Do you believe that the way a person of higher status treats those of lower status is a good test of character?

2016-07-11T08:35:25-04:00

Response by Col Joseph Lenertz made Jul 11 at 2016 9:11 AM

2016-07-11T09:11:05-04:00

Yes. How you treat your waitress or the toll booth lady when no one is watching is an excellent sign of your character.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 11 at 2016 9:18 AM

2016-07-11T09:18:26-04:00

Hi, SPC Wells.

A true leader is the servant of his subordinates.

Response by Cpl Mark A. Morris made Jul 11 at 2016 9:34 AM

2016-07-11T09:34:36-04:00

IMO SPC Wells, it is a two way street. An individual that has risen to a higher level of responsibility has earned the respect of those they are appointed over. Hard chargers that have been reborn into the greatest military this world has ever seen, should be treated as such. Sometimes, old folks need a nap and coffee to be at their best.
Have a great morning and thank you for asking a very important question.
M. Morris RVT

Response by LCpl Cody Collins made Jul 11 at 2016 9:39 AM

2016-07-11T09:39:34-04:00

Yep ! It also is an indicator of what's going on in the home.

Response by SGM Erik Marquez made Jul 11 at 2016 10:07 AM

2016-07-11T10:07:53-04:00

Yes, absolutely.. Im actually surprised that is a question.

Response by SGT Dave Tracy made Jul 11 at 2016 10:32 AM

2016-07-11T10:32:22-04:00

"Higher status" is a tricky phrase, but for lack of a better one, we can work with it.

I agree. If you are in a position where you can throw your weight around, and do so for no good reason, you have effectively shown your character. Certainly this isn't limited to the military, but as stratified as we are with our rank and position structure, we may recognize it more.

Response by SPC Tom Maddox made Jul 11 at 2016 10:36 AM

2016-07-11T10:36:22-04:00

As long as it is a setting where you know the person is being genuine instead of having an agenda

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 11 at 2016 10:36 AM

2016-07-11T10:36:46-04:00

There are customs and traditions we follow, however outside of that, anyone who treats another person different from how they would want to be treated because of that persons position is (IMO) showing a character flaw.

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 11 at 2016 12:08 PM

2016-07-11T12:08:26-04:00

As someone who has waited tables and was a Corrections Officer prior to the Army, I can tell you that you learn a lot of humility and how to treat people you BELIEVE are "beneath" you.

In Corrections, the phrase, "Firm, Fair, and Consistent" is the core of how you treat prisoners. If you are a known quantity, it significantly decreases the chance of misunderstanding and possibly getting beaten/shanked/killed. Above everything else, these people are still human beings. Perhaps flawed human beings who made some mistakes, but still human beings who deserve basic dignity.

When you know what it's like to wait tables, you know you become a master of time management, multi-tasking, and public relations. When you can smile and calmly explain things when someone is yelling at you, calling you names, etc. that's when you know you've made it. It gives you a better perspective on how people live and work, and how much waiters and waitresses hustle for the little money they are paid. If you haven't waited tables before, you've missed out on an excellent lesson in humility and service.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 11 at 2016 12:16 PM

2016-07-11T12:16:15-04:00

2LT Private RallyPoint Member We are all human, and when I encounter someone, I treat them with respect. Higher or lower status has no meaning to me. because I am older, many folks will call me sir, which makes me uncomfortable.

Response by TSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 11 at 2016 12:53 PM

2016-07-11T12:53:37-04:00

Status shouldn't change the way you treat anyone. We are all human beings living and sharing this earth. Why treat someone differently based on what they do, what they wear, how they look? Treat everyone as a human and as you would treat yourself and I don't see how you could go wrong with that. People nowadays get too caught up in all the trash, they forget that simple fact of life.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 11 at 2016 4:10 PM

2016-07-11T16:10:25-04:00

Some people in the military think that when they hit the Senior ranks that they are above everyone and that some tasks are beneath them. I understand that there are only so many hours in the day and as you progress in rank you are pulled in multiple directions to get the Units mission done. But I always try and make the effort to partake in unit training and to engage multiple Soldiers a day so I can get a feel of how they feel the unit is going.

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 11 at 2016 4:29 PM

2016-07-11T16:29:21-04:00

I think this is a good time to repeat Gen Pershing.

“In a society where a man is placed in a superior position to another, if he is a gentleman, he never thinks of it. In the same society when a man is placed in a subordinate position to another, if he is a gentleman, he never forgets it.”

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 11 at 2016 10:53 PM

2016-07-11T22:53:08-04:00

My personal thoughts...no one is above an ass kicking. I demand respect, and I keep myself in check when giving it. I push my Soldiers hard, not to be an ass, but to prepare them for war, to toughen their resiliency, and prepare them for this thing called life. I yell, I scream.....but no one will bust their butts harder to push them, support them, and mentor them than I. I actually live by accomplishment of mission and welfare of my Soldiers

Response by MAJ Raúl Rovira made Jul 11 at 2016 11:23 PM

2016-07-11T23:23:28-04:00

Abraham Lincoln said it well:

Response by Cpl Justin Goolsby made Jul 12 at 2016 9:37 AM

2016-07-12T09:37:33-04:00

To quote the villain from Mission Impossible 3 - "You can tell a lot about a persons character by how they treat people they don't have to treat well."