This element of respect may be real or artificial one too. Now you may object about the artificiality of this virtue. This content of artificiality always exists there. A long debate may be called upon this point of artificiality. Here in short, I explain it by two instances. From the inception of our childhood, we are taught to pay the respect to our elders. In pursuance of that ethics, we begin to extend our respect to elders of the vicinity and social circle.
This paying of regard is all, despite the ground reality, whether we foster a sense of respect to them or not. In fact, here the element of “veneration” is lacking. The another instance, of a person who cherishes to join a political carrier. For that purpose, he poses himself as a socially amiable fellow. To attain his goal of a socialite, he mixes with every one, and in this process he hugs the people he dislikes most. It’s his artificiality. Inside heart he knows, but externally he display his this facet.
Respect is a reciprocal phenomenon
Grammatically “respect” may be a verb as well as noun. When you pay respect to others, it’s an act. But, meanwhile when people extend their respect towards you, then it’s an abstract thing or Noun. Respect is a condition, just above the the general position. This helps elevate your standing at a local level.
As such, you are admitted as a recognized person within a social sphere. This position may belong to many people at a local level,( in a closed society many people may fall in this respectful bracket.) Here applies the principle of “give and take.” Simple, you pay respect to others, they respect you. You are recognizing other people, and in return they recognize you.
Reputation and prestige are comparatively heavier virtues
Reputation is somewhat heavier thing, that you you earn by virtue of your specific ability. Likewise, “prestige” is next to the “reputation,” For example, in a school, so many students partake educational session, and appear into the board exams. Amid them ten or twenty students pass the exams with first division marks, and become respectful.
But, if some of them occupy the top position at district or regional level, they automatically promoted to the “reputed” bracket. Further more, the same reputed position holder student, in his coming student life manages to maintain this “reputation” properly and successfully. This helps him eventually qualifies for some top level civil services or scientific establishment, it metamorphoses into the “prestige.”
An another fact about respect is. if you happen to lose it, you can make its recovery easily. On the contrary, the same is not with ‘reputation’ or ‘prestige.’ Specifically, the loss of a prestige is a big loss. Since respect, reputation and prestige are akin to good, better and best. From positive degree to comparative to superlative degree, and the recovery of big loss is not easier, any how.
Methods of earning of these virtue
Now come to the point how to gain respect, reputation and prestige. These come in pursuance of ethical norms, hard work and benevolence etc. Here is an interesting point, in our society, always a bunch of people ever exists as, ” negative minded people.” These negative driven people, ever long to gain the same respect etc. Here “gaining” of respect, transfers into two different terminology. The “gain” of respect by good people, is in real sense “earning of good name” respect etc. Whilst “negative people,” too intend to gain it through short cut. Always keep in mind, there is no short cut of “earning the respect.”
Manipulating to grab the name
So, these negative mind set people, manipulate to “grab” the respect. Today’s materialistic banal World, too becomes instrumental in this conspiracy. This trend, so far has become common to “grab” the respect. A negative minded person gives his efforts, firstly to gain financial position by hook and crook. He accumulates big properties and money. Now, with the help of that he begins to arrange big festive events, in the name of social and religious occasions. That is intended, solely to propagate his name publically, it’s the “cover.” This type of man may be a smuggler, land mafia etc, and in this way he succeeds to a name publically.
You might have witnessed such goons receiving respect, from descent citizens as well. Their this process goes on and on for a certain given period of time. Is it their real respect? Nowhere it is! May a day come, when by a slight mistake, this man looses his “grabbed” position. And his total false image gets pulverized, people mock and deride him on his back. The exact respect or reputation is, that brings a veneration for you. The litmus test for that is singular, people remember and talk of you in your absence, from the depth of their heart, saturated with feelings of veneration. Penned by– Vinay Pharasi…..
