[Bullet Magnet]

There is a basic level of respect due to all people for being people, and it's tough to lose it. More than that has to be earned. But no matter how much or little respect you have for someone, what they say or do inherits none at all. Those must be examined on their own merits. Indeed, words and deeds are how people earn and lose respect in the first place, if you permit those to carry the same respect afforded to the person him/herself then they will be unable to earn or lose your respect.

Respect based on age is nonsense, a logical fallacy. Appeal to age and appeal to authority. In other words, a red herring.

It's easy to see where this idea of respecting your elders came from. Firstly, elders tend to be in charge, having been around long enough to get there, so they can just decree that they be respected, and it tends to happen. But also, many people actually magane to accumulate wisdom with age, or become adept at creating the illusion of wisdom. This would make them generally more skilled at earning respect and thus elders gather the reputation of being respected. It doesn't take long for the ineptitude of the human mind to conclude that they are respected because they are elders, a false attribution, followed by your basic is-ought fallacy.